B.E.S.T. Shabbat

"in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Eph 6:16 To listen to the audio-only version click below  In contending with the evil of this present darkness, we have been pressing in for the activation of the eyes of our heart to shift our perceptions into the vision of the kingdom. The Apostle Paul, in training up his disciples in Ephesus said: "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints," Eph 1:18 Paul connects how we see to what we can hope for. Our inner imagination, the eyes of our heart needs enlightenment. How is that accomplished? By bringing our desire to see to the Lord who activates us into that seeing. Let me show you what I mean. Look with me at 2 Kings 6:15-16. In this segment of the history of the Chosen people, the Prophet Elis...

"“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34 (NASB) Last chapter we engaged with a radical concept. The Gospel of peace involves how we relate to others. How we relate to others sets boundaries in our heart which affects our relationship to God. The Apostle John tells us: "If someone sdidays, “I love God,” and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God must also love his brother and sister." 1Jn 4:20-21 (NASB) Every broken relationship we have fragments our love for God. As we erect boundaries and walls in our hearts to try to protect ourselves from pain, we also block out God. The preparation of the footwear of the Gospel of Peace requires us to be able to allow the Lord to bring peace and healing to the broken p...

and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (Eph 6:15 NKJV) In dark times, light abounds in Believers who choose to be light-bearers to a dark and dying world. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (Rom 13:12 NKJV) The terms “put on” and “cast off” in this verse implyintentionality. The intention is either an act of the will and disciplined practice or a result of interacting with and learning the ways of the Holy Spirit. This relationship is described in Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12 NKJV) The phrase, “living and powerful”, describes an interactive relationship. The opposite would be a static and dead relationship based on willpower. It is one thing to know a...