Blog In Audio:
Greetings,
As leaders we lead people in a path forward in Christ in which we each choose to be able to exchange our beliefs for the beliefs of God. We exchange our character, our nature, and our way for those found in Christ. Our true character, nature, way, power, and authority is found in our redemption through Jesus Christ and granted to us by a work of God’s grace in our lives. That grace is the work of the sevenfold Holy Spirit in, with, and through us in life. What God says about us is different than what the circumstances of our lives have educated us to believe. The earthly, carnal beliefs of the way of the word resist the true knowledge of God. That true knowledge is not a knowledge of information but a knowing that comes through intimacy with God in our hearts. Just as there are angels that serve as ministering spirits to us in our journey in Christ, there are also spiritual forces that work against us to oppose our knowing of who God really is in our lives and who we are in Christ. The mercy of God through the blood of Jesus Christ has justified us to live and we are moving forward in our journey of sanctification, manifestation, ministration, activation, facilitation, and release in all things for the glory of God in our lives. Though we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, spiritual powers seek to manipulate the beliefs of our hearts through lies and spiritual influences of deception. Since we wrestle against those things which are not flesh and blood, we need to take up the whole armor of God so that we do not embrace the beliefs, actions, imaginations, and influence forced upon humanity by demonic inspiration.
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
We are instructed to put on the “whole” armor of God. Not just part of it, but all of it, so that we may be able to withstand these forces of darkness. This is embracing being led by Holy Spirit with His divine empowerment in all things. That’s not to just stand still, but to literally oppose them in the day of evil! That armor is the testimony of being led by the Sprit in all things so that we can become manifested sons of God. Those who are led by the Spirit are sons of God and they bring the liberty of the life of God to their world. The first piece of armor is that our waist must be girded with the belt of truth.
Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth…
The word “waist” is the Greek word “osphus” and it means; “loin; procreative power”. This belt is not just a little strip of leather that keeps our trousers from falling down. This belt is a complete protection for our loins and is a strategic piece of equipment that connects the other necessary articles of warfare. It involves wrapping our expectations of our future and hope in all that is true of God and all that God says is true of us. This piece of armor is a protection which covers our ability to be fruitful. Our loins are the area of the fruitfulness of our bodies. It’s in this area that we have the ability to procreate. It’s not insignificant that when this Scripture deals with the truth that it talks about our area of procreative power. That is our ability to be fruitful. The Scripture says in John 8:31 that we will know the truth and the truth will make us free. He said that if we abide in His word, that we will be His disciples and we will know the truth and the truth will make us free. He didn’t say that if we abide in what our eyes see, or if we abide in what our ears hear, that we would be free. He said if we abide in His word then we are His disciples and then we will know the truth and the truth will make us free. The truth is different than what we see with our eyes. It’s different than what we hear with our ears. The truth is in His word and in His specific words to our hearts. It’s in His word that we will find our ability to be fruitful when we are confronted with the demonic powers of darkness that seek to hinder us in our path forward in life. It is through becoming expressions of God in the uniqueness of who each of us are that we become expressions of God’s word that transforms the beliefs of our hearts.
Obedience to the truth will purify our souls (1 Pet. 1:22). We need to study to show ourselves approved, workmen who need not be ashamed (2 Tim. 2:15). We need to get into God’s word and find out what He has to say. This is not a study to know about Him, but a diligent study to know Him. We should study His written word so that we can readily recognize His voice, but the true study of His word is through an intimate encounter with God so Holy Spirit can empower our hearts by His grace to know the truth. That grace comes as a desire, a want to, a testimony of the Spirit of the Lord. The revelation of truth that we hear and become will be about God’s love for us and a gift from Him to understand that love in our hearts. It will be empowered by the desire of the Lord. What does Jesus love about you and what do you love about Him? It’s not what tradition says, but what God says that counts. We need to find out what God says, and we must allow the Spirit of the Lord to bring about life-giving change to the beliefs of our hearts. The enemy has power over us when we don’t know the truth. It’s not when he doesn’t know the truth. If our souls can prosper in the truth then we can prosper in that truth. As leaders we must lead people in the path of the foundation of each one’s faith. That foundation is set upon the internal voice of God in each one’s heart for each one to know the truth and to become a testimony of the freedom of that truth in life.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
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