Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Just the other day I was reading about a very interesting creature called a pangolin. They are also known as scaly anteaters, who walk around in armor-plated scales, and are capable of rolling into a ball for defense. Some of them are becoming close to extinction because they are being diligently hunted for their scales, claws and meat which is considered a delicacy in China. This interesting creature keeps to itself, living out in tropical forests where they use their sticky tongues to slurp up ants and termites. It has been claimed by some that they are the most heavily trafficked mammals in the world. Sometimes because of their appearance they look like a reptile, but they are actually a mammal, walking around the forest in garb that looks very much like knight’s armor. They are completely covered in heavy scales that they use to protect themselves from their enemies.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Just like the Pangolin, we need to put on the protective armor of God, making sure that we are ready and prepared to do battle against whatever may come against us.
Ephesians 6:11-17 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
When I was a small child, I used to get up on Saturday morning and sit down in front of the TV. Back then, there was a fear about sitting too close to the television, so we would stay behind the line that had been drawn on the hardwood floor in the living room. Right after they played the national anthem we would sit and watch the roadrunner. Most of you will recall Wile E Coyote, who was always trying to deceive the roadrunner. When somebody is Wile, they are filled with trickery or strategies that are intended to ensnare and deceive others. People filled up with this quality are very treacherous, crafty, clever and cunning, often in a deceitful and manipulative way. In order to fight against the devil, we need to be wearing all of our Spiritual armor, and when we resist him, he will flee from us.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
The devil has been trying to deceive people for thousands of years. To deceive is to cause somebody to believe something that is not true usually in order to gain some type of personal advantage. One source defines it as presenting people with information or a situation that is not accurate in order to lead them into believing and accepting a lie as the truth. The devil is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and is actively trying to lead people away from obedience to God and right into the lake of fire, and these things are going to grow steadily worse as we draw closer to the Great tribulation.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert, He resisted him with scripture, and whenever you take a stand for the truth of Holy Scripture, the devil is going to run away.
John 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Whenever you pull out the sword of light, darkness is going to flee.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Like knights riding off into a battle, we must put on the armor of God each and every day, protected by our faith in Jesus, and the knowledge of God. The greatest defense against the wickedness of this world, is a liberal dose of God’s Truth..
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
There is so much evil and wickedness going on in this world today, that you need to build up a strong wall of defense to stand against it. It can be found in schools, downtown, on the internet, and even in high places of authority. It is a battle that is raging, now more than ever, as evil men and seducers grow worse and worse. If any of us are going to survive this battle, you will need to make sure that you have on the whole armor of God,… just like……
…….The Pangolin
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
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