February 16th, 2024
by Steve Marshall
by Steve Marshall
Church Family:
Christ is coming back! Are you living in a way that you will be found faithful? Throughout Scripture we are told that Christ is coming back unexpectedly. We have no time to be living carelessly, fulfilling the desires of the flesh. For believers, the return of Christ is meant to give us great hope and joy as we endure sufferings in this present world. Also, the anticipation of Christ’s return is to be a great motivation for us to be living godly lives. Paul tells us to be living life “casting off the works of darkness” as we anticipate Christ’s imminent return (Rom. 13:11-14). Church, the day of the lord is at hand, wake up and throw off the deeds of darkness in every area of your life. Be found faithful, eagerly waiting Christ when He returns.
But that is not all! Eagerly waiting for Christ does not only mean casting off the works of darkness but we are to also to "wake up" and put on the “armor of light"as we faithfully wait for the Lord. The armor of Light that we are promised is made for warfare and it comes with every weapon necessary to defend, offend, reject and cast-off the deeds of darkness. Our armor is not made of some special earthly metal but of God's own divine omnipotent light. His light is our protection in all of our daily battles against the darkness of our own sin and Satan's supernatural powers of darkness that wars against us. The armor of light battles against “the works of darkness” which we are to “put off.” We have the responsibility daily to put off works of darkness and to put on the armor of light.
What is this armor of light that God has given us? The armor of light is an armor of righteousness (2 Cor. 10; Eph 6). The two phrases say the same thing, one is the metaphor of the other. The armor of light that we do battle with in our daily life, fighting against evil and sin, is the filling of our heart with Christ’s righteousness. Stick to the mundane, simple, ordinary disciplines of living a holy life and you will find that they will defend your heart against many a temptation. Study God’s word; get quiet before the Lord; pray and listen to the Lord; be in fellowship with other believers; confess your sins and pray for one another; serve and sacrifice for others; love and serve your wife/husband/kids; share the love of Christ with a world that has rejected Christ’s first coming. Fill your heart with righteousness and your life will reflect the beams of Christ’s light and that light will be your armor against your own sin and the powers of spiritual darkness. Wake up and put on the armor of Light, the armor of righteousness, put on Jesus Christ!
See you Sunday, armored with Light: Steve
Christ is coming back! Are you living in a way that you will be found faithful? Throughout Scripture we are told that Christ is coming back unexpectedly. We have no time to be living carelessly, fulfilling the desires of the flesh. For believers, the return of Christ is meant to give us great hope and joy as we endure sufferings in this present world. Also, the anticipation of Christ’s return is to be a great motivation for us to be living godly lives. Paul tells us to be living life “casting off the works of darkness” as we anticipate Christ’s imminent return (Rom. 13:11-14). Church, the day of the lord is at hand, wake up and throw off the deeds of darkness in every area of your life. Be found faithful, eagerly waiting Christ when He returns.
But that is not all! Eagerly waiting for Christ does not only mean casting off the works of darkness but we are to also to "wake up" and put on the “armor of light"as we faithfully wait for the Lord. The armor of Light that we are promised is made for warfare and it comes with every weapon necessary to defend, offend, reject and cast-off the deeds of darkness. Our armor is not made of some special earthly metal but of God's own divine omnipotent light. His light is our protection in all of our daily battles against the darkness of our own sin and Satan's supernatural powers of darkness that wars against us. The armor of light battles against “the works of darkness” which we are to “put off.” We have the responsibility daily to put off works of darkness and to put on the armor of light.
What is this armor of light that God has given us? The armor of light is an armor of righteousness (2 Cor. 10; Eph 6). The two phrases say the same thing, one is the metaphor of the other. The armor of light that we do battle with in our daily life, fighting against evil and sin, is the filling of our heart with Christ’s righteousness. Stick to the mundane, simple, ordinary disciplines of living a holy life and you will find that they will defend your heart against many a temptation. Study God’s word; get quiet before the Lord; pray and listen to the Lord; be in fellowship with other believers; confess your sins and pray for one another; serve and sacrifice for others; love and serve your wife/husband/kids; share the love of Christ with a world that has rejected Christ’s first coming. Fill your heart with righteousness and your life will reflect the beams of Christ’s light and that light will be your armor against your own sin and the powers of spiritual darkness. Wake up and put on the armor of Light, the armor of righteousness, put on Jesus Christ!
See you Sunday, armored with Light: Steve
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