Key Words for Rightly Dividing

This a collection of key words and phrases I have started compiling to assist Bible students in the study of the Scriptures when it comes to prophecy.  Most of these words are only found in the King James Bible.  These particular "words" are critical in truly studying prophecy in the Bible.  Without these "words" you cannot connect the dots in the scriptures to teach scriptural eschatology.  Whenever you find these particular words in the Bible, the context will be speaking to the Rapture, Tribulation, Millennium, etc.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. *II Timothy 2:15*

That said, without the King James Bible, you cannot truly study doctrine, because all of the new Bibles change or delete words from the text.  Without these words, you cannot see when the Bible is speaking of the end times.  The new Bibles are full of holes and they just leave you guessing.  No true Bible student who wants to rightly divide God's word would ever use any other Bible except the King James Bible.  Every other Bible low-rates Jesus Christ by taking away His deity and blood.  If you study these words closely, you will come to the same conclusion, that the King James Bible was put together by God, not just man.  If you don't read and study the King James Bible, you are reading some Bible that tries to underrate Jesus Christ and rob Him of His deity and glory.

Rapture
Awake, Beloved, Bride, Bridegroom, Changed, Come away, Come up hither, Rise, Thief, Trumpet, Rise up

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Judgment Seat of Christ
marriage of the Lamb, virtuous woman, King’s palace, My dove, undefiled; Wood, hay, stubble; Terror of the Lord

Man shall live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. *Matthew 4:4*  Every word matters in the Bible, and you don't have every word in the Bible you read, study and obey, then you are not getting the truth that God wants you to have and know.  Religious men today out of greed and intellectual pride have perverted the words of the living God.  They walk in craftiness, and handle the word of God deceitfully.  If it doesn't make sense why they have so many Bible, it's because there's a buck in it.

Bride of Christ
Dove, undefiled, Moon

Tribulation
“the end”, Abominations (idols), All the nations, Anguish, Armageddon, Arrows, Little while, Beasts (of the earth/field/forest), Bent bow, Besom of destruction, Bewail, Bread, Brimstone, snares, tempest, Captivity, Carcases, Carmel, Bashan, Gilead, Coals (of fire), Hailstones, Consume, Controversy, Covetousness, Curse, cursing, Day of the Lord, Deliver(ed), Dens, caves, Derision, laugh, Desolate, Destroy, Destruction, Determined, Determination, Devour, devoured, Devouring fire, Distress(ed), Drunk, Drunken, Drunkard, Dry, Endure(eth), Famine, Fierce, fierceness, Filthiness, Fire (of my jealousy), Flame of devouring fire, Fornication, Fowls, Frogs, Fury, Gather (the nations), Grasshoppers, Groan, Hail, Hailstones, Harlot, Heat, Howl, Indignation, Inhabitant(s) (of the earth), Kings of the earth (east), Lightning(s), Locusts, Melt(ed), all the earth, Miracles, Moab, Mountains (nations), Mourn, Mourning, Nigh, Noise, Noonday, Nostrils, Oven, furnace, Overflowing scourge, Pangs, Dregs, wring them out, Peril, Pestilence, Pestilence, Plague(s), Presence of the Lord, Prey, Punish, Quake, earthquake, Robbery, Sackcloth, Scattering, Shake, shaking, Slaughter, Smite, Sodom and Gomorrah, Sorceries, Sorrows, Storm, Strike (through), Stubble, Sweep, Sword, famine, Tempest
Theft(s), Thunder, storm, Thunderbolts, Time, times, Travail(ed)(ing), Tread, Tremble, Trouble, Trumpets, Tumult, Tumultuous, Twilight, Vengeance, Vials, Violence, Wait on the Lord, Watch(eth),
Waves roaring, Week, Whirlwind, Whole earth, Whore(doms) (adulterous, adulteress), Wilderness, desert, Window(s), Withered, Worm, Wormwood, Wrath, Time of Jacob’s trouble, latter rain

Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.  Psalm 119:140

Tribulation Saints
Afflicted, Archers, Barren, Beheaded, Destitute, Dust, Faint, Fatherless, widow, Flee, fleeth, Hide,
Hunger, Hunt(ed), hunters, Innocent, Meek, Naked, Offscouring, Oppressed, Oppression, Outcasts, Patient (patience), Poor of the earth, Poor, Poor and needy, Precious fruit, Refuge, Remnant, Residue, Rich, riches, Sojourn, Solitary, Stricken, Tender grass, Tender herb,

Trouble, Sore, Scorn, Derision, Devoured, Turtledove, Sheep of thy pasture, Songs in the night, Wonders, Corn of heaven, rained down manna, angels’ food, Wayfaring, Weary, Tears, Shame, Reproach, Alien, Humble, His prisoners, Redeemed, Without remedy, Make haste, Tarry (ing), Chastened, Escape, Captive, Exile, All the day long, In his days, In his time, Awakest, Rain upon the mown grass, Showers that water the earth, Dominion, ‘remember the covenant’, foot slippeth, heritage, upright in heart, the elect, the very elect, Hidden ones

Every word of God is pure.
Have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God?

Types of the Antichrist in the Old Testament:
Absalom, Judas Iscariot, Goliath, Sisera, Assyrian, Nebuchadnezzar, Saul, Nimrod, Nahash the Ammonite

Titles for the Antichrist
Axe, saw; Abominable branch (Is 14:19), Seed of the serpent (Gen 3:15), Battle-axe, That Wicked, Violent man, profane wicked prince, “his fall”, Adversary (Ps 74:10), Another god, Arm of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, Arm of the wicked, Assyrian, Cruel lord, Cruel man, Evil eye, Evil speaker, evil man, Extortioner, Flattery, Hireling, Foolish shepherd, fowler, Idol shepherd (Zech 11:16-17), Image of the beast, King of fierce countenance, King of the north Dan 11:6, Ranging bear, Leopard, Little horn, Man of sin, Murderer, Mystery of iniquity, Boar out of the wood, Oppressor, Ranging bear, Roaring lion, beast, evil man, horn, rod, Peace(ably), Sisera (Judg 5), Son of perdition  II Thes 1; Spoiler (Is 16:4-5), Terrible one, White horse (Rev 6:2), Bow, crown, Counquer(ing), Bloody and deceitful man (Ps5.6), Man of the earth (Ps 10.18), O mighty man (Ps 52.1), The enemy (Ps 55.3), Violent man (Ps 140:1), King of Babylon (Is 14:4), Branch of the terrible ones (Is 25:5), Profane wicked prince of Israel (Ezk 21:25-27), Prince that shall come (Dan 9:26), Vile person (Dan 11:21), Wilful king (Dan 11:36)

Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Golden city

False Prophet
Ahithophel

Satan
Dragon, Old Serpent, Piercing serpent, Leviathan, crooked serpent, Wicked ruler, Roaring lion, Fowls of the air, angel of light, Lucifer, Strong man (Mt 12:29), Prince of the power of the air, Apollyon
Adversary, god of this world, accuser of the brethren

The wicked in the tribulation:
Bay tree, Bees (Isa 7:18), Beasts, Blasphemed, Blasphemy(ies), Bramble, Briers and thorns, Boast, Bull(s) Psa 68:30; Is 51:20; Chaff, Children of the east, Crooked, Deceitful, Deceitful words, tongue, Devour, Dogs, Hawk (Lev 11:16), Enemies, False prophet, Furnace of fire, Confederate, Dung (for the earth), Girded, Grass (mown), Horns of the wicked, Mark (foreheads, hand), Midian(ites), mighty in battle, Son of the morning (Is 14:12), Pit (bottomless pit), Proud, Rebellious, Shed innocent blood, Slain, Smoke (be burned), Spot, Terrible (one), The wild beast, Ungodly (Psalms), Waste, wasting, waster(s), Without number, Noise of the seas, Rushing, Snares (lay), Workers of iniquity, Bloody and deceitful man, Wax, Laugh, Heads of the dragons, Head of leviathan, Stouthearted, Prosperity, riches,
Snare of the fowler, Noisome pestilence, Terror, Thistles, Noonday, Noise of many waters, Mighty waves of the sea, Harvest is past (Jer 8:20)

Second Advent (Lord Jesus Christ)
The sun, Rod of thy strength, Man of war, Word of God, Faithful and True, Thief in the Night, Mighty man, His right hand, His holy arm, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Sun (riseth), Thine arm, Strong arm, Shepherd of Israel, His excellency, His highness, Branch, Washed his garments in wine, Clothes in the blood of grapes

Second Advent Events
As the sun, burning coals, mountains of Israel, Adversaries, Arise, Arrows, Ashes, Assemble, Assemble yourselves, Avenge(ing), Banner, Battle array, Beat down, Blackness, Brightness, Bring down, Bruise, Chariots (of God), Cloud(s), Cup of trembling, Darkness, gloominess, Day of Christ,
Day of God, Day of the Lord, Day of the LORD’s vengeance, Dead bodies, Destroy, Destruction, Divided the prey, Shew thyself, Devour, Devour(eth), Door(s), Driven away (smoke), Dyed garments from Bozrah, Early and latter rain, East wind, Encamped, Executeth, Face to Shine, Foundations, Fowl(s), Gates, Gather, Glittering spear, Glittering sword, Glory of his power, Harvest, Hawk, eagle, ravens, Horns, Horsehoofs, Horsemen, Horses, Kindle(th), Light of the morning, Light of thine arrows, Look down, Light of thy countenance, Visit this vine, Keep not silence, Hold not thy peace, Hide not thy face, The latter end, Most High, March, Majesty, Megiddo, Melteth, Mighty voice, Hairy scalp, Dipped in the blood, Men of war, Morning, Mount Paran, Nigh, Oven, Presence of the Lord, Presence of God, Prevail, Prey, Rain upon the mown grass, ravenous birds, Rebuke, Revenges, Reward, Ride,
Rideth upon the heavens, Rise up, Rising, Roar, Salvation, Scatter(ed), Shining (after the rain), Shine forth, Stir up thy strength, Turn us again, Showers, Sickle, Slain, captives, slaughter, Stream of brimstone, Stubble, Terrible, Thick clouds, Thief, Thresh(ed)(ing), Trample, Tread down, Tremble, Trodden (down), Utter (his voice), Vengeance, Vesture, Whirlwind, White horse, Winepress, Wound(est) the head, Wroth, Spoil, Rob, Plentiful rain

Millennium/Millennial Reign 
Thousand years, “the Sun”, Above all nations, All nations, All the earth (over), Behold the land that is very far off (New Jerusalem coming down), Bow, Burnings of lime, Captivity, Clap, Compassed, Dash, Devoured them Rev 21, Dew of the youth, Dominion, Ends of the earth, endure, Established,
Exalted, Fall down, Fiery oven, Floods clap their hands, Flourish, Gardens, vineyards, Glorious liberty, Rom 8, Gog and Magog, Govern, Government, Hill of Zion, Hills be joyful, In that day, In the last days, In the latter days, Joyful noise, Judge the earth, Judge the world, King in his beauty, Lick the dust (enemies), Majesty of the LORD, Mountain of his holiness, My holy mountain, Nations, North parts, Not hurt nor destroy, Out of Zion, Poor among men, Quietness and assurance, Ransomed of the LORD, reigneth, Rejoice, Rejoicing, joy, Rod of iron, Rule, Rule the nations, Sea roar, Sevenfold, Silence, Songs and everlasting joy, Stand (who shall stand), Submit, Sure dwellings, restingplaces,
Throne of his glory, treader of grapes, Triumphing of the wicked,

War at end of Millennium
we have waited for him, Wicked perish, Womb of the morning, Wound the heads, Burning pitch,
Kings bring presents, Kingdoms of the earth, Kings of the earth, Gold of Sheba, Presents, gifts, Fall down, Build the cities, Beauty of holiness, The Lord reigneth

Types of Christ in Millennium:
Solomon, Joseph, Joshua,

Types of Gentiles in Millennium:
Queen of Sheba

Jew
Inheritance, Fig tree, Olive tree, Vine, Vineyard  Isa 5, Cedar  Zech 11:2, Job (in trib), Sheep of his hand, Sheep of his pasture, Jacob, Unicorn (Num 24:8), Virgin (II Kg 19:21)

Gentiles
Wild olive tree

Church
Branches, Bride, Candlestick, Queen  Ps 45:9, Seed Mt 13:38, Sheep John 10:11, Stones  I Pet 2:5, Temple  Ep 2:21, Virgin  II Co 11:2, Wife  Rev 21:9

World
Egypt, Field, Tares

Lost Man
Dog, Sow, Worm

Types of the Church:
Eve, Rebekah, Ruth

Jezebel (great whore)

Women (Mark 5, Ruth)

All are called the “Day of the Lord” but also:
Rapture - Day of Christ
Tribulation - Time of Jacob's trouble
2nd Advent - That day  Also called the "End of the World"
Millenium - Ends with Day of God

Horn, Hiding place, Selah
Herb – weakness and helpless nations
Honey, Mephibosheth, Mire, Sun is hot, Heat of the day
Chambers, Iron, Lift, Draweth nigh, Locust, Loose (trib saints set free)
Fifth rib, Kiss, Neck, Sea (wicked)  Isa 57:20
Little while
Head – Antichrist, Satan wounded
Door, Dew, Tophet
Shoulder (protection)  Dt 33:12; Psa 81:6; Destroying Mountain (Jer 51:20)
Bones (Ezk 37), Tent, Brook,
Dry, dried, drieth
Cup, wring, dregs
Sand of the sea
The Sea (Rev 13:1)  nations
Summer is nigh


Boat, Net

Dust –poverty, humiliation, shame
Mire, Herbs, Grapes, High hills (nations)

Bashan, Rahab, Acceptable time, year

Endure unto the end (trib)
Abomination of desolation

The end of the world  Mt 24:3; 13:39
“Take heed”
Betray, afflicted

Tribulation words in James:
Husbandman (Christ) Jas 5:7, Precious fruit of the earth (Jas 5:7), Coming of the Lord, Patience, the rich (wicked in trib), endureth temptation (saints in trib), burning heat, fatherless, widows, affliction, poor man, rich men oppress you, blaspheme worthy name (followers of antichrist), naked, destitute of daily food, vain man, fig tree, afflicted, mourn, weep, heaviness, vapour, boasting, rich men, weep, howl, last days, reaped, day of slaughter, wanton, condemned and killed the just, precious fruit of the earth, early and latter rain, judge standeth, endure, Elias, rain after 3.5 years, earth brought forth her fruit

Types of the Holy Spirit:
Eliezer (Gen 24), Wind,

Types of Christ:
Adam, Abel, Abraham, Aaron, Ark (Noah), Brazen serpent, Brazen Altar, Tabernacle (its furniture), Cities of refuge, Eliakim, Isaac, Boaz, David, Solomon, Moses, Jacob, Jacob’s ladder, Joshua, Jonah,
Samuel, Angel of the Lord, Melchizedek, Red heifer, Samson, Scapegoat, Temple
Manna, Zerubbabel, Cornerstone, Foundation, Lion of the tribe of Judah, High Priest, Joseph
The fourth man in the fire, Passover lamb, Mercy seat, Daniel, Elisha, High Priest, Anchor

Should I, or Shouldn't I?

Many things are doubtful in this life, but we must make the word of God, the Spirit of God, our conscience, and God-given common sense to be our guide. We always hear people ask, "Is it sin, or is it not?" If it is doubtful, it is dirty. You would never use a plate, or glass, or silverware if you doubted that is was clean. If its doubtful, you always find a clean one to eat or drink with. Here are some questions you can ask yourself concerning questionable things and activities in your life:

* Does it tend to enslave me? (I Cor 6:12)

* Does it bring glory to God? (I Cor 10:31)

* Would I be ashamed if it was known publicly to all my family, friends, church, and co-workers?

* Can you pray about or praise God about what you are doing?

* Does God approve of what I am doing?

* Could I do it in the middle of a church service?

* Is this habit agreeable to the will of God and does it promote holiness of heart and life?  

* Is this in line with Scripture? Does it promote godliness and will it make me a better Christian?

* Is it a stumblingblock to others (saved or lost people)? (Romans 14:13)

* Does it bring peace with others?
* Will this be, all round, the best thing that I can do for the glory of God?

* Is this right? Is this something a Christian should be involved with?

* Does it have the appearance of evil? I Thess 5:22

* Does it please the Lord? (I John 3:22; Colossians 1:10)

* Will it grieve the Holy Ghost? (Eph 4:30)

* Is this person helping me drawing closer to God?

* Should I be involved with this person or activity?

* How can I glorify God in all this?

* Will this hurt my testimony for Christ?

* Is God pleased with what I am doing?

* Will I regret doing this on my death bed?

* Does it keep me away from prayer or church? (Heb 10:25)

* Does it make Christian work more difficult?

* Does it strengthen my flesh over my will and mind?

* Does it remove my desire to serve God and minister to others?

* Does it make Heaven and Christ's Coming more real to me?

* Does it make me more thankful and lead me to give God all the glory?

* Can I do it in Christ's name and give God thanks for it?

* Is this a weight or hindrance to me? (Heb 12:1) 
* Would I like to be found by the Lord Himself doing it? (Gen 16:13; Prov 5:21; 15:3; Psa 90:8)

* Is it profitable (I Tim 4:8), expedient (I Cor 6:12; 10:23), and edifying to my brother (Rom 14:19)?

* Will this help me be a better witness and help my service for God to be more effective?

* Am I fully persuaded that it is right?

* Can I do this as unto the Lord?

* Will it hinder my witness, prayer life or keep me from my Bible reading and study?

* Does my conscience bother me before or after I do it? (Acts 24:16)

* Do I make excuses for it and try to justify it?

* Will it help the body of Christ? (II Cor 10:8)

* Will it bring forth fruit at the Judgment Seat of Christ?

* Will it strengthen me to face other temptations? (I Cor 10:13)

* Is it characteristic of the world or Christ? (Philippians 1:27)

* Does it cater to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life? (I John 2:16; Gal 5:16)

* Does it dim my vision of the Bleeding Savior? (Gal 6:14)

* Will I be ashamed at His coming if I am still doing this?

Give sincere consideration to these questions. Look always to the Bleeding Savior, consider Him, stay down at Jesus' feet, strive against your sins, and give God glory with your body, soul, and spirit for Jesus' sake. Trust Him, keep to Him, live for Him. Always Remember - He loved you and gave 'Himself' for you.

I died for you, please live for Me. -God

DISCIPLESHIP

Discipleship in a nutshell:  Say NO to yourself daily, that is, deny sinful and righteous self, forsake ungodliness and worldly lusts, and trust to and follow Jesus in your thoughts, attitude, and behavior. *Luke 9:23*  The chief business of a child of God is to deny self and follow Christ, in spirit and in deed. Human nature longs for worldly wealth, honor, and pleasure.  The Christians must give up those fleshly habit which gratify the flesh.  Keep thyself pure; let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof; make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof; abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul; grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.

Ask God for more grace daily to take up your cross in order to make Jesus known to this lost and dying world. Cheerfully receive and patiently bear reproach, trouble, shame, sneers, ridicule, difficulties, affliction and persecution (quietly submit and carry your own cross for Jesus' sake).  The disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his Lord.  No cross, no crown.  Follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.  Follow the Lord fully with purpose of heart, and out of gratitude follow His lead. Avow yourself as a true follower of the Crucified Creator.  The worldling avoids the company of those who come out decidedly on the Lord Jesus Christ's side.  It is better to lose your sins than lose your soul; it is better to give up everything else than give up eternal life in Christ Jesus.  For some their cross may be poverty or ill health.  Following Jesus is not a popular thing to do today.  My sins trouble and distress me every day and drive me to Jesus and His Cross.

Long to be corrected – be teachable, apt to learn.  Beware of self-will, never trust yourself.  Cleave to Christ.  Honor the Lord.  Be good and kind to God, for He is so very kind to you.  You are very weak; seek God’s strength.  Give God all the glory.  Fear and acknowledge God alway.  Make yourself of no reputation.  Break off the habits and hinder prayer and fellowship with God, and spiritual growth. Sin-loving worldlings will cut your acquaintance, put you out, and scowl at you because of your friendship with Jesus. In order to be Christ's true disciple, you must bear your cross for Him; many before you have carried heavier crosses than you; God will give you grace to bear your cross; honor Jesus by taking up your cross and following Him faithfully through it all; the cross will soon be exchanged for a crown of glory at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Give yourself wholly to Christ and His work.  Sin is voluntary.  Resist bitterness and resentment.  If you can take correction, you can do better; if you can’t receive correction, your life will only get worse.  Be willing to learn and do better.  Deny yourself, die to self, take up your cross, search the scriptures, exhort one another, teach and preach Jesus Christ DAILY.  Comply to God’s will, and submit silently without protest; yield quietly and agree with God.  Most are disciples of the church, others are disciples of the minister, others are followers of their own thoughts, but few are disciples of the Lord Jesus Himself.

Meekly submit to God’s will and providence.  Let Jesus be your constant companion. Heartily acquiesce and rejoice in the will and good pleasure of the Lord.  Calm resignation and conformity to the divine will.  Do the Lord’s will cheerfully, immediately, fervently, constantly, completely, spiritually, intensely, practically.  Respectful and courteous submission, and yielding to the will of Another is the way of peace.  Willingly carry out the wishes of the Spirit.  Keep ever low before the Lord Jesus Christ at the Cross.  Humble submission and complete deference to God’s will.  The stable Christian seeks to learn of Jesus Himself (Matthew 11:28-29), taking His words as Truth, believing what He taught, and following what He commands.

Rest in Christ Jesus' finished work satisfied, rest in Him without opposition. Quietly acquiescent at the foot of the Cross. God is so good, so kind, so loving. Unquestioning acquiescence.  Live in perfect resignation.  Cheerful submission.  Devout submission to whatever the Lord appoints.  Submit to all the chastisements of God. It is the Lord, let Him do what seemeth Him good.  Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.  Resigned, acquiescent, content, and grateful.  True disciples sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of Him.  Resolve to always avow yourself Jesus' disciple and become His faithful follower.

Love the cause of Christ and defend it.  Yield yourself to the working and motions of the Holy Spirit.  Make haste and delay not to keep Christ’s commandments. Keep in touch with Jesus.  Have a desire for spiritual improvement.  Let the Bible read you.  Be willing to take correction and change for Christ’s sake.  Get the thing right that the Holy Spirit is trying to correct you about.  Maintain a warm, vital friendship with Christ.  Cultivate a desire for godliness and righteousness.  Sweetly yield to God.  Submission to the infallible authority of the Holy Scriptures is essential.  Childlike faith in Jesus' atoning blood saves the soul instantly. Be honest with God, and honest with others.  God is wise and good; Jesus is right, and I am wrong.

Yield to all God does to you in His rough providences. Complete resignation to the divine will.   Lord, teach me to do Thy will, not mine.  Help me to do as your word bids me.  Hand yourself over to be Christ’s.  Courteous respect and regard for other’s feelings.  Yield both active obedience and passive acquiescence with softness and tenderness before God.  Perfect consciousness of full forgiveness. Consecrated - Sincerely, deeply committed to the Lord’s service and glory. Be a strong, caring and courageous Christian. My LORD knows the way through the wilderness; all I have to do is follow.

The will of the Lord should be done in spirit and in truth, constantly without failure, completely without exception, instantly without hesitation, joyfully without weariness, right humbly.  High esteem of Christ and His word.  Confidence in the promises of God.  Quicken me, strengthen me, help me to maintain purity, obey your words, give us divine aid to obey.

Cultivate an obedient heart, yielding spirit, submissive mind, acquiescence to the divine will – these are the elements of joy and happiness. Acquiescing in trouble, and rejoicing in tribulations. Instantly repentant and apologetic, do works meet for repentance.   Patience and joy in sickness.  Gentle, peaceful, resigned to the divine will.  Joyful submission to the will of God.  Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.  Resolved to trust Him and praise His name.  Submit and rejoice that you are counted worthy to suffer for the Lord.  Willing to anything or nothing as the Lord would have it for the gospel’s sake.

Follow Jesus willingly, joyfully, practically, trustingly.  Take afflictions from the hand of God with all patience and resignation.  Calm resignation, quiet joy, gracious submission, holy calmness.  Patience and resignation in suffering.  Subjection to the divine will and resignation to the eternal purpose.  Perfect resignation of yourself into God’s hands, intense confidence in God’s love and presence, hearty love to God, you will be anything or do anything for God.

Look with resignation upon penury, loss, disease, and death. Fixedness of resignation – be prepared for the most evil tidings for they could come at anytime. Perfect resignation from wealth to penury, abundance to meagerness. Cheerful readiness, promptness, liveliness, eagerness, willingness, joyous activity, Spirit-filled zeal, alacrity. Care more for the world to come, make the invisible precious to you.  The habit of resignation is the root of peace.  Maintain patience and resignation to God’s will.  Live godly in Christ Jesus. *Luke 9:23*

The LORD'S Delight

Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. *Jeremiah 9:23-24*

Lovingkindness - Judgment - Righteousness - this is what the LORD delights in. Do you? Lost men are always glorying in their wisdom (religious wisdom, human wisdom, education, intellect), in their might (physical, mental, and moral), and in their riches (money, economy). Men are always tempted to strut their knowledge, strengths, and money. Poor puny man struts his stuff around down here on earth, sticking out his chest, throwing back his little empty head, and thinking he's somebody. These three things - wisdom, might, and riches - are what the natural man delights in the most, but they can never take away and forgive sins. Brains, braun, and bucks are what men glory in most. The flesh (human nature, human wisdom, human ability, human power) profiteth nothing. No flesh will ever glory in God's presence. The very best that man can do will never be regarded by God, so that no man may attribute salvation to any thing that comes from himself.

The Lord God desired to have grace and mercy on sinners and show His Lovingkindness to undeserving, ungodly wretches like us, so He brought Judgment on His Precious Son at Calvary. God the Father laid our sins on Jesus; He became Sin for us, and suffered the punishment our sins deserved. *II Corinthians 5:21* It pleased God to bruise Jesus *Isaiah 53:10*, so that we could have God's Righteousness freely by childlike faith *Romans 3:24-25; 10:3-4* in the Precious Blood of the Sinless Crucified and Risen Creator. Christ's Blood and Righteousness is the only thing that satisfies God's divine justice. Christ's Righteousness comes to sinners through the holiness of His nature, the perfect obedience of His life, and by His sufferings and bloody death on Calvary's Cross. This is what JEHOVAH delights in today.

We must first "understand" our condition and need before we can truly KNOW THE LORD. And only the Holy Ghost using God's law can help us understand our sinful and dangerous condition and our need of a sinless Savior. We were all made of one blood by God at our first birth *Acts 17:26*, and we must all be saved by ONE BLOOD at our second birth. *Acts 20:28; I John 1:7; John 3:7*

By nature you are out of order and at war with God; only Christ Himself can make you just and right with God.  The very first thing you need is peace with God; actual peace with God is obtained through the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Reconciliation, forgiveness of sin, favor with God there must be before anything else occurs.  There can be no peace with the Almighty apart from the justification received by faith in the Blood and Righteousness of God Incarnate.  Christ Jesus as the Substitute stood in the sinner's place and bore what God required as the vindication of the divine Law.  Let your troubled soul rest peacefully at the foot of the Cross under Jesus' Atoning Blood.

Now pay close attention and carefully hearken, your soul will only be eternally safe when you trust in God's blood alone that was spilt for 'your' sins. Jesus bore your sins in His own body and then suffered, bled, and died especially for you. You must have a Victim to take your sins' punishment, or you will have to be the victim of divine justice. JEHOVAH in the person of Jesus of Nazareth laid down His life for you.  God's own blood was shed by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and it is the only thing that will keep a sinner out of Hell today. Fix your faith genuinely in the Blood of the Lamb of God. *John 1:27*  This is what God says to sinners today: "When I see My Blood, I will pass over you." *Micah 7:18; Hosea 2:19-20*

Abraham Lincoln's Substitute

During the earlier days of the Civil War, it was the desire of all prominent men in Washington D.C. to have a representative in the ranks, and Abraham Lincoln was no exception to the rule.  The Constitution exempted the President from having to take up arms and serve on the field of battle.  Although, Lincoln was the commander-in-chief, there was nothing to prevent him from sending a 'substitute' to fight in his place.  Lincoln resolved to be represented in the ranks, where a combatant in the field of courage, might in person, strike actual blows to the enemy on his behalf.

The man that represented Lincoln in person, was John Summerfield Staples, a young volunteer from Pennsylvania, about 21 years of age.  After being introduced to the President, this loyal young man signified his desire to fill the honorable position as Lincoln's substitute.  The President gladly accepted Staples, as his representative.  In the Civil War, Summerfield proved to be a worthy representative for Lincoln, for he won honor on the battlefield.  He survived the war, and finally died in Strasburg, PA in 1888.  The tombstone there which marks his last resting place on earth bears this inscription:

J. SUMMERFIELD STAPLES,
A Private of
Co. C, 176 Regt. P. V.
Also a member of the
2. Regt. D.C. Vols. as a
SUBSTITUTE FOR
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Died Jan. 11, 1888.
Aged 43 Years, 4 Mos. 25 Days.

Summerfield symbolized the fact that those who died in battle, died so that others could live.

Dear friend, right now, you’re either living under the curse of sin, or you’re living under the blessing of eternal life through Jesus Christ.  You’ve sinned against God, we all have.  God is just and holy, and He must punish all sin, even yours.  Someone must answer for your sin; you must have a Substitute to pay the penalty for your sins, or you must pay the price for your sin in hell-fire forever.  Only a fool would go to hell, when a Perfect Substitute has already took his place.

Carefully hearken, this is what makes the difference:  Have you ever felt the burden of sin?  Have you ever took that burden to the foot of the Cross?  Is the blood of Christ the life-blood of your hope?  Have you experienced the forgiveness of sins from the hand of Jesus Christ?  Have you ever truly looked to the Cross of Christ, do you know and trust that Jesus Christ died for your sins, so that you can be freely forgiven and live forever? Can you put your name on His Cross?  Can you fill in your name on the Cross, signifying that from your heart you have trusted Christ Jesus Himself alone for your soul’s eternal salvation: “______________________’s Substitute.”

If you cannot see your name there; if you’ve never gone to the Cross of Christ by faith with your burden of sin, then you are still under the curse and penalty of your sin right now.  Here's God's message of mercy:  Christ Jesus was God manifest in the flesh.  He came into world to seek and to save sinners, especially you.  Jesus loved you, and gave Himself for you.  Jesus bore your sins in His body, and then He took the punishment and wrath that your sins deserved.  Jesus shed God’s blood for your sins, and then He rose again from the dead the third day.  God is willing to save you; He doesn't want you to die and perish in your sins.  If you will just humble yourself now, and by faith go to the Cross with all your sin, and look and trust only in God's blood, then eternal and abundant life, the free and full forgiveness of sins, and a future in God's paradise will be given you freely.

Your good works will never help save you at all; be wise, reject and renounce all of them.  Bring none of your vain works to the Cross, only your sins.  Christ's blood can never be supplemented by your self-efforts.  Only Precious Faith in the Precious Blood of the Precious Christ will save your soul from sin and damnation.  You cannot save yourself, never trust yourself at all:  Christ is the Savior, His main business is to save lost and ruined sinners by His free grace.  Christ died for ungodly sinners only.  Pay close attention now:  Make up your mind that if there is salvation to be had in this life, you will have it now by childlike faith in the Incarnate God's Atoning Blood.

Be wise at once, for tomorrow may be too late.  It is very foolish to procrastinate, for you may not be living tomorrow.  Take Christ today, be wise, cry out for God to help you; Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for immediate salvation.  The wisest thing you will ever do in this life is to trust your soul with Christ at once, Simply trust HIM now.  Seek Him without further delay, for there's room at the Cross for you.  Come now with your burden of sin and stand at the foot of the Cross, cry out to God from the heart for mercy through Christ’s atoning blood alone, and then write your name on your Substitute’s Cross.  "_____________________'s Substitute.  Let this be your motto from now on:  I'm a poor sinner and nothing at all, but Jesus Christ is my All in All.

Christ Jesus is God!  The Lord Jesus Christ is the Sinner's Great Substitute!  Jesus Christ the Lord is Life Eternal!  Christ is All!

Incarnation, Substitution

Incarnation - The Almighty Creator God became a sinless Jewish man; Jesus of Nazareth was His name.  Substitution - God Incarnate bore our sins in His own body on the tree, He became Sin for us, and then He laid down His life, and shed His Precious Blood, taking the place and suffering what was due to every sinner, even me, so they could be freely forgiven of all their transgressions.

Every man is a sinner, and all sins must be punished, every one of them. All of your past sins are either on your soul right now, or they are on the the Lamb of God. Man wants self-rule and self-law; he is on a quest for self-power and total autonomy and independence from God.  He wants to play god, and redefine what is truth and falsehood, so he can continue on in his sin-loving ways.  Satan seeks power over your thoughts; he wants to control and define everything when it comes to truth, so he can deceive you and steal, kill and destroy your soul.  The world wants to drag the Lord Jesus Christ down to make Him look like you and me, because Christ's claim of deity, sinless life and sacrificial bloody death haunts their guilty conscience.

Your ultimate problem is that you are separated from God, and no amount of morality can make you acceptable to God and gain you access to the presence of God. Your spirit is dead in sins and dead to God.  Jesus didn't come into the world to make bad people good; He came to make dead people alive.  Only by the mercy, grace and forgiveness of the Cross can God make you alive to Him and reconcile you to Himself.  Forgiveness is only for those who don't deserve it.  In every other earthy religion you must earn your right before God, but in Christianity Christ earned our right before God and we trust to His finished work. Are you in need of God's free forgiveness, or has it been one of those perfect weeks for you?  Have you thought, said or done anything that you would be embarrassed about?

You have a desperately wicked, evil seeking, self-centered sinful nature deep within that leads you to love the evil and hate the right.  What matters at the end of the day is the Truth. *John 14:6* The only way to get rid of your sins is simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. God with us, Christ for us. God manifest in the flesh bleeding and dying to save sinners. Immanuel, God with us; Christ Jesus the Lamb of God died for us.

Incarnation, Substitution, Redemption, Propitiation, and Salvation are the all-important truths. Christ IS the Gospel, the Gospel is Christ Himself. Where Christ is precious, sin is heinous. If you feel, confess, and own your guilt, then Christ is the Savior you need. As a sinner, look to Jesus for everything you need. Quit your hold on sin, and lay hold on Christ by simple faith in His precious blood.  What are you relying on to keep you out of the Lake of Fire?

Trust Christ personally for everlasting salvation. Quit your dirty ways and wicked thoughts, and turn to Jesus Christ. Quit your false righteousness. Christ is the only Savior, it is His chief business to save the ungodly. The King of Heaven stooped to rescue His enemies from the wrath to come. Incarnate Deity, Bleeding Omnipotence, Immortal Love Crucified for my sins on Calvary's Cross. Christ's bleeding love is all you'll ever need. Cut your sinful connections, quit your evil companions. Renounce your secret sins. Jesus is the sinner's Friend.

Think of what you are, and despair; then think of the who the Savior is, and take heart. The Great Substitution of Christ is the sinner's only hope. Quit your love and life of sin, trust Christ, love Him. The bleeding Savior is the substance of the Gospel. Jesus Christ was God and man mysteriously united in one Person. God Almighty Incarnate died for your sins especially. Quit your sinning: leave it, and loathe it. If you try to be something, you shall be nothing. Just be nothing, and let Jesus Christ be everything - that's it in a nutshell. Give up your trust in Darwin, or you will die in your sins.

Salvation is only given away freely, it can't be earned. The Great Physician has none but "gratis" patients. Ask Christ for grace to overcome your vile habits. Come to the Cross, and receive "Everything" for nothing. If you die with your face toward Darwin, you will surely perish. The Substitution of Christ for sinners is the center of the Gospel. Take Christ for your Substitute. Trust in what Jesus did, and your sins are no more. Whosoever believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life.

Ponder the pierced One, meditate on the Mediator. Only the Holy Ghost can convince a man of his sinfulness. Think much of the spitting, scourging, bleeding, nailing, and piercing. Jesus made a perfect Atonement with His own blood for human sin. His life of doing good, working miracles of mercy, caring for the fallen, suffering poverty and shame, weariness and hunger, Gethsemane and the bloody sweat, Calvary and the gory death of the cross. He lived a life of service and suffering; He came not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. God Himself covered His infinite glory with a shell of human flesh, and in mercy dwelt here on earth among the sons of men. Divine Justice is no respecter of persons. Only Christ's bloody death paid the full penalty to Divine Justice for you.

The marrow of the Gospel is Jesus suffering for our sins. He His own self bear our sins in His own body on the tree. On the Cross Jesus bore the whole weight of divine justice in your place.Meditate earnestly upon Jesus' sinless life, His full blood Atonement, and His resurrection. The Precious Blood is the only satisfaction to Divine Justice. A sinner is freely justified in the sight of God by faith in the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ. Read the Bible, believe the Bible, obey the Bible. Keep Christ always at the front, think much upon Him.

Religion believes that all paths lead to God, but the Bible teaches that Christ Jesus and His Blood is the only path to God.  Religion is all about thinking, feeling and doing; Christianity is all about understanding, trusting and knowing.  The carnal mind is hankering after a religious experience that define life for it.  Words are revealed thoughts.  The words of the Bible are God's thoughts.  You can remove any other founder from a religion and it can continue, but if you remove Christ from Christianity, then it can longer exist. It is only through Christ's bloody death and bodily resurrection through which we are saved from the wrath to come.

Jesus became Sin and a Curse for us, and then He paid for our sins with His own blood.  Ye must be born again.  Men wants identity; Who am I?  How am I to live?  What you are at the deepest level at the very core of your being is very scary.  Only Jesus can take you from darkness into light.  Ye must be born again, and receive eternal life as a free gift from Christ Jesus Himself.

Repentance means - you have offended God, and you are alienated from Him. But God is willing to forgive you freely.  You must acknowledge and admit your wrongdoing, and say, "I am wrong God, there is no excuse for what I have done, I am guilty."  Simply put your trust in God's promise and Christ's Precious Blood; Jesus paid for your sins, He is the Way, I put my trust completely in Him.

Be obedient to the Faith - believe that Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, trust Him because He suffered in your place, trust to His bloody death that satisfied divine justice completely for you, rely upon the Blood Atonement which Christ has rendered, that's what it means to be saved - Be obedient to the Faith. Frequently think of Christ.

You naturally think of food often throughout the day, because your body lives upon it. Your appetite makes food impossible to forget. Likewise think of Christ continually, He is the Bread of Life that satisfies the hunger deep within your soul. Personally quit your sins, lay hold on Jesus Christ for eternal life. Count on Jesus, not on Darwin. Self-loathing and self-denial are some first signs of spiritual life.

As a cup hangs on a nail, likewise we must hang on Christ Jesus completely for all our Salvation from sin. Cheerfully consent to be nothing, and let Jesus be everything. God with us (I Timothy 3:16); Christ for us (Romans 5:8; Romans 8:32; I Corinthians 5:7; II Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Titus 2:14; I John 3:16; Galatians 2:20).

The Atheist's Creed

The atheist's creed: "No God", no rules, no law, no Bible, no order, no truth, no purpose, no hope, no moral absolutes, no restraint to lust, no Christ, no hereafter, no hell, no limits to vile passions, no direction, no cause, no hope, and no sanity.  In the beginning, you came from goo, then you went to the zoo, and now you are you (Darwin 1:1). You came from an animal, and there is no such thing as moral standards.

Here are some of the atheist's thought patterns:  Live as you please, the Bible is a myth, man created God instead of the other way around.  Deify science, forget hard work, patriotism, and moral conduct. It's all the survival of the fittest, and the elimination of the weaker. Since there is no God, I am not a sinner, I am a god. Me first, you last, dog eat dog. Just trust yourself, follow your instincts.  Anything goes. The Bible can't be trusted, believe on darwin's conjectures instead. God is irrelevant to man. Life is meaningless, believe in nothingness. Live for now, never mind Eternity; please the flesh, and forget about your soul.  Trust your intuition, follow your impulses, look out for #1.  Everything that I do that is wrong is someone else's fault.  There is no such thing as sin or moral accountability.  When the pressure is on, it's all about me.  There's no such thing as the will of God, my way is the only way.  I want what's coming to me.

I'm OK, you're OK, do whatever seems good to you.  I can be good in my own way without a God.  Strive to get your own way, scheme, manipulate and control others. The truth is what I want it to be; I determine for myself what is right and wrong, I am my own god. There are no absolutes or morals, everything is relative. Do as you please, and don't bother with God. Indulge in worldly amusements and sinful pleasures for there is no Judgment to come.  Think dirty, live loose, anything goes. There is no hereafter, when men die, they die like dogs in the street.  Man came from the drawing-board of Heaven.  I am not accountable to anyone but myself.  If there is no God, then anything is permissible.  If there are no absolutes, there's no such thing as a heinous action.  Self-law and self-rule is my way; a quest for power and total autonomy and independence from God.  I want to play god, and redefine what is truth and falsehood for myself.

These are the proverbs of an atheist - Reality is whatever I think it is. Sex perversion is normal. Put science and evolution in place of the divine revelation of Scripture. My imagination is my inspiration. Do unto others before they do it unto you. No God for me, I don't want any God, if I could have my own way, there would be no mention of God at all. So, love this world while you can, live as you please, do your own thing, make money, save money, get money anyway you can, hold it tight, and get ahead. You don’t have to take orders from anybody; you can be somebody.  Enjoy sin responsibly.  Just believe in yourself.  Live for yourself, deny reality, exclude conscience, follow your instincts, not your Creator.  Science is the answer to everything.  Look into yourself, and find yourself.  If you wrong me; I'll never forget; I'll wrong you.  Live a useless, thankless, selfish life; take of number one at all costs.

Be somebody in yourself, in your own wisdom and strength. Do it your way, make something of yourself, forget about thanking or recognizing God. Ignore design in nature, ignore your conscience and common sense. Evolution is true and a proven scientific fact. Attend to this world, ignore the world to come. Darwinism leads atheists down a dark path to ruin and everlasting destruction. Never question Darwin or evolution, don't think for yourself. Trust in random chance, not the providence of God. Time is everything, Eternity is nothing. Christ is false, Darwin is true. Save wildlife, abort human life. Men came from animals accidentally, and they don't have to give account to God for anything they do, say, or think.

All truth is relative, you can enjoy your sin without facing Judgment, you won't ever die in your sins and pay for them. It is OK for you believe that you're right, but it's not OK for you to believe that I'm wrong. Doubt the genuineness and infallibility of Scripture. Question the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ - God manifest in the flesh. There is no such thing as virtue or vice, right or wrong. Anybody can be right. Salvation is universal - there are many paths to God, whatever you THINK is truth. We are immoral monkey-men with no souls headed for the dirt as dogs.  Man is only an automation of reflexes, a bundle of instincts, a mind machine, a pawn of drives and reactions, a mere product of heredity and environment.  All we are doing is dancing to our DNA.

There is no place of eternal Retribution beyond the grave. Reject God and you will have freedom. Judgment is non-existent. Sin doesn't damn anyone after death. Man evolved, and God is not involved. You are only a lucky accident.  A God-less existence - entropy, decay, death, damnation. The atheist's goals are the same goals of any other animal:  self-propagation (sex), self-preservation (me first, you next), self-gratification (comfort and pleasure).  The atheist main goals are to lose weight, make money, be famous, stay in good health, pay his bills, send his kids to college, and retire comfortably.

Rely on chance, luck, or fate. Shameful desires, sinful attitudes, and selfish motives will give you fulfillment. Whatever you like is right. Whatever feels good, Is. Carnal pleasure and comfort is the chief good in life. Feed your shameful desires, defend your sinful attitudes, follow after your selfish motives.  Me first, you last. Do whatever you want, when you want. You can be wise in yourself. Man is the measure of all things.  Pleasure is the chief good in life. Maintain positive thinking and false optimism, continue in self-deception about your true condition, fill your mind with pleasure and amusement to keep your mind off the reality of death. Positive, optimistic, godless madness is the way.  Absolute right does not exist; might is right.

Everything is OK, as long as you don't hurt anyone.  Adultery is fun, sodomy is fine, everything is getting better despite evidence to the contrary.  After death comes nothing.  Man is basically good; it is only his behavior that lets him down.  Each man must find the truth that is right according to him, and then reality will adapt according to him, the universe will readjust, history will alter, and Eternity will change based on my thoughts.  I believe there is no absolute truth, except the truth that there is no absolute truth.

Yield to your baser passions. You can't know anything for certain, except that darwinism is a fact. Man must save himself. Hoard money, make a name for yourself, indulge your passions, revenge yourself upon your fellowmen. Rule yourself, follow your own will, serve yourself. We are only evolutionary by-products, we are not accountable to anyone in life or death, and nothing is a sin. The atheist lives a wicked life in private, and curses God in public.

All is well, there is no hell. Learn to live with yourself, develop yourself, and be proud of yourself. Get as much as you can, keep as much as you can. Get more money, mammon, and material. It's my time, my life, I will do what I like. If it feels right, just do it. You don’t need some god telling you what to do, what to eat and not to eat, what to think and not to think, you can be a god yourself, you know what’s what, you know best, go on and be a god yourself. Believe in man; man is god you know. Do things your way. Live for yourself, money, fame, and pleasure. Rule yourself. Take credit for all you've accomplished in this life. Comfort is essential, not character.

Prolong and improve life; let's become a global society, and then populate outer space. You're not going to die in sin and go to hell, that's just some religious fable someone dreamed up to scare people to get their money. Believe in human potential. Genesis is a myth. Sex perversion is normal. Get a profession that pays well, land a good job, live a nice comfortable life. There is only one truth - evolution. Human reason and intellect are supreme. Me first, compare yourself with others and make sure you always end up looking better, and scheme up ways of being seen or heard. The atheist lives entirely for himself, his object is his own ease, comfort, honor, health, and wealth.

You can run yourself, be independent of the Creator, do your own thing, don't worry about the future, you have nothing to fear, for sin's not real. Don't worry about death, you die like a dog anyway, darwin says so, so live it up man, there's no judgment coming after death. Progress is automatic and inevitable. Live as loose as you won't, you don't have to give account of all your vile secrets to your Maker. Follow and regard yourself.  Man is nothing more than the product of his enviro

Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice? You came from a monkey, that's why you like to climb trees and build tree houses when you're young. Look to time, not eternity; look to your body, not your soul. Make something of yourself, forget about God. The atheist has a shrewd, slippery, calculating, self-preserving, scheming, self-willed mind.  Atheism is the epitome of pride, rebellion, unbelief, carnality, selfishness, obstinance, and indolence.

The atheist's morning prayer -- Our father, who art up in a tree; hallowed be thy name darwin. My kingdom come, my will be done, on earth, as it is in hell. Give me this day what I deserve. Remind those people that owe me money to pay me back. I will try to forgive those that do me right. Lead me into temptation, for there's no such thing as evil. For mine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

You don't have a conscience or a soul, that's nonsense. Jesus Christ is a farce, the Bible is false, sin is superstition, and hell is a myth. Evolution is a fact. Live for the present, yourself, and worldly gain; trust to your judgment, be wise in your own conceit. Education and science are the true guides to real progress. Education not regeneration, evolution not conversion. Adore and devote yourself to the monkey-god of evolution. Look only to worldly honor and gain, forget about your soul. Get on in this world, win fame, honor, glory, and power for yourself.

The universe is self-existing, everything got here by accident. Sin is only a figment of some religious person's imagination. This life doesn't matter, so kill the babies; help those that can help you, look out for #1; that's life, so get over it; forget God, reject Christ, neglect the Bible, love sin, adore and depend on yourself. In ME I trust! Go on and live your own life, no one has any right to tell you how to live, you know best, be your own man, you deserve better than this. The God of the Bible only wants to keep you back from what you can accomplish in this life.

The atheist's motto - There is no Creator God; I am the direct result of millions of years of evolution and random chance; I determine what is right and wrong for myself; I just need to get over any bad feelings I have about hurting others; there is no such thing as a conscience. Simple things become more complex accidentally; complexity develops from simplicity.  Chance is my creator. Me first, God last - is very similar to another person's motto in Genesis 3 - read closely: "And the devil said unto Eve, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the devil, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye TOUCH it, lest ye die. And the devil said unto Eve, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be AS GODS, knowing good and evil."

If you take the doubts you have about Jesus Christ and the Bible, and pull them up, you’ll find hanging on the roots of every one of those doubts some kind of sin that you love. The god of the atheist is covetousness, that is, greediness after worldly gain. The atheist's symbol is $$$. Evolution is humanism's religion. Evolution is a gross lie against divine revelation. Only the Bible can comb the kinks out of your brain and straighten out the crooked places in your heart. JEHOVAH became a Jewish man, His name was Jesus of Nazareth. God loved you enough to let Jesus Christ die and suffer all the WRATH due to your sins. Christ paid for YOUR sins with His own blood - trust His atoning blood. Put no confidence in yourself at all, place all your confidence on Jesus’ Blood and Righteousness, and your soul is safe forever. Throw yourself at the feet of Jesus, and say, "Here I am Jesus, I'm a sinner, you died to save me, I have sinned against You, I cannot save myself, I can't pay my sin debt, I can't live right, I am sinful, wayward, and undone, I'm hell-bound for sure, I trust your Blood alone, and not myself. Oh God, save me. Save me poor, rotten, dirty, hell-bound soul. God be merciful to me a sinner and forgive all my sins for Jesus' sake."

Watch out now - You are individually accountable to God after death. If you get your heart's desire, you will still be miserable. Seek God's desires for you, not your own. Life is short and unpredictable. No man on earth is sinless. A life without belief in Jesus Christ is a tragedy far worse than poverty, physical sickness, pain, or death. God has no respect for any man who rejects His words and Son. God begat a sinless Son who shed His blood and died for all sinners. When a man goes to Hell, that man burns forever and ever. If you give a man enough space and time, he will ruin everything with his sin, including his own soul.  God created you, He has a purpose and standard of morality for you, He died to pay for your sins, He has a will for your life, and He has a future after death for you.

Unsaved, atheistic men refuse to give God the glory. All things deteriorate and end in decay and corruption; Darwin was insane. The Lord Jesus Christ is the answer to who you are, where you came from, why you exist, and where your future lies after death.  God will humble every man on earth eventually, whoever he is with sickness, death, or judgment. God will honor every man who puts their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh. Never trust yourself, only rely on Christ's Blood. Smart alecks usually end up damning their own souls. If you keep on strutting your stuff, you'll wind up in the Lake of Fire where you belong. The best time to trust Jesus Christ's Precious Blood is always right now.

John 3:16 Can Help

In a large city, one cold, dark night, a blizzard was setting in.  A little wretched and wragged young lad tries to wrap himself in the light of a dim street light.  He’s sniffling and shivering on a cold winter corner in attempts to keep from freezing. The holes in his shoes feel every crack in the cement sidewalk as he strides the cold gray caverns of his inner-city world.

His hair is matted and appears to have avoided a comb his entire young career.  His coal-black eyes peer out from a face filthy with the grime of the streets.  His shrunken belly grovels noisily and aches for lack of food.  His hands cut and chaffed wave futily the papers and trinkets at uninterested passers by.  And His voice cries out in unsalesman-like despair, “Won’t you buy? Won’t you buy my papers and things?  Papers, trinkets won’t you buy them? Won’t…” He sees the policeman, but it’s too late.  He’d been warned time after time to stay away from this part of the city, and not to be selling his things there.

The policeman grabs him gruffly, but speaks gently to the helpless and hopeless lad.  And the young man realizes, “Hey, this is a new cop.  He doesn’t recognize me.”  And the officer asks, “Do you have a home?”  “No.”  The policeman replies, “Have you eaten lately?” “Uh, Uh.”  The policeman pauses a moment and looks down the street and sees a building with a cross in the front of it.  And he looks at the young lad and says, “You see that building?”  “Yeah,” the boy stammers.  “Go down there and say “John 3:16” and they’ll help you.”

Reluctantly, the ill-spent youth shuffles up to the door.  Thinking to himself, “What do I have to lose?”  Tentatively, he knocks and weakly yells, “John 3:16.”  The door opens and there stands a middle-aged man who smiling replies, “Come in son, you look cold.”  “I’m frozen,” the boy manages to reply.  And the kind man leads our boy to a fire-filled potbelly stove.  And the lad feverishly reaches out and warms his hands at the fire.  And while he is warming himself, this thought races through his mind:  “John 3:16, I don’t know Him or understand Him, but He sure knows how to warm the heart."

“John 3:16” today can warm the heart of the coldest sinner.  Nothing does more for the sinner than the warmth of God’s eternal love expressed at Calvary’s Cross.  God so loved the whole world at the Cross and gave His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for sinful man.  Jesus laid down His life in the place of vile sinners. Nothing does more for the lost than the love of Christ.  O the love that drew salvation’s plan, O the love that brought it down to man.  The love of God so rich and pure, so measureless and strong, it brought redeeming Grace down to Adam’s race.

“John 3:16” can warm the heart of a cold, hardened sinner.  In Romans  2:4, it says that the ‘Goodness of God’ that leads us to repentance.  “John 3:16” will also warm the heart of a backslidden Christian.  It also lights the fire of a zealous Christian.  The love of the Gospel keeps a Christian on fire in the service of the Lord.

Our young boy’s revelry by the fire is interrupted by the man’s second enquiry:  “Are you hungry?”  “Very sir, very hungry.”  He guides the starving youngster to a table.  The table is not filled with rich delicacies, but the real necessities of life.  All piping hot and ready, and this thought penetrates the boy’s thinking as he hesitantly then fervently begins to satiate his hunger: “Whatever or whoever this “John 3:16” is, He sure can fill the hungry soul.”

“John 3:16” fills the empty soul’s need.  Inside of all of us somewhere there is an emptiness, and we’re empty and unfulfilled and without hope till that empty place is filled by Christ Jesus, God Almighty Himself.  He is the only one that can satisfy your hungering spirit within.  Inside of every man there is something that rebels and resists the law of God and the wooing calls of the Holy Spirit, but there is also inside of every man a conscience that tells him, “You've done wrong, and you’re guilty and in danger without your sins being forgiven.”

There’s a voice calling all of us from an old rugged tree, and it whispers, “Draw closer to Me.” That voice cries out today, “I’ll forgive you, I’ll save you, I’ll give you a home in heaven, I’ll wash you and make you whiter than snow.  I’ll fill your heart with gladness and a melody of love!”

“John 3:16” woos the wayward one’s feet.  “John 3:16” is standing on the roadside of life today waiting for the prodigal son to return from his wandering afar.  And He waits with open arms to place a robe on his back, a ring on his finger, shoes on his feet, and food in his belly.  “John 3:16” waits patiently to celebrate the return of a wandering son.

“John 3:16” also runs the cup over for the righteous.  Psalm 23:5 “My cup runneth over.”  “John 3:16” will run your cup over.  In Psalm 23, with the Lord as our Shepherd we don’t have any wants, He gives refreshment, He leads by the still waters, He restores our souls, He gives leadership, He accompanies through evil and death, He prepares a table, He anoints our head, He runs our cup over with His blessing.  “John 3:16” will fill the longing soul.

And then the kind host addresses the young man to an obvious need, “Do you need a bath boy?”  “Yes sir,” he smiled shyly.  “I haven’t had one in quite a while.”  He ushers him to huge bath tub filled with warm water, and there he removes the grime of many days.  And as the young boy is enjoying the bath, his thoughts are: “Whoever or whatever this “John 3:16” is, He sure knows how to clean a fellow up.”

“John 3:16” cleanses the sinner throughly by the blood of the Lamb.  In I John 1:7, the scriptures report, “the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanseth us from all sin.”  Sin all forgiven, guilt all washed away; it can all be under His atoning blood today.

The sinner cries, “What can wash away my sin?” And the echo comes back from Heaven, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.  What can make me whole again?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
In the Old Testament, they would bring the blood of bulls, goats and lambs, and that would be an atonement, nothing more than a postponement of a penalty.  But the blood of the New Testament is the blood of a new covenant.  It is the “blood of the Lamb of God” who had no spot and no blemish.  And God’s blood is the cleansing agent that washes away our sins, and they are not remembered against us anymore forever.

Not only that, “John 3:16” will wash the Christian.  The Christian needs to be washed from the defilement of his sin and this world.  When you walk in the world, some of that world is going to rub off on you.  And what everyone needs today is a good dose of “John 3:16.”

The Bible’s Gospel expects the true saint to keep himself clean.  See Romans 6:1-17.  Shall we continue in sin, God forbid.  Should any Christian continue in sin because he is under grace, God forbid it.

Our young man is now warm, full, and clean for the first time in months.  He yawns as he towels himself dry and steps into the clean clothes provided by his blessed benefactor.  The man smiles and says, “How about a good night’s sleep?”  The boy’s mind flashes back to nights in cold alleys when he was sheltered only by cardboard boxes in shivering, fitful, restless nights.  And as he pulls those warm quilts up to his chin and settles his head onto his pillow.  As He lays in the darkness, looking out the window at the snow coming down, just before he drifts off to sleep, his last thought is:  “Whoever or whatever (yawn) this “John 3:16” is, He really gives rests the weary.”

“John 3:16” gives rests to those today that are weary of a life of sinning.  The Old Testament says in Isaiah 1:18 says, “Come now let us reason together saith the LORD, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall will be as wool.”  And Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  If you’re sick of your sin sinner, come on to Jesus Christ.  If you’ve had it with your wickedness and ungodliness, and you weary and heavy-hearted, then tell it to Jesus right now.  He is a friend that is well known.  If you’re sick of a life of unrest and turmoil, if you’re done with doubt and you’re filled up with discouragement, fall down flat at the feet of Jesus, and let Him save you.

The old hymn says, “Many years I longed for rest, perfect peace within my breast, and often sought the Lord alone in tears.  But I would not pay the price, would not accept the sacrifice, so I wandered on and on for many years.”

There are people today that have wandered on and on for many years.  No rest, no peace, no joy, no delight, no happiness, no victory.  Today, you can rest on Jesus’ assurance, “Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.” “John 3:16” also rests the saint that labors in the Lord.  

The next morning the man comes back up and takes the young lad downstairs for breakfast.  After the boy finishes eating, they both go and sit down by the potbelly stove.  The man picks up his Old Bible and looks in the young lad’s eyes, and says, “Do you understand John 3:16?”  He replies, “No Sir, I don’t.  The first time I heard it was last night when the policeman pointed me to your door.”  The man then opened his Bible to “John 3:16”, and began showing the young lad how Jesus loved Him and died in his place and suffered for his sins on the cross.  He showed him how Jesus was buried and rose again the third day from the grave.  He then lovingly explained to the young boy how he must repent of his sins and simply believe in Jesus if he wanted to escape from his sins and Hell.

Right there, by the old stove, the young lad received Jesus into His heart and was born again.  And as He sat there and thought, He looked into the man’s eyes and said:  “John 3:16 sure knows how to make a boy feel safe.”

Reader, you may not fully understand “John 3:16” either.  How that God was willing to send His only begotten Son here to die for you, and how Jesus volunteered to lay down His life for your sins, so you could go free, and not go to Hell.  You may not understand the agony and shame that the Lord Jesus bore for you on the cross, but it is a fact.  God has provided the Savior, you must provide the sinner.

Look to Jesus today, don’t try and put your last touches on the finished work of Christ.  Your fingers are black with sin and this angers the Lord.  Jesus Christ is the apple of God’s eye.  For a sinner to try to put his finishing touches on Christ’s Blood Atonement is a stab in the eye of God.

Sinner, come to Christ Jesus now, He will not reject you.  Receive His great atonement and be clothed with His Righteousness.  The Gospel is for the bona fide, real, actual, card-carrying sinner; not for the artificial sinner, but the genuine sinner.

Poor sinner, what do say to this?  Will you now rest on Christ?  God is satisfied with His Son’s atoning sacrifice, are you?  God thinks Jesus’ sacrifice is enough.  Do you?  You can only be saved by faith in Christ's atoning blood, and in Christ alone.  Not your own works, or feelings, or experience.  Christ wants no preparation from you.  Simply cast yourself down on Christ.  Submit to Him and let Him save you by His free grace and pure mercy.  Cast yourself down in the dust before Him, and ONCE FOR ALL have done with your wretched self.  Rely not on anything you can do, or think, or say, or know; rest alone on Jesus only, and you are saved forever.  Sinner, look to Jesus, and you are saved.  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

You may be thinking, “My sins are too many”? Jesus’ Atonement is miraculous; it can cover all your sin.  Do you say, “My heart is too hard”?  Jesus can soften it with His blood.  Do you cry, “I am so unworthy”?  Jesus loves the unworthy.  Do you feel, “I am so vile and sinful?”  It is the vile that Jesus came to save.  Down in the dust, sinner; down, down with yourself and up with Christ, who suffered for your sins on Calvary’s cross. Get forgiven; God's forgiveness is free.  Life is short, Death is sure, Sin the curse, Christ the cure.  Do you want to get rid of your sins?

Then turn your eyes there to Calvary’s cross, see Jesus only:  He suffers, He bleeds, He dies for you.  Look to those bleeding wounds and His pierced side.  Oh sinner, look now to the Cross with me.  Mark the man hanging there for you.  Do you see His eyes?  There is pity for your soul there.  Do you see His side?  It is opened that you may hide your sins there.  Do you notice those drops of crimson blood flowing down, every drop is trickling down for your sins.  Do you hear Jesus’ death shrieks for you, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?”  He is screaming and suffering in your place.  Yes, for you, if you’re a sinner.  Look to the empty tomb:  He is buried, He rises again.  He ascends on high.  If you know you have offended God and sense your sin and danger, please ask God to have mercy upon you for Jesus’ sake.

Trust Him, and you are safe forever.  Give up all other trusts, and rely on Jesus alone, alone on Jesus, and you shall pass from death unto life.  Sinner, look at Jesus Christ!  There is power in His atoning blood to wash away all your sins.  No sins can be too black or too many for His precious blood to cleanse.  The Blood of Christ is sufficient.  Simply and wholly rest and trust in Jesus Christ Himself.  “John 3:16” sure makes life worth living.”

Self or the Savior?

A policeman cannot love law enforcement and drug lords at the same time.  Likewise, a Christian cannot love God and the sins that hurt God at the same time.  The carnal mind cannot stop offending such a kind and good God who died for human sin.  The natural man is delusional in this world's system, because he is fond of vice, ensnared by lust, and naturally bent towards evil and darkness.  The flesh, evil human nature, has an aversion to God Himself, that is, the flesh dislikes, dreads, hostile towards, opposed to, and has no use for a absolutely pure and Holy Being.  There is within the heart of man an unwillingness to receive and glorify Christ Jesus.

Lust of the flesh - Fleshly lusts which war against the soul.  Lusting after one's own unchaste desires, unclean thoughts, cruel words and selfish actions.  This is the desire to gratify the carnal mind.  Sin degrades the soul and destroys the body.  Self-centeredness, self-sufficiency, independent living apart from God.  What serves my own purposes?  Evil, self-serving cravings lead to misery.  People that love sin say, "this is the way God made me." Man wants to be his own god, define what's right and wrong, do as it pleases, and live with no moral restrictions.  The unsatisfying pursuit of evil leaves the atheist empty.  Committing sin only brings more evil desires.  The lust of the flesh is desire to please of the outward senses and imagination, and the longing to gratify pride and vanity.  The carnal mind has an aversion to true goodness and divine light, and it has a love for evil, and a hatred of God. 

Lust of the eyes - The enticement of the eyes.  Covetous, lascivious looks, eyes which are full of adultery.  The eyes of man are never satisfied.  I must have that.  I want something that replaces God.  Sin only results in dissatisfaction.  Billboards and commercials, I need that to be satisfied.  I just have to drive it, travel there, invest in it, drink it, eat it, see it, wear it, live in it, experience it.  When you have all that this world can offer, it will only leave you emptier than you were at the beginning. A vain pursuit to own, enjoy, and experience anything but Jesus Christ. What are you craving, chasing after, and clinging to in this life?  If you woke up and your house was on fire, what would you grab on the way out the door?  Things that really matter are irreplaceable.  Stop chasing after the promised delusions of this world.  A chasing after worldly things that rust, rot, wither, decay, wear out, or go out of style.  

Pride of life - This type of person is a braggart.  He exaggerates to improve his image.  He will lie on his resume to get a job.  His appearance and reputation in man's eyes is paramount. He will tell perfect strangers about his accomplishments. His favorite topic of discussion is himself.  He hungers for self-promotion and self-glory. He priority is worldly ambition for honor and high titles; he longs to be a well-connected mover and shaker.  The lust for luxury, the vain mind craves the pomp and title of a vain-glorious life.  Materialistic, carnal ambition to keep up with others.  Greed for money, desire for fame, enslaved by love of self.  Thirsting after position, human acceptance and worldly applause. Public opinion is the carnal mind's highest priority. Self-centered, vain lying to deceive others so they will think more of them.  The delusions of this world are feeding you a lie that will only leave you wanting something more, and will eventually damn you in the end.  The choices are eternal joy or eternal judgment.  The wayside soil is the devil, the thorny soil is the world, and the rocky soil is the flesh.

Every man's heart is alienated from the life of God in Christ Jesus.  The only thing you consistently do is sin against God.  There is a deadly worm at the core of your heart called Sin, and only the Blood of Jesus Christ can kill that worm. As long as you remain in your sins, you belong to Satan, and are taken captive by him at his will.  God is no respecter of persons. Death is stalking you every day. Sin leads to a cruelty that is devoid of conscience. You need to be delivered from the power of darkness by the power of the Holy Ghost. Jesus is the divine Conqueror of human hearts, and His unfailing love subdues our sins.

You are in spiritual darkness, your mind is blinded by Satan, you cannot see (understand) the truths of the Gospel.  Human thoughts and carnal reasoning will lead you down a dark path.  Men love darkness because their deeds are evil.  The eyes of your understanding must be enlightened by the word of God and the Spirit of God.  The Holy Spirit is the great Cultivator of the human heart, and the great Planter of the word of God in the human heart.

By nature, you are an unregenerate child of wrath and influenced by Satan, the prince of the power of the air.  Only the Holy Ghost can reveal to you your sinful and helpless condition, and only the Spirit of God can lead you to the foot of Calvary's Cross and reveal to you the Lamb of God, Christ Jesus the LORD.  In yourself, you are hopeless and totally unable to help save yourself from sin.  You have no power over your lusts without Christ as your Savior.

The evil nature within you has an affinity (natural liking, fondness, bent, appetite, inclination, tendency) toward the things that displease God.  You have no feeling toward God, you are past feeling as long as you continue to love your sins.  Stop trampling the blood of Jesus under your feet.  You may fool men, but you can't fool God.  Just say no to yourself, and trust Jesus' blood, and follow Him daily in your behavior.

Sin is when a human heart chooses to go its own way, and not God's way.  The Bible best describes what your heart is like - wicked and bent toward evil.  Never trust in human potential. Your main problem is that you have forgotten God and rejected Christ.  It's not karma where you pay and pay and pay, and then you're forgiven because of yourself.  You are a sinner, not a god, and you do not have a speck of divinity within you, because you are filled with sin to the brim.  Jesus was not just a good teacher; He was God manifest in the flesh who came here to Earth to bear and pay for your sins.  Jesus was sinless; He was absolutely pure in thought, word and deed.  Only Jesus can change a heart of hate into a heart of love.

Christ Jesus is the only way to obtain Eternal Life; Christ Jesus is Eternal Life, simply receive Christ Himself by faith into your inward parts and you have life eternal on the spot.  Reincarnation is a damnable lie.  Truth only comes from the God of the Holy Bible; truth is real, not relative. Sin is real, and perfection for a sinner is impossible.  The only Remedy for your sin problem is the atoning blood of God Incarnate.  On the Cross, Jesus, the sinless Son of God, gave Himself to die for you as a Substitute; He bore your sins, and then He became Sin, so you could be forgiven freely and be made the Righteousness of God in Christ. Jesus took full brunt of God's justice for your sins, so you could be ransomed.

Leave off following after you own lusts, and turn to seek and follow after Jesus.  Except ye repent, and trust to Jesus, ye shall perish in your sins.  Flee to the Lamb of God, come and kneel by faith at the foot of the Cross, and plead for God's mercy through Jesus' innocent Blood.  Every sinner, every sinner, must be saved by God's Blood shed by Jesus Himself on Golgotha's tree.  God was manifest in the flesh, and He provided the Precious Blood Atonement that can take away your sins.  The evil of man, the divine justice, bleeding love, and free forgiveness converged at Calvary in the man Christ Jesus.

The only answer to your dissatisfaction is the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, in trusting, loving and following Him, and being jealous for His glory. When you come to religion, you come to a place; but when you come to Christ, you must come to a Person. Fix your gaze upon the Lamb of God of Calvary. God Incarnate, Christ Jesus, can change what you are, and what you want to do.  Only Jesus is big enough to save and change your life. Outside of the Blood, Righteousness, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no other hope for sinful mankind. Forsake sin and self, and turn with purpose of heart to God manifest in the flesh, implicitly trusting to His Precious Blood.  Give glory to God by yielding to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.  The Cross destroys hypocrisy, self-righteousness and formalism.  Sin never satisfied, but Jesus always does.

Whole Armor Study 4

Putting on the Whole Armour of God
The soldier wakes up in his tent on a cold morning, he lies there for a moment and thinks of how he must face a phalanx of razor-sharp spears thrusting and jabbing at his vitals today.  He must endure foot-to-foot, hand-to-hand, breath-to-breath hacking, stabbing, and bloody wrestling in the midst of howls and moans of battle all the daylong.  He prays fervently to God for help, and then trembling, the soldier rises up and begins to get dressed.

First, he takes his leather war belt (girtle) to which is attached his sword and cinches it tightly about him, drawing his sword close for battle and tucking in his tunic for mobility.  His war belt is sweat through and salt-stained and bloodstained but comfortable to wear.  It holds everything comfortable in place.  He is girt tight with God’s word, his whole person is bound in truth, so that his character and life exude truth.  He has “truth in the inward parts” (Psa 51:6).  He is armed with a good conscience (I Tim 1:19).  With truth holding his life together within and without, he can confidently face any spiritual enemy.  Truth permeates his life and reigns within.

Second, he reaches, still trembling, for his metal battle-tarnished breastplate, shaped to protect his chest and abdomen, his vital organs. His breastplate is crisscrossed with grooves from slicing sword blows and dented from enemy javelins and battle-axes.  A comrade helps him cinch it in place.  This is righteousness which first comes from God through faith in Christ’s blood – imputed righteousness (Phil 3:9).  As this righteousness is properly worn in humility, it produces holy living.  He is outwardly covered and inwardly infused with righteousness; the warrior’s heart is resistant to the attacks of the enemy.  God’s righteousness protects his life.  He cannot die in battle.  His righteous life (integrity) allows him fearlessly to face the foe.

Third, the soldier bends over and begins to lace the straps of his nail-studded legionnaire boots to his ankles and scarred shins.  His feet will be secure as he stands his ground in battle.  He will not slip and will not retreat.  The boots are peace with God (Rom 5:1) and the peace of God (John 14:27). He does not have the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  He was the enemy of God, but now there is peace through Christ’s blood, and a sense of God’s forgiveness, fellowship, and help.  He is rooted, stablished, grounded, settled in the grace and peace of God.  The Christian soldier faces all onslaughts, never stepping back.  Under the fiercest spiritual attacks, he feeds on God’s peace, and drinks from Christ’s presence, leans on the Spirit’s power.  He digs in for the long battle ahead. How beautiful are the feet of them which preach the gospel of peace.

Fourth, after tying the last boot thong, he picks up his great oblong shield, which he will use to deflect the enemies’ barrages of fiery darts.  The scrapes and charred holes reveal him to be the victor of many fierce battles.  The shield is faith in God and His word.  Through faith, the good soldier binds himself close to the heart, will, and purpose of God.  And when those burning darts of doubt come flying toward him, up goes his shield of faith, into which they harmlessly thud.  (I John 5:4).  His shield has caught and quenched many fiery darts of doubt, worry, lust, and covetousness.  He repeatedly believes God’s word in every trial.  Truth, righteousness, peace, faith are his armament.

Fifth, he reaches for his helmet, slips it over his head and fastens the chin strap, and adjust it comfortably to his head.  He rests in God’s salvation, it will protect him in the worst battle no matter what. Great dents and chips mar his helmet, reminding of the blow he has taken in the past when he dealt with the enemy.  He has confidence in knowing that he is saved by God’s grace, will be saved, and God’s grace has allowed him to stand tall against the most vicious assaults in the past.

Sixth, he takes up his sword and scabbard and straps attaches it to his war belt.  This is his offensive weapon, it will cut though everything – armor, flesh, glistening bone, to the marrow – even the soul and spirit.

Seventh, he remembers he cannot do anything without God’s help and aid.  He kneels in the tent and cries out to God for mercy and grace to help in time of need.  He needs boldness and wisdom in the heat of the battle he will face today.  He prays for his fellow soldier that God will help them.  He looks into His war manual and seeks guidance from his general.  He needs to follow his guidance in order to win.  He goes over his war plan, he readies himself.  He takes time to rethink his priorities and takes time for prayer.  He makes new resolve to fight on and win for his king.  He chooses a promise from God to help keep him loyal all day in battle.

He rises from prayer, he readies himself, he adjusts his war belt again.  His heart is pounding out of his chest under his breastplate so that it almost rings.  He scuffs at the earth like a football player with his nail-studded boots, testing his traction.  He repeatedly draws his great shield across his body in anticipation of the fiery darts to come.  He remembers God’s word and His presence.  He reaches up and repositions his helmet.  He gingerly tests the edge of His sword with his finger for sharpness.

The enemy approaches.  His shining sword of God rings from its scabbard.  The warrior stands motionless, breathing heavily.  He then remembers again that He needs God so desperately, he falls to his knees in humble, fervent prayer to God; prayer is his primary weapon against the enemy.  He is sure there will be action soon.  He rises and his sword flashes in the sunlight.  The enemy grows closes and closer, and then the steel crashes against steel in awful combat.  Then begins the pounding, wrestling, desperate, life-and-death action with the enemy.