Essentials For The New Life ---- Part 3

We continue on in our reading of the things needed to strengthen ourselves in this new relationship we have begun with Jesus.

On Monday we talked about the need to get under authority. How we need to learn how to submit to God and to follow his directions in our daily lives. This involves study of His word and applying it to our daily lives.Learning how to pray and, more important, learning how to listen for His voice.

On Tuesday, we stressed the need to "get on fire for the cause". Apathy and complacency are two by products of our old life style. The devil will use these against us to keep us from moving forward in our recovery.

This brings us to today's topic:

#3 - Be prepared for warfare ---discipline

We read Ephesians 6:13 the idea behind today's posting.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand when the day of evil comes, and having done all, to stand.

Notice that it says "When" the day of evil comes....

Not "if" the day of evil comes.

Warfare....
Attacks from our enemy the devil is certain. He is going to use every means at his disposal to stop your progress in your recovery and in this relationship you now have with Jesus.

Such knowledge of this leads us to one thing....
We must become disciplined in our lives.

God himself will instruct you and train you, but you've got to become disciplined in your efforts.

We have been given the right armor (see Ephesians 6) and the right instructions (See the Bible). Now it it important that we connect with another community of believers. A community of like minded people who are hungry to chase this God. For it is here within the community that you will be trained and equipped for the battle against spiritual darkness.

Psalm 18:28 reads: For You will light my lamp. The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

As we become more mature and grow in Christ, our spiritual "seeing" will become better...God will bring illumination to our understanding and we will be more aware of the traps and snares that the enemy will place in front of us.

So what is the ultimate goal of belonging to a church family? We find that in Ephesians 5:13-15: Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, but the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things unto Him who is the head...Christ.

It is about becoming wise in our daily dealing with the world.

To not fall for the quick fix or the easy way.

To stay the course and follow our elder brother, Jesus, not turning to the right or the left but keeping on.

It is about learning how to be disciplined in our daily lives.

Think on these things.....

God on you.....

mb