Armour of God

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

Friend, this world is not an easy place to live in, is it?

I think that’s why Scripture tells us to suit up in the armor of God.

Interestingly, in Ephesians 6, we are told to put on the belt of truth, helmet of salvation and to take up the sword of the spirit. But not once are we told to actually fight.

Instead, four different times Paul tells us to stand firm. Why? Paul says that we are fighting spiritual enemies, and Christ has already secured our victory over all the enemies of this world!

The devil may be defeated, but he is defiant. His forces continue to fight against us, but we don’t have to fight back. We just have to stand firm!

- Whitney Capps - Proverbs 31 Ministries

1 Peter 5:8

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

James 3

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31


1. My brethren, be not many masters (let not many of you be), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2. For in many things we stumble.  If any many stumbles not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small rudder, whithersoever the pilot wants.
5. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things.  Behold, how great a matter (forest) a little fire kindleth!
6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries?  either a vine figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conduct his works with meekness of wisdom.
14. But if ye have bitter envying and self-seeking in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16. For where envying and self-seeking is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable, gentle, and willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

"Fear Not" - God Will Supply!

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians 4:31

                                                  "Fear not, little flock . . . "  Luke  12:32
                               But my God shall supply all your need . . . "  Philippians  4:19

     Christians in Scripture are referred to as "sheep."  This underscores their inherent weakness, for sheep are feeble compared to lions, horses, and oxen.  Since sheep are without much natural equipment for fighting off their adversaries, they are quite helpless when attacked.  They just huddle together and bleat piteously when an enemy assaults them.  Their only hope for survival is to be found in the protection afforded by a faithful shepherd who will often guard and defend them at the risk of his own life.  Fear, therefore, is characteristic of sheep.

     Our Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, knows the inherent weakness of His own against their arch adversary - the devil.  He knows the fears that naturally arise in our hearts, and yet He admonishes us to take courage, to put aside our nameless dread.  He invites us to find comfort in His sure protection and kindly leading.  The fact that He will guide and encamp round about us provides sweet comfort and assurance.  He will not only protect us and supply our every need, but will do so with an overflowing abundance that will make our cup of blessing "run over."  His assuring words are,  "Fear not, little flock"!

     A Johns Hopkins doctor says that people who worry die much sooner than non-worriers!  To live by worry means ultimate destruction of the body and results as well in a sad withering of the soul.  God wants us to have faith and not fear!

     One of Spurgeon's quaint saying was:  "If there was an ant at the door of your granary begging for help, it would not ruin you to give him a grain of your wheat."  Then he would say,  "Remember, you are but a tiny insect at the door of God's all-sufficiency - do not doubt His sure supply!"

"Bread For Each Day"

Ephesians 6:10 - 17

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians 4:31

10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil.
12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.
15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The Devil's First Question

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

                                                " . . .  Yea, hath God said?"  Genesis 3:1

     This is the first question mark in the Bible or in all history.  It was asked by the devil, and he has been asking it ever since.  His favorite attack is always to cast doubt upon the Word of God.  He insinuated that God was very unjust and cruel by denying to His creatures the blessings of the garden.  Of course, the Devil "misquoted" the Word of God.  He altered it just a little, but that little was fatal.  He quoted God as saying,  "Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden."  God had said nothing of the sort.  God had said,  "of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat"  (Genesis 2:16).  This was exactly the opposite of satan's statement.  There was only one exception - the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

     Think of the foolishness of satan's question.  If Adam and Eve had been prohibited from eating of EVERY tree, how then could they live?  They were not permitted to eat FLESH, only fruit and vegetables  (Genesis 2:16).

     If satan were correct in his quotation of God's Word, it meant that Adam and Eve were doomed to die of starvation.  What a cruel suggestion.  What a diabolical twisting of the Word of God.  The first attack of satan is to create in man's heart "doubt" concerning the Word of God.  Satan is the author of doubt - God is the author of faith.  Therefore, doubt is of the devil - faith is of God.

     Are you troubled with doubts?  Doubts about God, the Bible, and your salvation?  You can only find the cure for those doubts in God's Word.  God is true - the devil is a liar  (John  8:44).  Peace of heart and mind depends upon the answer to one question:  "Whom do you believe:  the devil's lie, or God's Word?"  Meet your doubts today by using the weapon of our Saviour Himself.  "It is written!"  "The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants:  and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate"  (Psalm  34:22).

"Bread For Each Day"

COME TO ME FOR REST...

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

COME TO ME FOR REST and refreshment.  The journey has been too much for you, and you are bone-weary.  Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion.  Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life.

Remember that I can fit everything into a pattern for good, including the things you wish were different. Start with where you are at this point in time and space, accepting that this is where I intend you to be.  You will get through today one step, one moment at a time.  Your main responsibility is to remain attentive to Me, letting Me guide you through the many choices along your pathway.

This sounds like an easy assignment, but it is not.  Your desire to live in My Presence goes against the grain of  "the world, the flesh, and the devil."  Much of your weariness results from your constant battle against these opponents.  However, you are on the path of My choosing, so do not give up!  Hope in Me, for you will again praise Me for the help of My Presence.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"