What is the armor of God?
belt = Truth
breastplate = Righteousness
Shoes = Gospel of Peace
Helmet = Salvation
Shield = Faith
Sword = The Word of God

What is truth? What is righteousness? What is the gospel of peace? What is salvation? What is the word of God?

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

I believe this passage is for the mature Christian who is going into battle in the spiritual realm in praying not only for yourself, but helping others who are under a spiritual attack.

belt = Truth: Have your life in order, be an open book, do not have any lies you are hiding from anyone. The Truth is also the message, Jesus will kick some booty.

breastplate = Righteousness: See above. Living a life that would be pleasing to God.

Shoes = Gospel of Peace: You are the messenger, preparing and spreading the message of the "Gospel of Peace".

Helmet = Salvation: Having the "mind of Christ" gives you the comfort and the knowledge of being saved, therefore protected.

Shield = Faith: The BIGGIE: Believing you are doing what God is calling you to do, and the FAITH to know that what you know is what you know is what you know.

Sword = The Word of God: A sword is both an offensive and a defensive weapon, therefore can be used to not only ward off attacks, but be ON the attack as well.

This is all in reference to the Spiritual Warfare battle going on to keep people from living a full life with God, or keeping them from knowing God all together. This wardrobe is necessary if you are to do battle against Principalities and Powers of a Spitual nature.

Without this equipment, you will lose everytime. With it, and used properly, along with prayer will allow you to hold your own and even thwart off attacks from the enemy.

It is for the Child of God to use to do Gods work in this most dificult ministry. There is so much to it than this obviously, but I do have time constraints. I look foward to all responses. (Please, no drama queens in this thread, ok?)

I was under the impression that the scripture was speaking to those who want to stand and not fall in this evil day. But if they don't even know what any of it means or that the day is evil then they have probably found their life and don't even know or believe that it is about to end.

Matthew 10
38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
40 "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

Matthew 16
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Miki what a beautiful vision.

From what I see in this is: No weapon formed against us shall prosper.
For his hands where pierced for us, and we are covered by the blood of the Lamb.

His healing hands, whom can come against them. No earthly power, no earthly kingdom, for LOVE is stronger than death.

He loves you so much child of God, we all are praying for the nations, and all the peoples of this world...to turn to the one whom's hands where pierced for our transgressions.

He is full of grace and mercy and long suffering. IN my fleshly mind I wonder, How LONG, How long shall the wicked oppress...and OUR LORD tells us.

Be patient my child..nothing, no earthly power can take you from my hands.

I love you Miki, God bless everyone here this day Give thanks unto our LORD JESUS...for he is Mighty to Save.

For anyone even slightly considering going into this this type of ministry, I can not stress enough the importance of a few things, things which should not be taken lightly. Here are several I have learned...

1. Prepare for war, because it will be one. Treading on serpents and driving demons back only ticks Satan off, so now you will have his attention. Do you think Satan hates you now? Hah! Start directly challenging Him and his Kingdom, and he will come at you in more ways than you could ever imagine.

2. Be strong in reading the Word EVERY DAY. There is no way you can go to War without your weapon (sword), to use to counter and to attack moving foward.

3. Be sure you are convinced what you are doing is real, because it is. Playing with fire you will get burned, or turned to witchcraft.

4. Do it as a team with other Like minded people. Have prayer warriors at home if possible praying while you are ministering.

5. Don't get discouraged and full of doubt. Deliverance is a dificult ministry, partly because of our own finite way of doing things. God may or may not deliver someone on the spot, so we could walk away dicouraged or full of doubt that something is amiss. Just remember in Daniel the Angel Michael took three weeks to answer a prayer because he had to fight the prince of Persia in order to get to his distination. Hence the importance of a strong prayer team.

6. Authority is Big in the Spirit world. Praying for a wife it is good to have the Husband there to be in agreement with what you are doing, or parents with children, as an example.

7. Having them verbalize giving you the authority to pray in their place helps.

8. Have an after maintenance care, otherwise the bad boys are coming back with seven of his buddies and looking to subdue the strongman.

* I had something else that was vital, but it escapes me now as I have to leave for the day. Perhaps tonight I will finish this thought.

All very good and fascinating.

In two comments I heard one very key element to all this, being... "Child of God". Remember Christ's comparison that in order to "enter" the "Kingdom of Heaven" that one needs to be like a "child". He demonstrated this by putting a child in the midst of the encircled adults, and of course, the adults did not comprehend. Well, in my walk in Christ, the Lord showed me that this is in reference to a special “state” in Christ where one is completely dead to the self and transfixed upon that which is outside the self, primarily upon Christ, Himself, being “Christocentric”. This He told me is the “State of the Eternal Child”, a condition in which one “enters” the “Kingdom of Heaven”, a state of Peace in Christ, being the protective “Eye of the Storm”. This state will evaporate when one becomes “self-awareness” (pride) re-enters their being.

Have you ever noticed that when a child for the very first time sees their very own reflection in a mirror, they actually think the self-reflection is a separate and independent being from themselves? Well, this is that special state in Christ that Jesus spoke of, where the child has become dead to the self and transfixed upon that which is outside the self, the state of the Eternal Child. It is in this state of innocent purity, the Child of God, combined with the full Armor of God that produces a mighty warrior in Christ.

Many years ago while the Lord was teaching me about the State of the Eternal Child, I was in the midst of jury duty in the gang-infested city of South Gate, California, just east of Compton and Watts in the Los Angeles Metropolis. I was really engaging in the “Practice of the Presence of the Lord” bring my Bible daily to the proceedings and reading it during the long and arduous waiting times between cases. One day the jurors broke for lunch and I had noticed a city museum next to the court house, so I was delighted and thought I would investigate after a quick hamburger at a local Burger King. It was a glorious and beautiful summer day, not so much as a whiff of air moved; and it had not been since winter that we had any rain. It was a perfectly calm sunny clear day.

As I walked past the court house to approach the museum, two Latino gang members walked up the sidewalk to my approach. I maintained that innocent state of the Eternal Child and continued to practice the Presence of the Lord. As I passed them the voice of the Lord whispered in my ear, “Do not turn, do not look back, and do not show alarm.” With my back against them the gang members verbally insulted me, but I did as the Lord said, and continued on my way, not looking back. Before me a Black woman bus driver was just stepping off her bus and looking in the direction behind me, and she saw that the gang members turned and were about to attack me. Suddenly, a monstrously loud thunder cracked and peeled across the sky and with eyes as big as saucers the woman shouted, “The tree! The tree!” I then turned and looked, and from a huge sycamore tree in front of the court house a massive limb about the diameter of a man’s torso brutally tore away from the tree trunk and fell to the ground in a loud cracking thump directly between me and the terrified gang members. Momentarily petrified with disbelief, the gang members froze dead in their tracks staring at me with eyes of horror from the other side of the prostrated tree limb. I returned a very calm glance of security in the Lord to them, and subsequently they swiftly fled like frightened birds.

The Lord protects His Own, if we merely obey, be as a "child" and put on the full Armor of God.

Good one Ex!...I can't beat that! I've had the annointing on me for service when l was involved with the severely mentally disabled. I had to maintain the presence of the Lord as you said. He never let me down!

I had some hair raising moments though...

I've never had the desire to be involved in the deliverence ministry... I would pray however.

9. Live the lifestyle that is pleasing to God.

10. Have your whole life open with regaurds to sin in your life and right the lies that you have told.

11. Make sure you are called for this ministry.

12. Don't listen to me listen to God. IOW, these are but a few helpful area's that need the attention of the Deliverence Leader and Team. Certainly there are more and some will be for your team specifically for your situation.

13. One constant: Satan came to Kill Steal and Destroy, but Jesus came so that we may have life, and have it more abundantly.

14. [Your additions here]

You show wisdom in reconizing your "lack of a calling" in this ministry. God certainly will use you up ahead in other area's.

Seven Days...Excellent testamony! Your "state of the Eternal Child is very interesting". Give me more!

I also believe that while certainly all of Gods Children have access to all parts of the Spiritual Armor, in this case as Paul is pointing out a fight against "Principalities, Powers, Spiritual wickedness in the Heavenly realm", he is talking to the mature Christian who is grounded, battle tested and ready to go to war!

That is not a Child in your sense as I understand your meaning. No big deal either way. It's all there for Gods purpose

Sorry Seven Thunders...that was you. Good testimony!

I like the childlikeness as well and I also like your simple way of explaining things Barnabas.

Conscience is huge. We get to complicating a thing.

Praise is a great weapon...even though it stirs the hornet nest.

We can pray, sing and fast if we don't feel the Holy Spirit leading us to direct confrontation.


One of the things l've noticed in cases where possession seems to be complete...
You can actually do the host harm with careless prayers...If you decide to take up the prayer yoke with the Lord make sure you're committed to the thing so you don't just cause problems for yourself and other people that live around this situation. Pray through...If it's too hard and you are under attack..pass the yoke to someone you know who will do the same. Be discreet.

I hope they turned to Jesus...what a wonderful story.






I understand this as well. If we should pray for certain situations in one's life, that perhaps those situations be resolved...then we may be standing in the gap at the wrong time...for it may be God's purpose for this person or situation they are in to be a healing proccess...Is that what you mean Miki?

I don't think it's ever in Gods will that someone be possessed.

But l know what you are saying about ordinary intercession for people and l like your spin. Sometimes God has them right where he wants them. Be sensitive about what you pray for.

no I wasn't talking about possessed although I'm not quite sure what wide range that the word (possession )covers as far as demon possessed...
as the verse...We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but the principalities of darkness...pricipalities of darkness come againt us, and are formed against us...but only will prosper if we allow(God will always give us a choice in any given situation to pray for his guidance or be guided by our own desires) ourselves to go beyond the temptation....so in this we pray for removal of temptation as in the Lord's prayer.
LORD lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil...but we will be tempted we live in a fallen World.
as his post has said...he let God's armor control him instead of letting his control overcoming him.
Blessed be the name of our LORD JESUS, he can take what is meant for evil and turn it around for his good purpose.
Blessings.
I love your story Miki about working with the children, I have had similar experiences.

Ephesians 2
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Hi, 'wernotalone...

That is my hope, too. I certainly believe that God works in wondrous ways, and I believe He even purposely and divinely orchestrated the rendezvous, simultaneously, not merely for my sake, but for their sake as well, and perhaps this was His primary objective, to eventually manifest a life changing benefit for them, for I am sure this bewildering event left a lifetime impression upon them and planted a "seed" for their eventual conversion to Christ. Everything that God does has multilevel purposes that we can only see on the surface. Christ also desires the hearts of the lost, those whose lives, hearts, minds and souls are imprisoned in a living hell of no escape, for He came to set the captives free. When I see such people who are obviously not in the Lord, my heart does not well up with "righteous condemnation" or hatred, but rather, my heart wells up with the "Compassion of Christ" and the most unbelievable heavy sorrow, for "they know not what they do."

Be well...

Can you be possesed by the armor that you are wearing? Speaking of which no one has answered the questions originaly posted for this thread.

The Armor of God and all of its components is "Practicing the Presence of the Lord God".

Seven says....


Me too Seven...Me too....

He who's been forgiven much loves much.




I like this.

Hi, Barnabas...

I hope Godsloft won't mind too terribly if I respond to your request on his thread (after all there is a "reply button")... Another major aspect to the "State of the Eternal Child" is "True Power". The secular world, all other belief systems, including the positive mental attitude movements and 12-step programs of every variety engage in "self-seeking power". This is not True Power, because it is self-empowerment without God, and self-reliance without self-sacrifice. In the State of the Eternal Child, True Power comes by way of "powerlessness". When we are weak is when God is strong, and it is His Power that is allowed to shine through as we step aside.

We've all heard the account of the mother, whom out of gripping desperation to save her child that was trapped underneath of a car, by some "Unknown Strength" and without a single thought physically lifted the vehicle off her child and saved the babe. Intellectuals surmised that this was possible in which the crisis event triggered chemical reactions in her cerebral cortex that discharged adrenaline to her muscular tissue as she shifted into a survival mode, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

No.

This was possible because the mother was not "focused" on "herself", or her strength, or her weakness, or the heavy vehicle. She shifted out of the self, which allowed the Divine Super Nature to step in and empower her with True Power in her state of “powerlessness”. This is the State of the Eternal Child where the individual is oblivious to the self, and focused on that which is outside and beyond the self, in this particular case the mother was focused on saving “another”, her injured infant. Only then can the Divine Super Nature inhabit and move. This is True Power and True Strength, but it is not our own.

I witness such a remarkable occurrence in a warehouse at a major entertainment studio I used to work for… a young man driving a forklift had whipped around a corner too fast and too sharply. The vehicle fell onto its side “after” the poor chap was catapulted to the ground first due to inertia. Needless to say, the one ton vehicle landed atop his frail form. His bloodcurdling screams of agonizing pain were heard by another young man who managed the supply crib near by. Hearing the torturous screams that sent chills up his spine, this dowdy and stout 22 year old lad waddled swiftly to the forklift driver’s aid, and without even thinking one iota, he immediately lifted the one ton forklift off the man saving his life. As we gathered in response to the commotion, the group of people all in unison realized the “impossible” that this little lad had lifted off the other young man a one ton vehicle.

Again, the individual was not focused upon the self, or his inadequacies, but rather in his state of “powerlessness”, because he “forgot” about his self, then the Divine Super Nature was allowed to step in and provide True Power, not as the world gives it.

The Seven Thunders, can you explain to me who the Divine Super Nature is? Is it God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit? Is it an angel sent by God? Who is the Divine Super Nature?

It is the Triune Godhead of Father, Son and Spirit.

There is no such thing as a triune Godhead. The Spirit that is God, The Spirit of Christ and the Holy Spirit are One and the same. So Now what?

[quote name='Godsloft.com' date='Mar 16 2007, 01:46 AM' post='105589']

[/quote]

There is no such thing as a triune Godhead. The Spirit that is God, The Spirit of Christ and the Holy Spirit are One and the same. So Now what?
[/quote]

Semiotics.

semiotics

Main Entry:
se·mi·ot·ics Listen to the pronunciation of semiotics
Pronunciation:
\-ˈä-tiks\
Variant(s):
or se·mi·ot·ic Listen to the pronunciation of semiotic \-tik\
Function:
noun
Inflected Form(s):
plural semiotics
Etymology:
Greek sēmeiōtikos observant of signs, from sēmeiousthai to interpret signs, from sēmeion sign, from sēma sign
Date:
1880

: a general philosophical theory of signs and symbols that deals especially with their function in both artificially constructed and natural languages and comprises syntactics, semantics, and pragmatics


So what you are saying is that the triune thing is a poor interpretation by the flesh of man making things more difficult than they are. "If" the Spirit of Christ and the Holy Spirit were separate from God then they would be messengers (Angels). But they are not messengers but in fact are God. Inseparable.

Yes, labels tend to be inadequate due to semantics, thus that is why I prefer to say the "Divine Super Nature".

Something like the force?