Most of us eat every day, some of us too much because yesterday's food
is not enough to supply energy for today's needs. Why then, do some
of us expect yesterday's portion of heavenly manna the word of God to keep us
through today's challenges. On this program, we are going to change all of
that. Let's experience God's words today and receive the power we need to live
healthy, vibrant lives. Welcome to your Daily Portion with your host, author
speaker L. David Harris. Good morning, Good morning, Good morning.
It is Wednesday, September twenty, twenty twenty three. Hello, my name
is L. David Harris. I am your host, and this is your
Daily Portion where we give you God's Word every single day, and today is
no exception. We are continuing in our lesson study series through the Book of
Ephesians, and our caption for today is shield, Helmet and Sword, Shield,
Helmet and Sword. We'll get into that in just a moment, but
first I'd like to say welcome to you and ask you to please go over
to your Daily Portion dot com. Please join our online community and click that
button that shows where the form like that says where are you in the world,
so I can continue to build my map and say wow, God is
leading his people all over the world and teaching us his word and sharing the
Gospel. And also please pick up your Daily Portion book at your Daily Portion
dot com. That's how we can build faith and fellowship together. Let's go
ahead and pray, and then we will get underway. Father in Heaven,
thank you for giving us this new day and the privilege of opening up your
word again. And I am asking you to please please cleanse us from all
of our unrighteousness. Teach us how to be completely covered in the righteousness of
Jesus Christ. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen and Amen again.
Shield, helmet and sword. Let me read straight from the passage in Ephesians
chapter six, Versus sixteen and seventeen, and the Bible reads 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. So much to say,
so little time. Are you armored up today? Brothers and sisters.
You can go ahead and type it in the chat. Yes, be honest
if you are armored and ready to go. Go ahead and type A one
in the chat. If you are struggling right now and you're you're needing more
assistance from God in this moment, you're feeling like heavy and you're not able
really kind of to get your your armor ant at this moment, Just go
ahead and type two in the chat. And I want people who are are
praying people to observe those twos in the chat. And I want you to
please pray today, dedicate some time today to those who have typed A two
in the chat, because really and truly, there are times that we feel
weak, like we don't feel like we are covered. We are not in
the mind space to say yes, I do, I do feel my commitment
right because of maybe something I've done recently, or I'm experiencing some doubts or
fear, or the trial seems too heavy to bear. And so please pray
for everybody who was typing A two in the chat. And so let's find
some encouragement in the scriptures and guidance. Right The first thing we need to
think about with this context is daily trust in God as our protector. Okay,
daily trust in God as our protector. Do you trust God as you
to be your protector. Let me say it that way, or do you
trust yourself? Like do you trust God to protect you when you can't see
a way out of your trial or tribulation? Each morning, I want you
to let me say it. It's gonna be kind of weird, but like
like soak or drench your shield by immersing yourself in prayer. Immerse yourself in
prayer, and affirm your faith in God. Remember his promises such as in
Psalm chapter twenty eight in verse seven. The Lord is my strength and my
shield. My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped. Let this
truth strengthen you, strengthen your defenses against the challenges of this day. Number
two, I want you to wear the helmet with confidence. The helmet is
obviously very very important in battle. It's essential in battle. It symbolizes our
salvation through Christ and unity with Him. So whenever doubt creeps in. I
did make an allusion to that earlier, that some of you may be struggling
with doubt right now. But whenever doubt comes in, I want you to
recall the scripture one of them like first Thessalonians chapter five in verse eight,
which says, but let us who are of the day, be sober,
putting on the breastplate of faith and love and for in helmet the hope of
salvation. Let this affirmation from scripture guard your mind and heart. You don't
have to yield to doubt. Brothers and sisters. Have on the breastplate of
faith. I'll say it again, and love and for in helmet the hope
of salvation. My hope, the hymn writer wrote, is built on nothing
less than Jesus blood and his righteousness. Here is another one wielding the sword
of the spirit, the sword of the spirit. I want you to dedicate
time. I said, dedicate time or invest time in daily Bible study.
And when I say that, I don't mean listening to me or people like
me. That is a supplement to what you're studying, right. I want
you to get alone with God and maybe find a scripture, not jump around
like I do for these ten minutes. Like find a scripture and then ask
God, like, how does this apply to my life and salvation? One
scripture? Fix in your mind how this leads or tends toward right relationship with
God, and continue to pray for understanding. Remember in Hebrews, Chapter four
and verse twelve. The Bible reads, for the Word of God is quick
and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit. What that means is quick, means to
make alive. So the Word of God has power to make you alive if
you yield to what you hear, which you read, Yes, and dividing
asunder. That concept is that it searches out your guts, It searches the
intents of your heart and your mind. It reveals, it reveals who we
really are. Right, And so commit verses to memory, like the one
that I just read, right, so that you can draw upon these truths
in the moments of challenge. Yes, when the temptation the trial is there,
and when you bring the Word of God to the forefront of your mind.
You may need an index card, you may need your device, you
may need to bring an actual Bible with you. But wherever the passage is
stored, if it's in your mind, thank God. In those moments you
have to encourage your own soul and say, wait a minute, the word.
When God said something as he created the worlds, it happened. Why
because the word is powerful. Oh wait a minute, When Jesus lived on
planet Earth and he was delivering people from diseases and sin miraculously that it happened
immediately, Why because he spoke the word and immediately the Bible says a man
in Mark chapter two. He took up his bed and walk, and all
the people were amazed and said they'd never seen it on this wise. And
so in the same way, you can hold on to the Word of God
as you speak it over your life and the Holy Spirit drills it into who
you are. Yes, in those moments, you can have power and victory
over whatever you're going through, as long as you surrender your will to Him.
And of course we understand the reality number four of the battle. The
awareness is key. Reflect on the battles you face daily, and remember in
verse twelve of Ephesians chapter six, wore we wrestle not against flesh or blood,
but against principalities and hours, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. I want you to approach these
challenges with the seriousness that they deserve. Don't be flippant about it. Don't
just act like it's not a big deal. You're struggling, you have a
down moment, and then you excite yourself and just move on, or you
just move on and hide yourself from the actual battle. Approach this with sincerity
and seriousness and seek God's guidance through his word. The shield, the helmet,
and the sword. All of these implements of warfare, but they're spiritual,
not human. Have a wonderful day peace. Thanks for joining us listening.
Friends. Always remember we cannot live by bread alone, but by every
word that comes from the mouth of God. This has been your daily portion
with l David Harris. Make it a great day.