Armor of Light

Monday, October 27, 2008: Romans 13:11–14

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

How do we cast off or put on these things? Casting off is by confession before God in prayer; putting on is by reading God’s word.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: Romans 6:12–14

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

What do the words reign and dominion have to do with sin? When you are in Christ, sin has lost its grip: you have the weapons to break free instead of living under dominion of sin.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008: 2 Corinthians 6:4–7

But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left

What is the implication of Paul putting on armor on his hands? Paul’s strong and weak actions are for God’s kingdom.

Thursday, October 30, 2008: 2 Corinthians 10:3–5

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ

What is the battleground in the Christian’s life? The battleground is the thoughts of our mind!

Friday, October 31, 2008: Ephesians 6:14–17

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

What weapon allows to fight, and not merely stand? Without doubt, that weapon is knowledge of how the Bible, the Word of God, can be used daily.

Taken in the Act

Taken In The Act

Monday, October 20, 2008: John 8:3–4

Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.

Background: Jesus Christ spent the night on the Mount of Olives while those He taught went back home. Jesus Christ returned to the temple and so did the people. He taught them there.
The Scribes and the Pharisees did not like this, and the incident we look at this week followed.

Where was the man who was with her? They let him go but they laid hold of the woman. This shows the intentions of the leaders towards Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008: John 8:5–6

Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

What is unique about these verses? This (and the verses that follow) is the only record of Jesus Christ writing something. He wrote with His finger, reminiscent of the Law, written by the Finger of God, and the judgment against the King in the book of Daniel where a hand without a writing utensil wrote. Note that Jesus Christ stooped down. John the Baptist said that the One who came after himself was so great that he was not fit to even do the menial task of stooping down and untying his shoes.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008: John 8:7–8

So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

What is unique about these verses? He stood up and spoke with authority. He was the only one present that day without sin! The woman was silent, not screaming, nor protesting her innocence. Was she praying in her heart to God for forgiveness? Was Jesus Christ listening to the agony without words? Did He hear her confess, as she perceived this to be her last moment on earth? Did He write off her sin to His account? Did He write her name in the Lamb’s book of life? I think so.

Thursday, October 23, 2008: John 8:9–10

Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

What is unique about these verses? Only Jesus Christ was left with the woman. None could bear their conscience. The oldest scribes and Pharisees left first, their trap diffused and their purposes defeated. Jesus Christ rose and spoke to the repentant woman, asking her a question.

Friday, October 24, 2008: John 8:11

She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

What is unique about this verse? The woman acknowledged His not as Rabbi, but Lord. Graciously, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, tells her there is no condemnation from Him.

Perceptive

Laying hold of, attaining, or perceiving things.

Monday, October 13, 2008: Philippians 3:12–14

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Background: Paul is speaking about his new life in Christ, whom he previously persecuted.

What is the connection between the red words? They mean the same thing.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008: Romans 9:30–32

What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

What is still the stumbling stone still being set by many preachers? Following the law instead of pleasing God by faith.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008: Acts 4:13–14

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Background: Peter and John were before the Sanhedrin because they healed the lame man and preached resurrection.

What was the big surprise to the learned Jews? Uneducated fishermen were speaking about spiritual truth with authority.

Thursday, October 16, 2008: John 12:35–36

Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

What is the difference, according to Jesus Christ, between the sons of light and those who let darkness overtake them? The former attain the status by belief, not action: the latter by action, not belief.

Friday, October 17, 2008: 1 Thessalonians 5:2–4

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief

Background Founded by Paul in his second missionary journey in A D 51, the young Church was standing up well under heavy persecution from the Jews. Paul encourages them with the message of the rapture in every chapter. This passage is widely read.

Is Paul’s admonition good today? Yes, we get so involved in the world, we do not see the end coming.

Wages

Monday, October 6, 2008: Haggai 1:6-7

“You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!

Background: The Jewish exiles in Babylon had returned, started building the Temple, and had stopped. Haggai’s and Zechariah’s prophecies restarted them.

Why were the Jews unable to prosper? God asked them to examine themselves and see their neglect of God. Their wages were spent as if their purses had holes. Isn’t this reminiscent of today’s conditions?

Tuesday, October 7, 2008: 1 Samuel 2:5

Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
And the hungry have ceased to hunger.
Even the barren has borne seven,
And she who has many children has become feeble.

Background: the time of the Judges ended in failure: everyone did what was right in his own sight. God brings in the prophet, the anointer of Kings, into history as the son Hanna (Samuel’s mother) prays for and receives.

What is the symbolic message in the parallel couplet of verses? Those who are unmindful of God’s purposes in their lives and dependent on self-accomplishment have to learn through difficult circumstances (which turn things around) that God is the blesser and from him material blessings flow.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008: Zechariah 8:10

For before these days
There were no wages for man nor any hire for beast;
There was no peace from the enemy for whoever went out or came in;
For I set all men, everyone, against his neighbor.
But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the Lord of hosts.

Background: same as Haggai.

What lies behind a time of trouble? God’s hand is present. We often depend on our own strength and resourcefulness only to find it lacking in such times.

Thursday, October 9 2008: Romans 4:2–8

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

Background: Paul writes about attitude that our work or good deeds are sufficient in God’s sight. He uses two prominent men of the Bible to demonstrate faith and forgiveness of sins.

Do good works set you right before God? No. If they did, then you could earn God’s favor. But even the patriarchs believed God and had their sins forgiven to the point that they were right before God.

Friday, October 10, 2008: Romans 6:22–23

But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How are wages different from a gift? The former is earned the latter given free for the taking.