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II. The Whole Armor of God Sessions 3-8 – Parts 2A-1 to 2F
*Session 3 – Part 2A-2 – All our lives, we have been subjected to Satan's lies, and he is the father of lies. We have believed and lived lies. We have told lies. But when we came to faith in Christ, God’s Grace opened our spiritual eyes so we could see the Truth and the Truth set us free. We no longer fell under the authority of Satan's lies. God's truth, as found in His Word and our response to it, sanctifies us and sets us apart for his service. His truth continues the sanctification process.
John 17:14-17 says, "14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." God the Father chose each of us. He sanctified or set each of us apart, and we are also required to sanctify ourselves. We are required to set ourselves apart to God.
1 Peter 5:8-9 says, "8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."
II Peter 1:19-21 says, "19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."
Satan leads us into false beliefs so that we doubt God's Word. We actually help him in this, because many believers keep God in a tiny box, limiting what He can do in their lives by putting some areas off-limits. We must let God be God. Who are we to limit Him? We must decide whether or not we will believe the Bible and act on it, or continue to be tossed about by Satan.
II Timothy 3:16-17 says, "16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
The validity of God's Word is a central issue. If it is God-given, God-breathed, God-protected, and God-preserved, then we must study and obey it. If we pick and choose which parts of it we believe, then all of it fails. Satan likes to get us to doubt parts of Scripture, especially those parts that make us uncomfortable. Once he’s got us doubting, he will devour us and we will at best become lukewarm Christians. God says he spews lukewarm Christians out of His mouth. We have a choice to make. Either we walk in our own understanding with Satan as our tour guide, or we can walk in God’s truth with the Holy Spirit leading the way (this is what I chose to do; how about you?).
John 14:6 says, "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
John 17:17 says, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."
John 8:32 says, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." If we refuse to accept God's truth, then we are not heirs to God's kingdom; instead, we inherit Satan’s eternal damnation. There is no middle ground. Make up your mind. Whom will you trust and follow? With whom will you walk? God gave you a free will to choose to manifest His Spirit, or manifest Satan's spirit. Never forget that our warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against Satan and his kingdom. Never forget your real enemy.
1 Timothy 4:1-3 says, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth."
What happens to us when we refuse to put on the belt of truth and tighten it up for battle? From the beginning of the Christian faith it has always been a challenge for believers to become well established in the Word of God. In Ephesians 4, Paul exhorts believers to stay unified in the Spirit until all of us come to unity in faith and reach spiritual maturity. Zealous Christians who step into positions of leadership before they have a solid understanding of truth spread much error.
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May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds ALWAYS!!!
Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks
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