Professed believers often wonder why they have such a spiritual struggle with self and others. It very well may be because we have failed to take hold of the armor of God (Eph 6:10- 18). One must first look honestly and ask, “Have I truly been saved? Am I really a Child of God? Have I been born again, made new, in Christ Jesus?” I hear a lot of people saying, “Trust the Lord and you will be saved”. The Lord Jesus had to pay for your sin. Was that something you was willing to turn from in other to have His blood cover that sin? The Bible calls that “repentance”. Only a saved person, born spiritually (John 3), can put on the spiritual armor of God!

The Book of Ephesians so beautifully reveals our salvation through the grace of God. It finishes with our being told, (6:10) “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” So often people seem to glory in how they overcome this or that in the Christian life. What is there to glory in, but in the power of HIS MIGHT?  In other words, in what HE has done – not you or me! Most think the Lord blesses all people in the same way. That’s not true. Paul was used to heal many people; while it was withheld from him: (2Co 12:7) “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. (9 ) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” The Lord may give you a victory over something someone else has to struggle with. Yet, I guarantee, you will have something to struggle with someone else does not!

The Bible speaks to Believers saying, “Quench not the Spirit”. In other words, don’t restrain Him by resisting His voice, His guidance. If you are truly saved, the Spirit desires to obey God’s Word. He will prompt you to do so. If you are not – either you are not saved or you are quenching the Spirit.

We hear it said by well-meaning people, that we should not let doctrine divide us (the Christian world). Yet, the Holy Spirit had Paul pen to Titus, (3:10)  “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;”  The heretick, according to the meaning of the word, is not someone who doesn’t know, but one who has made a decision to believe or not believe in a certain way contrary to the Bible. In other words, they reject the plainly written Word of God and the testimony of the Holy Spirit. The word “admonition” means to confront with the truth in way of seeking to educate and if need be to correct. After trying a couple times, if they will not repent, we are to turn away from such a person. So…..doctrine should divide us because the doctrine is God’s Word.

In any relationship, the words “I love you” do not carry the weight of the action, the demonstration of love. This is certainly true when it comes to our love for the Lord. He once said, “Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say.” (Lk 6:46). Jesus said, “If ye love Me; keep My commandments.” (Jn 14:15)  I have had people speak of their love for God who I knew were disobedient to His commands. Their actions said the opposite of professed devotion

Blood. It is a precious commodity. You can’t loose too much and survive. Physically, it’s a must for life. That is also true spiritually! It is a MUST for eternal life. The precious blood of Jesus was shed to pay for your sins. If you do not have a time and place where you turned in heart from your sin and embraced Jesus as your only means of salvation, then you have yet to receive the blood of Jesus for spiritual, eternal life. Bow your heart before Him today, asking Him to forgive and save your soul! 

At the end of the Book of Galatians, the Holy Spirit had Paul pen, (Gal 6:17) “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”  If you read the Book, that statement was based upon the fact that one is saved through the blood of the Lord Jesus plus nothing. So, the Holy Spirit has prompted Paul in essence to say, “Faith in Jesus’ blood in payment for my sin is enough for me!”

Are you too busy? How often do you go a day without picking up the Word of God? If you are too busy to take the time, then, friend, you are TOO BUSY! The Lord is to be your number one priority! You were created for Him, not the other way around.

“The Lord’s Day”! Not, Sunday – YOUR day off but….THE LORD’S DAY! When we set aside the day to go to His House to sings praises to His Name and to learn more about Him, we are showing reverence to Him. Our actions are saying, “I’m thankful for what You have done for me! You are worthy of this day! You are worthy of devotion and love!” Is Sunday the Lord’s Day or  your day? 

I thank God that my own Pastor encouraged his congregation to read the Word of God every day (Rev. HL Petty). I not only responded to that encouragement , but followed his example by doing the same with own congregation. For thirty years, I sought to guide them into daily Bible reading. Today I wish to do the same with you. Jesus said, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” How can you possibly obey Him if you do not know what those commandments are? He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” You cannot obey Him if you do not read what He has said