July 13, 2014

Guard: July 10, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY JULY 10, 2014.

GUARD

DEFINITION:

Protect; keep safe; be cautious; a means of defense; watch over; look out.

SCRIPTURE:

For false christ’s and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect, if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. Mark 13:23.

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again and it is a safeguard for you. Philippians 3:1.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Our parents regularly reminded us to be alert and guard ourselves from things in life that could be harmful to us. We did the same to our children. We constantly alerted them to choose the right friends, the right activities and the right goals in life, both short term and long term.

Spiritually, children and adults need to guard themselves against false teachings concerning the scriptures and the evil temptations that they face in life.

This third chapter of Philippians is noted as one of the great chapters in the Bible. In it Paul gives his personal testimony and speaks of the principles that governed his life. His desire was always to grow in the Lord and to become more Christ-like. That should be our goal as well.

In this chapter Paul emphasizes that a believer must guard his faith against false teaching and gives us practical advice to safeguard our faith.

During trials in life we can be vulnerable to Satan’s attempts to destroy our faith. We can guard our faith during the trials of life by rejoicing in the Lord. When we focus on rejoicing in the Lord the trial becomes insignificant. As we walk our daily walk we face physical and spiritual challenges and we must face them straight on. It is important not to allow these trials to take our eyes off Jesus, because Satan will use them to destroy our faith.

Satan loves to have his evil-minded followers belittle our Lord and our faith in Him by making us feel that the Lord has forgotten us because He allows us, as believers, to suffer trials.

Peter also warns us in I Peter 5:8 to be on guard and watch for the devil and false teachers because they are our enemies and are on the prowl to destroy us. Satan seizes every opportunity to overwhelm us by enticing temptations, so we can never let our guard down allowing Satan any kind of an open door into our lives. So always be on guard and watch out!

The greatest thing that “rejoicing in the Lord” does for the believer is that it places and keeps a person in the presence of Christ. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35-39). We will face trials in this sinful world but there is no trial so big that it can separate us from our Lord.

Paul faced so many trials in his life including being stoned, beaten, was homeless without food and water, and imprisoned but always continued to rejoice in the Lord.

Rejoicing in the Lord according to the apostle Paul is the sure way to guard your faith in the midst of the trials of life that you will face. In Philippians 4:4 he said it twice,” Rejoice always in the Lord.”

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:16.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall have everlasting life.

PRAYER:

Keep me alert today to guard my faith against Satan’s temptations and to watch out for false teachings that will lead me astray. Keep me rejoicing in You always.



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