My Daily Protection with Milton Vincent

“As long as I am inside the gospel, I experience all the protection I need from the powers of evil that rage against me.  It is for this reason that the Bible tells me to ‘take up‘* and ‘put on‘* the whole armor of God; and the pieces of armor it tells me to put on are all merely synonyms for the gospel.  Translated literally from the Greek, they are: ‘…the salvation…the justification…truth…the gospel of peace…the faith…[and the]…word of God.‘* What are all these expressions but various ways of describing the gospel? Therefore, if I wish to stand victorious in Jesus, I must do as the songwriter suggests and ‘put on the gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer.’*

That God would tell me to ‘take up’ and ‘put on’ this gospel armor alerts me to the fact that I do not automatically come into each day protected by the gospel.  In fact, these commands imply that I am vulnerable to defeat and injury unless I seize upon the gospel and arm myself with it from head to toe.  And what better way is there to do this than to preach the gospel to myself and to make it the obsession of my heart throughout the day?”-Milton Vincent (bold emphasis mine).

*”Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day…” Ephesians 6:13

*”Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:11-12

*”Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:14-17

*”Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor, Each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, Be never wanting there.”

–”Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus,” written by George Duffield, Jr., (1818-1888). 

Working with you to make war on the flesh with the gospel armor,

Vince R.

Quoted from:  Vincent, Milton. The Gospel Primer. Moreno Vally: Focus, 2008.

 

Wielding Psalm 119 in Affliction

Psalm 119. It seems that in affliction the Psalmist’s hope and stay was found in God’s word.  The promises of God upheld his soul.  They were his delight when the world crumbled around him.  When he was alone, God’s word was that company which strenghtened his weak knees and lifted his drooping head with sweet and tender whispers of holiness and joy.  In my recent reading of this sweet, succulent and soul-reviving chapter, I was awed when savoring this truth.  God’s word is powerfully and inextricibly linked with the sanctifying suffering of his people.  Indeed, a saint will not suffer well without it.  The world needs to know what upheld you in those times.  These words showcase the treasure of God’s elucidating truth in the darkening storm. These words from God pour forth with radiant and sonorous beauty the life-giving song of his word into our hearts which restores and sanctifies his people, even when his rod administers mercy and compassion.

Here I recount those verses which specifically use the word “affliction” and its verbal variations.  Followed after each verse, I have provided a line which like a sword the believer may prayerfully and faithfully wield to preach to himself those truths which the fickle depravity of the heart is prone to forget.  One would do well to find similar verses in the chapter which communicate the same message and thereafter to formulate their own war-making truth-lines.

Verse 50 “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.”

This is your comfort afflicted O my soul: God’s promise gives you life.

Verse 67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.

Before this affliction you were not as sanctified as you are now, my heart.  Now you keep God’s word.

Verse 71 “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.”

It is a good and merciful time to be afflicted by God, my soul.  You are learning to treasure God’s holy commands.

Verse 75 “I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.”

God’s rules are righteous, o my soul.  To show this, he displays his faithfulness to you and everyone when he has afflicted you.

Verse 92 “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.”

Delight in his law even now, my soul, lest you perish in unbelief.

Verse 107  “I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word!”

Cry out to the LORD! He gives life just as he said he would. Do you believe what he has said? Bring to him this promise with importunate faithfulness.

 Verse 153  “Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.”

He will look upon your sad state, and he will deliver you! Never forget his holy law.

His word is that lamp. Do you believe it?

Make war until you do.

Working with you “to pull the word of promise from its scabbard and wield it with holy violence,” _CH

Vince R.