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Luke 24:49 (AMP)
49 And behold, I will send forth upon
you what My Father has promised; but remain in the city [Jerusalem] until
you are clothed with power from on high.
Paul talks about this process of being clothed with
power, he calls us to take off the old nature [our beggars robes] and
put on the new man [our robes of righteousness]
Its a conscious process - through the spirit, by prayer - we
order our thoughts, “[Inasmuch
as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings
and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true]
knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive
into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah) 2 Corinthians
10:5 (AMP)”
Then our words [which justify us] and our deeds proceed from
the new creation - the new man; we speak the Word - so our faith is
action - so the natural is changed.
We avoid listening to the world and talking the world’s
negative language - which creates only evil.
Paul says put on the Armour of God
Ephesians 6:13-17 (AMP)
13 Therefore put on God’s complete armour, 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].
14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], [The territory of the Kingdom of God] having tightened the belt of
truth around your loins.. [Truth contains and controls our base or animal
passions - it girds our loins] and having put on the breastplate of
Righteousness [of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing
with God] [The
Righteousness of God is ours by the Blood of the Lamb - Jesus, His
Righteousness protects our vitality -our vital organs - hold fast our
heart - our emotions, 'proves' that is tests our desires]
15 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.[The Gospel shoes direct us promptly along the
paths of righteousness; keeping us on track according to God's good plan]
16 Lift
up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can
quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
["Psalm 33:20: Our
inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our
Shield. (AMP)" - God is a shield!! When we lift up the shield of
faith we life up God!! We no longer look into the face of the
enemy, the adversary is obscured by faith, rather we stare into the
very nature of God through faith.
17 And
take the helmet of salvation [that protects our head - Salvation brings about
right thinking - positive spiritual creative thinking
that enables the Word to come from our lips - and God by faith
creates the fruit of our lips - changing the natural so it conforms to
the spiritual; positive spiritual creative thinking that gives
birth to deeds - for faith without works is vain; but we have to put the
Helmet on, have to take control of our own thoughts and determine ..not lie to one another, for you have stripped
off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices, And have clothed
yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process
of being] renewed and remoulded into [fuller
and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness)
of Him Who created it. Colossians 3:9-10 (AMP) Lie = devil = old nature = negative
thought/word/deed/ i.e. denying the promises of God - listening to those
who would say to us don't shout out in faith!] and the sword that the Spirit
wields, which is the Word of God. [The word of God is both
defensive, blocking an attack, and offensive:
"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. Hebrews 4:12
(KJV)" The Word by piercing and
dividing is actually creative - did not God create by the spoken Word that
divided light from dark, water from land?'
Finally I like to picture the resplendent robe of righteousness
Isaiah 61:10 (AMP)
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of
salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a
bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself
with her jewels.
I picture that robe worn over the armour in the manner of an
ancient soldier would a regal cloak; for my armour is not worn as for
battle - but in celebration of victory - I am not dressed for war but to
parade and proclaim victory; I am no foot soldier
Revelation 1:6 (KJV)
6 And [Jesus] hath made us kings and
priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever
and ever. Amen.
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