Understanding The Armor of God by Stella Ashworth | Page 15
He can also bombard our thoughts with lies and doubts, hoping to whittle away at our trust in the Lord and get us discouraged. But perhaps the devil ' s most subtle strategy is mind manipulation through subliminal messaging.
Make no mistake, Satan is the god of this world, and he aims to keep people focused on the things of this world. How easy it is to let our guard down when going about our daily lives. But let us not be ignorant of the enemy’ s attempts to get our thoughts preoccupied with the lusts and cares of this world.
To counteract the battle going on against our minds, we need to receive God’ s Word with all " readiness of mind " and search the Scriptures daily.
Acts 17:11
“ Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
David said in Psalm 119:11
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I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” As pilgrims and strangers in this world, we are to seek first the Kingdom of God and set our affection on things above. Philippians 3:20“ But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Colossians 3:1-4
“ 3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
I Peter 2:11
“ Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”
John 17:14-15
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I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”
The Bible says everyone has sinned and deserves death. Only through Christ’ s sacrifice can we be delivered from sin and death and offered salvation.
Salvation is a gift of God, given by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Upon repentance and baptism, God forgives us from our past sins. We then begin a lifelong process of repentance and growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:8-10
“ 8 but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.”
John 3:16-17
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For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”