BEING ALWAYS IN FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY DECEMBER 14, 2023.

SUBJECT: BEING ALWAYS IN FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD!

Memory verse: “Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6 vs 10.)

READ: Ephesians 6 vs 11; 14 - 18:

6:11: Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

6:14: Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

6:15: and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

6:16: above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

6:17: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

6:18: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being and watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

INTIMATION:

God Himself is the source of all peace and victory. All powers belong to Him, and it is through the things of God—the things we do in fellowship with God, that plugs us into that Source of power. The Christian’s strength is maintained if he remains in fellowship with the Lord who is the source of power against Satan.  If there is anything the devil tries to do, is to keep people out of fellowship with the Lord. Satan knows that once you are connected to the source of divine power, it is finished for Him.

The imperative command of being strong in the Lord places the responsibility for being strong on the shoulders of the Christian. If the Christian does not remain strong, it is not the fault of other brothers or the fault of the Holy Spirit. The responsibility for faithfulness is with free-moral saints who must maintain the spiritual armor of the Lord by which strength is maintained against the wiles of the devil. 

Fellowship with the Lord is what ensures a victorious and peaceful Christian life. Salvation is not based on your fellowship; it is based on the blood of Jesus, and your believe and confession of Christ Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. But without fellowship with the Lord, you will struggle the entire time you are here on this earth as a Christian, even though you will be saved because your name is in the Book of life.

When you fellowship with the Lord, you learn to quickly follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. However, you should come apart with the Lord in prayer privately, before you come apart publicly. Spend time with God so you can remain stable as you deal with the daily affairs of life. The Christian’s strength is maintained if he or she remains in fellowship with the Lord who is the source of power against Satan.

Do you know what happens when you spend quality time with God? You begin to act like David when he faced the giant Goliath. You begin to take a stand and demand of the enemy, "Who do you think you are to defy the army of the living God?" (First Samuel 17 vs 26.) As soldiers of the Cross, you and I are not supposed to be afraid of our enemy—the devil. Instead, we are to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6 vs 10.)

The devil comes against those who are doing damage to his kingdom, those who are doing something for God. How then do we withstand the devil? By girding on the full armor of God, taking the shield of faith, by which we can quench his fiery darts, and by wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6 vs 14 - 17.) 

But all of that armor, and all of those weapons come from spending time in fellowship with the Lord; “praying always....” (verse 18). Being strong in fellowship with God is praying always, which strengthens you to properly wear the armor.

It does not mean that you will be in a room with God all the time. If you will give twenty or thirty minutes of sleep in the morning in order to get up early and seek His face, God will honor that sacrifice. It you are willing to turn off the television for thirty minutes in the evening and spend some time in fellowship with the Lord, you will be richly rewarded. 

Christians should maintain a life-style that lends itself to prayer. It is through prayer that not only the inward man is strengthened, but also the work of God is called upon by the Christian to function in his life. 

However, God is a Loving Father, He will not require more of you than what you are able to give Him. He is not an ogre out to make you miserable. He knows what you need in order to have that abundant, enjoyable, victorious life, and it doesn't come from methods, but from Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of prayer and supplication without ceasing, that I may be in constant fellowship with You, and be endued with the power of the Holy Spirit to meet my needs in all life’s circumstances, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!