Title: How Do You Protect Your Heart?
Text:
Ephesians 6:14 (ESV)
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Observation:
There is no need in our life that needs to go unmet. We have this promise from God's Word to His people.
Philippians 4:19 (ESV)
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
There are many of God's people today who are suffering from broken hearts and hurt feelings. There are many who are downhearted and discouraged.
Why do we need to have a means of protecting our heart? Our heart is the seat of our emotions, and a big target for the enemy of our soul. Our heart is at risk unless we have the protection of the Lord.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV)
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 10 "I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Isaiah 59:17 (ESV)
He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
Now the above passage causes me to take a long pause; this verse is speaking of what the Lord did in response to the evil he saw in man.
Notice the context of this verse:
Isaiah 59:15-16 (ESV)
15 Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him.
Now if nothing else will motivate you of the necessity of putting on the breastplate of righteousness, surely this one will. If the Lord put on righteousness as a breastplate, surely we need to do the same.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Prayer:
Father God, I pray for a mighty working of the convicting power of the Holy Spirit of God to convince us of our need for righteousness. Father, help us to dress right and walk right so that we will be pleasing in Your eyes. Father, make us to want what we need. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
"Righteousness, righteousness is what I long for. Righteousness, is what I need. Righteousness, that's what you want, that's what you want, that's what you want for me." Michael Stampley
--
Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
4 But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
8 Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.
My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:
No comments:
Post a Comment