As we engage in the spiritual battle we must ensure that we are fully clothed and that there is someone or several people 
covering our backs. Those who have gone before us were also involved in spiritual warfare, however because their relationship was predicated on them obeying a set of guidelines rigorously, they failed. For any relationship to grow and prosper, it must be built on trust and trust must be mutual. God trusted the Israelites to be his representatives and to carry his glory with them from the wilderness to the Promised Land. This was a daunting task and instead of relying on God, they reverted to worshipping the idols they were exposed to in Egypt over the 430 years they spent under the rule of Pharaoh. The problem with slavery is that it leaves an indelible mark on the mind. This mark is hard to remove even with skilled psychotherapy as demonstrated by the Israelite community and even more so in the Caribbean community dispersed from Africa. However, there is a solution and that solution is in the blood of the risen saviour Jesus Christ. To atone for the sin of people, the Lord God required blood, since the life of an individual is in the blood (Lev. 17:11,14). And since the blood of bulls and turtle doves was inadequate to remove the indelible stain of sin, it required a more noble blood, that of the sinless son of the most high God, Jesus. The Israelites were all baptised into Moses, they all passed through the red sea and saw that marvellous works of God in bringing them out of bondage. For 40 years God tried to get them to dream and the visualise living in houses they did not build and eating fruit from trees they did not plant. However, this task was difficult and as they rebelled many were destroyed, even 23,000 in one day alone (1Cor. 10:8). For us to prosper we must jettison the slavery mentality and allow the blood of Jesus to permeate every nook and cranny of our minds. That is, we must allow the word of God to wash away every thought and idea that is not in line with the word. Our trust in God must be total, even when we cannot see the end of the matter. Unlike the Israelites of old, we must trust that he knows the way out of every wilderness. So today, Do Not revert to amulets, idols or charms, apply the blood of Jesus and allow it to remove the pain of the past. Read 1Corinthians 10.
as we allow the eternal blood to remove the indelible mark of sin
Posted in The Armour of God | Tags: Indellible mark, Obedience, Sin, Stain, The Blood, Trust
as we remove the muzzle from the ox
One of the greatest attacks on an individual is that on their person. What I mean by this is that the enemy will attack you 
and ask you to justify why you do what you do. Why should we listen to you when we also hear from God? Sound familiar! Who do you think you are and who gives you the right to speak into my life? These were some of the questions the apostle Paul faced when he challenged the behaviour of the Corinthians. Rather than go with what the Lord was saying through Paul, the Corinthians chose to challenge his authority to speak to them and questioned his authority as a leader to benefit from their giving. There are many people who attend churches who do not understand or respect the order that God has instituted. Ignorance causes many to disrespect the role that the individual occupies and disrespect the individual themselves. And so it becomes difficult to separate the individual from the role. It is right to remunerate those who work to ensure that your soul is fed with the word of God. However, not all those who do this take the payment. Like the apostle Paul, many do other paid work so that they can keep themselves and be totally independent so that they can speak openly at all times. Some find it difficult to speak openly to those who are paying their salary since this may upset the ‘apple cart’ and could lose their jobs. When you are being challenged about your role and the authority invested in you by the Lord, you can state your ‘rights’, however it is better to speak to the issues and side step the personal or individual attacks. As mature individuals, we must remember that ‘body’ ministry is the ideal and not every part of the body understands their function until it is explained to them. And even when it is explained, there are many who just do not want to come under the authority of a particular leader, for many reasons. As the apostle puts it, ‘does an ox not eat from the grain he is treading to make flour’? Or ‘does the farmer not eat the fruits he is picking’? The questions are posed so as to answer themselves with a resounding YES. So why should someone who is proclaiming the good news not live by it? Even though it is their right receive recompense. Today, if you are being challenged, separate yourself from your role. Know what is expected of you and ensure that those you are leading know also. Misunderstanding can cause frustrations, so make everything plain by writing them down for all to see! Read 1corinthian 9.
Posted in The Armour of God | Tags: Apostleship, Authority, Openness, Order, Respect, Rights, Truth
as we fight the enemy within, the flab
Another one of our weaknesses is our stomachs. Food is a vital part of our survival since the nutrients extracted from 
the food we eat gives life and strength to our bodies. We need to eat to live and to ensure that our systems function properly. I have been in America for the last 8 days and I am amazed at the amount of food consumed by the populous here. It would appear that a large proportion of the population live to eat rather than the other way round. We are reminded by the apostle Paul that we should exercise self-control in our eating and particularly if there are religious connotation associated with our eating habits. So in 1Corinthians 8 he addresses the problem of eating food offered to idols. Here he outlines his case and categorically claims that since idols are man-made, offering food to them is a futile activity. Some people argue that we should not eat meat since Adam and Eve were vegetarians; however Jesus ate fish and lamb! Others argue that we should only eat meat that has been killed in a particular way! The apostle Paul argues that if food is going to be a stumbling block for people to come to know Christ, then he would never eat again (1Cor 8:13). I would suggest as Jesus did, that it is not what goes into the body that defiles it, although too much going into the body will not be processed correctly and hence will collect under the skin as fat, it is what come out of the mouth which defiles or saves an individual. Consequently we are given free reign as to what we eat or don’t eat, but must be very careful about the words that comes out of our mouths. We who know Christ must be disciplined in all aspects of our lives, including out eating habits. And like the psalmist we must ‘let the words of our mouths and the thoughts of our minds be acceptable to the Lord our rock and redeemer!
Today, vet what you eat and what you say. That is, vet what goes in and what comes out. Read 1Corinthians 8 and Psalm 19:14.
Posted in The Armour of God | Tags: Appetite, Conscience, Control, Feasting or fasting!, flab, Food, idolatory, Self-Control
as we fight against the flesh!
As we become armed and dangerous, dangerous to the enemy that is, we must recognise who our greatest enemy is. 
The apostle Paul entreats us to adorn ourselves with the full armour of God and uses the Roman soldier’s outfit as a metaphor of how we are to dress for our spiritual battles. However he recognised early on in his walk with the Lord Jesus that our greatest battle is with ourselves and the ability to control our natural desires. It matters not where you go in the world, the inability of human beings to control their ‘flesh’ has far reaching consequences. Now for me this is crucial since one of the greatest injustices imputed on people of African descent was the breakup of the nuclear family unit. The rape and dehumanising of young African women by slaver, to produce a generation of fatherless off-springs who then go on to perpetuate the cycle, highlights the problem. Two hundred years after abolition of the slave trade in Britain (1807) and nearly two hundred years after the abolition of slavery in the British Empire (1834), we are still seeing the effects of lack of control of the flesh. In fact the slave masters were disposed to taking the strongest men in the community from plantation to plantation to produce off-springs who would be ‘good’ workers. Alas today we have many Black men who think it ‘cool’ to carry on this tradition and boast about the many children they have fathered rather being a father to all their progenies. And so the apostle Pauls writing the first letter to the Corinthian church castigates them for their slackness. Sexual immorality should not be on the agenda of those who follow Christ (Ch 5). Are we not aware that our bodies are ‘temples of the Holy Spirit of God’? (Ch 6:15). Should you then be joined to every woman who takes your fancy? And if you are joined to them don’t you know that you are forming a spiritual bond [a soul tie] with them that allows them to download all their brokenness into you?
Since we have ‘this’ hope in Christ that ‘makes us nor ashamed’, let us fight against the flesh with all out might and teach our youngsters to do the same. In concluding the argument against sexual promiscuity, the apostle encourages those who find it difficult the exercise self-control and remain celibate to marry rather than to yearn after the opposite sex (Ch 7). This advice is applicable to all of us and particularly those of us who are a part of the Diaspora. If you are having difficulty fighting the flesh, then marry one person, this is the word for today. Read 1Cor 5, 6&7.
Posted in The Armour of God | Tags: Debauchery, Desire, Flesh, Marriage, One-flesh relationship, Procreation, Self-Control, Slavery, spirit
as we rely on the power of the Spirit rather than the lofty words of men
Paul writing to the Corinthian brethren reminds them that when he came to them proclaiming the mysteries of God, he 
did not do so with lofty words of wisdom but with the demonstration of the Spirit and of power so that individuals may put their faith in the power of God and not in human performances. Today, we still have people who use lofty words and charismatic schemes to delude people. There are many who fall foul of these schemers and many who are duped or even lose their lives because of their antics. Do you remember the David Koresh saga in Waco Texas in 1993 where 74 Branch Davidians died, or the Jim Jones instituted massacre in Guyana in 1978 where over 900 people were killed by cyanide poisoning. These are just a few incidences of extremism gone wrong. So the apostle reminds his hearers that he had no scheme to entice them, neither did he come with a quick fix to get to heaven. Nor was he extolling great oratory skills that came from extensive times of learning. He was preaching Christ and him crucified and allowing the power of God through the Holy Spirit to work on people’s heart through faith. So irrespective of the preacher you are following or the organisation you belong to, if Christ was not the focus then all the preaching and postulation was in vain. As it was then, so it is now, people have their favourite preachers and their favourite churches and favourite TV shows. However if Jesus Christ is not the focus of all that is being said, then it is all in vain. And the vanity of men will end in suicide as the ultimate means of escape from the humdrum of everyday life. For us who have experienced the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, let us remember to preach the word with passion and conviction and allow the Spirit of the risen Lord Jesus to bring transformation, healing and deliverance to all those who hear, accept and believe. Today, allow the shield of faith to help you filter out those things which are not for your spiritual edification. Read 1Corinthians 2.
Posted in The Armour of God | Tags: Faith, Heaven, Hell, Human devices, Humanity, Oration, Powr of the Spirit
as we watch the backs of those who are watching our backs
We are encouraged by the apostle Paul to put on the whole armour of God before we enter the fray. However, we must 
bear in mind that in war the enemy will use all sorts of tactics to ensure that they succeed in their quest to defeat you. And defeating you by any means necessary is their ultimate goal. As we position ourselves offensively and defensively we must be aware that there is one area of our body that remains open to attach, and that is our backs. So the question, ‘who has got your back’ comes starkly into focus. As we engage in this spiritual battle, firstly we must be aware that we are fighting an unseen enemy, rather like the US government’s fight against terrorist. We are aware that the enemy is out there but are not sure when or where he will attack. Secondly we must also be aware that the enemy fights dirty and every opportunity he gets to sneak up on you, he will do it. He fights like the Amalekite’s of Moses’ era. They wait until you have passed by a particular hurdle and then sneak up on you picking off the young, the old and the weak ones first. Finally we must be one another’s keepers. That is, we must watch out for each other’s back. Although we are fully protected from the front with our breastplate and helmet fully on, our backs are wide open. It is for this reason why we are encouraged to be part of a fellowship, belong somewhere where you are under the covering of the leadership of that fellowship. Be a part of a group as it is impossible for you to fight with a sword in either hand; how then would you hold the shield of faith??
So today let us take heed to the apostle Paul as he encourages us ‘to make every effort to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace’, (Eph 4:3). Since we belong to one body of Christ, let us endeavour to protect each other’s back by daily praying for those in your circle who provide covering for you.
Read Ephesians 4 and Genesis 4.
Posted in The Armour of God | Tags: Amalekites, battle, Belonging, Prayer, Spiritual Warfare, togetherness, War, Watching
as we realise that size doesn’t really matter with God!
This morning as I stirred 2Corinthians 10 was impressed on me. The context of the letter refers to the fact that the 
apostle Paul was facing a group of people who were questioning his authority to speak to them. The letters he had written to them were scathing of their conduct towards each other (1Cor 6), their personal morality and self control (1Ccor 5) and their corporate responsibility when gathering around the Lord’s Table (1Cor 11:23ff). They were taken to task and referred to as children who were behaving no better than people of the world who has not had a personal encounter with the risen Lord Jesus. In fact, they were using their spiritual gifts to create an elitist faction within the church (1Cor12). The apostle’s letter to them was stern and forthright and hit the nail on the head. The outcome of this was the ‘more excellent way’ that was offered to them in 1Cor 13. Here they were commanded to underpin everything they did with love and encouraged in the conclusion that one day, everything, even the hidden things will be made plain to us.
On receipt of this letter it would appear that the Corinthians actually changed some of their practices. The problem arose though when they met the apostle. His stature belied the potency of the letters he had written and so the tension ensued. This is my encouragement for you today. irrespective of your physical stature, remember that the weapons of your warfare are not those used by the ordinary human being, but they are the invisible weapons of the “sword of the spirit”, “the shield of faith”, “the helmet of salvation”, “the breast plate of righteousness” and “the gospel of peace”. As the apostle Paul reminds us, this weaponry has the power to destroy arguments, pull down every stronghold that exalts itself over God and take captive every thought that questions the potency of the divinity and absolute awesomeness of our God. Our battle is fought on our knees. Our victory has already been won through Christ. So irrespective of your physical size or your societal status, humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and allow him to demonstrate his power through you, rather than the other way round!
Read 2Corinthians 10, bearing in mind what I said above.
Posted in The Armour of God | Tags: Breastplate, Peace, Righteousness, Shiled, spirit, Sword, Warfare, Weaponry
as we hear the word and live to grow!
We are told by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans that faith comes by hearing the word. It is the word that is 
spirit and life and it is the word that empowers the individual who not only hears it but applies it to their lives. As we consider the offensive component of our armoury, let us say a few things about the process of hearing and doing. For faith to come, the word must be heard. However, being able to listen and then to process what has been heard is not always straightforward. We live in a society where there is great competition for our attention and the noise level around us is huge. All these voices are competing for our attention and so to hear the voice of the Lord involves filtering out all the other spurious noises whilst tuning in to the voice of the Lord. So God says to Jeremiah, it would appear that my people have forgotten me as they don’t come to me anymore but rely on their own abilities and senses (Jeremiah 3:31-37). Hearing is a gift given to almost all of us, listening is an art that only a few of us implement. Tuning into God can be described as tuning into a particular radio station. You must know the frequency of that station and then you have to make the effort to find the station on busy airways. Once you are tuned into the frequency of the Lord you are then able to receive the’ downloads’ from him on a regular basis. Tune in today and receive a mighty download so that you can grow! Read Romans 10.
as we focus on the Fantastic Fortitude of Faith!
For me one of the most important pieces of our armour is the shield of faith. Although the armour is a metaphor of 
how we should think, believe and behave, it is imperative that we exercise our faith in the things we read and digest. The reason we need to read and re-read the word over and over again is the simple fact that we forget things very easily. And so we are encouraged to place the most potent weapon we have in the deepest recesses of our minds. But we can only do this if we believe the word or better still believe that the author of the word truly has our best interest at heart. The apostle Paul uses the analogy of the armour to get us to think strategically. Our enemy uses his strategies to get us to doubt the word. He questions the authenticity of word and thereby questions the author, God. He says things like: did God really say that? (Genesis 3:1), throw yourself down from the rooftop, you know the angels will save you (Luke 4:9), and finally, why are you pressing through this crowd to touch Jesus, don’t you know that you are unclean? (Luke 8:43ff).
By picking up the shield of faith, we are able to see miraculous happenings in our lives. Paul reminds that the shield is used to deflect the fiery darts of the enemy. These darts are designed to cause maximum pain to your belief system. Once punctured your whole belief system will quickly deflate and like a car with punctured tyres you will become totally stranded and completely immobile.
Finally by taking up the shield of faith, you are able to use the sword correctly. How do these work together you may ask? The shield is the defensive weapon whilst the sword or the word is the offensive weapon. The shield deflects while the sword punctures through the falseness that the enemy presents. And so, by standing behind the shield we protect our belief system and by speaking the word we are re-iterating what the author of creation already declared. By lifting up this barrier we can now declare that we are MORE THAN CONQUORERS! What a fantastic piece of weaponry we have at our disposal! Well go ahead and use it!! have a read of 2Kings 6:15-20 and pray the prayer of Elisha!
Posted in The Armour of God | Tags: Battlefield, Fortitude, Recesses, Resliiance, Saturation, The Mind
as we fight against the harbinger of fear
The lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear. The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid. 
When the wicked, even my enemies try to eat up my flesh [kill me] even then I will have confidence in my God. You see there is only one thing that is my greatest desire, and that is to be in his presence every day. When I am there I can see his glory and worship at his throne. Since he is the one who covers me, even when trouble comes, and it will, I will still fear no evil. For as long as I stay in the word, which is in Christ Jesus, I am always protected. Today allow your light to shine, say something nice to someone! Fear is false evidence appearing real. Read Psalm 27.
Posted in The Armour of God | Tags: Appearing, Evidence, False, Real
Pastor Bell's Words To Live By 