Wielding The Sword of the Spirit

The sixth piece of the soldier's equipment is his first offensive weapon. All previous pieces-the belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, and helmet-are defensive and protective. With this next piece, we actually gain the ability to advance on the enemy and drive him away. It's the sword of the Spirit. Paul writes, "And take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). The term for "Word" here is rhema, which indicates the spoken rather than the written Word. That is a crucial distinction. It calls for speaking the written Word to others and ourselves. A word like this has power only as the Holy Spirit energizes it. How do we gain the power to use the sword of the Spirit in this manner? The primary method is to hide the Word in our hearts, as Psalm 119:11 indicates. I like the psalmist's focus in this verse: "Your word {the best thing} I have hidden in my heart {the best place}, that I might not sin {the best purpose} against You." We must not think of the Scriptures as if they were magical words to chant or shout. Simply reciting the Scriptures without comprehension is meaningless. But when we understand and use them according to their true meaning, they become powerful truths to believe and apply in our lives. Jamie has learned the power of wielding this sword of God's Word. She came to my office in a state of hopeless despair. Five years earlier she had experienced a major emotional breakdown. She spent several weeks in a treatment facility for emotional and mental disorders. When she stabilized, she went home with hope,-really believing the Lord would help her. Jamie told me, "The next four years were wonderful. I could sense the Lord's presence and I functioned quite well." That was all to change abruptly. "Doubts kept coming into my mind," she said, "doubts about my salvation, God's love, His ability to keep me, and my ability to persevere to the end." One morning she woke up and sensed God was gone. "He left a huge emptiness, nothing else in its place." Jamie felt lost, abandoned by God and beyond hope. I was sure this wasn't true; sometimes God uses this sensation to wake people up to the truth that they aren't truly saved. But in her case, I was sure it was an emotional sensation, not a reality. That pointed me to the problem: Many people base their spiritual well-being on how they feel. It sometimes takes hours of counseling to help such people see that emotions are quite subjective and can be affected by many things. I tried to explain to Jamie that our Christian life is to be obedience-oriented rather than feeling-oriented. This didn't seem to register. The Lord then led me to Philippians 1:6, which mentions God's power to take us from where we are and help us arrive safely in heaven. I turned to the passage and handed her my Bible. I asked her to follow the verses with her eyes as I read, "{For I am } confident of this very thing, that He who begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." I personalized the verse using Jamie's name for "you" and requoted it. Then I asked Jamie, "How long will the Lord work in your life?" "Until Jesus comes, or I go to heaven." "Is this verse true? I asked. "It must be true," she answered. "It is the Word of God." Then I asked, "Is it true for you?" She began to weep as she said, "Of course it is true for me, because God said so." That opened a window in her mind. She saw for the first time that her salvation and perseverance were from God, not from her. Her protection was twofold: With the sword of the Spirit-the Word of God she was reminded to wear the helmet of salvation. Indeed, remembering her salvation chased away many doubts she had about God's love and His ability to keep her. Today Jamie knows she is a child of God. She is also confident that the Lord will continue to work in her life. Because she feels it is true? No, because the Scriptures say so. This is now the foundational bedrock for her belief in the faithfulness of God. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings

The Importance of Unity

Please read Ephesians 4:1-16. All of Paul's letters contain a beautiful balance between doctrine and duty, and Ephesians is the perfect example. The first three chapters deal with doctrine, our riches in Christ, while the last three chapters explain duty, our responsibilities in Christ. The Christian life is not based on ignorance but knowledge, and the better we understand Bible doctrine, the easier it is to obey Bible duties. The main idea in these first 16 verses is the unity of believers in Christ, This is simply the practical application of the doctrine taught in the first half of the letter: God is building a Body, a Temple. He has reconciled Jews and Gentiles to Himself in Christ. The oneness of believers in Christ is already a spiritual reality. Our responsibility is to guard, protect and preserve that unity. To do this we must understand four important facts. First, the grace of unity. If we are going to preserve the "Unity of the Spirit" we must possess the necessary seven Christian graces. 1. Humility. Means putting Christ first, others second and self last. It is having a right attitude toward God, others, and our self. 2. Meekness. It is not weakness but power under the control of the Holy Spirit. In the Greek language, this word was used for a soothing medicine, a colt that had been broken and a soft wind. 3. Long suffering. The ability to endure discomfort without fighting back. Long suffering is developed by suffering long. 4. Forbearance. This is a grace that cannot be experienced apart from love. Means putting up with another person. 5. Love. "Love suffers long and is kind." 6. Endeavor. Means being eager to maintain, or guard the unity of the Spirit. The verb used here is a present participle, which means we must constantly be endeavoring to maintain this unity. When we think the situation is the best, Satan will move in to wreck it. The spiritual unity of a home, a Sunday School class, or a Church is the responsibility of each person involved and the job never ends. 7. The final grace is peace. The reason for war on the outside is war on the inside. If a believer cannot get along with God, he will not get along with other believers. When "The peace of God" rules in our hearts, then we build unity. Second, the ground of unity. Unity built on anything other than Bible truth is standing on a very shaky foundation. Paul names several basic spiritual realities that unify all true Christians. 1. One Body. This is the Body of Christ. 2. One Spirit. The same Holy Spirit indwells each believer, so that we belong to each other in the Lord. 3. One hope of your calling. This refers to the return of the Lord to take His Church to heaven. 4. One Lord. Acknowledging the Lordship of Christ is a giant step toward spiritual unity among His people. 5. One faith. This refers to the body of truth found in the Word of God. 6. One baptism. This is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that act of the Spirit when He places the believing sinner into the Body of Christ. 7. One God and Father. We are children in the same family. Third, the gifts for unity. Paul named the gifted men God has placed in the Church. 1. Apostles. There are no Apostles today in the strictest sense. These men helped to lay the foundation of the church. (note Romans 16:7 and II Cor. 8:23). 2. Prophets. A New Testament prophet is one who proclaims the Word of God. There are no Prophets who for-tell the Word because the Scriptures are complete. 3. Evangelists. The evangelists built upon the foundation by winning the lost and planting churches. 4. Pastor-teachers. It is the pastors job to lead and feed the flock. The Word of God nourishes the sheep and guides and disciplines the sheep. Forth, the growth of unity. The members of the Church grow by feeding on the Word and ministering to each other. The first evidence of spiritual growth is Christ likeness. The second evidence is stability. The maturing Christian is not tossed about by every religious novelty that comes along. Truth without love is brutality, but love without truth is hypocrisy. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Prov. 27:6). The last evidence of maturity is cooperation. Each believer, no matter how insignificant he may appear has a ministry to other believers. Spiritual unity is not something we manufacture. It is something we already have in Christ and we must protect and maintain it. Trust unites, but lies divide. Love unites, but selfishness divides. Therefore, "Speaking the truth in love" let us equip one another and edify one another, that all of us may grow up to be more like Christ. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Dealing with Doubt

Please read Hebrews 6:13-20. Been having struggles with doubt lately? Starting to ask questions on issues about which you once made only declarations? Are you getting a little nervous about things like your assurance and God's reliability and life's inequities? How about that bastion of long standing belief, our hope. If you need some reassurance, some scriptural support to stabilize you these days, this passage is the perfect prescription. It is a firm reminder that our whole life and future rest on God's faithfulness, character, and very oath of assurance. Such confidence gives us an anchor of the soul which holds us tightly through the storm of doubt. Note some truth concerning doubt. First, there are times when doubts increase. There are times in all our lives when doubts increase, reproducing at a rapid rate. What causes those times? In my experience its been when things I believe should never happen, happen. When things I believe should happen, never happen. And when things I believe should happen now, happen later. As we proceed, let's keep two words in mind, faith and patience. Second, a Biblical example, Abraham. His life and example says to us "Persevere! Don't quit." This truth needs to be applied when we are forced to wait even when we want things to happen right away. Concerning Abraham, the clincher is that God took twenty five years to make that promise a reality (Romans 4:18). Even more remarkable than Abraham's lack of doubt is the fact that during his season of waiting he actively gave glory to God. Perhaps that part of Abraham's example needs to impact our behavior as much as anything else in his life. Third, Spiritual descendants, heirs of the promise. Through out the Bible there are examples of saints who trusted God. They, by example, teach us to trust God when things don't work out the way we think they should. Here is a theological fact. Just as man swears to guarantee a promise, so does God. This underscores two facts. God has a purpose in all of life and God guarantees the purpose with an oath. God is in control of the times and the seasons. Trusting God brings personal benefits. In trusting Him we are given strong encouragement, which is the opposite of discouragement. In Him we have a Refuge of Hope, this is the opposite of despair. Thus God is the Anchor of our soul, the very opposite of doubt. On the human side doubt says, "You see, you are alone." This is particularly true when we substitute human reasoning for Biblical Truth. Forth, when dealing with doubts, remember, it's one thing for us to admire and hold onto the example of Abraham. It's also easy for us to admire the wonderful text of God's Word that explains right responses to doubtful times. However the key to conquering doubt is responding properly when pressure is intense. During these time of intense pressure we are to remember that God cannot lie, We will not lose and Christ does not leave. Hebrews 6:15 says of Abraham, "And thus, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise." It's easy to read right over two key words, "Patiently waited." If we're honest with ourselves, we all must admit that we struggle with doubts from time to time. I trust this teaching will produce a greater understanding of God's perspective on doubt and through it your faith and trust will be strengthened. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Living a Pure Life

The Scriptures make much application of the truths they teach. Paul's Epistles give us the teaching in the first half of the book and the task in the second half. Christian duty always follows Biblical Doctrine. In II Corinthians Paul tells us to separate ourselves from evil, and He will be a Father to us and we will be His sons and daughters. Then He says “since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”- 2 Corinthians 7:1. When we accepted Christ He declared us to be holy and righteous before Him. He put on shoulders the robe of His Righteousness. At Calvary all our sins were washed away. On the basis of this truth we can "purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit." How do we do that? By our choosing to walk in the Word, and live out the truth of the Word. The Word takes root in our hearts and is manifested in our walk. Continually drinking from the Water of Life will produce Christ likeness as we "Work out what the Holy Spirit through the Word works in. An experiential knowledge of the Word gives us the power to "Prefect holiness out of reverence for God." How can we live a holy life in a polluted world? By taking Jesus words seriously when He said "You are clean through the Word's I have spoken to you." As the old Hymn writer said "When we walk with the Lord in the Light of His Word, what glory He sheds on our way." How are you and the Scriptures getting along? Are they close friends or distant relatives. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.