CHAPTER 6: ACCEPT GOD’S WORD AS YOUR PRIMARY WEAPON 2022
James 1:2-4
New International Version
Trials and Temptations
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
“Accept God’s Word As Your Primary Weapon.” Weapon against what? I’ll tell you what. Against all things that will destroy me including your own thoughts. Interrupting the goodness of my children and all whom I love. Weapon against “all things” that will destroy me.., think about that, “all things” that will destroy me, my family, my life. You notice I said weapon, not weapons with an “s”. There is only one God, His word, and one Weapon, Him, His name is Jesus Christ. I need Him, you need Him, or the lure of the money you make, the power given to you in your business, will overtake all good judgement.
Romans 7:18 New International Version (NIV)
For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
The power of prayer is intense. The Word of God is intense. Often in a tight spot we pray, and He gives us His word.
Matthew 7:24
The Wise and Foolish Builders
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Think about your business. Could you actually converse with God about it? Yes, I did, I do and He listens. What if you don’t? What happened when I didn’t? I pursued money, property and prestige. And nobody could tell me any different, because I was special in my own mind. It never worked out the way I thought it should. Little did I know, God was interrupting my “money, property and prestige” hunting to protect me. What would’ve happened had I succeeded without God? Where would I be, now.
Matthew 4:8-10
New International Version
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.
Sometimes I think I’m not connecting with Him, and then a thought crosses my mind. Perhaps we, He and I, have already discussed the issues and it’s time to stop talking and get to work.
In the old testament, the book of Genesis, Abraham prayed for Lot to be saved from Sodom and Gomorrah. Well, actually he didn’t, I just think he did. I’ll tell you why. Sodom and Gomorrah were lost in sin and debauchery and God had decided to destroy them.
Lot was in that city. Lot is Abraham’s nephew and basically the guy was kind of worthless in my opinion. However, Abraham loved him, never mentioning Lot, Abraham just had a discussion with the Lord regarding the saving of the city. Why did Abraham want to save the city, well, I’m not sure he wanted to save the city, however it sure sounds like it in scripture. Why would Abraham want to save a sinful, grubby city? Lot and Lot’s family were in the city, that’s what I think. Abraham negotiated with the Lord.
Genesis 18:24
“Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
Abraham negotiated all the way down to 10 people and finally in verse 32 God gave His word, “for the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” It dawned on me one day, this was a prayer, a discussion with God can be a prayer and in the prayer God can speak and give His Word, not the written Word, His actual speaking, talking Word.
Lot and his family were saved. Surely God knew Abraham was negotiating for Lot, even though Lot was a goofball and never amounted to anything, Abraham prayed, well, discussed and negotiated with God and God agreed. This blows my mind. In a prayer God spoke and gave His Word and in this book God speaks and gives His Word. And by the way, even Lot couldn’t say no — Lot, being an idiot wasn’t sure He wanted to leave Sodom, he kind of liked it — and even though the Lord sent angels to save His family, Lot wasn’t sure! In the face of a band of Angels the guy wasn’t sure! Well, God gave His word to Abraham, so too bad Lot, lucky for you, you gotta leave. God’s promise was made, He had given His word and it happened.
Genesis 19:16
16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them.
It occurred to me that in Abraham’s discussion with God his point was “saving the city for righteous people”. Would God save Sodom if there were righteous people in it? Well, Lot wasn’t even that great of a guy and as long as he was in that city — it was safe. However God was going to do what God was going to do and Sodom was done, so Lot had to be taken out. Was Lot righteous, well are you righteous? Am I righteous? Guess you and I and Lot were righteous enough to save, but not to save Sodom.
Genesis 19:24
Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land.
Holy Toledo, do you know what came in my head? America, God’s word says that before the end, His the spirit will be taken out. Will America be saved as long as there is a righteous person alive in it? That is too huge of a question, however, concerning end times, just like Lot, will we be taken out into the arms of safety? The Word is my primary weapon against fear.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be tcaught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Then I had another thought. God has been in the saving His people business for a long time. Jesus saved us all, prior to that, God the Father saved Israel from a “discussion” with Moses, He saved Noah and His family because Noah was the only righteous man alive, wow, the world must’ve been super nuts. Another thing comes to mind. Second chances. If the book isn’t in front of me, the Word in it not in front of my face, and without the book, I will be totally alone with fear and myself, not good for me, not good for anybody. Non believers right now are a cross between brain dead, “it’ll all work out in the end” type of thinking and “what the Hell is going on!” The ladder being correct according to scripture. If you’re a believer however you have the scripture to comfort you against the fear inside you, fear is replaced by the Holy Spirit if you can sit still and hear Him.
Guess what, spoiler alert, Lot never amounted to anything, what does that tell me? It tells me don’t waste your second chance. Get it, don’t waste your second chance. Stay the course, when given the opportunity to live again and serve the Lord, do it with all your heart and with His help you can do better than your best. My best never got me anywhere. Better than my best.., now we’re talking.
Galatians 5:13–14
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Are we in the end times? A question on all of our minds. I turn to the Word and keep on working.
1 Thessalonians 4:18
English Standard Version
Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Word, the word, it keeps on ringing and I just gotta keep on working and living — knowing that He has given me the rules and given me His word that He will come back for me. I must tell my children and comfort my friends and take care of the things given to me in this life to prepare me for His coming. Otherwise what’s my choice? Sit still and worry? Argue the point that God in the Bible may not be real, leaving me to make up a god, or use somebody else’s made up god, or work for the devil, which is anything other than working for God in the Bible, Lord of all, all access only through Jesus Christ?
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Afflictions Of God’s Servants1
And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
Finally, I got it. No matter what, no matter what, just live the way it is described in this book and quit worrying about the world. The Word says the world will end and God will not end, He is always here. The good and bad will be judged. Revelation. What does that mean to me? It means clearly God has His plan, and I need to do my part of His plan, that’s all, whatever is on my list today — I can’t worry about all of it, I must try my darnedest to live correctly, with the Lord, in His word, read and feel comforted.
Titus 2:7 ESV
Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,
Matthew 5:16 ESV
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Truth and discernment. Two words it took me too long to know. What’s right to do, what’s not right to do. And most importantly who is good council and who is not. Fiduciary duty is inconvenient, not doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done.., doesn’t pay well.
Luke 12:47-49 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
And that slave who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten. But the one who did not know and did things deserving of blows will be beaten lightly. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.
Did you catch that word, “required”, get it, required of those who are given much, not requested or suggested, “required.” That is you and me.
I restrict myself from things that are not good for me. We pray for the strength to overcome hideous temptation. I want, and assuming you want a second chance God could brag about. Right?
Romans 12:2 New International Version (NIV)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Hebrews 13:5 New International Version (NIV)
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Fear is real. End times is real. God is real. You are real, I am real. Do what you do today, and do it, in the grace of the Lord “better than your best.” The chores of today — leave the world into God’s hands, do what He has given you and remind yourself of Him in the word. Fight the enemy and the schemes of the enemy and remember God is fortifying you to do what you do. Without His word you and me, we are sitting ducks for the enemy, we could believe anything, anything not good.
Isaiah 40:31
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
31 but those who trust in the Lord
will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.
You can and will finish stronger staying close to the Word and discussing all matters with Him. Abraham talked to Him, Moses, David, Elijah one on one with God all the time, Daniel had lunch with Him everyday, Jesus Christ prayed and discussed with the Father. In all situations, the Word prepares you to be you.., the way He meant you to be.
Ephesians 6:11-17
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.
Do you have a chance to succeed? Can you lead, teach and inspire others. A flawed individual, you and me, leading other flawed individuals. Lot didn’t make the second chance, many others failed, they didn’t have a Word with God, they were busy with other things. Don’t get too busy for a good time with God, especially with the blessings He gave you. Yea, right, we get too busy with the blessings He gave you. The Word: your own personal ammunition against the insanity of the world and the devil himself.
Hebrews 5:14
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
14 But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
Grow in your fiduciary duty. Study, don’t take as long as I did to understand truth and discernment.
Hebrews 10:26
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
26 For if we deliberately sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
For me that scripture is “scared straight.” Just cut it out. Is it possible the God might not give another chance? He did give you and me another chance, so let’s just stay with Plan A, and be comforted that there is no Plan B. Sure we are going to blow it, and we take it to Him — in His mercy, we try again.
Lee Strobel was an atheist when he began investigating Christ. He became a Christian at the age of 29. A former investigative reporter, in his book, he writes, and I quote:
“To be honest, I didn’t want to believe that Christianity could radically transform someone’s character and values. It was much easier to raise doubts and manufacture outrageous objections that to consider the possibility that God actually could trigger a revolutionary turn-around in such a depraved and degenerate life.” — Lee Strobel
“I commit my soul to the mercy of God, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I now most solemnly impress upon you the truth and beauty of the Christian religion as it came from Christ Himself, and the impossibility of going far wrong if you humbly but heartily respect it.” — Charles Dickens, British writer, 1812-1870
“The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.” — Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” Jesus Christ, author and finisher. John 14:12
Chapter 6 Gods Word is your Primary Weapon against stupid 2022
Amen, kids, Amen, Amen, Amen.
