ACHIEVING YOUR POTENTIAL PART 4 Not only are Spiritual weapons required to reach our potential we need to understand we are fighting invisible foes. Ephesians 6:10-12 (NKJV) 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. It is not people we see, it is the spirit of people which cause us concern, for every one does not perform by obeying the Word of the Lord. It is not just who do you have faith in, but how strong is your faith? Only as individuals do we put on the whole armor. Someone else can’t put on our garment, it’s our faith and we can’t give it away, without hurting our selves. God gives everyone faith the size of a mustard seed. One of the smallest of seeds, but seed grows as it germinates in our belief. Everyone does not know the truth, so hurt themselves and others. Lord help us, to never put our confidence in men, but in God. It is the Lords might that gives us victory against the wiles of the devil. There will be those among us, that have a dictator spirit, or some one that says, it's my way, or the highway. But God says, I am the way, the truth, and the life, when we have faith in God, no one will be able to rob us of victory in Jesus. Notice it is the Christian's world that criticizes us the most, and they are the ones that should be encouraging us, teaching us to do what is right. We are called into the army of the Lord by Jesus Himself 1 Timothy 1:12-13 (NKJV) 12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. Jesus takes us as we are and gives us the ability to fight the good fight of Faith, so we are not false witnesses, but true soldiers. Then in John 15:16-17 (NKJV) You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another. Are we seeing this Christian life is not free, but it is commitment to the King of Kings? It is a fight of faith 1 Tim 6:12 (NKJV) 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. See the reason we can’t afford to fight one another, but fight to keep our faith in God. We are living in a world that we have reason to lose our faith in man, governments, and religions, but the Lord never fails. So let’s keep our faith in God. Keeping your faith in God is going to demand your entire consecration as is seen in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NKJV) 1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. We are seeing very poor performance to day, for we have not learned to discipline ourselves, or anybody else. So anything goes in the life of those in authority, and the Lord has given special instruction for those in authority to follow, or they lead everyone into the ditch. Everyone is required to commit themselves to the Lord and follow His example, when we do we reach our potential. Every man and women has a soul which has many enemies in its five senses. Imagination-Reason-Memory- Consciences and Affection. Note Psalms 86:14-15 (NKJV) 14 O God, the proud have risen against me, And a mob of violent men have sought my life, And have not set You before them. 15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. Are we able to see the importance of our imagination to make sure it is seeing what is right, or do we assume we know right? Peter was one who imagined a lot of things and got himself into trouble. Luke 22:31-34 (NKJV)31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." 33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." 34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me." Don’t we put pressure on ourselves when we think something that is really not the truth? What is the reason for people drinking until they can’t drive, or even talking improperly? Lord help us to have a memory that allows us not to forget the sufferings, in comparison to the blessings. Is our conscience alive to the truth, so we are willing to take persecution for doing what is right? Let’s not let the world tell us what we can’t, or can do. Jesus is still the Person we need to follow and put our trust in, if we are going to reach our potential. Paul gives us some very important counsel in Eph 6:13-20 (NKJV) 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Can we understand with out the total armor of God, we are not going to be able to be victories over sin in ourselves, let alone any one else’s life. Peter understood this very will when he said, in 1 Peter 5: 6 -11 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Where is our affection? Affection is that love for the Lord that is greater than any other love known to mankind. This needs to be understood if we are going to Achieve our Potential. It only comes from trusting and having faith in God, not ourselves, or mans wisdom, only Gods. |