1 00:00:01,159 --> 00:00:05,559 Most of us eat every day, some of us too much, because yesterday's 2 00:00:05,599 --> 00:00:10,439 food is not enough to supply energy for today's needs. Why then, do 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:15,039 some of us expect yesterday's portion of heavenly manna, the word of God to 4 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:19,760 keep us through today's challenges. On this program, we are going to change 5 00:00:19,879 --> 00:00:25,120 all that. Let's experience God's words today and receive the power we need to 6 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:30,800 live healthy, vibrant lives. Welcome to your Daily Portion with your host, 7 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,799 author speaker L. David Harris. Good morning, Good morning, Good morning. 8 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:40,560 It is Friday, September twenty nine, two twenty three. Hello, 9 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,399 my name is L. David Harris. I am your host, and this 10 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,399 is your Daily Portion where we give you God's Word every single day, and 11 00:00:47,439 --> 00:00:53,600 today is no exception. We are continuing for the last day in our lesson 12 00:00:53,719 --> 00:01:00,719 study through the Book of Ephesians under the caption Battling in peace the Church's armor, 13 00:01:00,799 --> 00:01:06,920 the Church's armor. I thank God for the privilege to have had this 14 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:11,400 time like through the Book of Ephesians. What a wonderful study. And we 15 00:01:11,439 --> 00:01:15,200 are preparing. We are preparing for our next study through the Book of the 16 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:19,879 Gospel of John. But I don't want to get too far afield, because 17 00:01:19,879 --> 00:01:25,719 we have something right here, right now that God wants to say to us, 18 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:30,400 battling in peace, the armor that God has given his people. I 19 00:01:30,439 --> 00:01:34,680 want you to please go over to your Daily Portion dot com, join our 20 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,400 online community and pick up your Daily Portion book. Also let us know where 21 00:01:38,439 --> 00:01:42,640 you are in the world with that little form there at your Daily Portion dot 22 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:48,120 com. Let's go ahead and pray, and then we will get underway. 23 00:01:48,159 --> 00:01:52,599 Father in Heaven, thank you for the privilege you have entrusted to us to 24 00:01:53,439 --> 00:01:57,799 do your will like thank you for your words. Thank you for the fourteen 25 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,319 whole weeks that we have had through the Book of Ephesians. And I pray 26 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:07,439 that we will live according to your principles as a result. In Jesus name, 27 00:02:07,479 --> 00:02:15,439 I pray Amen and Amen again, battling in peace the Church's armor in 28 00:02:15,719 --> 00:02:21,439 the Book of Ephesians. And so we need to really make everything that we 29 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:27,080 study practical, everything that we read from His word practical. And I think 30 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:32,080 the Bible says that we are to live peaceably with all people inasmuch as it 31 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:37,120 lie unto us. That means that we're not to stir up war, we're 32 00:02:37,159 --> 00:02:40,680 not to cause conflict. There are ways that we must deal with conflict when 33 00:02:40,719 --> 00:02:46,319 they come. Yes, and of course there are challenges sometimes when we are 34 00:02:46,439 --> 00:02:50,680 in a battle against evil, where you know, people are trying to get 35 00:02:50,759 --> 00:02:53,319 us to do stuff that we must not do. People are trying to separate 36 00:02:53,479 --> 00:02:57,159 us from God. So of course we don't just lay there, right, 37 00:02:57,199 --> 00:03:00,560 We don't just say, oh, I'm peaceful, No, that's are right. 38 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:06,000 We fight against evil. But God is saying that where it is possible 39 00:03:06,039 --> 00:03:10,439 to be in a reconciled relationship with people, that we can, we will, 40 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:15,639 and we must. And so the first takeaway as we round the corner 41 00:03:15,759 --> 00:03:21,800 in this study for today is to stand firm, or really it's not a 42 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:27,599 takeaway, it is a call to action, like stand firm in unity. 43 00:03:28,879 --> 00:03:35,360 According to Ephesians, chapter four and verse three, make every effort to keep 44 00:03:35,599 --> 00:03:38,840 the unity of the spirit. Now we're not just talking about generic unity. 45 00:03:38,879 --> 00:03:46,719 We're talking about unity of the spirit in God's fellowship right through the bond of 46 00:03:46,759 --> 00:03:51,919 peace. There are people who are are rabbel rousers, like there are people 47 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,680 who stir up controversy among the people of God. There are people who call 48 00:03:55,800 --> 00:04:03,479 away and catch away silly individual from the faith because they have some new found, 49 00:04:03,599 --> 00:04:09,319 some new fangled what they call truth, and then of course it gets 50 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:15,360 people all mixed up and bound into all kinds of darkness. So God wants 51 00:04:15,439 --> 00:04:19,480 us to stand firm in the unity of faith through the Spirit, in the 52 00:04:19,519 --> 00:04:24,560 bond of peace. And so the question really is, how are you How 53 00:04:24,639 --> 00:04:31,480 am I fostering unity in my community today, my community of believers that are 54 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:35,759 my friends, in the people that I encounter on the road on a regular 55 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:42,800 basis, Like am I reconciling people to God through His Holy Spirit so that 56 00:04:42,879 --> 00:04:46,639 we can be bound together in peace? It's something that we all have to 57 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:50,839 consider. I'm not the most friendly person that I know, but somehow when 58 00:04:50,879 --> 00:04:55,839 I go to the gym, I have to greet as many people as possible 59 00:04:55,879 --> 00:05:00,800 before I can exercise. I walk through every room in the gym and say 60 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:03,399 good morning to people. And I even am amazed myself because I'm like, 61 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:08,639 why am I doing this? I'm not this friendly naturally, I'm an introvert. 62 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:11,399 Yeah, some of you are confused, like he's an introvert. Yes, 63 00:05:11,439 --> 00:05:15,959 I'm an introvert. But God has me driven to build relationships and I 64 00:05:16,079 --> 00:05:21,000 literally cannot help it. And it is for the purpose of bringing people closer 65 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:26,800 to God through a positive interaction with one of his humans, and in this 66 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:30,560 case it's me. That's a long story, but I think you get it. 67 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:35,920 How about speak life and love. Verse twenty nine of Ephesians chapter four 68 00:05:35,959 --> 00:05:43,600 reads, let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such 69 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:47,920 as is good for building up. Here is my challenge for you today. 70 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:54,600 Share a word of encouragement with someone today. Share a word of encouragement. 71 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,800 It's not that difficult. Yes, good morning, It's wonderful seeing you. 72 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,279 I didn't see you for two days. Is everything okay? Good morning. 73 00:06:02,639 --> 00:06:06,360 Hey, it's been a long time. I heard that you were having some 74 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:11,199 challenges. Is there anything I can do for you? I'm here for you. 75 00:06:11,879 --> 00:06:15,040 Just let me know. Hey, good afternoon. How you doing. 76 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,839 Oh you're not doing well? What can I do for you? Can I 77 00:06:18,879 --> 00:06:23,560 pray for you? Is there anything else that I can do? Let me 78 00:06:23,639 --> 00:06:28,399 know how I can be of service. I love your smile. Yeah, 79 00:06:28,439 --> 00:06:30,639 sometimes when we see people. This happens to me all the time, really, 80 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,399 because I just love children, and so I'll see you with your child 81 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:39,399 and lose focus of whatever in the world I was doing, and I'll just 82 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:44,839 immediately light up with passion and build with the child, no matter how young. 83 00:06:45,319 --> 00:06:48,600 And that can be encouraging to parents that feel like they're alone. Can 84 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:55,240 you imagine, so, speak life and love into someone today, and resist 85 00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:04,439 corrupting talk, resist that tend to break down, no gossip, no backbiting, 86 00:07:05,399 --> 00:07:12,120 or any such thing. Also be a champion of the Gospel of peace. 87 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,079 The Bible reads and Ephesian chapter six and verse fifteen. Having shot your 88 00:07:16,519 --> 00:07:20,360 your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, how can you spread 89 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:26,399 peace in your surroundings today? Talking about godly peace? Now we're talking about 90 00:07:26,439 --> 00:07:30,959 the Gospel of peace. How can you spread that gospel into wherever you happen 91 00:07:31,079 --> 00:07:34,360 to be? Yes, I'm online and on the radio, two hundred radio 92 00:07:34,439 --> 00:07:39,839 stations right online, thirty plus platforms that I know of those are the ones 93 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:45,319 I intentionally put this program into, and other communities that I'm a part of 94 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:49,120 where I'm sharing great news concerning God. But that's not what he's talking about. 95 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:55,160 In particular, there are individuals he wants you to look in the eye, 96 00:07:55,279 --> 00:07:58,680 right into their eyes, be a part of their lives, to be 97 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:07,279 able to share the Gospel into their lives, giving them a transformative experience with 98 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:13,319 God. How can you do that? How can you spread peace in your 99 00:08:13,439 --> 00:08:18,399 surroundings today? And here comes another one. Recognize your real enemy. In 100 00:08:18,519 --> 00:08:22,959 Ephesians, chapter six and verse twelve, the Bible reads, for our struggle 101 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:28,319 is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil. 102 00:08:28,639 --> 00:08:33,159 So when faced with opposition, I need you, brothers and sisters to remember 103 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:39,919 who the real enemy is. Do not fight with people. Do not fight 104 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:43,679 with people. People are not your real enemies, even though that's who we 105 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:48,759 see. These are the ones that are spewing vitriol and poison venom our way. 106 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:52,799 These are people who are looking like they want to destroy us, and 107 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:58,679 indeed they have, unfortunately, if that's their reality, have yielded themselves to 108 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:03,159 darkness. But in fact, it is the devil himself who's behind all of 109 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,360 it. So see it for what it really is. See it for what 110 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:11,000 it really is. When we face this opposition, remember who he is the 111 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:18,480 real enemy. Don't fight people. Fight against darkness, fight against unholiness with 112 00:09:18,639 --> 00:09:24,240 people, fight the good fight of faith with other people. So if you 113 00:09:24,279 --> 00:09:28,440 have humans who are annoying to you or unholy somehow, who are enemies, 114 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:35,039 then those who are friends. You pray with your friends, intercede on behalf 115 00:09:35,039 --> 00:09:39,320 of those wicked people who seem to have no good intention for you, so 116 00:09:39,399 --> 00:09:45,279 much to say no time will see you tomorrow the Lord's fears peace. Thanks 117 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,679 for joining us listening to friends. Always remember we cannot live by bread alone, 118 00:09:50,039 --> 00:09:52,879 but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. This has 119 00:09:52,919 --> 00:10:00,320 been your daily portion with l David Harris. Make it a great day.