Outlines are like blueprints. You can’t live in a blueprint. You must build it.
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Text for Today – Matthew 6:9 – After this manner therefor pray ye . . .
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“AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL” – At least as important, if not the most important element of this segment of prayer is realizing your own role in deliverance. The responsibility is yours to be sure you are wearing the “whole armor of God,” that you have your loins girded about with TRUTH, that you have on the BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS, that your feet are shod with the PREPARATION of the GOSPEL of PEACE, have on the HELMET of SALVATION, and above all the SHIELD of FAITH, and the SWORD of the SPIRIT which is the WORD of GOD. Be sure that when you pray, you pray the Word of God, and in so doing, built up a hedge of protection about yourself, your family, your church, your profession, and those whom you serve.
And please make the determination to never again live the life of a defensive Christian. It would seem that anyone living on the defensive is living in a perpetual state of expecting to be offended. The Christian, on the other hand, should plan on taking the offensive. I am not talking about offending brothers and sisters in the Lord through our words or actions, but rather about taking the offensive against the enemy of your soul. It’s time for believers today to go on the offensive. Pull down strongholds, cast down imaginations, cast down every high thing that tries to exalt itself above the authority of God’s Word, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of God’s Word.
When you read 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, you will notice the work begins in faith. Well, it ends in faith, too. But one thing we often overlook is verse 6: “having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” Being ready to revenge is being constantly ready to go on the offensive, as Abram did with his 318 armed servants to retake Lot, his family, and his possessions from captivity. At the same time, don’t misunderstand or misread the words, “when your obedience is fulfilled.” That means to walk in obedience to the Word of God, which more simply defined, is to walk in the love of God. Whatever you do, never forget that the God kind of faith always works by the love of God.
Manna for Today – Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Psalm 91; 1 John 5:3
My Second Miler by Dr. Beechard Moorefield 