Category: God’s Word

Armor Up

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Samarai armor

This past Sunday I preached the second message out of the Armor of God in Ephesians 6. The critical truth of this armor is two-fold. First, this is God’s armor, God’s strength and God’s protection for us. Secondly, knowing that it’s imperative that we have it to protect us from the Devil’s schemes, we must put it on. That’s our part. So the question arises; how do you put on the armor? Here’s a brief explanation of all six pieces of armor Paul describes in Ephesians 6:

  1. Truth
    • There’s no value in unapplied truth. Jesus said, “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) Seek the truth but put on the armor of truth by applying it.
  2. Righteousness
    • Putting on this piece of armor is as much about what you don’t do. Remember, that our righteousness does not come by way of anything we can do. Only true righteousness is imputed (put on us) by God through Jesus. Paul wrote, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) How do you put on the armor of righteousness? Stop trying to be righteous on your own. (We mostly do this through religious yet un-scriptural works.) God is not impressed by us, He’s impressed when He sees the Son’s righteousness on us by faith.
  3. Gospel (Good News) of peace
    • Even in the midst of the spiritual battle that Paul warns us about, and the one that we know’s going on deep down, we can  have peace. How? Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Jesus promised that we can have peace, deep, soul-quenching peace even in the midst of the battle; in Him.
  4. Faith
    • This piece of armor deflects the “fiery darts” of the devil. How do we have it? By continually and deliberately placing the full weight of our faith in Jesus’ ability and not our own. That’s what faith is. So, continue in the process to which Jesus has called you and learn to take faith from your own ability and place it in Christ.
  5. Salvation
    1. I know what you’re thinking; how do you put on salvation? Salvation is of the Lord! That is correct, it is. You put it on, not in any way trying to save yourself, but living as though it matters. You put on salvation by remembering that there’s more to life than just this life. The Apostle John said, “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” (1 John 2:16) If you’re only tied to the stuff of this world, Satan will use that against you. Make sure you’re tied to the next life, store up your treasure there as you live fully here.
  6. The Word
    • This is how God instructs in truth. Just like the armor of truth, it must be applied. But, you will never apply it if you don’t read it. Whatever you do, don’t let everything you know, or even most of what you know about the Bible be second hand. Read it for yourself.

Make sure you put on the whole armor today and live in the protection and security of the Lord!

Below is a link the the full sermon from Sunday:

http://www.viennabaptistchurch.org/sermon_audio/Full-%20Part%2019.mp3

New Bible Reading Page

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For all who want to read the Bible with me, I’ve created a new page on this blog on which I’ll update the plan each day. I’ll keep several days up at a time just in case you get a little behind. Also, there is a link beside each Old and New Testament reference to take you to the Bible on biblia.com so you can read if you don’t have your Bible with you.

Just scroll up to the top of the blog page and click the “Bible Reading Plan – 2013” tab.

If you’re subscribed to the blog by email, you will not get an email alert when I update each day. You will need to go to the blog (jeffclawson.wordpress.com) each day, click the “Bible Reading Plan – 2013” tab and read there. I’ll try to send out reminders now and then.

Happy Reading!

Want to read the Bible?

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2 Tim

Do you ever have a desire to read the Bible but don’t know where to begin? Or maybe, you want to read the Bible more but you struggle because you don’t have plan to keep you accountable. Well, I have a solution and an opportunity for you to read along with me. I always keep myself on a Bible reading plan, that I create myself, so I will always be consistent to read the Bible every day. Just the thought of being behind uses my OCD To motivate me to stay current!

So, each day, I’m going to publish my reading plan on the blog. There’s a couple of options for you if you want to participate:

1. You can choose to read Old Testament or New Testament.

2. Or, if you’re feeling a little more zealous, you can read both everyday.

The reading plan that I began today (I always set my reading plan by quarter of the year) consists of reading the Psalms and Proverbs through the quarter and reading Paul’s letters to the churches this month.

Here’s where your reading begins (If you choose to accept this mission):

Psalms 1 through 5

          – or –

Romans Chapters 1 and 2

Feel free to leave any devotional thoughts in the comments. Happy Reading!

God’s Work

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God at work

I preached a sermon yesterday from Psalm 96 celebrating the works of God. In this song of celebration I made a list of works that are found in the Bible. This list just scratches the surface of what God is doing, but remember this, God is doing a work and in His plan that work includes you. Let that be your song!

Here’s the list that I found just scanning my mind, heart and the pages of my Bible. Feel free to add to this list. I’d love to hear the work God is doing in your life today:

He’s our refuge, strength ever present help in the time of trouble (Ps. 46:1)

He’s faithful, even when we are faithless (2 Tim. 2:13)

He’s in the process of making all things new, including me. (Rev. 21:5)

He makes all things good for those who love Him. (Rom. 8:28)

He makes this present suffering pale in comparison to the glory that will be revealed (Rom. 8:18)

He causes us to be more than conquerers through Him (Rom. 8:37)

His gives gifts and a calling that is irrevocable. (Rom. 11:29)

He give us reason to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and constant in prayer. (Rom. 12:12)

He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57)

He has given us hope to have good courage. (2 Cor. 5:6)

He has called us His workmanship (masterpiece) (Eph. 2:10)

He is making us into a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17)

He’s made it possible for us to be filled with the knowledge of His will. (Col. 1:9)

He cancelled the record of debt against us and nailed it to the cross. (Col. 2:14)

He delivers those who are subject to the lifelong slavery of fear and death. (Heb. 2:15)

He’s a help to those who are tempted. (Heb. 2:18)

He give full assurance of hope until the end. (Heb. 6:11)

He has promised an eternal inheritance and given full assurance of faith. (Heb. 9:15; 10:22)

He will bring a complete end to sorrow, pain, tears and death! (Rev. 21:4)

He invites everyone who will hear to drink freely from the living water and never thirst again. (Rev. 22:17)

Let the song of your life resonate in your world today. God is doing a work and His work means all the difference!

But as for you….

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2 Tim

I’ve been invited to go to Jamaica next February and guest lecture at a Bible College. The subject; pastoral theology. As I sat across the lunch table from my friend and missionary and we discussed the class, he told me to plan to spend a session discussing things that came up, or that I learned as a pastor, that were never taught in college.

Man, do I ever have some stories….

But, it immediately brought to mind a passage of Scripture that I spend a lot of time returning to. It’s like a security blanket for me as a pastor, though it’s not really an overly happy text. It’s Paul writing to his protégée Timothy. The epistle is 2nd Timothy.

The tone of the letter is not necessarily happy but it is solid, you might even say foundational.

Paul is warning Timothy of the day we’re living in. As a matter of fact, it’s the day everyone one of us who give our lives for the Gospel live in. Every one of us since the beginning of the church. Paul tells Timothy that people won’t listen to sound doctrine and that people will seek teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. He also states that people will be lovers of self, self involved, unkind….all kinds of things. You can read the list yourself.

If you do what I do, then you know how difficult it can be at times. Even exasperating.

This is why I find such comfort in Paul’s “as for you” statements.

Here’s what he says to Timothy:

Paul tells Timothy that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” That doesn’t sound like good news. All of us who have given our lives to serve others “in Christ” find that. The difficulty is when you find out who it is that’s actually doing the persecuting. (That’s the biggest surprise of ministry in my estimation.)

It seems to be intimated by Paul that this persecution will cause some to quit. I guess all of us can have that come to mind from time to time. But, here’s where Paul’s first statement reminds of our uncrackable foundation. Paul tells Timothy to continue in what he has learned and believed. (2 Tim. 3:14) That is, that God has spoken and His Word, our Scriptures, are secure and profitable.

Paul warns Timothy of those who will not want to listen to “sound teaching” but Timothy is to “preach the Word.” I have resolved that my preaching and teaching ministry will be just this. Just preach the Bible. It’s all that we all need.

The second “but as for you” is one that I have underlined and highlighted in my Bible. This is the don’t quit encouragement to Timothy.

“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill you ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:5)

This should be the anthem of Gospel ministry! There’s no quit in this.

I look forward to teaching pastoral theology this winter in Jamaica. Maybe because it’s giving me a reason to remember exactly why it is that I do what I do. In the end, it’s because of Jesus. The ministry is something that causes us to reach people but it’s because of Jesus. He, the living Word, is our foundation. When we remember that, then whatever difficulties come, and many will come, our uncrackable, unbreakable, unshakable foundation will always be secure.

But as for you….