Ephesians 6:11 (NLT2) 11Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
What does the "armor of God" look like? We are told to wear it to battle the devil's tactics...what is included? It can be found in Ephesians 6:11-17
1) The Helmet of Salvation - We must be sure that we have a relationship with the living Christ. Our salvation decision is the most important decision that we will ever make.... Will it make life easy? Not necessarily...life will still be challenging. After you make a commitment to Jesus as Lord and Savior, the devil will double his efforts to bring you down. But you have more protection and weapons than he can handle...
2) The Breastplate of Righteousness - No matter what the devil tries to throw in your face, when you are wearing the armor of God you are righteous in the eyes of God. This is not by our own doing but by the blood of Christ who sacrificed Himself so that God would see us this way. Through Christ, you aren't condemned...you aren't accused...you aren't worthless...you are set apart and righteous (in right standing) with God...because you confess your belief in Christ's resurrection and trust Him as Lord and Savior.
3) The Gospel of Peace - The foot part of the armor...are you walking in peace? This part of the armor is one of the most powerful. The devil will do everything he can to make your life chaotic...hectic...challenging...We don't get to control what the world throws at us...we DO get to control our reaction to it. When you are wearing the full armor of God...these sandals of peace are there to help us to remember that we are not in control, God is. Let Him handle the stress and worry...leave those things at the cross (and don't pick them back up). Live at peace with your neighbors, co-workers and family... give grace when needed...live out a Christ-like example to others...
Today we looked at the first three pieces...which of these three do you sometimes forget to put on? In your journals, write a prayer and ask God to help you remember that you are to wear every piece...every day... Your life will be richer as a result.
See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Monday - "Who am I, really?"
Greetings Internet Campus,
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
When I was in elementary school, we used to come in on cold days and hang our jackets up on hooks mounted to the wall. It never failed that when it was time to go home...the only jacket hanging up when I went to get mine did NOT have my name in it. Somebody had my jacket. They had my name on my label in my coat. They were going to go home in MY jacket.
My name was on the label. All of the scratches and tears in the jacket were from me...all the stains on the pockets from exploded pens...mine. All of the imperfections...my doing. Someone else was wearing the mistakes that I had made...
I got to go home without all of those rips and tears. I didn't get into trouble for spilling paint on the sleeves or scuffing the leather... I didn't get punished for ruining the zipper or cutting the pocket. Somebody else was wearing my jacket. Somebody else was going to pay the price. Somebody else was going to be punished for my shortcomings...
When God looks at you, He doesn't see the messed up jacket. Jesus put that one on. Christ Himself took the blame and wore your messed up life. He wore mine, too. In fact, I know that even as He hung from the cross, He was thinking of you. He never regretted or struggled with the switching of jackets...He put ours on willingly and paid the ultimate price for our sins...
But He didn't stay dead. He came back to life...and we all got new jackets... Flawless, perfect, and untouched coats... and it's in those new clothes that God sees us...
Through Christ's sacrifice, we all get a new identity...a new chance...God sees us wearing the coat of righteousness through the sacrifice of His Son.
Never forget that. Jesus loves you so much He died for you. Might sound simple...but it establishes our very identity in the eyes of God. What a powerful thought.
Let's have a power-filled day.
Pastor Brian
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
When I was in elementary school, we used to come in on cold days and hang our jackets up on hooks mounted to the wall. It never failed that when it was time to go home...the only jacket hanging up when I went to get mine did NOT have my name in it. Somebody had my jacket. They had my name on my label in my coat. They were going to go home in MY jacket.
My name was on the label. All of the scratches and tears in the jacket were from me...all the stains on the pockets from exploded pens...mine. All of the imperfections...my doing. Someone else was wearing the mistakes that I had made...
I got to go home without all of those rips and tears. I didn't get into trouble for spilling paint on the sleeves or scuffing the leather... I didn't get punished for ruining the zipper or cutting the pocket. Somebody else was wearing my jacket. Somebody else was going to pay the price. Somebody else was going to be punished for my shortcomings...
When God looks at you, He doesn't see the messed up jacket. Jesus put that one on. Christ Himself took the blame and wore your messed up life. He wore mine, too. In fact, I know that even as He hung from the cross, He was thinking of you. He never regretted or struggled with the switching of jackets...He put ours on willingly and paid the ultimate price for our sins...
But He didn't stay dead. He came back to life...and we all got new jackets... Flawless, perfect, and untouched coats... and it's in those new clothes that God sees us...
Through Christ's sacrifice, we all get a new identity...a new chance...God sees us wearing the coat of righteousness through the sacrifice of His Son.
Never forget that. Jesus loves you so much He died for you. Might sound simple...but it establishes our very identity in the eyes of God. What a powerful thought.
Let's have a power-filled day.
Pastor Brian
Monday, March 10, 2008
Monday 3-10-08 "Exposing the lie"
Greetings Internet Campus,
This week, we're going to look at the lie discussed last weekend. Does hell really exist? Who goes there?
Let's look at the first part of the verse for the week:
Luke 16:19-22 (NLT2): “19Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. 22“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, …”
Interesting story from the Bible. In one corner you have a rich man. Not a care in the world. Has everything that he wants...no worries at all! In the other corner...Lazarus. Sick, open sores oozing, waiting for anything to fall from the table of the rich.
There is one common denominator...and it's what we'll be focusing on this week.
They both died.
As we study "Is there REALLY a hell?" we need to first understand the commonality of death. All of us are going to die. I know, not too uplifting for a Monday. But it's true...all of us will one day stop breathing. Then what happens?
In today's verse, Lazarus, the beggar, was carried to heaven. Was that because he was poor? No. We'll talk about why in a second. Let's look at the other person...the rich man. He died and what happened. They buried him. No faith. No hope. No angels. No future. What was the difference? Why did one go to Heaven and one not? Simple. Lazarus, we are told, had faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. The rich man didn't.
The lie that we are exposing this morning is this: Many believe that all people go to Heaven somehow. If they're good people...if they give to charity...if they help others...if they follow the laws...many believe they will go to Heaven. Not true. God is a just God. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death...eternal separation from Him. We don't deserve Heaven and we can't earn our way in.
There's only one way to get there:
1) Admit that you're a sinner
2) Believe that Jesus is God's Son and came to die for our sins
3) Commit your life to Him.
Write it down: This week on our campuses, over 500 people committed their lives to Christ. Write a prayer in your journal containing your honest feelings about this.
If you would like to say that prayer...if you are ready to secure your eternity...please let me know...www.brianvasil.com
See you tomorrow!
Pastor Brian
This week, we're going to look at the lie discussed last weekend. Does hell really exist? Who goes there?
Let's look at the first part of the verse for the week:
Luke 16:19-22 (NLT2): “19Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. 22“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, …”
Interesting story from the Bible. In one corner you have a rich man. Not a care in the world. Has everything that he wants...no worries at all! In the other corner...Lazarus. Sick, open sores oozing, waiting for anything to fall from the table of the rich.
There is one common denominator...and it's what we'll be focusing on this week.
They both died.
As we study "Is there REALLY a hell?" we need to first understand the commonality of death. All of us are going to die. I know, not too uplifting for a Monday. But it's true...all of us will one day stop breathing. Then what happens?
In today's verse, Lazarus, the beggar, was carried to heaven. Was that because he was poor? No. We'll talk about why in a second. Let's look at the other person...the rich man. He died and what happened. They buried him. No faith. No hope. No angels. No future. What was the difference? Why did one go to Heaven and one not? Simple. Lazarus, we are told, had faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. The rich man didn't.
The lie that we are exposing this morning is this: Many believe that all people go to Heaven somehow. If they're good people...if they give to charity...if they help others...if they follow the laws...many believe they will go to Heaven. Not true. God is a just God. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death...eternal separation from Him. We don't deserve Heaven and we can't earn our way in.
There's only one way to get there:
1) Admit that you're a sinner
2) Believe that Jesus is God's Son and came to die for our sins
3) Commit your life to Him.
Write it down: This week on our campuses, over 500 people committed their lives to Christ. Write a prayer in your journal containing your honest feelings about this.
If you would like to say that prayer...if you are ready to secure your eternity...please let me know...www.brianvasil.com
See you tomorrow!
Pastor Brian
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Thursday 1-31-08
Greetings Internet Campus,
2 Chronicles 7:14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
The last step in simplifying our spiritual lives is perhaps the most difficult. It involves a complete change of course...a shift in thinking...a 180 degree turn in the status quo...it's called repentance. And repentance can be tough.
In this passage, God calls us to turn from our "wicked ways". Now I know it's easy to dismiss that remark...after all...what we do each day isn't really "wicked"...it's just a white lie...or just a little bit of gossip...or a little lack of grace... But remember, in God's eyes, sin separates us from Him. Without Jesus, we have no hope....no redemption...no chance. I'd like to tell you today that God ranks sins according to their severity...that some are REALLY wicked and some are kinda wicked and some are sorta wicked and even others are barely wicked. I can't tell you that. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. All sin is wicked. Equally. In God's eyes...we all have wicked and sinful ways to turn from. But there's hope.
If you are a Christ-follower, you have already had all of that wickedness paid for by Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. God sees you as unblemished and His Son as the sacrifice. That's why He came. In today's passage...God is telling us that if we are to be forgiven and restored....we have to turn from our wicked ways and find Christ. Have you done that? Our spiritual lives can't be made simpler if one doesn't even exist! If you don't know Christ as Lord and Savior...I'd love to talk with you about that...(954)434-1500 X234 or brian.vasil@flamingoroad.org.
If you have committed your life to Him...and really want to simpify your spiritual life...look back again at today's passage...
1) Humble yourself - Recognize the fact that you aren't God. You don't have to be.
2) Pray - Talk to God....daily. Don't ever forget that you can and should connect directly to Him.
3) Seek His face - Keep looking for Christ! He may not appear physically to you...but you can still see Him in others.
4) Repent - Make a decided effort to be more like Christ. Give up those things that the Holy Spirit is nudging you to turn away from. And never go back to them...
Remember, every step that you and I make toward Christ...is one step away from the enemy.
Let's walk together.
Write it Down: In your journal today, list the 3 things that you need to turn from. This needs to be gut-level honest if you are going to grow! Write them in code if you have to...then pray that God will help you overcome their pull on your life. Repentance isn't necessarily a one-time thing...there might be things in your life that you have to turn from daily! It's worth it!
See you tomorrow!
Pastor Brian
2 Chronicles 7:14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
The last step in simplifying our spiritual lives is perhaps the most difficult. It involves a complete change of course...a shift in thinking...a 180 degree turn in the status quo...it's called repentance. And repentance can be tough.
In this passage, God calls us to turn from our "wicked ways". Now I know it's easy to dismiss that remark...after all...what we do each day isn't really "wicked"...it's just a white lie...or just a little bit of gossip...or a little lack of grace... But remember, in God's eyes, sin separates us from Him. Without Jesus, we have no hope....no redemption...no chance. I'd like to tell you today that God ranks sins according to their severity...that some are REALLY wicked and some are kinda wicked and some are sorta wicked and even others are barely wicked. I can't tell you that. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. All sin is wicked. Equally. In God's eyes...we all have wicked and sinful ways to turn from. But there's hope.
If you are a Christ-follower, you have already had all of that wickedness paid for by Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. God sees you as unblemished and His Son as the sacrifice. That's why He came. In today's passage...God is telling us that if we are to be forgiven and restored....we have to turn from our wicked ways and find Christ. Have you done that? Our spiritual lives can't be made simpler if one doesn't even exist! If you don't know Christ as Lord and Savior...I'd love to talk with you about that...(954)434-1500 X234 or brian.vasil@flamingoroad.org.
If you have committed your life to Him...and really want to simpify your spiritual life...look back again at today's passage...
1) Humble yourself - Recognize the fact that you aren't God. You don't have to be.
2) Pray - Talk to God....daily. Don't ever forget that you can and should connect directly to Him.
3) Seek His face - Keep looking for Christ! He may not appear physically to you...but you can still see Him in others.
4) Repent - Make a decided effort to be more like Christ. Give up those things that the Holy Spirit is nudging you to turn away from. And never go back to them...
Remember, every step that you and I make toward Christ...is one step away from the enemy.
Let's walk together.
Write it Down: In your journal today, list the 3 things that you need to turn from. This needs to be gut-level honest if you are going to grow! Write them in code if you have to...then pray that God will help you overcome their pull on your life. Repentance isn't necessarily a one-time thing...there might be things in your life that you have to turn from daily! It's worth it!
See you tomorrow!
Pastor Brian
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