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Ephesians 6:14-17 lists for us the armor of God. There are six pieces of this armor. The first three are things we wear all the time. The last three are things we pick up as needed for the moment. Let’s take a look at them.

The belt of truth. “Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth” (Ephesians 6:14). During World War II, a plane flew many miles past its destination because the crew didn’t realize they had a strong tail wind and refused to believe what the plane’s instruments were telling them. All on board perished. Sadly, when the plane was found years later the instruments were still in perfect working order. God’s Word is your infallible instrument panel. Read it daily. Believe it no matter what your senses or the devil may be telling you.

The breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate covers your heart, which must beat in sync with God’s Word. When it doesn’t, God sets off a warning beeper that something’s wrong – it’s not wise to ignore those signals.

The shoes of peace. Shoes mean that you’re going somewhere. Don’t expect to hear from God if you remain frozen in the same spot. When you move ahead for God He confirms the rightness of your direction by the peace He gives you. That puts a firm foundation under you. But why does God say, ‘Stand firm’ instead of ‘Go fight?’ Because the battle has already been won! We’re not fighting for victory, but from victory. Jesus has already conquered the big three – the world, the flesh and the devil. All we’re doing is mopping up!

The shield of faith. Paul says that the shield of faith allows us to “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). Do you remember in the old western movies, the battles between the Indians and the settlers? The settlers would circle the wagons, then the Indians would shoot flaming arrows into them. Smart thinking! You can’t fight fires and foes at the same time. Flaming arrows are a huge distraction, and Satan uses the same tactic against us. But faith (and focus) snuffs out those flaming arrows.

The helmet of salvation. This helmet protects your mind, which has to do with your new identity as a Christian. Your salvation isn’t just a ticket out of hell, it’s everything you are in Jesus Christ – a blood-bought, totally forgiven, absolutely redeemed, heaven-bound child of God.

The sword of the Spirit. Paul says that the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. This is rich, because the word for Scripture here is not “logos”, but “rhema,” which means an “utterance.” This refers to our speaking God’s Word to defeat Satan in battle; using the right Scripture at the right time to deal with the problem at hand. Three times Satan came at Jesus in the wilderness and three times Jesus answered, “It is written” (See Matthew 4:4-10). He carved Satan up with the Word. The devil can out-argue and out-debate you, but he has no answer for the Word of God. So memorize the Scriptures, and then use them as a weapon against your enemy.

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 9.13. Live for God, on purpose, putting on the full armor of God!

The Cry of Pain

Have you ever experienced pain? I’m sure that everyone has, in one way or another. The most common definition of pain is “physical suffering or distress, as due to injury or illness.” Another definition describes pain as “a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body.” Pain may also be due to “mental or emotional suffering or torment.”

While physical pain may at times be extremely difficult to endure, there is another much harsher type of pain – the pain of separation. The pain of seeing a loved one depart for a very lengthy trip is hard. Separation due to the breakdown of a relationship is very painful. But, the greatest pain that has ever been experienced was the pain Jesus experienced when He was separated from His Father as He hung on the cross.

While hanging on the cross, literally all of the cumulative sin of the entire world was laid upon the shoulders of Jesus. As He carried all our sin – yours and mine – the holiness of the Father made it impossible to maintain contact with His Son. This pain was so excruciating, that Christ cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

This Sunday here at WFA, we continue our “Cries from the Cross” series, this week considering Christ’s fourth cry – “The Cry of Pain.” As we recognize the enormity of the pain Christ endured on the cross, we may then begin to understand the magnanimous amount of pain we avoid, as our separation from the Father has been remedied by Christ’s atoning death.

Do not miss this dynamic message, and be sure to invite your family and friends to join you here at WFA this Sunday morning!

The Master’s Card

By now you have probably seen the catchy television commercials for MasterCard. They start by identifying some things that people can buy with their MasterCard, then show a moment that is priceless and end by saying, “There are some things money can’t buy, for everything else there’s MasterCard.”

For example, in one such commercial there is a man and his young son headed to the baseball park. The commercial shows the dad buying his son a hot dog and you hear the words, “Hot dog at the big league game...$3.00.”

The next scene shows the dad buying a game program and the words, “Program...$6.00.” Then, one of those large, orange hands with the fingers forming a #1 is shown and you hear something like, “Large, orange hand...$15.00.” The commercial finishes by showing the father explaining some important aspect of the game to his son, who is listening intently as he looks up at his father with excitement in his eyes, “Meaningful conversation between a father and a son... priceless.”

“There are some things money can’t buy, for everything else there’s MasterCard.”

Friends, I’m not unlike those agencies promoting their favorite credit card. I’m here to advertise. You see, my life is a commercial for others to see. I’m a card carrying representative for the Master’s Card. That’s right, the MASTER’S CARD. Let me tell you about it. There are no finance charges, no payments due. My bill has already been covered...it’s a prepaid deal. I couldn’t afford the price, so Jesus stepped in and paid it for me. My Name is written on the card for all to see.

It is accessible twenty-four hours a day from anywhere in the world. The MASTER’S CARD has so many benefits it’s hard to list them all. Let me share some of them with you...you might want to apply for a personal card yourself. Just for starters there is UNLIMITED GRACE. That’s right, there is no preset limit to the amount of grace you receive from the MASTER’S CARD. Have you been looking for love in all the wrong places? Then, look no farther than the MASTER’S CARD. It offers the greatest rate on love that has ever been offered.

The MASTER’S CARD gives you access to many “members only” benefits. Want real joy despite the difficulties of life? Apply for the MASTER’S CARD. Want a lasting peace? Apply for the MASTER’S CARD.

Want real joy despite the difficulties of life? Apply for the MASTER’S CARD. Want a lasting peace? Apply for the MASTER’S CARD. Looking for something you can always rely on in a jam? The MASTER’S CARD is perfect for you.

Another great thing about the MASTER’S CARD is that it never expires. Once you’re a member, you’re a member for life...eternal life, that is. Membership has its privileges, you know.

How do you receive the MASTER’S CARD. Dial 1-800-ROMANS10:9 “if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Jesus is standing by right now to take your call. Don’t delay. This great offer won’t last forever. Peace, joy and hope: Invaluable. Faith, contentment and assurance: Inestimable. Salvation: Priceless.

There are some things money can’t buy. For those, there’s the Master’s Card. Christian, why not be an advertisement for the MASTER’S CARD. Let your life be a commercial today for Jesus Christ.

Lost in a Mountain Blizzard

Two teenagers, Mike, 15, and A.J., 13, were caught in a mountain blizzard. They had been skiing on Schweitzer Mountain in North Idaho when the wind picked up gusting up to 70 miles an hour. The temperature dropped to 20 F but the wind made it feel much colder.

They missed snowed-in trail signs, became lost and – realizing their fate – built a snow shelter for protection using pine tree branches for a carpet. They clutched onto each other for the will and heat to get through the night, praying for strength to survive.

Volunteer searchers found the cold, wet boys trudging in waist-deep snow, three miles from the lodge; they were tired, hungry, and disoriented, but unharmed more than 26 hours after they were reported missing. Their father, Dr. Kolla, responded, “From our prayers, we know we have an awesome Creator who obviously has more in store for the lives of these boys.”

We may not be in a blizzard, but there are those who have become disoriented in relationships, personal problems, or addiction. In the blizzard of life, they lose perspective, wish to escape, and see no reason to exist. Mike and A.J. needed each other to maintain the will or resolve to live. Hypothermia and the irresistible urge for sleep could have resulted in them never waking up.

As we encounter our night, we are beckoned to succumb to our weaknesses and demand that we escape and follow that flickering candle of false hope. Yet, that candle quickly extinguishes in the next wind gust. In the course of time, the light of dawn reveals the flimsy shelter we have made. When hypertension takes place, escaping life’s problems is futile. Turning to God in prayer, like Dr. Kolla, enables us to see that God does have a plan for each of us. Jeremiah 29:11-13 says it aptly, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and I will listen to you if you seek me with your whole heart.”

Giving to Others

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” — 1 John 3:16-18

A little boy was told by his doctor that he could actually save his sister’s life by giving her some blood. The six-year-old girl was near death, a victim of disease from which the boy had made a marvelous recovery two years earlier. Her only chance for restoration was a blood transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the illness. Since the two children had the same rare blood type, the boy was the ideal donor.

“Johnny, would you like to give your blood for Mary?” the doctor asked. The boy hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled and said, “Sure, Doc. I’ll give my blood for my sister.”

Soon the two children were wheeled into the operating room-Mary, pale and thin; Johnny, robust and the picture of health. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned.

As his blood siphoned into Mary’s veins, one could almost see new life come into her tired body. The ordeal was almost over when Johnny’s brave little voice broke the silence, “Say, Doc, when do I die?”

It was only then that the doctor realized what the moment of hesitation, the trembling of the lip, had meant earlier. Little Johnny actually thought that in giving his blood to his sister he was giving up his life! And in that brief moment, he had made his great decision!

When Your Hut is on Fire...

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, “God! How could you do this to me?” Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island!

It had come to rescue him! “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.

It’s easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

We Become His Son

There is a story that comes out of the Bedouin culture. “Bedouin” is the Aramaic name for “desert dwellers.” These people live much as the characters of the Old Testament did. During a heated argument, according to this story, a young Bedouin struck and killed a friend of his. Knowing the ancient, inflexible customs of his people, the young man fled, running across the desert under the cover of darkness, seeking safety.

He went to the black tent of the tribal chief in order to seek his protection. The old chief took the young Arab in. The chief assured him that he would be safe until the matter could be settled legally.

The next day, the young man’s pursuers arrived, demanding the murderer be turned over to them. They would see that justice would prevail in their own way. “But I have given my word,” protested the chief.

“But you don’t know whom he killed!” they countered.

“I have given my word,” the chief repeated.

“He killed your son!” one of them blurted out. The chief was deeply and visibly shaken with his news. He stood speechless with his head bowed for a long time. The accused and the accusers as well as curious onlookers waited breathlessly. What would happen to the young man? Finally the old man raised his head. “Then he shall become my son,” he informed them, “and everything I have will one day be his.”

The young man certainly didn’t deserve such generosity. And that, of course, is the point. Love in its purest form is beyond comprehension. No one can merit it. It is freely given. It is agape, the love of God. Look to the cross. At the cross we encounter love in its purest form.

The Last Impression

An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps, “Where would you like to sit?” he asked politely.

“The front row please,” she answered.

“You really don’t want to do that,” the usher said “The pastor is really boring.”

“Do you happen to know who I am?” the woman inquired. “No.” he said. “I’m the pastor’s mother,” she replied indignantly.

“Do you know who I am?” he asked. “No,” she said. “Good,” he answered.

When you come to WFA this Sunday, you can surely sit in the front row, if you like! And, we will pray that this preacher isn’t boring! I know that it won’t be boring as we worship the Lord together, and I believe you will be challenged and blessed as the Word of God is boldly proclaimed! See you then!