In the previous blogs in this series the nature of our enemy is discussed and how we are to use the armor of God to fight our battles. It also discusses that we do not fight according to our own strength but through the supernatural working power of God's Spirit. We also discuss that our enemy is not people but it is spiritual wickedness in high places. The war that we are fighting is not against one another. It is against the enemy and can only be fought through spiritual means such as prayer and the word of God. Part one of this series includes travail and how we are to use prayer as a weapon of defense against the enemy. In part two we discuss the importance of standing firm in faith while facing a new challenge or battle in our lives. It also encourages the believer to stay sober or well-balanced in ones emotions and remain alert so that the enemy does not catch us off guard. In part four of this series we discussed the difference between the truth and a lie, darkness and light. It is only through God's truth, Jesus Christ that we can discover or experience true illumination and spiritual victory.
In our last blog Recover the Oil Prayer Collective studied how important it is to hear the voice of God and how to not be led away by the voice of the enemy. We discussed the nature of our enemy and the importance of understanding how the enemy works and how to truly fight the enemy.This is the year of RELEASE and if we want God to accomplish the supernatural in our lives and if we want to experience the supernatural release of God we have to learn how to do spiritual warfare. DO you think that the enemy wants you to be free from BONDAGE? Do you think the enemy wants to release you from the yolks, chains, and forces of darkness that he has sent to hinder you from walking in a new level of freedom? As long as you are in this flesh the enemy will do his best to keep you from walking in your purpose and fulfilling your assignments, destiny and God-Visions that God has given you. It is his job to strip you of God's gifts that He has placed in you to complete the assignment of giving God glory in this earth realm and in the heavenly places.
As we continue this series let us look further at how God wants us to be clothed. God definitely requires that we travail in prayer, that we stay well-balanced, fearless and watchful. God demands that we operate on the offense versus on the defense. He requires that we examine ourselves, stay prayerful so that when attacks come and we sense that a storm is coming that we be prepared to respond according to God's word. Spiritual warfare requires the ability to put one's flesh under subjection and not respond according to the flesh. It is important that we wear the fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:22 versus the flesh.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: [i]immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, [j]factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who [k]belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also [l]walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:22-25
It is not easy to keep this up. As years go on and the longer one is saved, one may have to re-examine oneself and where one is with bearing the fruits of the spirit. Sometimes life can throw you a few curve balls or the wrong choices we make send us on the wrong path, but God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) Let us reflect on how we are allowing God's fruit to develop in our spirit. Are you allowing patience, faith, joy, gentleness, goodness, kindness, and love to be developed properly during difficult trials. It is easy to have patience when everything is going well. But how does your fruit look when you are experiencing adversity and must travail?
In the book of Acts 12:1-11
Now about that time [a]Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. 2 And he had James, the brother of John put to death with a sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now [b]it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four [c]squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people. 5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.
6 On [d]the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and [e]put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he *said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 When Peter came [f]to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all [g]that the Jewish people were expecting.”
During this series we are observing how Peter and the saints faced a perplexing and difficult situation. One must place oneself in the very shoes of Peter. Peter was an Apostle and very close friend and disciple of Jesus Christ. He had endured harsh times before, but here was an ex-fisherman turned Evangelist being guarded like a criminal in prison. They had him so tightly guarded that it would have been inhumanely possible for him to be delivered. However; God sent an Angel to do something in the natural that only the supernatural could accomplish. God worked a miracle for Peter and I believe that yes God can work one for us too!
Peter's response to his imprisonment was faith and obedience. Peter had been so trained by Jesus and Christ's example that his response to a testing situation was peace and obedience. When a storm came in Mark 4:35-41, Peter and the disciples' response was fear. While Jesus was resting at the bottom of the ship, the disciples were tripp'n. They were anxious. Jesus told them not to be afraid and spoke to the storm and it ceased. Peter's response to this storm was to trust God. He was sleeping through his storm. Peter had learned how to respond to the storm. This tells us that Peter was not afraid and fully trusted God no matter what the outcome was.
It is not a surprise that in order for the fullness of deliverance to take place, there was some things that Peter had to do. One was get up. Two was gird himself and put on his sandals. The sandals and the girding or pulling up on oneself clothing is a sign of preparation. Peter could not walk out of his imprisonment naked. He had to get clothed or covered. When we respond according to our flesh we leave ourselves naked and uncovered. When we obey we walk into divine order and freedom.
Our last blog ended with getting dressed by putting on the belt of truth. During this blog we will tackle the importance of putting on the breastplate of righteousness. The belt which is truth holds everything together even the breastplate. One could say that believing God's truth which is Jesus, is the foundation for standing against the wiles of the devil. Speaking and living by the words of truth keeps the enemy at bay. The Breast plate of righteousness is the next piece of armor that Apostle Paul mentions in Ephesians 6:10-14
Finally, brethren be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against [e]flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
What is a breastplate?
This particular piece of armor covers or protects the chest. The breastplate protects the major organs in the torso. The chest contains the heart and lungs, while the abdomen houses the digestive system, including the stomach, small intestines, large intestines, liver and pancreas. The torso also encases the spleen, kidneys, bladder and reproductive system.
These organs are imperative to have in order to maintain homeostasis or balance in one's body. If one's heart is injured one can die. If one's lungs go out one can also die. If one does not have a stomach or endocrine system food cannot be properly digested to insure that one's body receives the proper nutrition. The liver, spleen, kidneys and bladder help to keep the body free from waste and at optimum health. The reproductive system is necessary to sustain life on earth and that there are more humans to be created in this earth and sustain life. Plants rely on the carbon dioxide that we exhale as we rely on the oxygen that it releases.
What do these organs say about our spiritual life and how God can use each job of each organ to represent the importance of us maintaining our own spiritual survival as Christians.
It is the hearts job to pump blood and carry oxygen through-out our bodies in veins to keep the various parts of our body warm and thriving. Each time our heart beats it is supplying our bodies with necessary oxygen and nutrients we need to live. When the heart goes out we die. The heart is symbolic of our souls, emotions or spirits. When we allow our spiritual hearts to get clogged with a lot of junk it prevents our spirits from carrying the necessary word to ourselves that is needed to sustain life. When we became too carnal or weighed down with bitterness, anger, frustration, fear and pride we begin to get all clogged up with the flesh and fleshly appetites that we can no longer filter through God's word properly. The love we used to have waxes cold and we may have once been the most loving creature but because of the tests and struggles of life we allowed our love to wax cold. Love covers a multitude of failings and brings healing and wholeness. The heart also removes waste and gives the body nutrients. When negative substances enter into the blood stream it contaminates or poisons our body. The antithesis of love is hatred, envy, fear, pride, vainglory, self- ambition, jealousy, stinginess, anger and doubt. These are the spiritual poisons that the enemy brings into our spiritual circulatory system or thoughts through negative people, negative words, negative experiences, abuse, demons, and the works of our own flesh. The only thing that combats these spiritual diseases, weaknesses and infirmities is the supernatural working power of God including the breastplate of Righteousness!
What is righteousness?
Amos 6:12
Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:
Fruit in this particular text is the word Pere in Hebrew. It means the produce, progeny or actions that comes from a seed or plant. The root word is Para, and it means to bear fruit or show fruitfulness.
The word righteousness comes from the Hebrew word tsedaka, which means justified, truthfulness, of God's attributes, ethically right, vindicated, righteous acts, in conduct and character and prosperity.
HEMLOCK: any of several poisonous herbs (as a poison hemlock or a water hemlock) of the carrot family having finely cut leaves and small white flowers
b : a drug or lethal drink prepared from the poison hemlock.
WORMWOOD: something grievous or bitter
While we know that the Webster's dictionary describes that hemlock is a poison the word in Hebrew is Lahana and it means wormwood or bitterness. One can come to the conclusion from these studies that sin is the opposite of the fruits of righteousness. When we are not bearing the fruit of righteousness one is bearing the poison of sin. The poison that the enemy plants in our spiritual gardens is bitterness.
Christians develop bitterness when we pridefully forget that Jehovah is our maker. We forget that the great I am is and He exists without any one's help. He is not a resource; however God is the source. We get distracted feeling as if life is passing us by as we wait on Him. Sometimes we as Christians stop relying on God because it seems as if nothing is happening and we cannot see His hand at work. We feel that because we have been faithful, that we should not have to endure more harshness or pain. The truth is who are we to complain? Jesus never complained. He knew his assignment and though He was tired He endured the cross. Having endured the cross he experienced true prosperity, true promotion and true dominion.
Hebrews 12:1-17
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary [c]and lose heart.
A Father’s Discipline
4 You have not yet resisted [d]to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we had [e]earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of [f]spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
12 Therefore, [g]strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; 16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
Sometimes one has to take the necessary time to allow oneself to heal. It's okay to let yourself or give yourself time to heal. When a foot is injured one must bind it up or be put in a splint to hold it together while it heals. When it comes out of the cast or boot one must strengthen the muscles and limbs that have not been in use so that one is able to walk properly. Physical Therapy will be necessary to heal such wombs. So while the battle you are enduring has you whipped, fatigued or tired keep fighting by taking time to retreat, pray, fast and strengthen oneself so what is deficient, can be made strong again.
James 3:9-18
But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both [g]fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce [h]fresh.
Wisdom from Above
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and [i]selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, [j]natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and [k]selfish ambition exist, [l]there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [m]reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the [n]seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace [o]by those who make peace.
Ephesians 5:11-21
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 [f]trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even [g]expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are [h]exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason [i]it says,
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”
15 Therefore [j]be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 [k]making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, [l]for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to [m]one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to [n]God, even the Father; 21 [o]and be subject to one another in the [p]fear of Christ.
From the summation of the following scriptures one can surmise that the breastplate of righteousness is
1. RIGHTEOUSNESS Is the ability to endure by trusting God and refraining ones tongue in the times of battle. It is enduring through holding one's peace and allowing God to fight one's battle. It is the wisdom to be quiet for a season and wait for God to give us the right words to speak at the right time. This is the way of living offensively versus defensively.
2. RIGHTEOUSNESS is pursuing peace by remaining humble and serving your boss or leaders as if you were serving God and not man. This is not easy when one has been mistreated or mishandled by people in authority. However if one obeys God in spite of the test, one will learn the importance of being still, waiting on God and holding one's peace. When we respond in peaceful ways rather than in anger or fear our patience is being strengthened and the love of God shines more brightly. Negative experiences with people can cause us to respond wrong to people who may not mean harm. It is our responsiblity to ask God to take out any root of bitterness that can cause us to miss out on any blessings that God has for us.
3. RIGHTEOUSNESS is being wise and alert to be prepared to respond to others with wisdom, patience, humility and love.
4.RIGHTEOUSNESS is having a worship filled mindset and is filled with the joy of the Lord. A righteous mindset includes being so focused on not offending God that it is easy to humbly respond with words of peace.
5.RIGHTEOUSNESS is being easy or quick to apologize whether one is right or wrong. Righteousness is being willing to forgive or forbear.
6. RIGHTEOUSNESS is being content and not jealous or envious of others.
7. RIGHTEOUSNESS is being confident in who they are and does not fear that anyone can or will take their place because they get their self- confidence from God. Their greatest goal is to please God and that God will be glorified in all things.
8. RIGHTEOUSNESS is not being motivated by completing goals that precede from themselves, however goals that precede from the spirit of God.
As we go through difficult storms or tests remember what God's fruit looks like. Whether it is an accident, abuse, mistreatment on a job or assignment, a misunderstanding, being lied on or back-stabbed by a close friend or loved one, enduring a terminal illness, bereavement or any other type of challenge or test remember what your fruit should look like.
Lengthy exams can fatigue anyone. Ask God to help you in your weakness and time of drought. You may have never stopped praying and maybe you just don't pray as much as you used to, but if you see any difference in your fruit after a long lasting battle its perfectly normal. Now ask God to help you allow Him to develop His Fruit in you according to his word.
Prayer: Lord it has been a tough battle. It's been a difficult battle. Some of the people that I thought would be there for me in the storm turned on me. Some of the people I thought would have my back didn't. I was betrayed, denied and lied to.
Lord this has been a tough season. I experienced how it feels to be ill and unable to care for myself. There was even a time when I lost everything. I was disappointed by some people and experienced heart break. But Lord even through pain you were there. Even when I wallowed in self -pity, pride, anger, bitterness and denial you were there. You never doubted me and you have always been there.
I trust you. Even when I was defeated you counted me as a winner. Thank you for being there with me. Thank you for not leaving me and letting me completely throw in the towel. I won't give up. I won't grow weary in well doing I will fight the good fight of faith.
I'm still fighting. Even though I am depleted and I'm tired I let go and let you fight my battles for me. For anyone who tries to take advantage of me or mismanage the authority you have graced them with I turn them over to you. I trust you and I will not fight this battle. The battle is the Lords!'
In Jesus matchless name. Amen!
A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his
deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who
sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who
plants kindness gathers love.
Saint Basil
Let Your Day Be Filled With The Love Of Christ!
RecovertheOIL Prayer Ministry: Rhapsody Post
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