This page was exported from Shelburne Free Press [ https://shelburnefreepress.ca ] Export date:Tue Jul 23 6:28:17 2024 / +0000 GMT ___________________________________________________ Title: Crossroads Community Church --------------------------------------------------- On this weekend to remember, anticipation drew us in. Pastor Don welcomed us smiling and prayed. After sharing announcements we prayed for safety on the roads as the sleek season is upon us, also for young teens suffering depression that loving people would surround them with love and understanding. Bob, Barb, Shaynna and Brian lead beautiful choruses and scriptures were read; 1John 3:16, John 15:12-15, Psalm143:8, 1John 4:14, and Ecclesiastes 3:11. Many tributes were shared from an original poem shared by a mother and son called “Crown of Poppies” to a school teacher reciting “In Flanders Fields”, a woman sharing the pain and joys of war brides culminating with our guest of honor Mr. Alan Lamb of the 38th Regiment Convoy sharing stories of the  Korean war with humility and a flare of humour. Prayers of gratitude and protection for our troops are important not only on Remembrance Day but every day of service away remembering also the families who sacrifice their loved ones for our freedom. Chaplain Major Neil Parker from Meaford sent us a video tribute to our past and present Canadian Armed Forces. We thank God for their sacrifices and heroism to preserve freedom and peace. After all this excitement Pastor Don came to present a message about a different kind of war. If we are followers of Jesus, we are all fighting an invisible war, it is constant, the battle between good and evil, life and death, freedom or slavery, God against the devil. Like any battle it requires training and preparation. You wouldn't send a soldier you love into battle without the proper training and armor. The same can be applied to the spiritual war taking place in the lives of anyone professing Jesus as Lord. As a Christian we inevitably became enemies with the devil. So for such a fight the Bible says this; “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil…”   Ephesians 6:10-18.  After reading this passage you will notice there are 6 vital parts to the armor, a belt of truth which brings us to repent and receive Jesus as Savior, the breast plate of righteousness to protect our hearts, the shoes of peace to share the good news, the shield of Faith to protect us from despair and look beyond our problems, the helmet of salvation to strengthen our minds and protect against doubt and the sword of the Spirit which is God's word able to decipher every scheme of the devil. The Soldier listens to his commanding officer, for believers it is God himself we listen to and follow, if a soldier fails to follow the commands he hears he puts himself and others in harm's way. Abraham is a great example of hearing and listening, he heard God say pack up and go and he did, had he not done so many people would have never been blessed,(Genesis 12:20). So as a follower of Jesus we put on the armor and strength he provides, we fight from His victory, not for victory and as any good soldier we stand firm on a rock to withstand the evil attacks of our enemy, if we sit and do nothing we are vulnerable and weak. Jesus said to Peter “all the powers of hell will not conquer it,” Matthew 16:18. To be able to carry the full armor we need the one thing that holds it all together, the Belt of truth, every other component of the armor hangs from it. So the foundation of our spiritual armor hangs on the first step to becoming a Christian; the truth that we are sinners needing to repent and to receive Jesus, if we don't acknowledge Him as our savior, as our “commanding officer” we will not stand a chance in the face of the enemy. Beloved once we place our trust in Him he will train us daily to face every trial and battle in order to obtain the goal of our faith which is eternal life.  “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. Without Jesus to show us the way we will be lost and will fall prey to the enemy, so let us persevere in prayer, let us  keep our communication open to hear the Lord's voice, it could mean saving a life today…Have a wonderful week in Jesus Name, Asherey Shalom!   --------------------------------------------------- Images: --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Post date: 2013-11-14 20:15:06 Post date GMT: 2013-11-15 01:15:06 Post modified date: 2013-11-21 09:04:05 Post modified date GMT: 2013-11-21 14:04:05 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Export of Post and Page as text file has been powered by [ Universal Post Manager ] plugin from www.gconverters.com