Newsletter
2002-2010 Rivergate,Inc. All rights reserved
Site Maintained by Pacific Communications
September 2010
2002-2010 Rivergate,Inc. All rights reserved
Site Maintained by Pacific Communications
Dear Rivergate Family,
"Put on the whole armor of god, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…take up the whole armor of god, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…" Eph. 6:11,13,14 NJKV
I think Paul wanted the believers in Ephesus to be overcomers. This familiar passage written to show us how to be victorious in spiritual warfare follows his theology of our identity in Christ and his counsel in how to live out that theology. He ended his letter to them reminding them that much of what they would struggle against comes from the realm of the invisible. Their battle, and ours, is "against the evil ruler and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms." (v.12, NLT) These evil forces war against our bodies, souls, and spirits. They are often the reason why bad things happen to good people.
Paul is encouraging us - today - to put on the whole armor so that we can be overcomers on the day when the devil makes his heaviest assaults. Eschatologically speaking, it appears that we are rapidly approaching that period of time called, "that Day" or "the evil day". This is a season in which the rage of satan against mankind in general and followers of Yeshua and Israel specifically is ramping up. The enemy's methods/strategies include: Lies, deception, temptation, lust, unbelief, apathy, divisiveness, disloyalty - these and more are being directed against us with an unrelenting force that will destroy us, if we fail to heed the advice and warning of Scripture. We must remember that "we are human, but we don't' wage
war with human plans and methods. We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the devils' strongholds". 2 Cor.10:3-4 NLT
Paul's exhortation to us is to keep our weapons functional. We are to live our lives in the Light of God's Truth and speak out His Truth because He is Truth. We are to be righteous in all our ways. We are called to be God's shalom in this world, including in our own homes and families. God wants us to be people of faith, born-again, and practiced in the Word of God.
Donald Guthrie wrote, "Those who ignore the devil are like a country which refuses to acknowledge that an enemy has declared war on it." You and I should not be living our lives like so many of our fellow countrymen are living theirs. On both the physical and spiritual level so many are living in denial of the war that has been declared on us. By putting on the whole armor of God and if we will "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might", you and I will hold our position in Christ. We will not give up the ground we have taken in Him. We will not be moved, shaken or thrown down by the enemy. We will be victorious.
Paul concludes his description of our spiritual armament by telling us to "Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere." (v.18- NLT) This month we will doing just that. We will have more opportunity for corporate prayer. You can see on our calendar that we have added some "soaking" nights and times for intercession. I believe the Lord is positioning us to become a House of Prayer for Him. We need
it! The times we're living in demand it. Let's go for it! Prayer changes things. It's time for a shift in the heavenlies and in our lives. Lord - rend the
heavens and come down!
For His Kingdom of Love,
Pastor Ron & Jan
"Put on the whole armor of god, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…take up the whole armor of god, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…" Eph. 6:11,13,14 NJKV
I think Paul wanted the believers in Ephesus to be overcomers. This familiar passage written to show us how to be victorious in spiritual warfare follows his theology of our identity in Christ and his counsel in how to live out that theology. He ended his letter to them reminding them that much of what they would struggle against comes from the realm of the invisible. Their battle, and ours, is "against the evil ruler and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms." (v.12, NLT) These evil forces war against our bodies, souls, and spirits. They are often the reason why bad things happen to good people.
Paul is encouraging us - today - to put on the whole armor so that we can be overcomers on the day when the devil makes his heaviest assaults. Eschatologically speaking, it appears that we are rapidly approaching that period of time called, "that Day" or "the evil day". This is a season in which the rage of satan against mankind in general and followers of Yeshua and Israel specifically is ramping up. The enemy's methods/strategies include: Lies, deception, temptation, lust, unbelief, apathy, divisiveness, disloyalty - these and more are being directed against us with an unrelenting force that will destroy us, if we fail to heed the advice and warning of Scripture. We must remember that "we are human, but we don't' wage
war with human plans and methods. We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the devils' strongholds". 2 Cor.10:3-4 NLT
Paul's exhortation to us is to keep our weapons functional. We are to live our lives in the Light of God's Truth and speak out His Truth because He is Truth. We are to be righteous in all our ways. We are called to be God's shalom in this world, including in our own homes and families. God wants us to be people of faith, born-again, and practiced in the Word of God.
Donald Guthrie wrote, "Those who ignore the devil are like a country which refuses to acknowledge that an enemy has declared war on it." You and I should not be living our lives like so many of our fellow countrymen are living theirs. On both the physical and spiritual level so many are living in denial of the war that has been declared on us. By putting on the whole armor of God and if we will "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might", you and I will hold our position in Christ. We will not give up the ground we have taken in Him. We will not be moved, shaken or thrown down by the enemy. We will be victorious.
Paul concludes his description of our spiritual armament by telling us to "Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere." (v.18- NLT) This month we will doing just that. We will have more opportunity for corporate prayer. You can see on our calendar that we have added some "soaking" nights and times for intercession. I believe the Lord is positioning us to become a House of Prayer for Him. We need
it! The times we're living in demand it. Let's go for it! Prayer changes things. It's time for a shift in the heavenlies and in our lives. Lord - rend the
heavens and come down!
For His Kingdom of Love,
Pastor Ron & Jan