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14 June: Finding Protection in God's Armor
In 1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” We see the truth of that in the Garden when Satan succeeds in deceiving Eve; we see the truth of that when Shadrach is thrown into the furnace; we see the truth of that when Satan actively attacks Job; we hear the Lord giving credit to Satan when Peter rejects God’s plan for Jesus on the cross. Satan is certainly behind Paul’s persecution of the church and Scripture even records the conflict that occurs between Jesus & Satan out in the wilderness.
And here is the really bad news – Satan is still alive and well today! Consider: Mtt 13:22 “and the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” Guess who it is that is behind this distraction and the falling away from God’s kingdom??? Remember, Jesus says no man can serve two masters. Either we are serving God’s kingdom like the sheep who clothe, feed and water those in need or we are the goats who do nothing in the name of Christ and seek to serve only our own wants and wishes.
It is a constant struggle to take up our cross and follow Jesus. If we are not purposeful in serving the Lord then we will often times catch ourselves attending to the cares of this world and forsaking the desires of the Lord. Remember Jesus’ accusation to Peter when Peter rejects God’s plan: Mtt 16:23 “But Jesus turned to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; For you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s”.
But here is the good news: Jesus understood and understands the problem with living in this world and its natural temptations. What does Scripture tells us: Christ was tempted in all things just as we are. But, here is the “gooder” news – 1 Cor 15:57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 John 5:4 “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” Deut 20:4 “For the Lord your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’” We need to realize that there is an adversary out there who wants us to fall from the presence of God and live our lives the way we want to but that way is the way to death. What does Jesus say – Mk 8:36 “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
The question we must ask ourselves is – who are we listening to? Self and sin or God? Luckily God has not left us to fend for ourselves: Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you”. Hebrews 13:5: “Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” . John 14:16, 18 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with your forever. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Rom 15:4 “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” 2 Tim 3:16,17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
Scripture has been provided to us so that like Jesus – whenever Satan comes at us we have a ready reply to resist him. Heb 13:6 “So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” One way we are helped by the Lord is explained in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: Eph 6:11-13 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”
I hope you notice something. Satan is here on this earth trying his best to separate us from God. And God, He is providing for us a way to combat Satan’s efforts. 1 Cor 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you, but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” So, what is it that God has done in order that we might resist Satan’s antics? What is something that we can do to make sure that the master we are serving is our Lord? What is something that we can do to ensure that we are ready for the return of the Lord so that He will find us doing His work and being His faithful servants? We can use the resources which the Lord has given us: 1) Holy Spirit 2) Scripture 3) Family
Today I want to look at the second provision that we have been given, specifically what Scripture tells us regarding one of God’s gifts – armor for battle:
Eph 6:13-18 “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints”.
The first part of the armor which we have been given is the belt of truth: Ephesians 6:14 “Stand firm therefore, having belted/girdled your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness”. The first item of help is truth. James warns us that our minds are not to be tossed about like ships by every new doctrine that comes around. In John 8:44 Jesus says the devil “is a liar and the father of lies.” Satan has been leading people astray by distorting God’s truth since he tempted Adam and Eve in the garden. Likewise, he tempts us to question God’s word, character, power, and promises with subtle lies that often seem plausible. The only way we can detect his deception is to KNOW the truth. We need to have an assurance in our minds as to which direction we are going, who we are serving and the goals we are seeking in our lives. In the same way that a belt or girdle holds everything in place, we need to have commitment, confidence and assurance as to who, which master, we are serving and why we are serving. Putting on the belt of truth might look like regularly reading and studying God’s word, calling to mind and clinging to specific truths that pertain to particular areas of temptation, and asking other believers to help us apply the truth to our struggles. If you recall last week’s lesson, we as a unified family encourage, strengthen and uplift each other. Jesus teaches in Matthew 18:15–17 that if a brother sins, you should first confront him privately: “Go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens, you have won your brother.”
John 8:31,32 “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word (study, know), then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Let us spend as much time in God’s word as we do focused on other aspects of this world. Let us not be like the seeds in the thorns. Second armor:
Ephesians 6:14 “Stand firm therefore, having belted/girdled your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness”. Wearing/having the breast plate of righteousness is important because we need to know with confidence the state of our soul. Phil 3:9 “I have a righteousness … through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.” 2 Cor 5:21 “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” The breastplate of righteousness covers our hearts because that’s where our sin originates. Jesus explicitly addresses the origin of sin in Mark 7:21-23 "For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, …. arrogance, and foolishness. All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man".
On our own, we know that no one is righteous (sinless) for “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). Our having and putting on the breastplate of righteousness is our putting on the Lord in our hearts and thereby receiving HIS righteousness. Once we’re covered by Christ’s righteousness, we take up that righteousness by living in obedience to God.
As 1 John 3:4-10 explains, “whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as [Christ] is righteous” and “no one born of God makes a practice of sinning”. In other words, one of the primary ways in which we are wearing our breastplate of righteousness is to make a practice of doing what is right rather than to make a practice of sinning. When we choose to live in obedience to God’s law, we’re taking up the breastplate of righteousness which we have in Christ. With this knowledge of approval in God’s eyes, we can go forth in battle confident of God’s support. The third piece of armor:
Eph 6:15 15 and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; You will notice that the ‘gospel of peace’ is located on our feet. It prepares us for doing what – moving forward and into battle. If you talk to any soldier who has gone into battle, if they are truthful, they will tell you of the fear and trepidation that is within their hearts. In OUR hearts there can be ‘peace’, confidence and assurance. John 16:33 ““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus tells us: John 10:10,11 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
I read these two verses in full because in our study today we are acknowledging there is and adversary against us - Satan. And, we also know who is on our side fighting and redeeming us – not just Jesus who is our Lord but also our SAVIOR. Just like the man who dug down to the bedrock in order to put the foundation of his house – we can and should be building our faith on Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31) Jesus is most definitely for us!!!
Rom 5:1,2 “Therefore, since we have been justified (made righteous) through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand”. God’s grace combined with our faith gives us peace for our future – here and the hereafter. Eph 2:17,18 “And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we have our access in one Spirit to the Father. We have been given to wear in our lives the gospel of peace and all that it entails.
With this assurance and confidence we can not only echo but we can also LIVE the spirit of truth we find in Rom 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
God knows our adversary and He knows us. He defeats Satan and supports and loves us. Let our lives reflect that truth and let us share that truth with those who will listen.
7 June: UNITY in God’s Family
Crossway: 3 Ways We Are United with Each Other … 05/10/2026 Brad Wetherell
Unity Starts with Christ: Rom 6:5 “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be [united] in the likeness of His resurrection.” …”. All united with Him means we are all united together WITH Him and so shall we be in heaven – all united together in the afterlife. 1 Cor 12:25,27 “so that there may be no divisions in the body …. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.” 1 Cor 1:10 “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgement.” Remember the passage in Heb 5:12 where Paul accuses them of still needing milk when they should be teachers by this time. He is not talking to individuals but to the whole congregation, the whole church family. They are supposed to be growing up TOGETHER in the word of God.
Scriptures in various place illustrates how God has called us to grow in Christlikeness alongside Christ’s people. And when we work properly together, we will grow together in God’s love. That is why the exhortation that we have received in Heb 10:24 with regard to encouraging one another is so important. The Family that studies together and works together – stays together. Remember the unity which the Lord prayed for in John 17 – multiple times in that prayer He prays that we all be one together with each other and with the Father/Jesus.
So, what will help us work properly together? Let me suggest three answers. We will help each other in the pursuit of holiness when we remember that in Christ, we are (1) united by story, (2) united in purpose, and (3) united forever.
United by Story
Shared stories have a unique way of binding people together. And in the church, we have a shared story. As believers, we can each say, “I have been crucified with Christ,” and, “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). Unity with Christ is profoundly important as is OUR unity. Rom 6:1-4 makes this abundantly clear:
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
Do you see the shared story? Remembering this shared story will help us foster unity. We are not struggling alone in this world. Remember the armor of God that Ephesians speaks to us about? Armor is worn by soldiers – soldiers are a part of an army – we are part of this army here in Shafter. An army divided cannot be an army which stands/wins.
Writing to the believers in Corinth, Paul says with a heavy heart, “I hear that there are divisions among you” (1 Cor. 11:18). Our relationships within the church get strained—sometimes even severed—by pride, cruelty, impatience, and hostility. But God calls us to a more excellent way. He urges us to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1–3).
As followers of Christ, we need to remember our shared story. Again, this is why assembling to sing, pray, read, and sit under the preached word of Christ is so essential. This is why coming around the Lord’s Table as a gathered body is so vital. This is why meeting in smaller groups to open the Scriptures and pray for one another is so helpful. As we fix our collective eyes on the Savior who unites us, we will maintain the unity of His Spirit and the bond of peace. And we will spur one another on in the pursuit of our shared purpose – Heb 10:24,25 “ Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another”. In order to share our Lord’s story we need to be in the presence of each other.
As second factor which unites us is our shared purpose:
Peter tells us “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Pe 5:8). Our enemy has a way of creeping in and gaining a foothold in our lives. If we’re not careful, we can begin to believe the lie that we’re helpless to do anything about it. We can resign ourselves to the way things are and cease striving for a holy life. When that happens, we need someone to wake us up. We need someone who will say, “Wake from sleep. . . . The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness. . . . But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh” (Rom. 13:11–12, 14). We need people who will remind us to fight sin and pursue holiness. And that is why we need the church.
In the church, we all have the same purpose: We are aiming to grow into the “measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). Since we are united with Him, we want to live like Him. That is exactly the message regarding taking up our cross and following Him. But Jesus never intended for us to do this on our own. “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Eph. 4:15–16).
As believers in Christ, we must speak the truth in love. We must remind each other that sin’s reign is over, the King is on the throne, and in union with Him, we are dead to sin and alive to God (Rom. 6:11). As we do this, we will build one another up. As we do this, we will fulfill the expectations of assembling together so that we might encourage and uplift.
Consider two additional ways in which our unity can be illustrated. First, when we see a brother caught in any transgression, because he is family and we care, we can seek to “restore him in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal. 6:1). We can say, “Friend, I love you, and I’m concerned for you. The way you’re living doesn’t line up with who you are. We are saints who sin, but we are saints nonetheless. You are in Christ. You are no longer enslaved to sin. You are a servant of the Lord. We are new creations. We have put on our Lord Jesus Christ, and with all the strength that He supplies, we can follow Him.”
Second, when someone comes full of shame and remorse and confesses sin, we can comfort them with this same comfort we have received: that there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). When we confess our sins, God is “faithful and just to forgive us,” and He will “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). We can reassure them that even when our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts (1 John 3:20). God is our Judge, and since He has pardoned us in Christ, we are justified fully. God is also our Father, and since He has adopted us in Christ, we are eternally loved (Rom. 8:38–39).
Our unity here in this place and during our time in this location is but a foreshadow of what awaits us in eternity. God calls us to exert real effort in the pursuit of a holy life which prepares us for the life to come. Col 3:1 “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Eph 2 4-6 tells us that God, because of His love for us has raised us from the dead (in sin) and has seated us in heaven next to Christ Jesus. One essential purpose of the church is to train us for heaven.
We in the church are to help each other toward that destination. We should feel a real responsibility to assist one another in making progress and to avoid anything that would put a hindrance in someone else’s way. And one day, when we arrive together, we will rejoice together. We will join with the multitude of God’s people and say,
Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give Him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and His Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure,
for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” (Rev. 19:6–8)
The bride has made herself ready. How? She received a gift. It was “granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure.” From beginning to end, our holiness is a gift of God’s grace, enabled and empowered by our union with Christ. But she also “[clothed] herself with fine linen, bright and pure.” She accepted it and put it on. This Bride is the church and this church is you and me. It is God’s plan that we celebrate with and together praise our heavenly Father.
This will occur when we have joined the lamb wearing our fine linen. And what is this fine linen? It is “the righteous deeds of the saints”. Our righteous deeds could never pardon us from sin. But our righteous deeds do prepare us for heaven. And when we get there, the transformation will be complete. We will see our Savior face-to-face, and we will be like Him (1 John 3:2).
Remember this truth the next time you feel discouraged about your own progress. One day, you will shine like the sun in the kingdom of your Father (Matt. 13:43). Also remember this truth the next time you feel frustrated about someone else’s progress. That brother will get there, and that sister will be shining too. So the thought to focus on is to consider how can we help and encourage one another while on this journey.
We must run this race together. The author of Hebrews reminds us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:1–2).
Do you have a strong connection to your local church? Are you there on the Lord’s Day to nourish your soul with the reality of your union with Christ? Are you receiving the strength and encouragement that God’s people provide? Are you offering the same to others? Do you continue this connection and fellowship throughout the rest of the week?
We don’t have to run this race alone. In fact, we can’t. But as we strive side by side, we will make progress. In Christ, we will grow together. In Christ we will be united with one another and the Father – Jesus spoke His prayer in John 17: (extracted and paraphrased) so that we might know what is on His heart and that of the Fathers with regard to you and me: “Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said: all You have given Me I give eternal life. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
God desires a close and personal relationship with each and every one of us. He also desires that in our relationship with Him we also celebrate a relationship with one another. And in our love for the Father and our love for one another the world may come to believe just as we do. John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
I don’t think I can make any clearer the importance of our unity!!!
31 May: To COVET or NOT to COVET: 1 JOHN 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
And in the Big Ten: #10 “And you shall not covet your neighbor’s house, wife … or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Ex 20:17
1. Covetousness Never Brings Satisfaction
Irish Proverb: “The covetous person is always in want.” Dutch Proverb: “Covetousness is always filling a bottomless vessel.” Scripture puts it this way: “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity” (Eccl. 5:10)..
Jesus puts it like this in Luke 12:15: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” If the word of the Lord needed confirming, there are enough miserable rich people in the world to prove that a satisfied life does not come from having things.
God’s word on money is that it does not satisfy those who love it. If we believe Him, we will turn away from the love of money. Jesus tells us this about the love of money: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, ore he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Mtt 6:24
2. Covetousness Chokes Off Spiritual Life
In continuation with serving one master or the other Jesus told the parable of the Sower and how some seed “fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it” (Mark 4:7). Then He interpreted the parable and said that the seed is the word of God. The thorns choking the seed are “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things” (Mark 4:19).
Covetousness is the “desire for other things” in competition with the word of God. As John put it – the ‘lust of the eyes’ IS OF THE WORLD. The desire for other things” can be so strong that the beginnings of spiritual life can be choked out altogether. This is such a frightful warning that we should all be on our guard every time we hear the Word to receive it with faith and not to choke it with covetousness.
What does Paul tell us in Hebrews 5:12-13 “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principle of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.” Clearly his audience was not studying and growing but were instead distracted and focus on things other than God’s Word. Jesus concludes one parable this way: So take care how you listen” Luke 8:18
In other locations Jesus declares – “he who has ears let him listen.” We need to be sure that our hearts and minds are open/receptive to God’s Holy Word!
Paul writes to Timothy words which we would do well to heed: “15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15
3. Covetousness Spawns Many Other Sins
When Paul says, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evils” (1 Tim. 6:10). He is telling us that the kind of heart that finds cont