Shield's UP! - Part 2B - 8-14-17

[Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

      Photo Reference: www.hopefaithprayer.com

Salvation is so much more than just saying the sinner’s prayer; it is about having a relationship with our Father God!! God loved us enough to send His Son Jesus, to deliver us from our sins, so we could be restored back to Him (2 Corinthians 5:18; Colossians 1:19-20).

This why the walk with Jesus is personal! Deciding to follow Jesus is personal! Deciding to give your life to God is personal! Deciding to allow Holy Spirit to take FULL control over your life (allow Him to lead, guide, comfort, teach, to make your life better) is personal!! Can’t no one make that decision for you; it is between you and God (Philippians 2:5-13; John 1:14)!

Man does not have a heaven or hell to put you in (Matthew 10:28); neither can man forgive your sins! God is the ONLY One who can forgive your sins; Jesus being God, has forgiven our sins by canceling our sin debts!! Colossians 2:13-14 tells us this: “¹³ When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (worldliness, manner of life), God made you alive together with Christ, having [freely] forgiven us all our sins, ¹⁴ having canceled out the ^[a^]certificate of debt consisting of ^[b^]legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross” (biblegateway.com – AMP).

Therefore, repent and confess your sins to God and He, being faithful and just, will forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)!!

I am going to write out 1 Peter 3:18 here: “For indeed Christ died for sins once for all, the Just and Righteous for the unjust and unrighteous [the Innocent for the guilty] so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit;” (biblegateway.com – AMP). 

Therefore, you see Christ died for ALL mankind, to restore us back to the Father, and give us eternal life! BUT unless mankind accepts what Jesus HAS done, accept God’s Gift of Salvation through Jesus, mankind will be lost (Ephesians 2:8-9)! NO IFS, ANDS, OR BUTS!!! NO SUGARCOATING!!! The Word speaks for itself!! John 14:6 tells us, “Jesus said to him, “^[a^]I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (biblegateway.com – AMP).

I repeat: Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (biblegateway.com – AMP).

Jesus tells Nicodemus in John 3:5-6, “⁵Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (read the complete conversation in verses 1-21).

How much plainer can the Word can get? Bottom line, if you don’t accept Jesus as YOUR PERSONAL Lord and Savior (become born again-“reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified”-John 3:7), you are still in sin (from Adam-the sin nature is in all mankind from Adam [Romans 5:12]) and the wages of sin is death-PERIOD!! BUT that is NOT the end of the story! If you don’t allow unbelief to harden your heart and hear God’s voice, you can enter into the promise land of God (Hebrews 3:15; Hebrews 3:7-15).

Why not just stop here, pause, confess your sins (1 John 1:9) to God and repent, ask Jesus to come into your heart, be the Lord over your life, and allow Holy Spirit to come in, go deep into your soul, refreshing, delivering, healing, and restoring you? I know you heard the voice of God in this message, because I did not write this on my own; I was led by God to write it and Holy Spirit gave me what to say-I am not smart enough to come up with this or any message I write, on my own! 

If you accepted Jesus as YOUR personal Lord and Savior, welcome to the family of God!! Now begins your journey of learning about God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), God the Holy Spirit! This too is personal between you and God; it is your responsibility, to study the Word of God and allow Holy Spirit to give you revelation and knowledge, of God’s Word. This is vitally important so you can be transformed, by renewing your mind to the things and ways of God. Romans 12:1-2 says, “^{1 [}a^]Therefore I urge you, ^[b^]brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. ² And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be ^[c^]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]” (biblegateway.com – AMP).

Even if you have a church you are attending, it is still your responsibility to study God’s Word and seek Him; have a relationship with God on your own time-DON’T look to the Pastor to do it all!

Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Ministries, has an excellent online correspondence course, to help you learn the Word of God, so you can grow spiritually; he has other great resources on his site too: click here to access the “Correspondence Studies” page.

In ALL you do, make sure you are being led by Holy Spirit and you will NEVER go wrong! In my closing, I want to leave you with these verses of Scripture, taken from Proverbs 3:5-8: ⁵ Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. ^{6 [}a^]In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. 

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil. ⁸ It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles—all your inner parts] And refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones.

Look at verse 8 again: “It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles—all your inner parts] And refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones.”

Thank You Father!! Jesus has not only delivered us from sin and all its power, but from ALL it’s effects (sickness, disease, infirmities, sorrows, guilt, condemnation, death)! Trusting and relying confidently on God, will cause us to be complete in EVERY area of our lives! WHY? Because no matter what, we believe what the Word of God says that by Jesus’ stripes we ARE healed (Isaiah 53:5); Jesus has borne our sorrows, griefs, pain (Isaiah 53:4); we are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1). Praise God!! Thank You Jesus!! Thank You Holy Spirit!!

I pray that you will allow Holy Spirit help you, with your transformation from the old man to the new man (Ephesians 4:17-32; Colossians 3:9-10). Put your war clothes on (whole armor of God) and using your Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit (Word of God), so you can quench EVERY fiery dart of the enemy-click here for “The Whole Armor of God” Prelude (w/declaration prayer) and click here for “The Whole Armor of God” teaching.

Click here for PDF version of Shield's UP! P2B-8-14-17

Click here for Part 2A of “Shields Up!” - 8-14-17

Click here for Part 1 of “Shields Up!” - 8-4-17

Click here for Complete "Shields UP!" Series

Keep your “Shields Up!”

May God bless you and keep you!

Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks