Way of The Warrior- A Daily Devotional

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying “What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. – Matthew 6:25-32 ESV

Warriors;

THE TIME IS NOW, to walk by Faith and NOT BY SIGHT! Do your actions show you as a PAGAN; a NON-BELIEVER In the God of the universe? Do you think like those who DON’T KNOW GOD, or do you THINK differently, WANT differently, STRUGGLE differently and DO differently? Are you different or are you like the “earth dwellers”, the idolaters? Romans 12:2 gives us an imperative: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

Leader, God knows your NEEDS, HE is our FATHER, ABBA Daddy! “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. (Matthew 7:9-11) God DESIRES to be your FIRST LOVE, your FIRST WANT, your overriding YEARNING! Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) When you seek God first and foremost, HIS DESIRES become your desires and HIS WILL be done, in our lives as it is in heaven! Deo Volente!

Conduit, the poem by Elizabeth Cheney is painfully accurate: Said the robin to the sparrow, “I should really like to know, why these anxious human beings rush about and worry so.” Said the sparrow to the robin, “Friend I think that it must be, that they have no Heavenly Father, such as cares for you and me.” If being a Child of the Risen King was a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Do you want like the world? I want better food, I want sex, I want fame, I want to go to the ‘Social Justice” rally, I need people to know what I’m thinking (twitter), I need people to see me naked, I want to vote for the person who will give me stuff and pay for my insurance. When we SEEK FIRST the Kingdom of God and HIS WILL and HIS WAY, then we let God be God and we TRUST in HIS PROVISION. For He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides! Remember the proverb: You can tell a man’s religion in times of despair! When our back is against the wall, we GO TO what we KNOW! Do you know Jesus? Do you have an intimate relationship with HIM? Do you seek HIM above all else? Repent, turn away from the worries, ways and patterns of this world and be different- especially in wanting! Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own!!! He is worthy to be trusted! Remember: Without Faith it is impossible to please GOD!

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”- 1 Corinthians 27-31 ESV

Warrior;

AND BECAUSE OF HIM….It is all about HIM! When we realize that God has done all the ‘heavy lifting’- what could we possibly take credit for? I love the words of Josiah Conder: “Tis not that I did choose Thee. For Lord, that could not be; This heart would still refuse Thee. Hadst; Thou not chosen me…. My heart owns none before Thee, For thy rich grace I thirst; This knowing, if I love Thee, Thou must have loved me first.” For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:29-30)

Leader, this is where the church is unlike the world. God uses the broken, the unimpressive to do his work! The Holy Spirits job is to do the will of God the Father on this planet. He uses God’s people, and God’s creations to do this. One of the reasons He does this is to turn the ‘WORLDS’ system, upside down. But, more importantly is so there is NO SHARED GLORY! John 6:65, Jesus says, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. (Ephesians 1:4-5)

Conduit, We must KEEP IT SIMPLE SOLDIER! The Protestant Reformation of the 16th century changed Christianity forever. Roused to action by the corruption and abuses they saw in the Roman Catholic church of the time, visionary pastors and leaders like Martin Luther and John Calvin spearheaded a movement that transformed Christianity and eventually led to the emergence of the Protestant denominations that exist today. The Reformers were guided by the conviction that the church of their day had drifted away from the essential, original teachings of Christianity, especially in regard to what it was teaching about salvation—how people can be forgiven of sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and receive eternal life with God. The Reformation sought to re-orient Christianity on the original message of Jesus and the early church. The Five Solas are five Latin phrases (or slogans) that emerged during the Reformation to summarize the Reformers’ theological convictions about the essentials of Christianity. Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”), Sola Fide (“faith alone”), Sola Gratia (“grace alone”), Solus Christus (“Christ alone”), and Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”). The Time is NOW to get back to the basics! Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, -Ephesians 1:9-11 ESV

Warrior;

During the thousand years of its composition, almost the entire Old Testament was written in Hebrew. Some of it was also written in Aramaic. this language became very popular in the ancient world and displaced many other languages. Aramaic was most likely the daily spoken language of Jesus’ time. The New Testament, however, was written in Greek. Greek was the language of scholarship during the years of the composition of the New Testament from 50 to 100 AD. Most Jews could not speak, or even read Hebrew anymore- around 300 BC a translation of the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek was undertaken, and it was completed around 200 BC- it is called the Septuagint.

Leader, when translating from Aramaic, Hebrew or Greek there is NOT ALWAYS an exact word or phrase that is equivalent, so we have many different translations to get us as close to the original meaning as possible. The King James translation, and others, in v10 use the word DISPENSATION. The Greek word (oikonomia) so translated signifies primarily, a stewardship, the management or disposition of affairs entrusted to one. God has this WHOLE thing mapped out! He is in control, it is HIS timing, it is HIS management, it is HIS Administration of the CREATION! Douay-Rheims Bible translation puts it this way: In the dispensation of the fullness of times, to re-establish all things in Christ, that are in heaven and on earth, in him. It’s all coming back to THE BEGINNING- God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth! Jesus was there as the CREATOR of all things, and He is being RESTORED to HIS rightful place!

Conduit, we need to know what TIME IT IS! Many Bible scholars believe there are 7 DISPENSATIONS- Periods of God’s work with Mankind. The first would be the dispensation of innocence, before the fall- Gen 1:28.The second would be the dispensation of conscience, immediately after the fall- Gen 3:7. The third, dispensation of human government, immediately after the flood-Gen 8:15. The fourth, dispensation of promise, God’s call to Abraham- Gen 12:1. The fifth, dispensation of the law, beginning with the ten commandments- Exodus 19:1. The sixth, dispensation of the church, beginning with Jesus’ earthly ministry- Acts 2:1. The seventh, is the dispensation of the kingdom, Jesus’ 2nd coming- Rev 20:4. GOD IS IN CONTROL. GOD is the Master Manipulator, making all things work for HIS GLORY and the GOOD- for those who BELIEVE, for those who LOVE GOD, for THOSE who are called according to HIS PURPOSE! Get on GOD’s TIME CLOCK- because the TIME will be SOON, for the dispensing of JUDGMENT!

But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” – Acts 9:13-16 ESV

Warrior;

When someone asks, “How are you doing?”, if you are a COMMITTED follower of Jesus Christ your only appropriate answer is, “In the hands of God”. God needs NOBODY to complete His purpose, BUT HE CHOOSES, to allow us to be used. Webster defines instrument as a means whereby something is achieved, performed, or furthered; and, one used by another as a means or aid- a TOOL! A tool has no ability on its own, it takes on the ability of the ONE who uses it. A scalpel in the hands of an uneducated person can do damage and destroy. However, a tool in the hands of a trained, educated surgeon can cause healing, can get things working properly, it can SAVE LIVES.

Leader, when we realize we are a vessel, we can then be used by the HAND OF THE ALMIGHTY. God is willing to use anybody who is wiling to be used by God! Whether the situation is positive or negative, chosen or put upon you, good or bad; God is able, if you are wiling- to use it for HIS GLORY and for our good. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30) God is omniscient; all- knowing, and God is immutable, meaning HE DOES NOT CHANGE. So our God is the COSMIC know it all and HE is at work, in the world, in His church and THROUGH HIS FOLLOWERS. God sits above time and comes down to walk with each follower individually. Don’t be a DEIST, one who believes God pressed the PLAY button on life but is NOT involved intimately in our daily lives. Satan would love for you to believe that, but GOD IS ALIVE, and HE IS ACTIVE, and He is looking for those who are willing to be USED as HIS TOOL- for HIS GLORY!

Conduit, you are a PASS-THROUGH agent. We are called to be the HANDS and FEET of our God. The Holy Spirit’s job is to do the WILL OF GOD on this planet, and He does that through HIS CONDUITS, through His people and by HIS WILL. The MSG paraphrase puts it this way; Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. (Ephesians 2:7-10) Are you willing to be IN THE HANDS of GOD? TODAY, are you WILLING to die to yourself and to let CHRIST LIVE IN YOU? If you are then you will become a useful TOOL in the HANDS of the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE! What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

-Gen 2:8-9 NIV

Warrior;

From the book, “There were two trees in the Garden”, by Rick Joyner: There were two trees in the Garden of Eden that challenged the course of the entire human race- the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life. Metaphorically, these same two “trees” continue to be the challenge that will determine the course of our lives and eternity- many of our choices in life, come down to the decision BETWEEN these two trees, these two genealogies of our lives, these two ROADS- GATES.

Leader, when speaking of the two women who bore Abrahams’s sons, Sarah and Hagar, Paul explained that they represented allegories, or symbolic representations, of biblical truths concerning the covenants of law and grace- see Galatians 4:21-26. In this same way, the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life have similar meaning and impact. They are symbolic of two spiritual lineages, or “family trees”. Satan tempted Eve with the ‘Tree of Knowledge’, that was the source of HIS POWER. This tree represented the LAW! Not only the LAW, given by MOSES, but also the LAW given by man-LEGALISM: Man’s attempt at Self-Righteousness

Conduit, the TREE of KNOWLEDGE, causes us to focus our attention on ourselves. It kills us by distracting us from the ONE who is the source of LIFE; JESUS- our TREE OF LIFE! There is no easier way to keep us from the TREE OF LIFE than to have us focus our attention upon ourselves: The Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil- our intelligence. This is what the TREE of Knowledge of GOOD and EVIL and THE LAW does. The Bible is a means, not an END. Knowing the Book of the LORD is not our primary goal, but rather, to KNOW THE LORD OF THE BOOK! To KNOW GOD and to make HIM KNOWN-this knowledge WILL lead to the TREE OF LIFE! It is Faith alone, in Christ alone- by GRACE alone! So that no man or woman might boast! Get off yourself and get on, PUT ON, Jesus. He is the Way, THE Truth and THE LIFE!

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. – Psalm 147:3-5 ESV

Warrior;

May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the LORD!” (Ps 40:16) Are you PUMPED about our GOD? Do you truly understand the AWE of the GREAT GOD we serve? In the Exodus from Egypt the Israelites were so Awed by God that they begged Moses to be their intermediary; You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.” (Ex 20:19)

Leader, is GOD GREAT, in your HEART, your MIND and LIFE? Great is an adjective. We use it to talk about something of unusually large size: A great earthquake shook the city. Or a large number: A great crowd filled the stadium. Or unusual power or intensity: She has experienced great pain. Or something that is especially good or wonderful: He is a great player. Or something in an extreme degree: For a long time, we have been great friends.

Conduit, BELIEVE in the GREATNESS of God. Greatness in Majesty and Glory; the splendor of a KING, the KING of KINGS and the LORD of LORDS! Greatness of His holiness! He is in charge and exalted, He has perfect integrity, He is the standard of truth, character and moral uprightness. He is THE Alpha and Omega, He is the beginning and the end — nothing came before him and nothing will come after him. But not only does HE stand unmoved from age to age- “TIME is in HIS hands”! His GREATEST, is the greatness of His mercy! For that truly leaves us in AWE, because it is His mercy that brings us sinners into the eternal joy of relationship with him- through HIS only begotten SON. That’s my JESUS, do you know HIM? How Great is our GOD- sing with me! Praise Be to our AWESOME GOD!

He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it. ”And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.- Genesis 18:31-33 ESV

Warrior;

Galatians 5:9 puts it simply: A little leaven leavens the whole lump. The NLT transliterates this way: This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! The Philosophy of the CLASSROOM in one generation will be the PHILOSPHY of GOVERNMENT in the next. Today we are under constant bombardment and constant pressure to be like the world and CONDONE what the Bible calls evil. Christians marching for the WORLDs causes?

Leader, Abraham bargained with God to find BUT 10 Righteous to Save Sodom and He couldn’t even find 1- He saved LOTT because of ABRAHAM- see Gen 19:22, 29. Lott made the choice of moving into the planes, THEN he pitched his tent towards Sodom and NOW he was living in Sodom. “What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace”; John Wesley. It is almost IMPOSSIBLE to live in the midst of society that is so TWISTED without becoming corrupted ourselves.

Conduit, we eventually DO in person what we CONDONE in our HEART and MIND. The very first Psalm tells us this; blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; Notice the progression; Listening to those in the World, Standing around with those in the WORLD-maybe going to a woman’s March or BLM protest…then you are sitting at the table talking about Social Justice. The CURE: BUT HIS DELIGHT is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night! (Ps 1:1-2) Meditate on HIS WORD, HIS LAW and HIS WAY- Jesus is the answer!