The Warrior's Prayer

Heavenly Father,your warriors prepares for the battle. Today I claim victory over satan by putting on the whole Armor of God. I put on the Girdle! May I stand firm in the truth of your word, so that I wil not be a victim of satan's lies. I put on the Breastplate of Righteousness! May I guard my heart from evil,so I will remain pure and holy,protected under the blood of Jesus Christ. I put on the Shoes of Peace! May I stand firm in the good news of the gospel,so your peace will shine through me and be a light to all I encounter. I take my Shield of Faith! May I be ready for satan's firery darts of doubt, denial and deciet, so I will not be vulnerable to spiritual defeat. I put on the Sword of the Spirit! May the two edged sword of your words be ready in my hands, so I can expose the tempting words of Satan. By faith,your warrior has put on the Whole Armor of God, I'm prepard to live this day in a mighty Spiritual Victory! Amen! Amen! close1in1956

Christian Joy

Christian Joy

Mankind often seeks joys, pleasures, gratification, happiness and even thrills. It is not wrong to enjoy life on earth. Pleasure becomes sinful, though, when the activity from which one derives joy is itself sinful (e.g., adultery, alcohol) or when a right activity is abused (e.g., eating, sleeping). Something not itself sinful can also become sinful if family, employment or Christian responsibilities are neglected to seek pleasure (e.g., recreation, hobbies).

The ways in which Christians may find joy in life are nearly as numerous as people themselves; I find great joy in my family and I also enjoy writing, computers, riding Harley's andWalking in the woods enjoying the seasons they are very sensational during those times that they changes that God makes before us to endure, wood working of others in different places in craft shows,,swimming. However, besides the earthly joys Christians (or other people, too) may know, there are joys which only Christians can experience (Romans 14:17-18). The Book of Philippians is an epistle peppered with references to Christian joy (e.g., Philippians 2:16-18).

Among the joys enjoyed exclusively by Christians is the joy that arises from the forgiveness of sins. Following his baptism for the remission of his sins (Acts 2:38; 8:26-39), the Ethiopian noble continued on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:39). With the apostle Paul and the Philippian church to which he wrote, we, as well as all other Christians, can "rejoice in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:3) because through Jesus our sins have been taken away (Acts 22:16). Further, through the blood of Jesus our sins are continually forgiven (conditional upon our continued espousal of God's Word) (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:1). This joy alone should pervade our every waking moment and offset a mountain of both this life's woes and mundane affairs.

Another joy experienced by Christians alone is fellowship with God and fellow Christians. The apostle John penned, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3). All men are called into this fellowship by the Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:9); unfortunately, many do not hearken to that call. The call is an unending call into the fellowship of Christ and other Christians that must ever be answered by 'walking in the light' (1 John 1:7). The lack of fellowship with God is one of the horrid characteristics of eternal hell (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). All troubles and even earthly joys pale in view of fellowship with God and His children.

The avenue of prayer to God is also a joy that belongs exclusively to Christians. Sinners do not have the privilege of conversing with God through prayer (John 9:31); "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination" (Proverbs 28:9). The law by which Christians are bound today is the "perfect law of liberty," James 1:25 ��� the Gospel. God does, though, hear "the prayer of the righteous" (Proverbs 15:29; 1 John 5:14) and He responds to such prayer (James 5:16; 1 John 3:22). What immeasurable joy it is to realize that we may always, anywhere talk to God.

The chief possible joy, again available only to the faithful children of God, will be eternal life in heaven in the very presence of God Himself. At the Great Final Judgment we long to hear addressed to us the words: "enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matthew 25:21, 23). Jesus described this joy as "mansions" in heaven (John 14:1-3), whereas Paul, James and John spoke of the commencement of this supernal joy as a "crown of life" (2 Timothy 4:7-8; James 1:12; Revelation 2:10). Certainly this is incomparable joy unending!

Present and future joys reserved for Christians alone far outweigh sufferings in this life (Romans 8:18), "the pleasures of sin for a season" (Heb. 11:25) and even the temporal joys one may experience on earth. Christian joy has a solid basis, is enduring and is sufficient to carry us through earthly habitations to celestial shores. Christian joy, oh how precious to with and in Him alway's in lifting him up in one's own home or elsewhere be continually in me. catcmo2006

The Treasure of True Christian Friendship

The Treasure of True Christian Friendship

Greetings in the name of the LORD, "true yokefellow" (Philippians 4:3)! The Eternal God has been faithful in upholding you. "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it" (5:24). It is never a question of His faithfulness, but of ours. Our many failures are occasioned by the "little foxes, that spoil the vines" (Song of Solomon 2:15). We become so engrossed with the mechanics of living and surviving, that we forget that the Father is actively and sovereignly using our circumstances to conform us "to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29). It is difficult to imagine, but the LORD Jesus had to experience the frailties, limitations, and humiliations of the "body of this death" (7:24). But, unlike our often failings, He did what we also need to do. We need to learn our lessons of life in the School of Suffering, for "all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer" (2Timothy 3:12). "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). In effect, we learn from God, only what we put into our lessons. "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you" (James 4:8).

Our assurance that we will always find the oasis of "streams in the desert" (Isaiah 35:6), is twofold.

• First, we must avoid the evil companionship of the world, wherever possible. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful" (Psalm 1:1).
  
  
• Second, it is our responsibility to seek out the counsel of the Word of God. "But his delight is in the Law of the LORD; and in His Law doth he meditate day and night" (1:2).

Remember, God never gives us commands or responsibilities that are impossible or grievous to be borne. "For this is the Love of God, that we keep His Commandments: and His Commandments are not grievous" (1John 5:3). If we fulfill our twofold responsibility, we will always be fruitful and prosper. "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" (Psalm 1:3).

The Master said, "Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14). True Christian friendship is based on sharing a common yoke of service to the LORD. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3). Christian friends share a common goal of reaching the Celestial City. "10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 16 But now they desire a Better Country, that is, an Heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city" (Hebrews 11:10, 16). A common fellowship of the Word of God is shared in True Christian Friendship, to which the nominally professed Christian pays but lip service. "I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy Precepts" (Psalm 119:63). Dwelling in the midst of a Laodicean Church, it is especially important that True Christian Friends keep the bonds of fellowship strong with those who are serving on the same front. "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the Common Salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the Faith which was once delivered unto the Saints" (Jude 3).

Between Christian Friends, sharing the Word is the "joy and rejoicing of [our] heart[s]" (Jeremiah 15:16). Remember, our obligation to minister the Word to each other is a mutual bond of love. "Fellowlabourer[s] in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith" (1Thessalonians 3:2)-- as much required of one as the other. "For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's" (Philippians 2:20-21). Seeking out the fellowship and friendship of the Godly helps to keep us from forming wrong attachments to the world. "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4). In fact, if our hope is placed firmly in the Word of God, True Christian Friendship is the ultimate result, when the Godly meet. "They that fear Thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in Thy Word" (Psalm 119:74).

Regardless of the degree of success that we may experience in finding True Christian Friends, we can be assured that "there is a Friend [Jesus] that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). And, if True Christian Friends are worth keeping, then periodically, it may become necessary to lovingly reprove the wrong actions of a Christian Friend. "1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the Spirit of Meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the Law of Christ" (Galatians 6:1-2). Even the early apostles had to strive to keep the Unity of Friendship, attempting to set aside unnecessary, non-sinful differences. "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). Just as a Christian husband and wife would not allow a non-sinful difference to become an issue to divide them, True Christian Friends will resolve their differences, likewise. "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath" (4:26).

Interceding in prayer for the spiritual and physical needs of especially our True Christian Friends is an obligation of love. "Brethren, pray for us" (1Thessalonians 5:25; 2Thessalonians 3:1; Hebrews 13:18). We may be unable to supply the physical needs of our True Christian Friends-- much less of ourselves-- but, we can intercede to the One Who owns the "cattle upon a thousand hills" (Psalms 50:10). Our agreement in prayer is especially powerful in securing blessing upon the Body of Christ-- and the world. "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on Earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in Heaven" (Matthew 18:19).

May God bless His people with True Christian Friendship. "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour" (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

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