“Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not
[practice] what I tell you? For everyone who comes to Me and listens
to My words [in order to heed their teaching] and does them, I will
show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug
and went down deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a
flood arose, the torrent broke against that house and could not shake
{or} move it, because it had been securely built {or founded on a
rock}. But he who merely hears and does not practice doing My words
is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation,
against which the torrent burst, and immediately it collapsed {and}
fell, and the breaking {and} ruin of that house was great.”
Lk6:46-49 AMP
A solid foundation is very important because it is
the one thing that determines whether a house or building will stand
or fall. Buildings don't fall because the paint is bad or because the
windows are broken and old. Buildings fall because of weak
foundations.
What determines whether as Christians we shall
stand, run the race and finish strong is the foundation that we have
established.
You are only as strong as your foundation.
If you have a weak foundation, you will fall. It is only a matter of
time.
It does not matter how powerful and committed you
are right now, it does not matter how much you pray, how wise you
are, how much you are serving God right now or how much you know. If
you haven't established a solid foundation in the faith, you will
fall when the winds and storms of life come.
This explains why even those we know as powerful
Christians fall back into sin or just move away from God and the
things of God. Sometimes we get amazed when we hear that a very
committed brother or sister suddenly fell back into sin and has
walked away from God. Sometimes it is a powerful preacher, or a
respected leader. We all believe they are anointed. Then suddenly we
hear that they fell into some sin or their ministry has collapsed.
And then we are perplexed and wonder what happened. This my friends
can happen to any of us. The reason it happens is actually very
simple. Lack of a solid foundation. Not being established in the
faith. Not being rooted and grounded in Christ. This is what Jesus
was teaching in Luke 6. This is why it is important to establish a
strong foundation and be rooted in the faith.
Only a strong foundation guarantees that we won't
fall when pressure or crisis comes in the future. Wisdom without
righteousness cannot guarantee you stability, just look at King
Solomon, the anointing cannot guarantee you stability, just look at
Saul and Samson. Both of them were incredibly anointed men of valor.
Knowledge and service can't guarantee you stability, only Jesus can
guarantee you stability. Only foundation in Jesus guarantees
stability. Only when you are firmly rooted in the wisdom and
righteousness of Jesus can you be guaranteed stability.
In Ephesians 6 the apostle Paul uses a different
type of analogy to communicate these same truths that he communicated
to the Colosians using the example and language of building and
construction. He now uses the language of war;
“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be
empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him
[that strength which His boundless might provides].” Eph6:10
We are urged to be strong. I think many of us do
not see this admonition. Or at least we do not pay attention to it.
But God clearly admonishes us to be strong. God wants us to always be
ready, to be strong at all times. We are in a fight. To be weak and
remain so is the way to perish.
Furthermore we are urged to be strong 'in the
Lord'. We fight in the power of God’s might. Not in our own
might. True effective spiritual warfare is when we are operating in
God’s power and not in our own power. The idea of exerting
ourselves physically in warfare is not true godly warfare. When we
are established and rooted in Christ, then we are able to be strong
in God's might. His might becomes the strength of our foundation.
Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a
heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able
successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies {and} the
deceits of the devil.” Eph6:11
This scripture tells us that the result of putting
on the whole armor of God is that we shall be able to successfully
stand up against the strategies and deceits of the devil.
Just putting on the whole armor of God is already
a large part of successful warfare.
Another
important point to note is that it is the armor
of God that we put on and not our armor. It is God’s
strength and might that gives us victory in the battle and not our
own. The armor of God is what makes us stable and
rooted in Christ. His armor provides our strength in the
battle.
For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood
[contending only with physical opponents], but against the
despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are]
the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces
of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.” Eph6:12
Our enemy is not flesh and blood. Our fight is not
against people. The things that cause us to fall are not people. We
need to understand this. Our fight is against principalities, evil
powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness
in high places.
In other words our enemy is spiritual (not flesh
and not people), our enemy is darkness and our enemy is wickedness
(evil).
The only weapons that can be effective against
such an enemy have to be spiritual, light and righteousness. It
is useless to employ carnal weapons and strength against a spiritual
enemy.
This is an important truth that we need to
understand. Physical strength and exertion is useless in the fight
against satan. We cannot defeat a spiritual enemy using physical/
carnal ways. Shouting, wailing and screaming never defeats satan.
“Therefore put on God's complete armor, that
you may be able to resist {and} stand your ground on the evil day [of
danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly
in your place].” Eph6:13
The way we wrestle against this enemy is by first
of all putting on the whole (complete) armor of God. And then
withstanding, opposing and resisting him. We set ourselves directly
against him and defeat him. We stand firmly in our place.
How do we do this? How do we
stand? In other words how do we get firmly rooted and grounded in
Christ? How do we establish a solid foundation? The next
verses tell us how;
Stand therefore [hold your ground], having
tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the
breastplate of integrity {and} of moral rectitude {and} right
standing with God” Eph6:14
- We fasten on the belt of truth. We wear the girdle of truth around our loins.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Jn14:6
Jesus is The
Truth. The Truth is not some doctrine in the bible that we learn. The
Truth is Jesus Himself. We cannot learn the Truth just by study. It
has to be revealed. When Jesus is revealed in our
hearts by the Spirit of Truth then we get established. This is what
Jesus prayed for His disciples;
“Sanctify
them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into
the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for
their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified
through the truth.” Jn17:17-19
So the first
thing is that we must have a revelation of Jesus and our place in Him if we are to be
established on a sure foundation. The Holy Spirit has got to reveal
Jesus to our hearts through
the Holy scriptures.
2. We wear the
breastplate of righteousness
Faith righteousness is foundational to any of us
being stable and founded in Jesus. You cannot have a solid foundation
if you have not understood the doctrine of faith righteousness. You
cannot be rooted and grounded in Christ without understanding His
righteousness. It is impossible. Righteousness is what produces
stability and authority. Look at what this scripture says;
“In righteousness you shall be
established; You shall be far from oppression, for you
shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near
you.”Isa54:14
The second thing is that we must have a
revelation and understanding of the righteousness of God which is
also known as the righteousness of faith or faith righteousness.
“And having shod your feet in preparation [to
face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and
the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.”
Eph6:15
3. We shod our feet with the
preparation of the Gospel of peace.
To shod means to bind firmly under one’s feet
i.e. to put on shoes or sandals firmly so that they can’t slip out
as you walk or run. The Gospel of peace according to this scripture
prepares and makes us ready for a good warfare. It produces in us the
firm footed stability, the promptness and readiness for battle.
The gospel of peace enables us to be stable and
grounded in life amidst all the storms and troubles. We are able to
walk and run without falling. We can’t successfully fight evil if
we haven’t been prepared by the gospel of peace. Only when we have
heard the good news of peace are we adequately equipped and
established to stand and to be victorious. This gospel of peace
is the good news that we have been reconciled to God and God is at
peace with us. It is the message of the Cross. It is the
message that the angels sang at the birth of Jesus;
“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon
them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were
sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which
is Christ the Lord....And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Luke2:9-14.
The gospel of peace is the message of the goodwill
and favor that God has towards men. And this goodwill and favor has
been purchased by Jesus Christ. He is our Prince of peace and our
peace. He is our Jehovah Shalom.
“For he is our peace, who hath made both one,
and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us”
Eph2:14
The third thing is that we must have a
revelation and understanding of the Gospel of peace which enables us
to walk properly and firmly in the faith.
“Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked.” Eph6:16
4. Above all we take up the shield of
faith
The shield of faith is not more important than all
the other parts of the armor. However the shield of faith is able to
cover (shield) the whole body from the attacks and weapons of the
enemy. It covers the whole body and protects the whole of us from the
fiery darts (arrows, missiles) of the enemy. This shield quenches
them so that they have no effect on us.
Without a shield we are very exposed to the enemy.
In Hebrews6:1 Paul calls this particular doctrine 'faith toward God'.
It is a crucial part of our foundation and must be laid properly. We
shall be able to do this in the course of our study.
The fourth thing is that we must put on the
shield of faith by having faith toward God.
“And take the helmet of salvation and the
sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.” Eph6:17.
5. We put on the helmet of salvation.
The head is the most delicate part of the body and
thus must be properly and adequately protected in battle. One blow
here may prove fatal. Our minds are significant in determining our
stability and firmness in Christ. Without renewing the mind and
obtaining God's wisdom we will have very little success and stability
in our Christian life. Our minds must be renewed to the reality of
salvation and the kingdom of God if we are going to be stable in this
world and be victorious to the end.
We must be renewed by the word
of God so that salvation becomes a reality to us and God's wisdom
guards our minds and sets us on a victorious course. God's wisdom and
will in our mind is one of the most important things we can ever get.
Let us look at some scriptures that make this point;
“And be not conformed to this world: but be
ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what
is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Rom12:2
The way that we are transformed into a victorious
person in this world is by the renewing of our mind. When our mind is
renewed by truth then we are able to understand what the will of God
is and walk in the wisdom of God. This produces stability in us as we
operate in a heavenly wisdom and power.
“Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it
not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and
she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom
is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy
getting get understanding......when thou goest, thy steps
shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not
stumble.” Prov4:5-12
The wisdom of God is the principal thing that all
of us need in order to be successful. This passage tells us that
wisdom will preserve us, keep us and ensure our stability as we walk
and run. We shall not stumble through life but make good decisions
based on the will and wisdom of God.
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of
God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification,
and redemption” 1Cor1:30
Christ Jesus has been made our wisdom. The wisdom
we need is not somewhere out there. It is not in some book or in some
old man with gray hair. The wisdom we need is Christ. A revelation of
Christ in us will produce and release a revelation of God's wisdom in
us. When our mind is renewed by the Word of God, Christ's wisdom is
imparted into our hearts and minds by the Holy Spirit. We begin to
think and talk and act like Christ. We begin to know what He knows
and to know as He knows. His wisdom becomes our wisdom. His mind
becomes our mind. Indeed this is what the apostle Paul told the
Corinthians;
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,
even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our
glory.....For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit
of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but
the spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world,
but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that
are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the
words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;
comparing spiritual things with spiritual....For who hath known the
mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the
mind of Christ.” 1Cor2:7-16
The fifth thing is that we must put on the
helmet of salvation by renewing our mind and obtaining the wisdom of
God.
6. We take the sword of the Spirit which is
the Word of God.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful,
and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb4:12
The Word of God is a spiritual sword that can come
against any enemy or weapon employed by darkness. By it we are able
to destroy all opposition against us. Till now our armor has been
only defensive. But now we are able to attack satan, as well as
secure ourselves; the shield of faith in one hand, and the sword in
the other.
The Word of God is extremely important in
establishing and preparing us. It can discern the thoughts and
intents of our hearts and eliminate all that is not of God while
establishing truth in our inward parts.
The Word of God will impart God's wisdom unto us
as we meditate upon it. Psalm19 is a wonderful passage concerning
this;
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting
the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the
simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the
heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
Psa19:7-8
We have to study and meditate upon it until it
takes root in us and germinates. The parable of the sower is a
wonderful passage on how effective the Word is when planted in good
soil or a good heart of faith. After the death of Moses the servant
of the Lord, God appeared to Joshua and told him the following words;
“This book of the law shall not depart out of
thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou
mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for
then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have
good success” Josh1:8
God promised Joshua that if he meditated in God's
Word day and night and observed it, he would make his way prosperous
and have good success. This principle still stands today. If we will
exalt God's Word and meditate therein daily, and believe all that is in it, we shall make our way
prosperous and have good success.
Paul before his death also admonished his son
Timothy in the following way;
“But continue thou in the things which thou
hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast
learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by
inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may
be prefect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” 2Tim3:14-17
And what James advises his brethren;
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and
superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted
word, which is able to save your souls.” Jam1:21
We can see the tremendous benefit of the Word of
God and why it is crucial for us to study and meditate upon it. We
cannot grow or be established and rooted firmly in Christ without the
Word of God.
Look at Paul's last words to the elders and beloved of
the Ephesus Church as he headed to his death in Rome.
“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and
to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give
you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Acts20:32
The sixth thing is that we must take the sword
of the spirit by studying and meditating upon the Word of God so that
it is implanted in our hearts and produces fruit.
“Pray at all times (on every occasion, in
every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and
entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose {and}
perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's
consecrated people).” Eph6:18 AMP
7. Pray at all times in the spirit.
Finally after having put on the whole armor and
taken up the sword we are able to fight and win through ‘Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints’
We are able to Pray always - At all times,
and on every occasion, in midst of all circumstances we can pray
without ceasing.
With all prayer - With all sort of prayer,
public, private, mental, vocal. We pray as circumstances demand and
not insist on one way of prayer. Different circumstances usually
require us to pray differently.
In the Spirit - Through the influence of
the Holy Spirit giving us utterance and direction.
“Is any among you afflicted? let him
pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick
among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them
pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And
the prayer of faith shall save the sick,
and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they
shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray
one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual
fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Jam5:13-16
When a person that is grounded on a solid
foundation of faith righteousness prays, their prayer is very
effective and it causes results to happen. This is because they are
standing in the power of God’s might and depending on the grace of
God. They have put on the whole armor of God and are fighting the
good fight of faith.
The seventh thing is that we must
have an intimate close personal relationship with God by
praying and fellowshipping with
God at all times. This is precisely what eternal life is. Fellowship
with God. Communion with God. Knowing God.
We see therefore that what Paul describes as
putting on the whole armor of God is actually the process of
establishing a solid foundation. All the elements of the armor of God
are the foundational truths of the New Testament that we have to get
established in if we are going to live a victorious and successful
Christian life. They are most important because they keep us rooted
and established and well balanced in the faith.
Therefore in summary, these things must happen if
we are to be established in faith and be firmly rooted and grounded
in Christ and fulfill the will of God in this world;
- We must have a revelation of Jesus and our place in Him if we are to be established on a sure foundation. The Holy Spirit has got to reveal Jesus to our hearts through the Holy scriptures.
- We must have a revelation and understanding of the righteousness of God which is also known as the righteousness of faith or faith righteousness.
- We must have a revelation and understanding of the Gospel of peace and the grace of God which enables us to walk properly and firmly in the faith.
- We must put on the shield of faith by having faith toward God.
- We must put on the helmet of salvation by renewing our mind and obtaining the wisdom of God concerning the New Creation man.
- We must take the sword of the spirit by studying and meditating upon the Word of God so that it is implanted in our hearts and produces fruit.
- We must have an intimate close personal relationship with God by praying and fellowshipping with God at all times. This is precisely what eternal life is. Fellowship with God. Communion with God. Knowing God.
“And wisdom and knowledge shall be the
stability of thy times, and strength of salvation...” Isa33:6
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