Christian! Are You Dressed? Part 1

Good day. Today we are posting the newsletter Christian! Are you Dressed? Part 1 written in 1996 by our dear brother, fellow steward and ambassador of the mystery of Christ, Larry Gazelka, Our prayer is that you will be blessed and encouraged by this newsletter. Have a very blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. ***You can download a copy of the writing for personal use only by clicking on the Built Anew Ministries Archive page link above and scroll down to the year 1996.

Christian! Are You Dressed?                         v18n17
Making Ready! Part 1
 
 
          "In conclusion, strengthen yourselves in the Lord and in the power which His supreme might imparts. Put on the complete armor of God, so as to be able to stand firm against all the stratagems of the Devil. For ours is not a conflict with mere flesh and blood, but with despotisms, and empires, the forces that control and govern this dark world-- the spiritual hosts of evil arrayed against us in the heavenly warfare. 
Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground on the day of battle, and, having fought to the end, to remain victors on the field. Stand therefore, first fastening round you the girdle of truth and putting on the breastplate of uprightness as well as the shoes of the Good News of peace-- a firm foundation for your feet. And besides all of these take the great shield of faith, on which you will be able to quench all the flaming darts of the Wicked one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Pray with unceasing prayer and entreaty on every fitting occasion in the spirit, and be always on the alert to seize opportunities for doing so, with unwearied persistence and entreaty on behalf of all God's people, and ask on behalf that words may be given unto me so that, outspoken and fearless, I may make known the truths (hitherto kept secret) Of the Good News-- to spread, which I am an ambassador in chains-- so that when telling them I may speak out boldly as I ought." Ephesians 6:10-20, Weymouth translation. 
 
As you can tell by the title of this message, "Christian! Are YOU dressed? ". God is asking us, if we are using everything that He has made available to us?
 
Have we really taken the time to study, what Father's call to godliness is?
 
Paul, in describing the armor of God, relates to the Roman foot-soldier, who was the best equipped, and best trained soldier in his time. As we try to understand what Paul is trying to relate to us, it will give us a clearer understanding and picture of all that has been made available to us in Christ.
 
We also have to keep in mind, that a well trained and informed soldier, knows the strengths and weaknesses of his enemy. This enables him through the agony of battle, to come through it with the victory.
 
"Now thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)
 
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
 
Being settled!
 
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Ephesians 6:10 (KJV)
 
One of the first things that we have to realize, is, whose side we are on. We have to recognize and realize, who our Commanding General is!
 
How many of you, would want to go into battle knowing that you were going to be defeated?
 
"And my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (KJV)
 
You have to realize and know, where your strength is from. Only when we are settled on this, can we truly be strong in the Lord.
 
"Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4 (KJV)
 
It is very similar to the new computer that the ministry has. It has this wealth of knowledge and ability stored within it. If I do not know the proper commands to utilize all that is available to me, it does me no good!
 
As a Christian, you can have the whole Bible memorized, but, if you do not know how to hear God, how can you be of a benefit to anyone? If you cannot hear God, how can you utilize all that he has given you?
 
"Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:11 (KJV)
 
Too often, most of us are waiting for God to dress us. Paul is quite explicit in what he is saying to us here. Put on, that ye may be able to stand! Not part of the armor, but the whole thing. How can you accept part of Jesus Christ into your heart?
 
You, have to put on the full armor of God. Leave it on! Nobody told you to take it off. We need the protection of the Word, twenty-four hours a day. Do you really think that Satan takes a vacation while you sleep?
 
Notice, that it says, that you may be able to stand! It does not say that the pastor is going to come and fight the battle for you. God gave us the five-fold ministries, to instruct us on how to use all that has been made available to us. To show us the proper usage of the Word of God, and how it is able to defeat every trick and trap that Satan may put in your path.
 
What else can God do for you? Don't you realize that there is nothing more that he can do for us? Jesus Christ accomplished everything! All we have to do, is to learn to walk in the victory that has been made available to us.
 
"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
 
"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son; in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins;" Colossians 1:13-14 (KJV)
 
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand! God has done everything necessary for us to be partakers with him! You have to recognize who you are! You have to be able to see all that you have inherited when you were adopted! God and his Son have accomplished a total victory, for those who will use and apply the Word properly in their life.
 
'For we have to struggle, not with blood and flesh but with angelic Rulers, and angelic Authorities, and potentates of the dark present, the spirit forces of evil in the heavenly sphere." Ephesians 6:12, Moffatt translation.
 
We sometimes forget who our battle is with! We are so busy fighting one another, that the devil and his forces just have to sit back and watch. We forget who the enemy is, because we do not give heed to the Word of God. We do not read what is written there for our benefit.
 
We need to be aware of the enemy, and the devices that he employs. We need to be aware of his methods of operation. We need to be aware of his strengths and weaknesses. As we study the Word of God, we are able to see through the lies of the devil and expose him for what he really is.
 
We have to know the enemy, but do not build him up to be more than he is. Remember, that he has been defeated! It is your top priority to remind him of that!
 
“Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground on the day of battle, and, having fought to the end, to remain victors on the field.” Ephesians 6:13, Weymouth translation.
 
Have you begun to notice yet, how Paul continues to stress to us the fact, that we have to put on all that Father has made available to us through Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit?
 
You have to put on the armor of God and leave it on! We have to know our rights and authority as children of God!
 
Stand -- covenant; rights; authority; continue.
 
You, have to know your rights and authority! You have to understand the covenant that Father has made with you. These are things that have been given to us. Now it is time for the believers to start to put them to use and show the devil that we are overcomers.
 
"If ye will continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32 (KJV)
 
If you take a stand for the Word, you will continue in it!
 
How shall we fight this battle? Is there anything of your own that you can do to defeat Satan? What can you do to be victorious?
 
Nothing on your own strength, that is for sure. But, I can continue in the Word! I can do just as my brother Jesus Christ did when Satan came against him. He told the Devil what is written in Father's Word! He not only told him once, but twice, and even a third time. Finally, Satan left. I have the ability to put God's Word on the scene. It is the same Word that rose victoriously from the grave with the keys of hell and death. It is the same Word that is seated at the right hand of the Father, forever making intercession for me.
 
Do you know the Word of God, well enough to put it on the battle field?
 
Study, study, study, to show thyself approved unto Father! Get to know what Father has made available to you! Are you or will you be one of the remnant?
 
That you may know Him,
In the service of Jesus Christ,
Larry Gazelka
 
Next week Part 2, To the Armory!
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to write or call, and we will help you in any way that we can.
 
If you would like to have us speak at your Bible study or Church, just get a hold of us and we will see what can be arranged.
 
Word Corner:   finally- those remaining; remnant, those settled and remaining.