| Course Title | Course Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
Biblical Studies | ||
| Biblical Hermeneutics | BIBST 3203 | 3 |
| Basic Old Testament I | OLDTS 3313 | 3 |
| Basic Old Testament II | OLDTS 3323 | 3 |
| Basic New Testament I | NEWTS 3313 | 3 |
| Basic New Testament II | NEWTS 3323 | 3 |
| Elementary Greek I (prerequisite)1 | GREEK 3313 | (3) |
| Elementary Greek II (prerequisite)1 | GREEK 3323 | (3) |
| New Testament Greek I | GREEK 4313 | 3 |
| New Testament Greek II | GREEK 4323 | 3 |
| Elementary Hebrew I | HEBRW 4313 | 3 |
| Elementary Hebrew II | HEBRW 4323 | 3 |
| Hebrew Exegetical Method | HEBRW 5003 | 3 |
Theological Studies | ||
| History of Christianity I | CHAHT 3103 | 3 |
| History of Christianity II | CHAHT 3113 | 3 |
| Baptist Heritage | BPTST 3203 | 3 |
| Systematic Theology I | SYSTH 3003 | 3 |
| Systematic Theology II | SYSTH 3013 | 3 |
Ethics and Philosophical Studies | ||
| The Christian Home | ETHIC 4303 | 3 |
| Basic Christian Ethics or | ETHIC 4313 or | 3 |
The Bible & Moral Issues or | ETHIC 4323 or | |
Development of Christian Character and Decision Making | ETHIC 4333 | |
| Philosophy of Religion or | PHILO 4313 or | 3 |
Christian Apologetics | PHILO 4373 | |
Evangelism and Missions Studies | ||
| Contemporary Evangelism | EVANG 3303 | 3 |
| Personal Evangelism Practicum2 | EVANG 3000 | 0 |
| Introduction to Missiology | MISSN 3363 | 3 |
| Missions Practicum2 | MISSN 3100 | 0 |
Preaching and Pastoral Studies | ||
| Foundations for Christian Ministry I or | PASMN 3313 or | 3 |
| Women's Ministries in the Local Church3 | WOMST 4003 | |
| Christian Ministry Practicum2 | PASMN 4000 | 0 |
| Introduction to Expository Preaching or | PRCHG 3313 or | 3 |
| Expository Communication of Biblical Truth4 | WOMST 4043 | |
| Advanced Expository Preaching5 | PRCHG 3323 | (3) |
| Preaching Practicum2 | PRCHG 3000 | 0 |
Additional Requirements | ||
| Spiritual Formation I | SPFTH 3101 | 1 |
| Spiritual Formation II | SPFTH 3111 | 1 |
| Applied Ministry - Disciple-making in the Local Church | APLMN 4011 | 1 |
| Applied Ministry - Mentoring | APLMN 4021 | 1 |
| The Ministry of Education | EDMIN 3003 | 3 |
Concentration and Free Electives5,6,7,8 | ||
| Concentration and Free Electives | 18 | |
Total | 91 | |
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Masters of Divinity
I have noticed that I have picked up a few readers of this blog! Thank you all for taking the time to check out my blog. To date, I have about 21 people who have found the blog! With that kind of traffic, I might as well go public or try to sell to facebook. Ha. I am not sure if I have stated what I will be pursuing in seminary, so this will be a good time to do so. I will be going for a Masters of Divinity or MDiv for short. It is approximately 3 times the coursework as my Masters in Accounting. Here is the the degree plan for 2008. I'm sure it is subject to change over the next few years a little bit. There are many different concentrations that you can have, which influences the electives that you take. At this point, I am looking at that concentration of Christian Apologetics (Critical Thinking, God and Evil, Christian Faith and Science, Apologetics in the Early Church, Christian Ethics), Theology, and even New Testament Exegesis and Exposition. Of course, since I will be on the 6-7 year plan, I have plenty of time to decide.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
What a Week!
So the unexpected late night that I spoke about the other day didn't hold a candle to last night. I left the office this morning at 3:00. I usually do that a few times on a quarterly basis, but I believe last night was the first time I did it on a Friday. Gotta love immovable deadlines.
I've been praying a lot lately about Wisdom, and searching for God's will in my life. It is really hard for me to pray about Wisdom and not go to the Book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 2:1-22 (ESV)
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land. and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.
I am going to leave it there for now. I am going to do a study on Proverbs I think. More to come!
God Bless
I've been praying a lot lately about Wisdom, and searching for God's will in my life. It is really hard for me to pray about Wisdom and not go to the Book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 2:1-22 (ESV)
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land. and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.
I am going to leave it there for now. I am going to do a study on Proverbs I think. More to come!
God Bless
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
An Unexpected Late Night
One of the downsides with my profession is that we have unexpected late nights. I just got home not too long ago, and I am about to boot up my laptop in hopes for a good 3-4 hour production stretch. I predict that this will add to the difficulty of seminary, but I am good with rolling with the punches (I don't require much sleep...which is also great for my profession!).
The strange part about it, is that I openly embrace it. I'm not saying that the devil is using days like today to try to persuade me not to continue. However, I can not completely put to rest the idea that he is not. I can not even see what the method would be that satan could even create the situation, but just a thought.
In the car this morning, I heard an absolutely fantastic verse. My dad has always said this, and in the prior weeks, I heard another pastor say that if you want answers, you have to look in the Word. You can't just ask God, receive the answer, and move on. You receive answers through diligent praying and studying of the Word. I have to get back to work here soon, so I'll be brief and just post the verse.
"But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"" -Romans 10:14-15
Funny how that summarizes in 2 sentences what it took me 5 paragraphs to sputter out last night. Keep in mind that it doesn't necessarily answer my prayers. Preaching can come in many forms outside of being a Pastor. Now just imagine that being read by James Earl Jones, and you will share in my excitement! (I have the New Testament on CD read by James Earl Jones. Pretty sure that is what God would sound like if He talked to me.
No new news on Seminary. The website show that they have received my application and my transcripts. My application should be complete with all of my references on or around June 18-20th depending on how fast I can get people to turn the references around.
Time to get to work!
God Bless
The strange part about it, is that I openly embrace it. I'm not saying that the devil is using days like today to try to persuade me not to continue. However, I can not completely put to rest the idea that he is not. I can not even see what the method would be that satan could even create the situation, but just a thought.
In the car this morning, I heard an absolutely fantastic verse. My dad has always said this, and in the prior weeks, I heard another pastor say that if you want answers, you have to look in the Word. You can't just ask God, receive the answer, and move on. You receive answers through diligent praying and studying of the Word. I have to get back to work here soon, so I'll be brief and just post the verse.
"But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"" -Romans 10:14-15
Funny how that summarizes in 2 sentences what it took me 5 paragraphs to sputter out last night. Keep in mind that it doesn't necessarily answer my prayers. Preaching can come in many forms outside of being a Pastor. Now just imagine that being read by James Earl Jones, and you will share in my excitement! (I have the New Testament on CD read by James Earl Jones. Pretty sure that is what God would sound like if He talked to me.
No new news on Seminary. The website show that they have received my application and my transcripts. My application should be complete with all of my references on or around June 18-20th depending on how fast I can get people to turn the references around.
Time to get to work!
God Bless
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Calling
I have been praying a lot lately about my calling. In talking with my dad, he brought up the point that no one is simply called to study the Word. Not that I have ever thought that studying was going to be enough. In the Book of James, he talks about the concept of "faith without works is dead". Therefore, we can deduce that each of us is called to serve the Lord in some respect.
Some people are called to Shepard a flock in the role of a pastor, some are called into the mission field, and others are called to lead in the community. I am not speaking on any level of doctrine, but just my own thoughts. I think at some point, we have to ask ourselves are we doing enough? There are 168 hours in a week. For most people, they spend one hour of Sunday School and and one hour in a worship service. Even if we up the hours and say 1.5 hours to give 3 hours on Sunday, that is only 1.8% of our week is formally given to the Lord. Given that the time of the week is constant, as is typically the time given to church, one could safely say that less than 2% of the average person's life is provided to God.
I don't think this is enough for me. Sure, I can add a few more hours of studying at the church, and I can also study at home. However, we have now circled back to my first paragraph above. I have already been saved by Grace. For the most part, the people I go to church with have been saved by Grace. God is pleased that we have followed in His will (not sure if that qualifies as His will or His Perfect Will....thinking Perfect except for the timing), but what about the lost? I'm going to bed tonight, and if I pass away, I will be embraced by my Savior. There are people right now that are wrestling with Satan, and those are the people my heart is aching for. However, I want to be there for my brothers and sisters who are trying to continue in their daily walk as well. Which leads me to my next thought.
From what I can gather, there are ultimately three forms of service I can provide to the Lord here on Earth has a servant. 1) Tend to His sheep, 2) Evangelize to those that need to hear His name, or 3) both.
Stepping back for a second, I know I have the calling to go to Seminary. I will be gaining the higher level education that comes from the knowledge of the Bible, the doctrine gained from the study of Systematic Theology and all other related courses, and the ability to deeply study scripture through exegesis in my studies of Hebrew and Greek (probably more interested in the Greek and will ultimately forget the Hebrew). After completion of my studies, I will be prepared to do anything that God has planned for me. Not only because of the education, because I (like every Christian is called to do) have arrived to the point in my life that I am ready to live my life in whatever way God wants me to.
I now sit here confused. I don't have a specific calling to a specific job, because I want to do it all. I am the happiest when I am talking about God and when I am at church. I want to wake up in the morning and tell people about God. I want to talk with people, and help them with the difficult doctrine topics that I will be trained in. I want to comfort my brothers and sisters when they are in need. In the midst of all of this, I want to raise a Christian family. I want every waking moment to be dedicated to my Lord and Savior.
All in all, it was helpful to get my thoughts out, but I have not really accomplished much. God might want me to stay in Corporate America, but then I will be spending 33% of my time sleeping (which is a constant regardless of the scenario), and at time, 30% to 47% of my time doing Earthly work. Which is fine, because even Paul had to make tents during the day to preach at night. So for whoever has found this blog, please pray with me as I continue to search for what God wants me to do.
God Bless
Some people are called to Shepard a flock in the role of a pastor, some are called into the mission field, and others are called to lead in the community. I am not speaking on any level of doctrine, but just my own thoughts. I think at some point, we have to ask ourselves are we doing enough? There are 168 hours in a week. For most people, they spend one hour of Sunday School and and one hour in a worship service. Even if we up the hours and say 1.5 hours to give 3 hours on Sunday, that is only 1.8% of our week is formally given to the Lord. Given that the time of the week is constant, as is typically the time given to church, one could safely say that less than 2% of the average person's life is provided to God.
I don't think this is enough for me. Sure, I can add a few more hours of studying at the church, and I can also study at home. However, we have now circled back to my first paragraph above. I have already been saved by Grace. For the most part, the people I go to church with have been saved by Grace. God is pleased that we have followed in His will (not sure if that qualifies as His will or His Perfect Will....thinking Perfect except for the timing), but what about the lost? I'm going to bed tonight, and if I pass away, I will be embraced by my Savior. There are people right now that are wrestling with Satan, and those are the people my heart is aching for. However, I want to be there for my brothers and sisters who are trying to continue in their daily walk as well. Which leads me to my next thought.
From what I can gather, there are ultimately three forms of service I can provide to the Lord here on Earth has a servant. 1) Tend to His sheep, 2) Evangelize to those that need to hear His name, or 3) both.
Stepping back for a second, I know I have the calling to go to Seminary. I will be gaining the higher level education that comes from the knowledge of the Bible, the doctrine gained from the study of Systematic Theology and all other related courses, and the ability to deeply study scripture through exegesis in my studies of Hebrew and Greek (probably more interested in the Greek and will ultimately forget the Hebrew). After completion of my studies, I will be prepared to do anything that God has planned for me. Not only because of the education, because I (like every Christian is called to do) have arrived to the point in my life that I am ready to live my life in whatever way God wants me to.
I now sit here confused. I don't have a specific calling to a specific job, because I want to do it all. I am the happiest when I am talking about God and when I am at church. I want to wake up in the morning and tell people about God. I want to talk with people, and help them with the difficult doctrine topics that I will be trained in. I want to comfort my brothers and sisters when they are in need. In the midst of all of this, I want to raise a Christian family. I want every waking moment to be dedicated to my Lord and Savior.
All in all, it was helpful to get my thoughts out, but I have not really accomplished much. God might want me to stay in Corporate America, but then I will be spending 33% of my time sleeping (which is a constant regardless of the scenario), and at time, 30% to 47% of my time doing Earthly work. Which is fine, because even Paul had to make tents during the day to preach at night. So for whoever has found this blog, please pray with me as I continue to search for what God wants me to do.
God Bless
Monday, May 25, 2009
Update on Seminary Application #1
I submitted my application this morning. It was much shorter than I anticipated. I ordered my transcripts to be sent last week, and all I lack now is to get my 2 references and church endorsement. They will be having a business meeting in the next few weeks, and they will be voting on my endorsement. Please pray for my application process.
The Whole Armor of God
I want to share with you all a study that I did on the Full Armor of God.
Ephesians 6:10-20
When a warrior enters into battle, it is optimal to have all of his armor on for protection. When faced by his enemy, if he has a helmet, but lacks body armor, he can be slain by a wound to his torso. Likewise, if the soldier enters into battle with all of the protection without a weapon, his enemies may continue in their assault until the soldier eventually weakens.
Therefore, all components must be used in combination in order to be successful in our battle against evil. In chapter 6, verse 10 of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Paul speaks of the Whole Armor of God. Note that he specifically points out to take on the Whole Armor of God, supporting that individual pieces are not strong enough on their own.
Belt of Truth
Paul opens with the Belt of Truth. Satan is a very powerful being against us. As soldiers of Christ, we are told to, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” In the gospel of John, Jesus Christ warns of us our enemy, “He (Satan) was a murder from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character for he is a liar and the father of lies,” John 8:44. God the Father despises lies and only recognizes the truth. King Solomon, who wrote of wisdom, stated, “There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue…a false witness who breathes out lies…” Proverbs 6:16-19. Finally, we assured that only the truthful will enter the kingdom, when John wrote in his Revelation, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murders and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Revelation 22:14-15.
Our witness is also stronger when we wear the Belt of Truth. Not only does God the Father despise when we are not truthful, but the Christian church takes a blow when we are not wearing our belt. In my Sunday School class, my main focus is to teach them how to tell the world about Jesus without saying the word Jesus. The first step in telling the world is to be truthful. Those whose sins have not died with Jesus Christ watch us like very closely and are quick to judge. If your word can not be taken as honest, the lost will not listen to you.
Breastplate of Righteousness
The second piece of armor that we wear as soldiers of Christ is the Breastplate of Righteousness. In the heat of battle, a soldier wears a breastplate in order to protect his heart from fatal blows from their enemy. Our hearts belong to, and are to be constantly looking to our Father in Heaven. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he wrote, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith’”. As such, in order to be righteous in the eyes of God, we must live by faith. Paul delivers a crushing blow to us a few chapters later, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God” Romans 3:10-11. This is not new news to followers of Christ. In the first stages of our walk, we learn that the very basis of Christianity is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to remove us from our sins so that we may enter the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, as we progress in our walk, a progression that should never end, we become righteous from our continuing faith.
It is always helpful to remind yourself that we are not God, and we are really bad at playing God. We are to say, “But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." Psalm 31:14. We are to “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.” Psalm 37:5. King Solomon wrote “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5. The Bible speaks of Trust in many occasions – too many to cover here. Just understand that you gain righteousness through faith, which is derived from trust. We must let go ourselves, and lean on the One that is strong. This is another way to tell people about Jesus without saying Jesus. For example, when you are at work, have faith in the abilities that you have been given. There is not a statement in the bible that says, “Jesus kicked, swore, shouted, and spoke to people in a diminutive manner to solve the situation.” So I ask you, why do we think it is the answer?
Shoes of Readiness
As we continue in our metaphorical walk in Christ, we must constantly wear our Shoes of Readiness. The modern day solider during battle faces landmines and surprise attacks in addition to the day-to-day combat. As soon as a potential battle has been won by the soldier’s party, the good fight is not over. As Christians, we do not know what the next fight will be. That being said, we certainly know that the next battle is going to happen. So our protection from the Shoes of Readiness, comes from being constantly prepared from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep. A soldier that is not on alert is an easy target, because he is not prepared. In order to be ready, we must not only be alert, we must be training for combat. We would not expect a doctor to be prepared to operate on a patient just because he accepted his calling as a doctor. Why must we treat Christianity any differently? Accepting Jesus Christ as our savior is only step 1. Yes, it is the most powerful step, but too many times we let that be the only step. In Chapter 4 of the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus goes into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The reader is provided with a very apparent and obvious method of fending off evil, and that is with scripture. That is why it is absolutely imperative that we as Christians open up our Bibles. The book is not just 66 books of stories. It is the words from our Creator, our Master, our Commander and Chief. A quarterback does not just run on to the field, hike the ball, and randomly throw the ball. Plays are generated, studied, and practiced in order to have proper execution. It is completely ridiculous to think that we can continue in any different manner. This training needs to be daily, because once a week on Sunday morning will not prepare you.
Another way to be Ready, is to avoid unnecessary battles. Matthew 26:41 says, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” This means that you do not put yourself in a situation to fail. Now I am not saying that you are to avoid any conflict with the Master of Darkness. Sometimes in order to fulfill God’s will, we must trust him and enter into the wilderness ourselves. However, this means that you should also get rid of your temptations. Matthew 5:29 tells us, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.” This is also repeated again in Matthew 18. It is quite simple, really. For example, if you know you will fall victim to the flesh with alcohol, stay away from the bars. As new Christians, I invite you to pull away from the society that you fall to, and put yourself in Godly situations with your church. You will have protection in fellowship. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin,” 1 John 1:7. In writing to the people of Corinth, Paul said, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what has light with darkness?” My brothers and sisters, we are to protect each other. Also, remember that the old you must die. You are no longer citizens of this world. Be Ready, because, “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” Luke 16:23. We must also understand that this world is not going to accept us, for it hated our Master. If we are not better than He, how can we expect another outcome?
Shield of Faith
In John’s Revelation, Jesus tells us, “"'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” Revelation 2:13. When we wear the Whole Armor of God, we are still going to be attacked. However, “Resist him (Satan), firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world,” 1 Peter 5:9. I want to remind you that we are going to fail. Do not be discouraged by shame, but raise your Shield higher! Do not be moved! I know that I am placing a lot of emphasis on battle, because we are truly in the battle of our lives. Just as it is written by John, “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.” Revelation 12:7-8.
You lift your shield when you lift your voice to God. As Christians, we must constantly be praying to our Father. God told Abram, ‘"Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." Genesis 15:1. In the second book of Samuel, we are told “This God--his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” 2 Samuel 22:31. We must always remember that, “My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.” Psalm 7:10. I say to you that eventually, your body will desire to be in connection with the Lord. Your life will become cold when you are away from Him, but fear not, your Father loves you, and will always be with you.
Helmet of Salvation
The next aspect of the Whole Armor of God is the Helmet of Salvation. Simply put, without or minds, we cannot live. This is a parallel of Salvation, because without it, we are dead. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5. It is a long battle that we face, “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” 2 Titus 2:10.
Salvation is a gift. We did not earn it. “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9. It is a gift from our Father that we are to hold strong within it. “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.” Philippians 1:27-28.
Sword of the Spirit
In our Holy War, we have but one great weapon. It contains 66 books, 1,189 chapters, 31,373 versus, and about 774,746 words. It is greater than any rifle, anti-aircraft missile, or weapon of mass destruction that man has created. How can you wage war with human weapons against an entity that is not human? Our Sword is the Word of God. It is used for both defensive and offensive maneuvers. We saw our Savior use it to answer against temptation in the wilderness, and we are told that we will see, “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” Revelation 19:15.
I invite you to train to follow like Christ in your battle. This is our Users Guide, our Frequently Asked Questions, our playbook; for we are not in the dark as we walk in our journey. We have been provided specific guidance. That being said, if you never hold up your Sword, you will fail. You will fall victim to temptation. You cannot defend yourself, nor take down your foe. It is the final piece of the Whole Armor of God. Rely on its power! “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.
You must train with your sword and use it daily. If you are not aware of your weapon’s capabilities, you can not use it to the fullest extent.
In Closing
Do not delay. Wrap yourself in the Whole Armor of God right now! We are told quite clearly how to live our daily lives in order to have the Whole Armor of God:
1. Constant Prayer to shield ourselves from evil
2. Fellowship with the Christian Body for support
3. Full submergence in scripture to train ourselves
4. Building Disciples to answer the Great Commission
Ephesians 6:10-20
When a warrior enters into battle, it is optimal to have all of his armor on for protection. When faced by his enemy, if he has a helmet, but lacks body armor, he can be slain by a wound to his torso. Likewise, if the soldier enters into battle with all of the protection without a weapon, his enemies may continue in their assault until the soldier eventually weakens.
Therefore, all components must be used in combination in order to be successful in our battle against evil. In chapter 6, verse 10 of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Paul speaks of the Whole Armor of God. Note that he specifically points out to take on the Whole Armor of God, supporting that individual pieces are not strong enough on their own.
Belt of Truth
Paul opens with the Belt of Truth. Satan is a very powerful being against us. As soldiers of Christ, we are told to, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” In the gospel of John, Jesus Christ warns of us our enemy, “He (Satan) was a murder from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character for he is a liar and the father of lies,” John 8:44. God the Father despises lies and only recognizes the truth. King Solomon, who wrote of wisdom, stated, “There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue…a false witness who breathes out lies…” Proverbs 6:16-19. Finally, we assured that only the truthful will enter the kingdom, when John wrote in his Revelation, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murders and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Revelation 22:14-15.
Our witness is also stronger when we wear the Belt of Truth. Not only does God the Father despise when we are not truthful, but the Christian church takes a blow when we are not wearing our belt. In my Sunday School class, my main focus is to teach them how to tell the world about Jesus without saying the word Jesus. The first step in telling the world is to be truthful. Those whose sins have not died with Jesus Christ watch us like very closely and are quick to judge. If your word can not be taken as honest, the lost will not listen to you.
Breastplate of Righteousness
The second piece of armor that we wear as soldiers of Christ is the Breastplate of Righteousness. In the heat of battle, a soldier wears a breastplate in order to protect his heart from fatal blows from their enemy. Our hearts belong to, and are to be constantly looking to our Father in Heaven. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he wrote, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith’”. As such, in order to be righteous in the eyes of God, we must live by faith. Paul delivers a crushing blow to us a few chapters later, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God” Romans 3:10-11. This is not new news to followers of Christ. In the first stages of our walk, we learn that the very basis of Christianity is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to remove us from our sins so that we may enter the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, as we progress in our walk, a progression that should never end, we become righteous from our continuing faith.
It is always helpful to remind yourself that we are not God, and we are really bad at playing God. We are to say, “But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." Psalm 31:14. We are to “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.” Psalm 37:5. King Solomon wrote “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5. The Bible speaks of Trust in many occasions – too many to cover here. Just understand that you gain righteousness through faith, which is derived from trust. We must let go ourselves, and lean on the One that is strong. This is another way to tell people about Jesus without saying Jesus. For example, when you are at work, have faith in the abilities that you have been given. There is not a statement in the bible that says, “Jesus kicked, swore, shouted, and spoke to people in a diminutive manner to solve the situation.” So I ask you, why do we think it is the answer?
Shoes of Readiness
As we continue in our metaphorical walk in Christ, we must constantly wear our Shoes of Readiness. The modern day solider during battle faces landmines and surprise attacks in addition to the day-to-day combat. As soon as a potential battle has been won by the soldier’s party, the good fight is not over. As Christians, we do not know what the next fight will be. That being said, we certainly know that the next battle is going to happen. So our protection from the Shoes of Readiness, comes from being constantly prepared from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep. A soldier that is not on alert is an easy target, because he is not prepared. In order to be ready, we must not only be alert, we must be training for combat. We would not expect a doctor to be prepared to operate on a patient just because he accepted his calling as a doctor. Why must we treat Christianity any differently? Accepting Jesus Christ as our savior is only step 1. Yes, it is the most powerful step, but too many times we let that be the only step. In Chapter 4 of the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus goes into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The reader is provided with a very apparent and obvious method of fending off evil, and that is with scripture. That is why it is absolutely imperative that we as Christians open up our Bibles. The book is not just 66 books of stories. It is the words from our Creator, our Master, our Commander and Chief. A quarterback does not just run on to the field, hike the ball, and randomly throw the ball. Plays are generated, studied, and practiced in order to have proper execution. It is completely ridiculous to think that we can continue in any different manner. This training needs to be daily, because once a week on Sunday morning will not prepare you.
Another way to be Ready, is to avoid unnecessary battles. Matthew 26:41 says, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” This means that you do not put yourself in a situation to fail. Now I am not saying that you are to avoid any conflict with the Master of Darkness. Sometimes in order to fulfill God’s will, we must trust him and enter into the wilderness ourselves. However, this means that you should also get rid of your temptations. Matthew 5:29 tells us, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.” This is also repeated again in Matthew 18. It is quite simple, really. For example, if you know you will fall victim to the flesh with alcohol, stay away from the bars. As new Christians, I invite you to pull away from the society that you fall to, and put yourself in Godly situations with your church. You will have protection in fellowship. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin,” 1 John 1:7. In writing to the people of Corinth, Paul said, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what has light with darkness?” My brothers and sisters, we are to protect each other. Also, remember that the old you must die. You are no longer citizens of this world. Be Ready, because, “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” Luke 16:23. We must also understand that this world is not going to accept us, for it hated our Master. If we are not better than He, how can we expect another outcome?
Shield of Faith
In John’s Revelation, Jesus tells us, “"'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” Revelation 2:13. When we wear the Whole Armor of God, we are still going to be attacked. However, “Resist him (Satan), firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world,” 1 Peter 5:9. I want to remind you that we are going to fail. Do not be discouraged by shame, but raise your Shield higher! Do not be moved! I know that I am placing a lot of emphasis on battle, because we are truly in the battle of our lives. Just as it is written by John, “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.” Revelation 12:7-8.
You lift your shield when you lift your voice to God. As Christians, we must constantly be praying to our Father. God told Abram, ‘"Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." Genesis 15:1. In the second book of Samuel, we are told “This God--his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” 2 Samuel 22:31. We must always remember that, “My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.” Psalm 7:10. I say to you that eventually, your body will desire to be in connection with the Lord. Your life will become cold when you are away from Him, but fear not, your Father loves you, and will always be with you.
Helmet of Salvation
The next aspect of the Whole Armor of God is the Helmet of Salvation. Simply put, without or minds, we cannot live. This is a parallel of Salvation, because without it, we are dead. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5. It is a long battle that we face, “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” 2 Titus 2:10.
Salvation is a gift. We did not earn it. “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9. It is a gift from our Father that we are to hold strong within it. “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.” Philippians 1:27-28.
Sword of the Spirit
In our Holy War, we have but one great weapon. It contains 66 books, 1,189 chapters, 31,373 versus, and about 774,746 words. It is greater than any rifle, anti-aircraft missile, or weapon of mass destruction that man has created. How can you wage war with human weapons against an entity that is not human? Our Sword is the Word of God. It is used for both defensive and offensive maneuvers. We saw our Savior use it to answer against temptation in the wilderness, and we are told that we will see, “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” Revelation 19:15.
I invite you to train to follow like Christ in your battle. This is our Users Guide, our Frequently Asked Questions, our playbook; for we are not in the dark as we walk in our journey. We have been provided specific guidance. That being said, if you never hold up your Sword, you will fail. You will fall victim to temptation. You cannot defend yourself, nor take down your foe. It is the final piece of the Whole Armor of God. Rely on its power! “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.
You must train with your sword and use it daily. If you are not aware of your weapon’s capabilities, you can not use it to the fullest extent.
In Closing
Do not delay. Wrap yourself in the Whole Armor of God right now! We are told quite clearly how to live our daily lives in order to have the Whole Armor of God:
1. Constant Prayer to shield ourselves from evil
2. Fellowship with the Christian Body for support
3. Full submergence in scripture to train ourselves
4. Building Disciples to answer the Great Commission
Introduction
I know I am not alone when I enter the doors of Corporate America on a daily basis, and that is the very basis that I have decided to start this blog. In a way, our jobs are very much our mission field. Not everyone is called to be a Pastor of a Church, a Missionary in some distant land, or a Youth Pastor. I am currently in the application process to attend Seminary beginning in the Fall. As of right now, I do not have the aforementioned callings, but I do have the calling to fight in the war against sin. I will be talking about my journey through the corporate trenches as well as my completion of seminary studies.
Newsboys - I'm not Ashamed
What are we sneaking around for?
Who are we trying to please?
Shrugging off sin, apologizing
Like we're spreading some kind of disease
I'm saying "No way. No way."
This one (says) it's a lost cause
Save your testimonies for churchtime.
Other ones state you'd better wait
Until you do a little market research
I'm saying "No way. No way."
I'm not ashamed to let you know
I want this light in me to show
I'm not ashamed to speak the name of Jesus Christ.
Newsboys - I'm not Ashamed
What are we sneaking around for?
Who are we trying to please?
Shrugging off sin, apologizing
Like we're spreading some kind of disease
I'm saying "No way. No way."
This one (says) it's a lost cause
Save your testimonies for churchtime.
Other ones state you'd better wait
Until you do a little market research
I'm saying "No way. No way."
I'm not ashamed to let you know
I want this light in me to show
I'm not ashamed to speak the name of Jesus Christ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)