The seventh question is:
Based on the article, "The "TRPFAW" for Holiness" (Articles page), how do you intend to apply the whole armor of God to grow in holiness? Or please share how you have applied the armor of God in the past.
You'll
find below the responses given to this
seventh question. I did not comment on or change
any comments and each writer is responsible for their own opinions. I'm sorry
that I can't take the time to pass along any comments you'd like to make to
individuals about their postings. And there is not an opportunity in this
setting for responding to any of these comments.
But
I hope you'll enjoy and benefit from hearing about other people's comments on
this question.
While in Christian bookstore one day I laughingly watched a stylish
Caucasian mom escort her darling little black toddler all decked up like a Roman
soldier to the check out counter. The nice clerk asked, "What can I do
for you folks today?" Little guy piped up, "My armor is all broke and
I can't work without my armor." Yep. He had it exactly right, and I went
out and shined my own.
Patti
While I have an essential part in the growth process by obeying the Lord,
I am also reminded that this is not something I can acquire on my own. It is not
a skill learned through constant practice, but rather a characteristic
flourishing through the Spirit's intervention.
Truly the only way to have holy thoughts is to take them obedient to
Christ. With that helmet of salvation I'm reminded constantly that salvation was
received through grace and remains through grace. I'm not any more worthy now of
salvation than I was at the time of the commitment to Christ. I am totally
assured of this gift based on what Christ has done
It is also imperative that my heart be continually cleansed of
selfishness and filled with His all-encompassing love and grace. The breastplate of righteousness reminds me
that on my own all I have to offer is filthy rags, but through Christ I am made
presentable to my Heavenly Father.
Sadly and selfishly, quite often I'd rather stay "home" than go
somewhere to offer the gospel of peace. But it is necessary that my feet be
ready to put on the shoes and take the message forth. I'm reminded that Christ
was always about the Father's business and I hope that I am too! It's my desire
that wherever He takes me, it is obvious to others that I am set apart (holy) unto Him.
The shield of faith... without it I'd have no want for holiness. Only in
the light of His mercy and grace do I desire to please Him. I've prayed
continually for that gift of faith to believe all things and hope all things. Oh
that the shield would dispel those fiery darts that come to make us useless and
rob us of power. To live by faith and not by sight is exciting! What else is
there for the child of God?
Truth is essential to holiness. The belt of truth holds everything
together that I may wield the sword of the Spirit. If I am not walking in truth
and living in truth,
how can I possibly lead an offensive attack and use the sword? His word
washes over me and I must stay in it constantly. To plumb its depths and ponder
its mysteries keeps me near His precious side. I do not want to be fooled by
what is counterfeit; rather I want to know the truth and be set free. I can only
recognize a counterfeit when I know what truth looks like.
Prayer is also a part of the armor. To pray without ceasing, for all
things, in all situations is an equal weapon with the Sword of the Spirit. Used
together there is no power formed against them that can prosper. Through
communication with my Father, He tells me what is common and what is holy, what pleases Him and what
doesn't, what has eternal value and what will burn away.
Kim H.
There
are no formulas and there are no magic words. Acceptance of my position as
servant of the One, True, Living God, as one who has been reconciled and
redeemed by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, outfits me with the armor. I hear
that reflected clearly in your story. It takes 'me' out of the equation, of
course, but that is the only way holiness may enter into my life.
Shalom, Jonah
I tend to assume a lot about things and people. I have been groping with
how to put on the "whole armor" of God to combat this tendency. I have
found that when I indulge in the "Word of God" instead of my own wisdom, that I am not so quick to
jump to conclusions about people or situations in my life. So, I would use the
sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God, to do this. It is a daily
process, but I am starting to make it more of a habit.
Heather C.
Ephesians walks us through what a Christian is and how to act like one.
The Father chooses us
The Son redeems us
The Holy Spirit seals
us to Him.
New creation....old things are passed on.
By God's mercy,
we have become alive to God...Our spirit can commune
with Him.
We must daily, sometimes minute by
minute choose God and die to self. In other words,
give
God our WILL more and more. As we give ourselves to Him, He fills us with
Himself. God will not take more than we give Him.
His Grace is upon us at salvation and
it is FREE but then He begins to woo us to give up our lives to Him as He did
for us.
Salvation is totally free...bought
with the price of the blood of Jesus the Christ. Life in Christ ultimately costs
us our lives. (Work out your own salvation... Phil.
Ephesians
gives us step by step ...how to live on this Earth in Christ.
How to raise our children
How to treat our husband or
wife
How to treat our job, our
neighbor
How to use Spiritual Gifts
By laying aside old conflicts of
every kind and impure practices. Laying aside the OLD SELF and TAKING ON the
New.
Putting on the Full Armor of God is
the ONLY way to accomplish this in this foreign land...(this is not our home; we
are now of the
Ephesians
Ephesians tells us how to learn,
grow, walk in every area of life. The devil is the enemy of our minds and
imaginations...the Armor protects us from that.
Breastplate of Righteousness
Gird Loins with Truth
Shod feed with PEACE
Shield of FAITH
Helmet of Salvation
Sword of the Spirit...God's Word.
My way of accomplishing this is to
wake up with Thanksgiving in my heart and on my lips...giving my mind and will
over to the Lord, be in the WORD and walk prayerfully
all day long.
This world is harder and harder for
we foreigners to live in...it is impossible to walk perfectly without the armor
of God.
The armor covers our:
Head: where we think, imagine and decide
Heart: where we determined our
path
Feet: where/how we walk
Satan cannot stand against the
sword...God's word. He must flee and he knows it. James 4:7
With this Armor up and on we can walk
through this land in Peace, Truth and Strength...to
STAND!! and then STAND!!
Others will see and be attracted to
God...our main purpose for being here on this earth after we are saved. The
other MAIN purpose is to WORSHIP God. One can't be present without the
other.
Linda F.
Kat