“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8:36
Have you ever known someone that was never satisfied? You know, the person who seems to have everything going for them but they’re just never content. Their lack of satisfaction or contentment motivates them to grasp at the next best thing “the world” offers with the thought or the hope that “it” will make them happier. A better car… a bigger house… a better relationship…a better job… more money… more status… more accolades… more happiness… you get the picture. The list is endless and exhausting, and according to today’s verse – it can be dangerous.
Don’t get me wrong, none of these things in themselves are bad – but the danger comes when our motive is based on what the world offers or says is best rather than on the reality of what God has given us. For God has graciously gifted us with “life to the full”(John 3:16 and 10:10). This gift includes the Kingdom of Heaven and an eternity in paradise with Him! There is nothing better or anything in the world that can make our joy and contentment fuller than this.
David is right, the body is an intricate creation – unique from all of God’s other creations, and a true testimony of His wonderfully, amazing, miraculous works. Let’s get real though – do you sometimes read this verse and roll your eyes or grimace, knowing you don’t feel wonderfully made? I mean in these days of increasing aches and pains of age and less than stellar care that I have given this particular vessel through the years – I am grimacing! Don’t get me wrong, it is good to be reminded that when God “formed me in my mother’s womb”, I was “wonderfully made”. It is an encouraging truth and a wonderful reminder of the power and creativity of God – but, I admit this body doesn’t always feel like it.
More Like a Mess –
I don’t know about you, but I find myself seeking His mercies and strength more and more as I weather the consequences of the lack of self care and/or good habits, or simply the aging process on this earthly body. I pray for His help and healing of what feels more like a mess than a fearfully and wonderfully made body. While I know I cannot undo the aging process or the role my choices have played on this body, I am equally certain that to live in regret and fear or misery is not glorifying to God and only robs me of the rich and satisfying life that Christ came to give, which is exactly what the enemy wants. His purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants us to be miserable and to turn away from God.
Satan Has No Authority Here
Even as I was writing about the enemy’s purpose – I was reminded of an old song that declares satan has no authority over me, for this habitation was created by God and for God’s glory. All authority belongs to God – who fearfully and wonderfully created us. And, this same Creator works all things, including our messes and poor choices, together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose – and this for His glory.
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
In Paul’s day, it was Timothy that seemed to need the encouragement that God didn’t want him to live in fear of doing the work He was called to do. Instead, Paul reminded Timothy, that the Spirit God had given them, and all believers, was one that filled them with power, love, and self-discipline. In other words, Timothy had no reason to be timid for he had been empowered to live out His calling. The same is true for us today.
My first remembered experience with this verse was at VBS, not one that I attended but one I was co-leading. I was tired and stressed from some personal things going on in my life, I wasn’t feeling prepared, and definitely not strong enough to lead, love, and deal with all that goes into VBS as I had committed to do. Today’s verse “just happened to be” the theme verse for the week. God knew that just like Timothy, I needed to remember that while I might be nervous and feel too weak to lead, He had given me His Spirit – equipping me with not only the power to lead, but with love for the kids and all involved, as well as the discipline to stay committed and focused on Him, and boldly share the Gospel with the children. And, as a bonus, He daily renewed my strength and filled me with immeasurable joy when I was able to personally lead one of the children to the Lord.
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain,where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
Last days of a study are always bittersweet for me. While I’m anxious to move on to the next adventure of our journey through God’s Word – I most often want to linger in the present adventure – soaking up more of the insight and wisdom in our current study. However, today’s final destination is such a perfect ending. We end on a grand note of encouragement that offers confidence in this and in everything we will study moving forward in the journeys still ahead of us.
I invite you to read the larger passage (Hebrews 6:10-20) and consider what a powerful message of enduring hope we have been given. –
Put together, these separate images create a powerful message of reassurance. Christ has “anchored” our hope of “refuge” in the very presence of God: the “inner place.” Prior verses pointed out the absolute and unchanging value of God’s promises.
Bibleref.com / Hebrews 6:19
Observations
This message is to believers / followers of Jesus Christ. The author says that we “have” this hope … indicating that it is a given rather than something we might have, can have, or will have someday.
When we choose to believe in Jesus Christ, we are anchored securely in the “very presence of God.”
The word hope has been mentioned over and over throughout our study and we have focused on many of its different aspects in Scripture. Today we end our study with the reminder and the truth of who “this hope” is.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. -John 3:16
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.– Romans 6:9
And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. -1 John 2:25
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:2
by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. –Colossians 2:15-16
God’s Word makes it clear that Jesus is our Anchor; and equally clear, that in the midst of life’s storms and trials our Anchor holds secure! Having cancelled our debt, through His death, Jesus is our trusted refuge and redeemer, our source of Truth and Righteousness – the HOPE of our faith – through whom we endure.
Jesus has anchored us – literally, placed us securely in God. We can have no greater hope than this. It is a hope that, when we keep our eyes on Jesus, will surely endure to the end.
To KNOW Jesus is to LOVE Him – to LOVE Him is to TRUST Him – and – to TRUST Him is to place our HOPE in Him.
Applications
I’ve read that sailors at sea intentionally fix their anchors out from the ship in a safe and secure location, and I believe that Scripture teaches that the same should be true of believers. We must intentionally fix our ‘anchor’, our hope, in Jesus who is seated in heaven at the right hand of God, the Father – rather than in this world or our circumstances. When our Hope is fixed in Jesus we will be more and more confident in the promises of our God.
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Oh how I love Your Word God! How precious are its truths and the reminders of our sure and present Hope, namelyJesus. Thank You for all He did on our behalf – to secure us safely in You; and to give us confidence in Your promises – that are all yes and amen in Him, 2 Corinthians 1:20. There is truly no greater hope than this.
Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. 19 In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.
It should be noted that Paul is giving instructions to Timothy about teaching wealthy believers how to live. That being said, the truth behind the teaching is good for all believers, wealthy or not. For every believer should put their hope in God and not worldly riches or possessions. Likewise, every believer is to do good and to share/give as generously as the Lord allows. And, in doing so – every believer is storing up for themselves treasures that truly matter and lead to what is “truly life”.
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
The focus of our hope is vital to our endurance. This is made clear by Paul’s words to Timothy. He doesn’t just give instructions about not setting their hope on riches (things, desires, treasures) of this world that are “uncertain” – but he immediately follows up with the good and profitable focus of their hope, which was “on God”. The contrast of the focus is – one is uncertain and the other is not only a sure and trustworthy ‘hope’ but also one who “richly provides”. Paul says that God provides those who hope in Him “with all things – not just for necessity but “for enjoyment”. In-turn, as recipients of His rich provisions we are to imitate Him by “doing good” and not just being good through obedience – but “to be rich in good deeds and generous in giving and sharing with others.” By doing this we are storing up for ourselves treasures in heaven where that which is “truly life” – Jesus, the hope of eternity – awaits us.
Application
I’m a list maker by nature and this is definitely one of those times where a list is beneficial –
Do not set your hope on riches that are uncertain.
Set your hope on God, who richly provides all things for our enjoyment.
Enjoy what He gives.
Do good.
Do an abundance of good deeds.
Give generously.
Share with others.
Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... as you endure with hope
Prayer, Response to God’s Word
Father, giver of life and light and all that is good I praise You. I hope in You and seek to please You and to what is good and pleasing in Your sight. Help me to not be haughty or to set my hope on riches, which are uncertain, but instead, let them be set on You – who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Help me to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be a generous giver who shares with others.For in this way I will save up a treasure that is a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life – that which is eternal life in Jesus Christ my Lord. – In His name I pray and trust – amen and amen!
More for the Journey
Today’s Scripture included a passage from Genesis chapter three. I have included the notes from my journal page on this passage. It always amazes me when such a familiar passage can seem so new and enlightening – but for me it was captivating. May we always be blessed by the Word of God – careful not to rush through it as though its a boring ‘rerun’. Rather, may we pray over it before reading, asking for fresh insight and understanding … and may we linger there so that we do not lose sight of it when we are finished.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 12:2
Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. 12:12
Romans 12:2 and 12
Observations
In verses nine through twenty-one, Paul basically makes a list of things that Christians should do, or ways they should live, in order to please God. He starts with the importance of love without pretense (9), and ends the list with instructions to not be overcome with evil but rather to overcome evil with good(21).
Verse twelve, the second of our SOAP / focus verses, is so important to our study that I wanted to share this Scripture ‘nugget’ I found by Bibleref.com – I encourage you to really take the time to carefully read through this explanation of “rejoicing in hope and enduring suffering,”as well as the role prayer plays in it all.
The first command to Christians is to rejoice in hope. Often, we resist instruction about what we should feel: that we should change our attitudes to be joyful. The idea here, though, is more about declaring ourselves as having reason for joy. It’s not a command to be happy, but to have the right perspective on our situation. We should agree with God that our hope is worth rejoicing over. What hope? Paul is referring to the hope of the redemption of our bodies and being united with our Father forever once our adoption is complete (Romans 8:23–24).
The next command is to be patient [endure] in tribulation or affliction. This becomes much easier if we are keeping the other two commands. Those who see their future worth celebrating and who pray to the Father continually will have a much easier time being [enduring] during hardship. Paul is not downplaying the genuine pain of those experiences. Life can be unpleasant, and not all moments are happy moments. Yet Paul has pointed out that the struggles of life on earth are not worth comparing with the glory to come (Romans 8:18). So, we wait with patience (Romans 8:25).
The final command of the verse also connects with Paul’s thoughts in Romans chapter 8. We’re commanded to be constant in prayer, or to keep praying continually. During any time of suffering, while waiting for what we’re hoping in, we should pray. Prayer brings a connection with our Father through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26–27). He hears, understands, and helps in response to even our clumsiest attempts to communicate with Him.
Keep in mind that none of this is possible without the transformation of our minds, which is the focus of verse two, our other SOAP verse. In a recent message by one of our pastors, this verse was explained as such: “God wants a transformation, meaning a continual moving toward God, and allowing Him to change and renew the way we think. However, prior to this transformation we must be intentional to guard ourselves from being “conformed to(or to copy the behavior of…) this world.” Pastor Yates went on to clarify that being conformed to the world involves a continual renunciation of God for the ways of the world.”
Application
Consider these applications found at Bibleref.com and from Pastor Yates’ sermon …
Bibleref – 12:2 / “…God may continue to provide us with pleasure, possessions, and status in various forms, but he urges us to learn how to look at life with a new question: What does God want for me? What is truly a good, acceptable, and perfect use of my life for His purposes and not just for my own?”
Pastor Yates –
“God wants a presentation” –
We are to …
be a living sacrifice
“a vehicle through which we serve Christ”
be set apart for God
to be holy as He is holy=====
be pleasing to God (Malachi 1:6-8_
“second best is not pleasing to God”
be a true worshiper
Prayer, Response to God’s Word
Father, Your Word is living and active and life-changing when we yield to Your instructions. Help us to faithfully present ourselves to You as living sacrifices … to live set apart for You, pleasing You by really loving others. Help us to hate what is wrong and hold tightly to what is good, to work hard and serve You enthusiastically, being eager to show hospitality. Let us rejoice in the hope we have in You, patiently endure – even in our suffering, and to always keep praying. If we are persecuted may we bless our persecutor and not curse them – and may we even pray for them to know God’s blessing. Remind us to be happy with those who are happy, to weep with those who weep, and to live in peaceful harmony with all people – as much as is possible with You. Guard us from vengeance or paying back evil for evil, and in all of this may You be glorified – In Jesus’ Name – Amen!
Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
Job 13:15
Job, for no reason known to him, has lost basically everything he held dear for reasons beyond his understanding. Scripture says it was “the very thing he had dreaded and feared. It brought him unrest and heightened turmoil. His strength was weakened and he was filled with bitterness. In chapter six we are told that he saw no reason to go on living. Clearly he had lost hope – yet, Job did not curse God! instead Job announces that “Even if God should slay me, I will hope in Him.”
In his writing on Job’s losses, Evangelist, Scott Pauley, wrote:
You can lose things and get more. You can lose family but know that you will see them again. You can lose health and regain it. You can lose relationships and have them restored. The one thing that sustains a man through the hardships of life is hope. “The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” (Proverbs 18:14). To lose hope is to lose heart. To lose hope means that you have lost sight of the goodness of God and of the future.
We are living in days of tremendous loss. Most of us have lost loved ones. Many have lost their health. Some have lost their business and financial security. All of us have suffered some sense of loss with the ever changing circumstances in our world. There is one thing that must not be lost – hope!
I believe our remedy to maintaining our hope is found in not only knowing who our God is but in remembering who He is. We must be careful to remember, whether on the mountain of blessings or in anguishing loss or real and present crisis – that God is good. We must continually, and often intentionally, recall that He is full of compassion, faithful in mercy, sufficient in grace, and abounding in love. To do anything less puts us in grave jeopardy of hopelessness.
Some Noteworthy Observations
“Job was a faithful servant of God.” These horrific events/losses did not just happen to anyone. They happened to Job for a reason, not because he was unfaithful but rather because he was faithful.
There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. …
6 One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. 7 “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.
Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”
8 Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”
9 Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 10 You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”
12 “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.
Job 1:1, and 6-12
Job spoke openly and honestly with God. There was no pretense about how the devastating losses had affected him. Even though Job knew he was innocent, he “could only plead with [his] judge for mercy.”Job also knew that he was weak and that God was strong.
Perhaps the best observation is the one we read at the end of our passages today – “So the LORD blessed the second part of Job’s life more than the first.” There is no question that the righteous suffer but Scripture also bears witness that the faithful of God are blessed.
A Notable Application
Remember Who God is and what He has done for us, how He loves His people,
When we are questioning our strength, or when fears, dread, sorrows (great and small) rise within and around us, or when we sense our weakness in any situation, not just loss – we would be wise to remember: our help comes from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth. When the “mountains” of this life loom ahead of us or when the losses of life weigh us down – we can endure with hope in our Creator.
Look to God
I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there?My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
Psalm 121:2
Prayerful Response to God’s Word
Father thank You for the example of Your faithful servant Job. When we think of him please guard us from thinking or dwelling on all of his losses but rather help us to faithfully recall Who You are and what You’ve been doing and will do on behalf of us, Your children. May we be faithful to say, on the mountains and in the valleys, Even if he slays me, I will hope in You, my God]
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8 We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, 10 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
Observations:
The first question that begs to be asked when ‘soaping’ this passage is – what is the “treasure” mentioned in verse seven? According to 2 Corinthians 4:6-7, the treasure is the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus. In other words, the Treasure is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
According to a commentary by Bibleref.com, “Paul has been defending himself from allegations of practicing falseness with the Corinthians. Some may have even accused him of being manipulative or a false apostle. To counter these arguments, Paul has emphasized his sole mission: to deliver the true gospel of Jesus and to proclaim that Christ is Lord. Paul insists that he and his friends see themselves as mere servants to the Corinthians for Christ’s sake. In his first letter to this church, Paul gave numerous indications that he was not interested in personal gain or fame” (1 Corinthians 1:10–17; 9:12–16).
BibleRef.com / 2 Corinthians 4:7-8
The next question then, is what, or who, are the clay jars? To Paul’s original audience, the clay jars would have represented something very fragile, and as Paul explained to the Corinthians – God used the fragile vessel “so that” everyone would understand, “the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” However, metaphorically speaking, Paul, in an effort to answer – or better yet – silence those accusing him and his team of “practicing falseness”, Paul was referencing himself and his team as the clay jars. Paul’s heart was the vessel that God had shown His light in. The same is true of everyone who names the name of Christ today, and according to Scripture, we too, have been given the mission to carry this Gospel message to the world.”
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
Mark 16:15
So often it seems we are bombarded with ‘trouble’. Even then – perhaps, especially then – we can, like Paul and his team,, be reflections of Jesus. We must remember though, it wasn’t because of their power or strength but because of God in them; and as we saw in our recent post, it was also the power of God through the prayers of others.
Paul’s illustration of suffering was meant to help the Corinthians see and understand that what others were seeing in and from him was all about God’s power and glory – as the “life of Jesus was made visible in them.” This should have been evident in the way they handled all of their ‘troubles’, for through it all, even in their weakness and struggle, they did not turn away from following Christ and making Him known to others. They knew He had not abandoned them and they endured with hope of the “eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (15-17) to what they were experiencing now.
Application
Do not let today’s trouble crush you or drive you to despair. If you are persecuted or suffering because of following Jesus, remember He has not abandoned you. If your troubles have knocked you down or simply knocked the wind out of your sail, don’t lose hope – for you belong to Jesus and to God the Father, and in them we cannot and will not be destroyed.
While it may not be easy to live for Jesus in this world – we must remember the goal set before us – and that is to make Him known. May all our troubles, and our responses to the troubles, make Him visible to the watching world.
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, Paul’s words are challenging. I confess it is sometimes easy to lose hope or to despair. Yet they are equally encouraging to be reminded that You have not and will not abandon us. We belong to You and we will not be destroyed. These are the truths that help me to endure with hope. Guard us Father where we are vulnerable and strengthen us where we are weak – and in all these things grace us with Your protection. Through it all and above it all help us to make Jesus visible to the watching world. – In Jesus’ Name – Amen and amen –
Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him that he will deliver us yet again, 11 as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many.
2 Corinthians 1:9-11
Observations
So often in our suffering we are brought to the end of ourselves so that we remember to not trust in ourselves but rather in God – the One who is able to raise the dead.
Paul moves from talk of his suffering to a focus on God and how He delivered them from death and the confidence that God would continue to deliver them. –
Paul credits the Corinthians for their gift of prayer and the help it was to him and his team, urging them to give thanks to God on their behalf.
In reference to suffering – No one likes to suffer, but if Paul and his team had not suffered, people would not have prayed and seen or rejoiced in the answer. Sometimes our suffering is about more than us.
As noted by the underlined words in the above definition of prayer, by gotquestions.com, prayer should be an active part of every Christian’s life. It is thoughts and words, spoken or whispered, standing or sitting, or as Paul says – “kneeling”. It is born from a hope set in God and out of a desire to talk to Him, to seek His help or forgiveness in some matter – or to simply adore Him and praise Him for who He is and/or what He has done. It can be as simple as a sentence, a word, or a thought, or it can be detailed and involved and as long as it takes to pour your heart out to Him, as Hannah did (1 Samuel 1:8-15).
Prayer and the deliverance or answers it brings is a gift to both those who are praying and the ones they are praying for.
Praying offers us the opportunity to rejoice in what God does and allows us to be a part of His work. Let’s commit to being people who faithfully seek the Lord in prayer.
Another benefit of suffering is found here. When believers turn to God for help in suffering and see how He provides exactly what is needed, their faith is strengthened. They continue to rely on him and grow confident in God’s willingness and ability to save them.
Bibleref.com / 2 Corinthians 1:10
Prayer – Response to God’s Word
Father, this awesome privilege of prayer can so often be viewed and/or used selfishly to petition Youonly for our own needs, wants, fears, or complaints – but help us to remember that prayer is so much more than this. It is the privilege to fellowship with You or to give You praise or to pray for others in need, be it spiritual, physical, or material need. It is, above all, the privilege of drawing near to You and the window of opportunity to see You work, be it the sweetest, smallest answer, or the great and miraculous! There is great comfort in prayer, as well as peace, and joy, and rejoicing when we draw near to You and when we sense You drawing near to us, as is Your promise. And Father, as we are seeing in this study, it is through prayer that we find the strength and hope to endure. Help us, as Your children, to be faithful in drawing near to You in prayer – to embrace this opportunity and privilege to walk with You and talk with You through life. Let us live lives of prayer – keeping our eyes and our faith fixed on You – praying continually as Paul wrote – for in this alone will we have an enduring hope and a strengthened faith – Amen, in Jesus’ name!
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Observations and applications
There are many lessons packed into these three small verses, like how Jesus is the pioneer of our faith, meaning He led the way or set the example for the life of faith He has called us to live. Perhaps the most beautiful lesson is the way the author wrote about what and how Jesus “endured”, namely the cross, “disregarding its shame”. This only sinless son of God took our sin and shame and we should , as Bibleref.com writes – “make every effort to ‘hold fast’ (Hebrews 3:6; 10:23), setting aside sin and selfishness as we pursue whatever path God has placed in front of us. This is the essence of godly faith: to trust God with our future, despite how hard it might be in the present.”
Jesus is the ultimate example of what it means to endure.
To run the race God has mapped out for us – we must get rid of things that hinder us – such as sin and things of earth that bind us or weigh us down. We must also keep our eyes on Jesus, the champion of our faith. Why? Because it is just too easy to give into fears and weariness when our eyes are not on Him. Remember, our battles are different than the typical earthly warfares. In Ephesians, chapter six, Paul explained that our battles are not against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world. Since we cannot see our enemy we must prepare our minds for the battle. This, at least in part, is why Scripture teaches, or warns us, to guard the mind and to keep our thoughts on Him. Actually, Paul shared his personal battle of the mind with the church at Rome. He told them that there was another power within him that was at war with his mind. The power made him a slave to the sin that was still in him and he wanted to help others who might also struggle with this. Because of this, it seems, Paul used letter after letter to drill the warning into New Testament believers and not just the warning but the ways to overcome the battle, whether it was of the mind or present and real earthly matters.
Because I have found them very helpful to my own battles many of the “how tos’ are referenced here with the hope that they will also help you.
Romans 12;2 … To avoid copying the customs and behaviors of this world we must let God change the way we think.
Colossians 3:2 … Think about the things of heaven not the things of earth
Philippians 2:5 … Think like Christ – You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had…
who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death
Philippians 2:6-8
Jesus Himself made it known the importance of the mind in relation to His followers.According to Jesus’ teaching, both the focus and the allegiance of the mind were important to God.
But [Jesus} turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.” Matthew 16:23
We even hear its importance in His infamous answer to the Pharisee in Matthew 22:37, where He replied – “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all of your mind.'”
Long before Jesus walked on the earth Isaiah told the people, “[God] will keep in perfect peace all who trust in Him, all whose thoughts are fixed on Him.”
The Bible is full of helpful tips, promises, and more when it comes to overcoming the enemy – which is key to our endurance – and why Scripture is the believer’s greatest weapon of warfare. Consider Paul’s words to the believers in Ephesus and, by extension, to believers today concerning the armor of God.
Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace, 16 and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). 18 With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:10-18
If we want to endure, and not just endure, but endure with hope we must be prepared to stand firm. However we cannot stand firm without the Word of God, which is specifically referred to by Paul as the Sword of the spirit. While the other pieces of armor may not specifically be referred to by Paul as the “Word of God”, almost all have some connection to the Word. Check out today’s, ‘Going Deeper’ for more details.
Me From the Inside Out 