| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Peter G. Chase" |
| Date: |
20 Sep 2004 01:30:33 AM |
| Object: |
DN Repelling Discouragement and Doubt 9/20/2004 |
DRAWING NEAR
September 20
Repelling Discouragement and Doubt
"Take the helmet of salvation" (Eph. 6:17).
Discouragement and doubt are deflected when you know you're secure in
Christ.
The Roman soldier's helmet was a crucial piece of armor designed to
deflect blows to the head--especially the potentially lethal blow of
a broadsword. Soldiers of that day carried a swift and precise dagger
designed for close-quarter hand-to-hand combat. But they also carried
a giant broadsword, which was a two-edged, three to four-foot long
sword. It had a massive handle that, similar to a baseball bat, was
held with both hands. With it they could take broad swipes from side
to side or deliver a crushing blow to an opponent's skull.
To protect us from Satan's crushing blows, Paul tells us to "take the
helmet of salvation." Now considering all he's been telling us so
far, he was not saying, "Oh, by the way, go get saved." Paul was
addressing believers. Unbelievers don't have to put on spiritual
armor. They aren't even in the battle. Satan doesn't attack his own
forces.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:8 Paul describes the helmet of salvation as "the
hope of salvation." That implies Satan's most fierce and powerful
blows are directed at the believer's assurance and security.
Therefore Paul was encouraging believers to have confidence in the
salvation they already possess. He knew that doubting their security
in Christ would render them ineffective in spiritual warfare--just as
a blow to the head renders one's physical body incapable of defending
itself.
As a believer, you should have the assurance that you are secure in
Christ. If you don't, you haven't put your helmet on, and that makes
you vulnerable to discouragement and doubt. Romans 8:29-30 assures us
that all whom God justifies He sanctifies and glorifies. No one is
lost in the process.
Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow
Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and
no one shall snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:27-28). That's a
wonderful promise. So don't let your enemy rob you of the joy and
assurance of knowing you belong to Christ, for the Lord will never
let you go (Heb. 13:5).
Suggestions for Prayer:
Praise God for your eternal security in Christ!
For Further Study:
Read John 6:37-40.
Who receives eternal life?
How does Christ respond to those who come to Him?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NKJV)
8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate
of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
Romans 8:29-30
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the
image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He
called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also
glorified.
Hebrews 13:5
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such
things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you
nor forsake you."
John 6:37-40
37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who
comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the
will of Him who sent Me.
39 "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has
given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last
day.
40 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees
the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will
raise him up at the last day."
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus Is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
.
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