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The Trumpet and Torch Prayer Team
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"For though we live in the world,
we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with
are not the weapons of the world.
On the contrary, they have divine power
to demolish strongholds.
We demolish arguments and every pretension
that sets itself up against the
knowledge of God,
and we take captive every thought
to make it obedient to Christ."
(2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
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Putting on the Armor of God
August 18, 2009 Dear Prayer Warrior,
As you begin to carve out another day from the week in front of you are you finding yourself becoming more intentional about putting on the full armor of God? Have you securely girded yourself with the Truth of God's Word before you've even begun to attack your to-do list? Have you covered your heart and lungs with God's righteousness so you can consciously breathe in all that is righteous, noble, and true and breathe out what is holy, pure, and edifying to everyone around you? "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23). It can not be overstated how vital it is that we take the time each and every day to put on our spiritual armor so we will be adequately dressed and prepared to walk the path the Lord has laid out before us.
As we move ahead with our mission we must be mindfully aware that the enemy has taken up his position and posted his evil combatants in every possible place in our path to tempt us into the potholes and pitfalls of life, preventing every, and any, possibility that God's soldier's might make the slightest advance for the Kingdom of God. God's enemy, satan, fights a dirty and deceptive battle, slinging his ugly arsenal from the places we least expect it. We've set our forehead like flint to attack the day, yet often find ourselves quickly on the defensive before we've even made it out the front door. The enemy's goal is to destroy our peace, causing division, discouragement, and destruction in the ranks of the Lord's army, beginning first with our immediate family and then slithering his way into the family of God, sneering as he strategizes to strip us of our peace in Christ. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).
We have been commissioned by God to be His messengers of Truth (reference Matthew 28:18). Each day we are tasked to carry the torch we have been entrusted with, bearing the light of Christ, and bringing the "good news" of His salvation into the world. "...to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace" (Luke 1:79). With us we carry what the world needs, and longs for, PEACE, true peace. However, only with Jesus Christ is that peace a reality. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you" (John 14:27). How critical it is that we protect, preserve, and promote this glorious message so the world may be released from the bondage of sin the enemy so desperately strives to keep them entangled in. "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace..." (Isaiah 52:7).
Article #3: The Shoes of Preparation of THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
"Stand firm then...and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." (Ephesians 6:15). One of the last articles of clothing we put on before we walk out the door each day is our shoes. The type of shoes we put on depends a lot on the activity we are doing. From house shoes to business shoes to running shoes, the task dictates the proper footwear to help us be successful in our endeavor. Most of us have a pair of shoes for every activity we do and many are blessed to have a different color or style for most every day. We put a lot of thought into what we put on our feet and spend a lot of time in the store picking out the perfect look and fit to match the activity before us.
This week I took my daughter to have her feet fitted for ballet point shoes. This was her first pair and she was notably excited to finally be getting the proper shoes to do the activity she has dreamed about for years. We spent a long time in the store as the manager measured her feet and had her try on countless pairs of shoes to find the proper fit. It was vital for the protection of her feet and the success of her dancing to find just the right pair of shoes. In the end it was the first pair she had tried on that turned out to be the perfect ones. It was a long, but important, process to prepare her to fulfill her dream.
While I personally look forward to the day I will be able to dance before the Throne in the presence of the Lord for all eternity, our time on this present earth holds not greater task than that of sharing the message of hope we have been given through faith in Christ Jesus. For this, we also need to have our feet fitted with the proper shoes: "...and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15). When Jesus sent the twelve out to minister He instructed them to take nothing with them; however, He did tell them specifically to "wear sandals" (Mark 6:9). Just as we are to bind our waist with the "belt of Truth", we are also to bind our feet with the gospel of peace. The peace of Christ is received through a right relationship with God. Through this new relationship, received by grace through faith in Christ, we experience complete well-being and inner rest that comes from being in fellowship with the Lord. The world seeks after peace, but rejects the peace that God offers, as they vainly attempt to find the desired rest in unsatisfactory places. Our mission is to reveal the "peace that transcends all understanding" (Philippians 4:7) as we live and walk and breathe His pure truth in this dark and fallen world. However, without the proper footing we find ourselves constantly tripped up and choked up in the enemy's smokescreen that has polluted our pathway. Before our feet take one step into the enemy's minefield we must intentionally set our feet on the solid rock foundation of God's truth, lacing up His precepts and securing His promises to the very soles of our feet. "I will guide you in the ways of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble" (Proverbs 4:11-12). The Lord will remove the obstacles in our pathway and guide us along paths of righteousness to the appointed goal He has set before us (reference Psalm 23:3).
The Lord has called us to live in peace (reference 1 Corinthians 7:15). He provides us, not only a firm place to stand in that peace (reference Psalm 40:2), but has also prepared us the pathway to walk confidently upon, allowing us to move forward in His mission, guided by His light and gaining ground for the Kingdom, revealing His peace to the world. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105). Each day that we make a conscious effort to make our feet ready with the gospel of peace we achieve three things that the military shoes of the ancient Roman soldiers accomplished: 1) We reinforce what we have already learned. "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace..." (John 16:33); 2) We receive better traction to help keep our footing as we traverse the difficult and deceptive terrain surrounding us. "Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble" (Psalm 119:165); and 3) we "weaponise" our footing - we are no longer find ourselves constantly on the defensive, instead our mission becomes more offensive. "Do not suppose I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34).
When our feet are "fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace" we walk each day in the security of God's salvation, knowing that nothing can cause our feet to slip or rob us of our peace. "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You..." (Isaiah 26:3). In addition, we can boldly proclaim His peace and deliver His message to the world without fear of the enemy's deceptive traps. "There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace" (Proverbs 12:20). Therefore, let us walk the path of peace as we pray for those in authority "that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness..." so that all men may be saved (1 Timothy 2:2-4).
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace"
(Colossians 3:15)
Heavenly Father, "O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth." We come before you with praise and thanksgiving,"For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life." We remember how, with love and utmost devotion, your servant Mary anointed our dear Savior's feet in preparation for the greatest mission of all time: to bring about the salvation of mankind and to restore man to a right relationship with you. You are, indeed, our peace. In you "we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ". We exalt you for the priceless path you had to walk to save us from our sin; give us strength now to walk in your footsteps and proclaim the peace that you have brought to the world. The world desires peace, yet rejects the only true Source of peace. Father, guide our feet in paths of peace that we might declare boldly, and without hindrance, to the world the true way to salvation and security. "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." You are "not a God of disorder but of peace." Help us to represent you properly by doing what you have called us to do, to "make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy..." It is your ultimate purpose to "create in Himself one new man out of two, thus making peace..." You came to bring peace to the world and we ask for forgiveness for every day that we allow ourselves to be trapped by divisions, discord, and strife that paralyze us and destroy our witness. Help us, instead, to "make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with [God]." Lord, we pray that "the God of peace [would] equip [us] with everything good for doing His will". Help us to fit our feet in the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace that we may "be peaceable and considerate..." and to "live at peace with each other" as we move forward in your holy mission to deliver your message of salvation to the world. Our prayer is that the world would experience the peace we have come to know as we wait expectantly for the consummation of your Kingdom. We ask all of this in the name of our great Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Amen.
[Scripture references: Psalm 56:13; Proverbs 4:11-12; Isaiah 9:6; 26:7; 30:15; John 12:3; Romans 5:1; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Ephesians 2:17; Titus 3:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:13; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Peter 3:14] |
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Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your
stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle
is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the powers of this dark
world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:10-12)
Thank You for Standing in Prayer!
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