Tag: Believe

Posted in Ephesians

Ephesians 6:16 Shield of Faith

Posted on by Christy Petty

Ephesians 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with    we must actively use our faith.  An actual shield does nothing, even if it is the biggest and the strongest, unless it is picked up and held up as a barrier to the blows. James 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.    Faith needs a whole study of it’s own. Faith is something to be had, something to exercised, it is belief. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is  our first line of defense: we have the rest of the armor, but we weaken the blows, deflect some completely with the shield. We guard the against the onslaught of attack.  The body can take so many blows, even if it is protected. Matthew 14:31  Peter believed in Jesus, he walked on water, yet when he let doubt in, he sank. Doubt came past his little faith shield. Faith did not change the Truth, did not remove the righteousness, but the lack of sank the man, in the armor.  Faith gives us the power to move forward to push against evil. The doubt the worry, the fear hits us when we let our faith down., when we stop believing that God does work all for our Good, when we listen to man and the hopelessness of the world Matthew 17:20. ………which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. With my faith, I am able. To stop ALL the attacks from Satan. Satan is attacking.

The main thought I have, I MUST take up my shield, I must take the action. God does not do it for me. He does not make me use my faith. My action matters a great deal.  Any thoughts of yours?

The Helmet of Salvation is next.  Without Salvation from Death, we have no reason to live. 

 

Posted in Ephesians

Ephesians 3

Posted on by Christy Petty

Ephesians 3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6the secret that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, as the Israelites, ‘Sons of Abraham’ and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints,humbling himself this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,[c] 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

All of these requests by Paul for either these Gentiles or all Believers from this point on, is inspiring and teaching to me as what I ‘can’ request from God , what I have ‘access’ to if I acknowledge?

  • to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man 
  • Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height
  • 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; 
  • that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, this reaffirms my previous thoughts, he is ABLE to do more than we would ask or think, beyond our comprension, I believe FOR us,through the Holy Spirit in us, that also directs… 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Anyone have any other ideas?