Ephesians 6:11-20 (KJV): “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD
There is a spiritual battle happening throughout the world today. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12 KJV). The battle is against the testimony of Jesus Christ (the Gospel): “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17 KJV). Believers in Jesus Christ need to have a “warrior mindset” and make the Gospel known to the lost: “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19 KJV). Satan roams this earth seeking whom he can devour: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8). Believers need to know that we fight from victory and Satan’s roar is just that, it is a loud roar, a bunch of noise. A “roar” might frighten a person but it cannot hurt a person.
The spiritual battle is against the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Satan and his demons hate the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Satan’s desire is to “pervert” the Gospel of Jesus Christ because Satan wants the Gospel to “be hid” from the lost. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (II Corinthians 4:3-4 KJV). To hide the Gospel of Jesus Christ from the lost, Satan and his demons transform themselves into angels of “light.” “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (II Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV). There are pastors, priests, reverends, and bishops today who claim to preach “light” but they are spiritually “blinded” and their message is rooted in “darkness.” Their message “perverts” the Gospel of Christ. Messages that glory in the “works of men,” rituals and sacraments rather than the Finished Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ is a message of “darkness.”
FIGHT FROM VICTORY
The Bible is very clear that believers are not to advance or retreat for we fight from the position of victory already: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:55-57 KJV). The believer is to “stand” and be ready for battle: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:13-14 KJV). It is a mindset.
Believers should not believe everything that is spoken by the clergy or from the pulpit. Believers should “test” the message -test their words with the Words of God. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” (I John 4:1-5 KJV)
Preparing the warrior mindset, one needs to witness and see examples of a false message. This is a false message that Satan and his demons use today: “The Bible does not teach unconditional security. The condition to our security is that we must truly be saved. Someone who claims to be saved, yet lives a life of continual, habitual sin...” (quote is taken directly from a church website). This is a false message which is rooted in “darkness.” This message claims that Jesus Christ did not pay for all sin. This message says a person can “lose salvation.” This message says “the Blood of Jesus Christ is not sufficient.” This message says “man has to partner with God for salvation.” This is “lordship salvation” which is a false doctrine. Remember, faith + works = works: “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5 KJV). All messages need to be scrutinized to make sure the Gospel is not “perverted.” Satan “perverts” the Gospel subtly by saying such things as: “Someone who claims to be saved, yet lives a life of continual, habitual sin…” This message is rooted in “darkness” because it is saying that “faith” is not enough when the Bible says “faith” is enough. Believers are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. When a person is saved, they are newborn babes in Christ. Just like a newborn baby that is completely helpless when newly born, the same for newborn babes in Christ. For this reason, newborn believers need to get involved in a Gospel preaching teaching church where they can be nourished spiritually by the Water of Life, the Bread of Life and be raised on a well-balanced spiritual diet of milk and meat of the Word of God (put on the whole armour of God). Newborn babes in Christ need to read the Word of God and continue to read the Word of God and grow in grace in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (put on the whole armour of God). Newborn babes in Christ are to pray earnestly and as they grow in grace in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, pray for all saints and self to boldly make the Gospel known to the lost (put on the whole armour of God).
When a person is “born again” and now a newborn babe in Christ, the world cannot discern who the Father is of this newborn baby; however, the Father knows His children. “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him” (Nahum 1:7 KJV). “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10 KJV). “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine” (Isaiah 43:1 KJV). Even if your mother forgets your name, your Father in Heaven will never forget your name: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me” (Isaiah 49:15-16 KJV). Jesus knows who are His: “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15 KJV).
SHIELD OF FAITH
Whenever Satan and his demons start shooting arrows of doubt, deceit, and perversion, believers should have on “whole armour of God” because the armour protects the believer from spiritual attacks. When Satan starts preaching messages that one can “lose salvation,” believers use their “shield of faith” and put out those fiery arrows of doubt, deceit, and perversion immediately and this is done by using the Word of God. A believer is reminded that the Bible does promise “unconditional security.” “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18 KJV). “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:28-30 KJV). “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV). “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (I John 5:9-14 KJV).
“Put on the whole armour of God” because when Satan starts preaching messages that pervert the Gospel (salvation by anything else except the Finished Redemptive Work of Christ), believers can stand and defend the Word of God with the Word of God because the Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword. The Gospel is: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV).
There is only one Gospel, let it not be perverted: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9 KJV).
IT IS A CHOICE
There is a spiritual battle amongst us today. Believers in Jesus Christ do not fight against “flesh and blood” but the darkness and god of this world (Satan). “Put on the whole Armor of God” and shield yourself in the Word of God “to make known the mystery of the Gospel.” Somebody took the time to share an “unperverted” Gospel with you, we should take the time and share the “unperverted” Gospel onto others. Believers are directed to “put on the whole armour of God” because our best offense and defense against Satan is shroud self in the Word of God. When a person is “born again” they are only supposed to be a “babe in Christ” for a season. Believers should grow in the grace in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and a believer can only do this by reading the Word of God which is “put on the whole armour of God.” It is a choice. Individuals can remain a “babe in Christ” their entire physical life like the Corinthians; however, these believers will be deceived. These individuals will never lose their salvation, but they could impact other’s salvation because they could easily “pervert” the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Without the “armour of God,” a newborn babe is susceptible to “the fiery darts of the wicked” and “the wiles of the devil.” It is a choice. “Put on the whole armour of God” and protect self from doubts, deceit, and perversion. Satan and his demons want believers to be “helpless” in this spiritual battle. Satan is a bully and only has a loud voice. The Bible says: “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10 KJV). Remember, believers are not “victims,” we are “victors” and we fight from victory. “Put on the whole armour of God” is a mindset and believers need to get their mind transformed and this only happens by the Word of God. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2 KJV).
At the end of the day, remember who has your six (your back), it is Jesus Christ: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: ...” (Revelation 1:10-11 KJV).
THE PLAN OF SALVATION - THE GOSPEL
The Gospel is Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins (past present future), He was buried and He resurrected the third day to show us the payment for sin is paid in full.
I Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
There is only one way to Heaven and it is the belief in the Finished Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ.
Titus 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Lord Savior Jesus Christ was born for one reason and that is to save us from our sins. Jesus Christ does not come to condemn individuals. Jesus Christ comes to save us because we are all Hell doomed sinners without the Blood of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16-18: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The Bible is very clear Jesus Christ does not come to condemn for we are already condemned.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The Bible is very clear the payment for sin is death; somebody has to die for your sin and this is why Jesus Christ come to this earth.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let me ask you a very simple question. If you could be saved by being water baptized, doing good works, being a good person or following the Ten Commandments, why did the God from Eternity Past, the God from Eternity Future, the Ever Presence Jesus Christ reveal Himself in the flesh and die on the Cross and Resurrect the Third Day?
Galatians 2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
If you could earn salvation by doing those things, then Jesus Christ died in vain; but, we know Jesus Christ didn’t die in vain; Jesus Christ made a perfect sacrifice for sin because He is the Lamb of God and only the Lamb of God makes a perfect sacrifice for sin.
The resurrection is proof God the Father accepted Jesus Christ death payment for sin; death payment of past, present and future sin.
The bible is very clear Jesus Christ comes to saves us from a Hell we deserve to a Heaven we don’t.
People DO NOT go to Hell because they are “bad”, they go to Hell because they believe NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they trust NOT in Jesus Christ as their Savior, they believe NOT that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for their sins, burial and resurrection.
Know that God is gracious to you and He has already died for all your sins (past present future) and He was buried showing all the world He died for your sins and He resurrected showing all the world that Jesus Christ fulfilled what the Father asked Him to do, IT IS FINISHED.
I pray you to believe in Jesus Christ right now for salvation; believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sin, burial, and resurrection.
If you have not believed, what is stopping you right now from believing? God loves you and has already died and resurrected to meet you. Believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, burial, and resurrection and receive the greatest gift ever which is eternal life. Eternal life does not start when you die, eternal life starts the very second you believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. Why not trust in Jesus Christ today for salvation. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 KJV)
If you know someone who is not saved, forward this message to them and share the greatest gift that one could ever receive.
Lance Edminster
The Good News Voice
Email: thegoodnewsvoice@gmail.com
Once Saved, Always Saved -"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." (John 10:28-30 KJV)
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