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Faith as a Shield

12 Jul
Faith as a Shield

We’re continuing our walk through Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church. We’ve been going through chapter 6 in detail. In talking about God’s Armor, the next piece we’ll see is the Shield of Faith. That’s probably one of the most preached about in our generation.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Ephesians 6:16

There are some assumptions being made in this verse. Paul says that this is in addition to the pieces already talked about. This assumes that you’re already standing firm in the Word, walking in righteousness, and prepared to do God’s will.

We can stand firm in just these. What we have to realize is that when we take up the shield, we’re going from defense to offense in the spiritual battle. Up until this point, your goal is to keep the enemy from harming you.

You add the shield so that you can now defeat the enemy. You take up the Shield of Faith because you’re now going into the part of the battle where the arrows are flying.

Please understand that I’m not talking about saving faith. You’ve already trusted Christ for that. I’m also not talking about faith in the promises of God. I’m looking at using faith in the middle of the battle as a shield.

It’s your protection against the flaming arrows of the evil one. This means that there’s more than just one arrow headed in your direction.

That brings me to the word, shield, itself. The Greek word used in this verse is not the little one that looks like a trashcan cover. Get that picture out of your mind, even though most of the illustrations for the Christian armor look like that.

The word Paul uses comes from the word door. That’s because this shield is as big as a door. The soldier could hide behind it and be totally protected from these arrows as long as he stayed there.

That tells me that faith protects my whole life. So far, the armor has protected my mind, my heart, and my will. This piece protects everything else.

This shield protects me from evil. What kind of evil? I’m talking about the random evil that’s flying in the front lines. The archers on the wall loose a volley of arrows against those who are advancing. These are simply flying to take out whoever they can hit.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day…
Psalms 91:5

If the enemy can hit our flesh with evil, then our flesh will take us out of the fight. We’ll end up battling our own sin nature instead of defeating the devil’s kingdom.

These are the flaming arrows of the enemy. As the weapons of the enemy hit the wooden shield, it begins to wear away. If you just stand still in your Christian walk, you begin to lose ground. Your faith begins to fade.

That’s why prayer, reading the word, and fellowship with other believers are so vital to our walk with the Lord. We need to continue in all of these things just to stand still. If that’s the case, then I really need to build my faith for moving forward in God.

However, there’s one more purpose of the shield other than for protection. In the Roman army, everybody’s shield was painted differently. They did this because your shield identified your family. Members of the same family had the same design on their shields.

But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
Hebrews 3:6

The fact is that we’re now in God’s family. This verse tells us that we can show it by our outspokenness. When we walk in faith, we can boldly declare our expectation in Christ. In that way, we show what family we belong to.

In my next post, I’ll talk about how to use and apply this piece of armor.

Question: How has God shielded you from the enemy’s attacks?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on July 12, 2023 in Faith, Ministry, Prayer, Revival, Spiritual Warfare

 

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Applying Your Spiritual Shoes

10 Jul
Applying Your Spiritual Shoes

In my last post, I talked about what the shoes protect. They keep our endurance to complete God’s will in our lives. Today I want to talk about how to use this piece of armor.

…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:15

We’re told in the above verse, that this readiness comes from the Gospel of Peace. The Apostle explained this Gospel right in this same letter. You may want to read Ephesians 2:11-22 before continuing with this post.

In the second chapter of Ephesians, Paul shows us that the Gentiles were far from God, while the Jews were in His family. However, when Christ came, He destroyed all the barriers.

Formerly there were three parties at war: God, Gentiles, and the Jews. Through His death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus reconciled all people to Himself. We are all members of one body. We all have unlimited access to God.

Paul concludes that chapter by stating the point of the Gospel of Peace.

In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2:21-22

Now, everyone who bows their knee to Christ has a place in this Temple. We’re being built into a dwelling place for God.

What we’re told to do takes effort.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3

We’re told here to guard the oneness of the Spirit in the bond, or literally, the ligament of peace. Contrary to what many say, peace is not just some calming factor. It’s the glue, the unifying factor, in the body of Christ.

This tells me that I put on my Shoes of Readiness by connecting to the body of Christ. In talking about the reason for the five-fold ministry gifts, the Apostle Paul explains it.

…to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…
Ephesians 4:12

This is why we connect with the body of Christ. By connecting, I learn to serve.

I know that right now many have stopped going to church meetings. They may have stopped attending during the COVID crisis. Maybe they’ve been hurt in the past. Or it could be the proliferation of TV and online preachers.

There’s a question that some ask. “Can’t I be a Christian and never go to a church?” The answer to that is yes, but it’s not all about you. Apart from a local church, you can never be prepared for works of service that build up the body of Christ.

Of course, there are a lot of believers who attend church yet aren’t connected. That puts you in the same condition. You’re shoe-less.

As a matter of fact, the above verse continues to say…

…until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:13

It’s all about the body of Christ as a whole operating on the level of Christ. That’s not going to happen without us all being connected. The church needs to arise in this generation.

That’s how you put on the shoes of readiness. You can’t move forward unless you find your connection. If you’re not connected to a local body of believers, then you’re trying to walk without shoes.

It’s my connection to a local church that fleshes out the Gospel of Peace. Then, from that connection, my spiritual feet can be protected as I move forward in God’s will.

Question: What are your connections in the body of Christ?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on July 10, 2023 in Fellowship, Ministry, Relationships, Revival, Spiritual Warfare, The Church

 

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Your Spiritual Shoes

07 Jul
Your Spiritual Shoes

We’re continuing our study through the book of Ephesians. At this point I’m going through the section known as the Armor of God. In today’s post, I’ll talk about the shoes.

…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:15

It’s obvious that this piece of armor protects our feet. The question is; what are our spiritual feet?

Simply put, we walk with our feet. This includes three aspects. Direction…we point our feet where we want to go. Speed…this could be determined by a number of factors. Endurance…as a hiker I know that I can only walk as long as my feet are able.

So to answer my question I need to understand what it is that determines my direction, speed, and endurance in my spiritual walk. In life, it’s my will that brings all of these things into focus.

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.
Psalms 18:32-33

God perfects the way before me, but I still have to set my will to walk it out. My will determines my direction, speed, and endurance. This is important for us to know.

Knowing this, we’re told that something needs to be fitted on our spiritual feet. The word, fitted, in the verse from Ephesians literally means an under binding.

That’s because my will is where I come in contact with the world. It’s just like in the natural; my shoes protect my feet as they contact the earth. When I live for Christ, my will comes in direct opposition to that of the world.

It’s in this place of contact that your endurance can get worn down. If you don’t wear shoes, or don’t wear the right shoes, the earth determines how you walk. With the right shoes, you determine your walk.

Like I’ve said, I’m a hiker. I have a good set of hiking boots. I’ve gone out for day hikes with friends who only had a pair of flimsy sneakers. I laughed as they slowly picked their way so as not to step in mud or on a sharp rock. But I was able to move straight forward because my feet were properly protected.

As I look at the armor, I notice that there’s a specific order to put it on. It starts with the mind (The belt), then moves to the heart (The breastplate), and now we prepare our will.

That answers a question that many ask. How do I know God’s will for my life? Once you protect your mind and your heart, you’re ready to hear God’s will. There’s a divine order to it.

Having said all of this, I think the keyword is readiness, the preparedness to do God’s will. We must realize, even before we know God’s will for us, that it’s going to be the opposite of what the world desires. Unless we’re prepared to protect it, our day to day life will wear it down.

Any believer can start doing God’s will. Only those who can endure to the end can finish what they started. We need the preparation that can only come from the Gospel of Peace.

We sometimes get the idea that everything’s okay. “When something comes up, I’ll do the right thing.” NO! You won’t unless you’ve prepared yourself for that evil day.

The fact is that if you don’t prepare beforehand, you won’t choose God’s will when you’re under extreme pressure. The Lord has provided a way for us to walk in victory, but we have to put the armor on.

At one point in Paul’s ministry, he knew God’s will for him was to go to Jerusalem. All along the way, prophecies came forth warning that he would be arrested. The church people pleaded with him not to go.

Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Acts 21:13

We need that same preparation. No matter what comes our way, we’re ready to follow through and complete God’s will for our lives.

Question: What’s the next step in God’s plan for your life?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on July 7, 2023 in Ministry, Revival, Spiritual Walk, Spiritual Warfare, The Church

 

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Applying the Breastplate of Righteousness

05 Jul
Applying the Breastplate of Righteousness

In my last post, I showed how the Breastplate of Righteousness was given to us to protect our hearts. That’s the good ground of our life. It’s where we plant the good seed of the Word of God.

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we’re told to put on the full armor of God. That means it’s a choice I have to make. The first thing we need to understand is what this righteousness is.

In the Bible, we’re told about two kinds of righteousness and both of them are important. First, there’s the position of righteousness. That means I’m declared righteous simply because I’m in Christ and He’s my righteousness.

Because of this position of righteousness, I can go into the presence of God whenever I want. Whether I need forgiveness, or simply want to praise and worship the Father, I have 24/7 access to God’s throne.

I praise God for the position of righteousness that we’ve been granted in Christ. However, that’s not the righteousness that protects our ground. The breastplate speaks of the walk of righteousness.

How does the walk of righteousness protect my heart? In the natural, Scripture talks about the enemies that invaded Israel and ruined their fields. Fire, drought, foxes, stones, salt, weeds, locust, and hail were all causes of crop failure.

In our walk with God, we’re warned to be careful not to form intimate relationships with unbelievers. We’re told that bad friendships corrupt good character (1 Corinthians 15:33). By becoming intimate with the world you’re opening up yourself for a broken heart – rocky, stony soil.

When your walk is not right before God, you have an open, unprotected heart. If you remember, a few posts ago I showed that the armor wasn’t Paul’s invention. There’s a word picture of God wearing His armor in the Old Testament.

Knowing this, Paul described what the breastplate consists of.

But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
1 Thessalonians 5:8

The first thing Paul talks about here is self-control. You may not want to hear this, but it takes self-control to put on the breastplate.

The word, self-control, in this verse, is not the same as the fruit of the spirit. This Greek word means to be sober, not drunk. We can’t be so intoxicated with the world that we miss God’s best.

Then, Paul gives us a closer look at this breastplate. He tells us that it’s comprised of a combination of faith and love. Walking in faith and love is the completion of your righteousness before God.

It should be obvious how this works. I must choose to trust God. I must choose to love God. This is a daily choice, to walk in righteousness. It’s a faith-love walk.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Galatians 5:6

In the New Covenant, circumcision is all about the rules of men. The reality is that in Christ rules don’t count for anything. Only a walk of righteousness matters.

This verse talks about being in Christ Jesus. That’s where you have to be to use the armor. This passage literally says that in Christ…the only thing that has force is faith, energized and made effective, through love.

How does this protect my heart? When you walk in the combination of faith and love, you’re placing a “force field” of righteousness around your heart. Your ground is protected, and you can expect your spiritual seed to grow unhindered by the enemy.

Question: What evidence do you see of faith and love working together in your life?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on July 5, 2023 in Faith, Ministry, Revival, Spiritual Warfare

 

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Stand Your Ground

23 Jun
Stand Your Ground

As we go through the letter to the Ephesian church, I’m continuing to post about the spiritual battle that we’re in. The Apostle Paul had a lot of insight in this area. Of course not everything he wrote sounds good to me.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:13

This is one of those scriptures that I have to take note of whether I like it or not. I’m told under the authority of the Holy Spirit to always be prepared to stand my ground.

This is a great lesson that the church needs to hear. So many people give up when things get hard. Some of us are under the impression that working for God should be all hearts and flowers.

Why then does Paul use the analogy of a warrior, fully armed, and dressed for battle? The fact is that there are spiritual forces that don’t want us to succeed in our service to the Lord. The victory comes from knowing that it’s the Holy Spirit giving you strength, and not giving up.

We need to learn how to stand in the center of opposition. The ancient Romans knew how to do this. It was the secret to the success of their army. Each of the Roman soldiers was taught how to defend a 3-foot square of ground from an invading army. When they stood, together, there was no way to break through their lines.

We need to get it into our heads that the only way to victory is to move forward in the Lord. Backing up WILL NOT get you out of the battle. It will only make you have to fight to regain that ground later.

Most of all, the thing about this verse that gives me the most trouble, is when Paul says when the day of evil comes. Not “if”, not “there might come a time when problems arise”. He tells us in a straight forward way that this day is coming whether you’re ready or not. So the best thing to do is prepare now.

The word that Paul uses for stand literally means to stand in opposition to. This word is used elsewhere in the Bible.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

The word resist in this verse is the same word as stand that Paul used. We need to stand our ground and resist the devil. We’re told that if we do this, in submission to the Lord, the enemy will flee. It’s the time frame between the resisting and the fleeing that gives us the most problem.

Why would the devil ever flee from us? After all, we’re not that strong compared to him. The answer is back in the verse from Ephesians.

The phrase after you have done everything actually translates after you have fully accomplished your work. When you have done everything you were assigned to do by the Lord, then it’s time for the Holy Spirit to take over. One thing I’m certain about. The enemy is no match for the God I serve!

So, being forewarned with the knowledge that the day of evil is coming, we need to be ready. We must be fully armed and prepared to stand our ground in Christ. Then we will see the victory of God manifest in our situation.

Question: What are you going through right now that will require you to stand your ground?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on June 23, 2023 in Ministry, Power of God, Revival, Spiritual Warfare

 

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The Unseen Battle

21 Jun
The Unseen Battle

I’m continuing my posts through the book of Ephesians. Paul is writing about the spiritual battle we’re in. I think that the church gets in trouble when it loses sight of this. If we don’t understand the battle, then we’ll never walk in victory.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12

The Scripture is clear. The battle takes place in the unseen world. My fight isn’t against people or even the issues that I can see with my eyes.

It would be so much easier if I could see my enemy. The fact is that there’s no group that you can point to and say, “They’re the enemy.” People and organizations are not the enemy.

We want to blame someone. “It’s their fault.” That’s not the attitude we should have. It’s clear from Scripture that the enemy is unseen. There is a whole spiritual world that’s just out of reach to our five senses. It cannot be felt or touched, yet it’s just as real.

The people around me are the casualties – prisoners of war held captive in unseen detention centers. Sometimes they don’t even want to be set free because the deception feels so good at the moment. My job is not to try and convince them to join with me.

The role of the church is to fight the unseen enemy. Tear down the invisible walls. Then turn the light on in the prison cells so that the captives can see the truth of their situation. Only then will they run to Christ the Savior.

But this seems to be the hardest thing to get believers to understand. Our struggle is not in the physical world, but the spiritual. It’s not us vs. the world. I’m not trying to get them to change sides. That will never bring about the desired results.

I want the same mindset that Jesus had when He walked the earth.

…The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
1 John 3:8b

We need to know that there’s a spiritual world, and that’s where our battle is being fought right now. But how many of us really understand what that means? While many believers can quote 2 Corinthians 2:4 – the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world – we don’t get the whole picture.

We don’t use physical weapons, but does that mean that the war itself is any different than a natural war? The enemy’s kingdom is very organized. The verse I started with talks about many levels of authority in their ranks. It’s time that the church gets organized for battle as well.

We also need to realize that this unseen world is organized. Actually, it’s more organized than the church. The enemy knows that the battle for souls goes on 24/7. We like to take breaks and holidays from the struggle. We think that because we did something special for God today, we can take the next few days off – “let our hair down” for a while. I believe that’s why the church in America seems to be so ineffective for the most part.

Do you realize that Satan has never personally attacked you? He has probably never even planned anything to come against you. We only face the lower levels of the dark forces; the rulers and authorities.

That’s why when you step up in ministry there’s a shift to a more intense battle. You find yourself moving up the ranks and facing tougher opponents in the spirit.

It’s time for God’s people to take this unseen battle seriously. We need to begin living our faith the way God intended us to. We need to lift up the Word of God as an offensive weapon against the darkness of this age. It’s time for the light of Christ to shine through us to set the captives free.

Be a part of God’s victorious church. Arm yourself for the unseen battle through prayer and the Word. It’s time to strike fear into the heart of the true enemy – the unseen kingdom of darkness.

We need a revival.

Question: What needs to take place for the church as a whole to wake up?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on June 21, 2023 in Ministry, Prayer, Prayer in the Spirit, Revival, Spiritual Warfare

 

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Purchasing Time

05 Jun
Purchasing Time

We’re continuing our walk through the book of Ephesians. We’re looking at how we should walk in the light of the Holy Spirit. Paul continues with this thought.

What he tells us is the foundation for revival. I want to see revival in the church. It’s obvious from what’s happening around us that we need it. The real question is; do we want it? And more than that, are we willing to do what it takes to lay hold of it?

Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16

In this passage, we’re once again told to be careful, to live wisely, and to pay attention. The days we live in are evil, hurtful.

I used to teach that inanimate things couldn’t be evil or good. After spending some time studying this verse, I realized that I was wrong. Things like days and money can be evil. It’s actually talked about throughout the New Testament. The times we’re living in are evil by influence and effect.

We’re told that we should be making the most of every opportunity. That literally means purchasing, buying time in the Greek.

God has set times where He wants to accomplish things through the church. But the times are evil. That means that it’s on us to redeem time.

We have been redeemed – from the law and the curse. Now we must redeem time from the curse. We must set aside times for God’s purposes.

We must purchase the time through prayer. That’s what he means by redeeming or purchasing the times.

We live in dangerous days. We want to see the hand of God at work. We must set the foundation through prayer and prayer in the spirit.

That’s why Paul goes on to say…

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:17-18

I’ve heard it said that we must pray the price. I never understood it until now. It’s time. Time to pray and purchase the appointed times for the move of God.

That’s what revival is going to take – time in the Lord’s presence. That’s where we find out what God’s will is. That’s where we receive His strategies for the days ahead.

That’s what Paul meant in talking about walking in the light and in the day. We are children of the light. More than anyone else, we should know and walk in God’s will.

It’s all based upon the prayers of His people. America desperately needs revival. Time set apart to Christ is the only way we’ll bring that to pass.

The unfortunate thing is that this generation seems to be extremely stingy with their time. If I said that a revival would cost a million dollars, we’d probably raise it pretty quick. But if I say it will take a week of meetings and prayer, where we clear our schedules for the move of God, few would take part in that.

It takes time to purchase revival. Those who want to discern the times and reap the harvest will redeem the time. We must pray the price, buying the time.

Question: How much time are you willing to clear up from your schedule for a move of God?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on June 5, 2023 in Ministry, Prayer, Prayer in the Spirit, Revival, Spiritual Walk, Word of God

 

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How Do You Smell?

26 May
How Do You Smell?

Paul continues to show us the way we need to live as a part of the body of Christ. As we start chapter 5, we see one of the most important aspects of this journey.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV

This has got to be one of the most incredible commands in all of Scripture. It’s so simple to read, yet the implications are enormous.

“Be imitators of God”. The Greek word for imitator is the word from which we get the English words, mime, and mimic. That doesn’t imply that we’re almost like Him. It means that our goal is to look, speak and act exactly like the Lord.

I know it would be easy to ignore this verse. We might say that Paul got a little carried away as he was writing. However, that’s not the case. Jesus Christ, Himself told us almost the same thing.

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:48 NIV

Of course, this doesn’t mean perfect in the sense of never making a mistake. That word literally means to be mature and of full age. It’s telling us that we need to grow up and live at a spiritually mature level.

This is an important concept for us to understand. Many people enjoy living at a level well below what they should have grown into. Even in the natural, there are adults who still want to act like adolescents.

The fact is that God wants us to grow up into our full level of maturity. That’s what brings glory to His name. When that world sees an example of who the Lord is, it makes them want to move closer to Christ.

That brings us to the second part of the above verse from Ephesians. We need to truly learn to live a life of love. That’s the agape-love of Christ. It’s the choice to participate in a positive way in someone else’s life.

And that brings us to the biggest problem with this type of lifestyle. To truly love in this way involves sacrifice.

I have my own agenda. There are things that I want to do, see, and accomplish. I don’t want to put my plans on hold in order to be a blessing to someone else.

But that’s why Paul used two different words for the sacrifice that’s required of us. He said that we need to be willing to be an offering and a sacrifice.

The word, offering, deals with the presentation of a gift. In this context it’s all about availability. Am I willing to be available to God for the benefit of others?

There are many who won’t even go that far. They basically put God on hold until a more convenient time arises. In most cases, it’s never convenient to obey the Lord.

But even so, the presentation is not enough. There are many who say, “I’m there for you.” or “I’ve got your back.” But then, when you need them, they’re not around, or too busy to help.

The next word, sacrifice, deals with that aspect. It means the actual sacrificial animal itself. It’s the putting aside of myself to take on the responsibility of helping the other person. It goes beyond words and loves through actions.

According to the above verse, that becomes a sweet-smelling perfume to God’s senses. Of course, that begs the question, what does it smell like when we ignore this command of the Lord?

Our goal should be a sweet-smelling body. We put on deodorant, perfumes, and fragrances all the time with our physical bodies. It’s time that we make the church of Jesus Christ a sweet-smelling place.

Question: When have you needed to put aside your plans for someone else’s needs.

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on May 26, 2023 in Fellowship, Ministry, Relationships, Spiritual Walk, The Church

 

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Giving Grief to the Holy Spirit

24 May
Giving Grief to the Holy Spirit

We’re continuing our walk through the book of Ephesians. Paul is giving some instructions about the walk of maturity.

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

Ephesians 4:28 NIV

I realize that there’s an obvious understanding of this verse. Don’t live as a thief. Be a contributing member of society and the church. But I want to take it a bit further.

In the church, down through the ages, there are many Christians who are “takers”. I’m sure you know the type of person I’m talking about. They’re the ones who always seem to need something.

From their attitudes, it looks like they believe the only reason for the church, is to take care of them. It could be money, encouragement, prayer, rides, or many other things.

I’m not saying that we as God’s people shouldn’t be helping those in need. However, if the only thing you do in the church is look for help, then there’s something wrong. All of us, no matter our situation, have something to offer.

If I never do anything for others, then I’m not fulfilling my callings in Christ. Don’t be a taker. Make sure that you’re doing your part as a member of the body of Christ.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:29-30 NIV

If I’m going to be a giver, then I must be careful what I’m giving out. That’s especially true in the area of my speaking. My goal should be the building up of the body.

That’s why I need to be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. I want to build people up according to what they need, not my own agenda. The Spirit allows me to go beyond my own ability to help.

The word, benefit, in the above passage is important. It literally says that your words should be grace to those who hear you. That’s where the power of the Holy Spirit comes into the picture.

He wants to see the body of Christ built up. It grieves Him when we don’t walk according to His unity.

I know that many times we preach about grieving the Holy Spirit by our personal sins. But, in the context of Ephesians, this verse is in the middle of a section about how we’re supposed to treat each other. I believe that the Holy Spirit gets more grief over our treatment of others than our sin. The next couple of verses bears this out.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV

When we don’t treat others the way God treated us, it grieves His heart. Many times, we, as church people, are guilty of one or all of the above problems. We can’t allow that to continue, as much as we’re able.

Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you today. If there are any things that you’ve done, or been a part of, that grieves the Spirit, take care of it right now. If repentance is needed, then do so. Sometimes it will require us to humble ourselves before another Christian.

Whatever it takes, clear the path of God’s blessing to fill your life. Then, allow it to spill over into the lives of others around you.

Question: How do you keep your relationships pure before God?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on May 24, 2023 in Fellowship, Ministry, Relationships, Spiritual Walk, The Church

 

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Growing in Love

01 May
Growing in Love

We’re continuing through Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church. He’s been teaching about our growth from infancy to maturity. This is where the Lord wants to bring us to.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:15-16 NIV

This passage is key to our growth as God’s people. It shows some things that we really need to concentrate on in our generation.

The first thing I see is pretty obvious. We need to be speaking the truth. But, the word Paul uses here is important. This word for truth also contains the thought of it being unconcealed truth. If we only tell half the truth, is it really the truth?

In our generation, we have a problem with many of the Scriptural teachings. We stay silent because we don’t want to “rock the boat” of society around us.

We miss the key. This verse literally says that we speak the unconcealed truth, BUT, IN LOVE. That’s the important part. So often we either stay silent or we speak the truth as if it were a baseball bat to knock people around.

Once we know the truth, we need to seek the wisdom of God for how to present it. The Lord loves all people. His goal is always relationship and restoration. Unfortunately, there are many Christians who portray hatred and judgment.

We need to walk the narrow path that Jesus exemplified so wonderfully in His life in earth. He was able to tell someone, “I’m not condemning you, but you need to leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11)

It’s obvious from these two verses that the important part is our love. We need to be speaking in love. But the body of Christ also has to be growing in love.

The language here is important for us to understand. It literally speaks of the body parts being joined and forced together. That’s an important concept for us to lay hold of. Especially after COVID, there are so many people who have left church and never returned.

We all need to be active members of the body of Christ. What do I mean by that? I’ve talked to many people, especially those who are of younger generations than me. (I’m 66 years old)

Many younger believers have left organized churches because of their frustration with “big box” religion. They don’t like seeing all of the money being poured into salaries and building maintenance. I get that.

However, the commands of Scripture still stand that we need to be meeting together, in-person, as the body of Christ. I don’t know what the church of Jesus Christ (not the denomination) is going to look like in ten years. We’re going through a time of transition right now.

But, there needs to be a meeting together. Whether that turns out to be in homes, like the first century church, or coffee shops, libraries, etc. Somehow we must come back together, face to face. That’s what we’re being called to do.

The passage above give us the result that each part is doing its work. We’re all called to some work for the Lord. The fact is that you’ll only find it when you know where you’re attached to the body. That’s the progression. Speaking the truth in love – joined and forced together – finding the work you’re called to do.

My prayer is that you’ll seek God for His wisdom. That’s what we need in the times we find ourselves in. Knowing the Scripture and applying it properly are two parts of the whole. It takes time spent with the Holy Spirit to live above the problems of the world around us.

Question: Where do you find yourself in the above passage?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on May 1, 2023 in Encouragement, Fellowship, Ministry, Relationships, The Church

 

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