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Farrell's Bible Notes

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Day 181: Job 17-19; Galatians 6

Day 182: Job 20-21; Ephesians 1

Day 183: Job 22-24; Ephesians 2

Day 184: Job 25-27; Ephesians 3

Day 185: Job 28-29; Ephesians 4

Day 186: Job 30-31; Ephesians 5

Day 187: Job 32-33; Ephesians 6

Day 188: Job 34-35; Philippians 1

Day 189: Job 36-37; Philippians 2

Day 190: Job 38-40; Philippians 3

Day 191: Job 41-42; Philippians 4

Day 181: Job 17-19; Galatians 6

.Job 19:25 | Job was aware of the coming of Jesus. John 1:14 speaks of the Word becoming flesh (Jesus) and dwelling among us.

.Galatians 6:1 | This is speaking to those who are spiritual. If you know you're walking in the flesh (in weakness), it's not wise for you to try to go help someone with an area that you're struggling with, because you may also be tempted. He says to do it in the spirit of meekness. He says considering thyself, lest you also be tempted. In other words, be wise about making sure you're not putting yourself in a tempting situation by trying to help someone else. In other words, if you see a fine female, built especially to your liking and she's struggling with fornication, don't go to her house to pray with you about that. That type of thing may lead to the wrong type of touching and agreeing.

.Galatians 6:2,5 | These two verses don't conflict, when you consider that when living a life in Christ, one's own burden is to bear others' burdens, just as Jesus' burden was to bear our burdens. This would also mean that we're not to keep our burdens all to ourself. Even speaking about it this way, I'd say it's still possible to bear your own burden while sharing it with others too.

.Galatians 6:3 | I like to compare this verse with Genesis 3:6, when Eve thought she was capable of assessing whether the fruit was "good" or not, when God was the only one who could assess what was "good." She deceived herself by thinking that she was more than she was. She was not God, and she was not the head of man, in such a position to tell Adam what he was and wasn't supposed to do. 1 Tim 2:14 says that it was Eve who was deceived, and that Adam was not deceived. So I suppose Adam was just plain ol' disobedient (to God). Romans 1:22 and 1 John 1:8 are other verses to consider.

.Galatians 6:4 | Let's look at verse 13 to understand this better. It seems that people were trying to gain their own sense of glory in what others were doing.

.Galatians 6:6 | A person that is taught in the word (Word of God) should communicate what he understands to a teacher who teaches in all types of subjects (spiritual or unspiritual). This doesn't mean that the person taught in the Word should only teach other teachers.

.Galatians 6:9 | keyword: if; "if we faint not." And again, this is talking in a spiritual sense, not physically fainting.

.Galatians 6:10 | We are supposed to especially do good to our brothers and sisters in Christ. In some biological families, people will treat those closest with them with some disrespect, but completely respect and give better treatment to strangers out in the street. Among us, it's not supposed to be that way.

.Galatians 6:15 | 5:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17

.Galatians 6:17 | Notice he says "in" his body he bears the marks of the Lord Jesus, not "on" his body.

Day 182: Job 20-21; Ephesians 1

.Ephesians 1:1 | One of the seven churches in Asia, spoken of in Revelations 1:11, is in Ephesus.

.Ephesians 1:4-5 | Who is "us?" Read Romans 8:28-29.

.Ephesians 1:9-10 | Regard the wording here and remember how Jesus in Matthew 6:10 said "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (keywords: God the Father, Jesus, his will/thy will, on earth, in heaven)

.Ephesians 1:11 | When it says He "worketh all things," it may not be wise to assume that "things" means "people." Verses 14 and 18 also speak of this inheritance mentioned in verse 11. Read this with Romans 8:28, where Paul testifies that "all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

.Ephesians 1:22-23 | We're told here that the church is the body of Christ.

Day 183: Job 22-24; Ephesians 2

.Ephesians 2:1 |

.Ephesians 2:2 | The prince of power of the air is called a spirit. The term "prince of this world" is used in John 12:31, 14:30, and 16:11. Other versions say Satan is the "ruler of this world," but the King James Version does not call him the "ruler of this world," because he's not. I would dare to say there is a difference between a prince and a ruler.
One writer named Will Kinney states it like this, "It is a very simple question. Does the King James Bible teach that Satan is the ruler of this world, and that the whole world is under the control of the Evil One? Answer: NO
Do the NKJV, NASB, NIV, ESV teach that Satan is the ruler of this world and that the whole world is under his control? Answer: YES." You can read his whole article here: http://www.scionofzion.com/controls_world.htm
(May.1.2014) However, I can see how some may understand this to mean that Satan is the ruler of the people of this world, meaning those who are lost, because 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 does use the term "god of this world," and it may seem to refer to Satan when saying "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (read my Ephesians 4:4 notes on this). Satan is not to be considered to be God or ruler, other than his ruling over the majority of people in the world who are lost. Remember, Jesus says there is a wide road to destruction, which the majority of people are on, but only a narrow road to Heaven, and few people find it (Matthew 7:13-14). And it is still also a possibility that 2 Corinthians 4:4 is not even speaking of Satan when saying "god of this world," seeing that in 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 God says He'll send a strong delusion to people who essentially reject Him, and don't receive the love of the truth. Remember the scripture "choose ye this day whom you will serve, (Joshua 24:15)" and know that God did not force anyone not to believe. Whether they specifically choose to be ruled by Satan, or they simply choose to be their own ruler, people choose against God's rulership of them, and He responds to their choice.

.Ephesians 2:8 | Notice that it says "and that not of yourselves," which would be to say it's not your own faith that saves you, but the faith of Jesus which is testified in Galatians 2:16, saying we are "justified by the faith of Christ..." This is something I'm just noticing, so I haven't studied much on this point yet.

.Ephesians 2:9 | (Nov.6,2011) It is not good works that earns us salvation, but rather Salvation that allows us to do good works and be workers of good, for there is none good but God (Luke 18:19). And at a certain time, among a certain people it was said "there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Romans 3:12). Because of Matthew 13:17, we know that this was not being said of every person in existence, but of those certain people.

.Ephesians 2:15 | Watch my video poem: Download "Is Christ Dead in Vain?"

.Ephesians 2:15 | Watch my video poem: "http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericlfarrell/3682778710/" target="_blank">Watch "Is Christ Dead in Vain?" online

.Ephesians 2:15 | Romans 7:4

.Ephesians 2:16 | Ezekiel 37:17

.Ephesians 2:17 | It says Jesus preached peace. However, in Matthew 10:34 Jesus clarifies that He didn't come to send peace on earth, but a sword. This is a point on which I have more studying to do, but it may help to clarify that sending (or bringing) peace and preaching it is not the same thing. I'd understand this to mean that He preached for us to know how to live, what to do, and the life we were to live after He was gone (physically).

.Ephesians 2:18 | This is how we're one, united by the Spirit.

.Ephesians 2:19 | We are saints.

.Ephesians 2:20 | (3:5; 4:11; Ps 118:22; Heb 3:1; Mt 16:18)

.Ephesians 2:21 | Notice the common word "fitly" used here and in Ephesians 4:16 which explains more about us, His temple. Also check Acts 7:48 on this, and also 1 Corinthians 3:16, letting us know we're His temple and He doesn't dwell in temples made with man's hands.

Day 184: Job 25-27; Ephesians 3

.Job 26:7 | Genesis 1:1. I'm pretty sure this was written before it was well known or believed that the earth does actually hang on nothing.

Day 185: Job 28-29; Ephesians 4

.Job 28:12-13 |

.Job 29:19 |

.Job 29:6 |

.Ephesians 4 | (Nov.6,2011) memorized ch.4 KJV 3/18/10. Colossians 3; Isaiah 41:5-7; John 17:23

.Ephesians 4:1 | (Nov.6,2011) 3:1; Philippians 1:1,9; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Timothy 2:15, 2:21

.Ephesians 4:3 | (Nov.6,2011) Colossians 3:14-15

.Ephesians 4:4 | (Nov.6,2011) 1:18; 4:25; 2:16; John 17 (esp. v.11,21-23); 1 John 5:8; 1 Corinthians 6:17; 2 Timothy 1:9; Romans 1:6-7 (Romans 8:28);

.Ephesians 4:5 | (Nov.6,2011) Deuteronomy 6:4;

.Ephesians 4:6 | (Nov.6,2011) 4:10; Him being above all doesn't restrict Him from being through all; Vicarious. Galatians 3:20; Matthew 23:9; John 8:41; 1 Timothy 2:5;

.Ephesians 4:7 | (Nov.6,2011) 4:13,16; 1 Corinthians 1:3-4; John 1:17; Luke 2:40; "gift of Christ" is what is meant when verse 8 says "When He ascended up on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men" Ephesians 4:8); the death burial and ...(my notes faded) ascension?; Salvation from captivity (saved from captivity)

.Ephesians 4:8 | (Nov.6,2011) Psalms 68:18; Romans 12:6; "When he ascended up on high" = post ascension (or during ascension); 1 Corinthians 1:7; Like Numbers 18:7 it is a gift, not earned.

.Ephesians 4:9 | (Nov.6,2011) Psalms 68:18; Romans 12:6; "descended first into the lower parts of the earth" either refers to His descension after His death to the imprisoned spirits (1 Peter 3:18-19) or His coming to the earth as a virgin's baby.

.Ephesians 4:10 | (Nov.6,2011) 1:21,23; 4:6; The Revelation 1:8,17,13-18; John 3:31; Jeremiah 23:24; Hebrews 2:10;

.Ephesians 4:11 | (Nov.6,2011) 2:20; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Samuel 9:9; John 16:13 said when the Spirit of Truth comes He will show you things to come, which means that prophecy is not a dead gift that passed away with them in the Old Testament.; Deuteronomy 18:22; Jeremiah 17:16; Exodus 35:34; Mark 4:1; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Acts 21:8 (Philip the evangelist); You'll notice in the King James Version (KJV) that the word "apostle" is always lowercase, except when it refers to Jesus as the Apostle, wherein it is uppercase. If I can recall from my studies, however, there was originally no lower or uppercase in Greek. If so, the capitalization or lowercazation (I know that's not a word, but it is now.) was added later for emphasis.

.Ephesians 4:11-16 | (Nov.6,2011) These positions are supposed to be regarded as temporary functions until 4:13 ("Till we all come in the unity of..."). People in these ministry positions should be trying to work themselves out of a position, not fostering an everlasting dependence upon them by the saints as a means of "job security," for lack of a better word. Our Christian walk is not just a walk around in a circle or aimless, going nowhere. This is the place we are walking to. This tells us the reason why we have apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. We are far from where we need to be in this picture painted here from verse 13-16. 1 Corinthians 1:10 ties in with verses 11-16 here.

.Ephesians 4:12 | (Nov.6,2011) 2 Corinthians 12:19; "the work of the ministry" is the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18); Philippians 3:20-21

.Ephesians 4:13 | (Nov.6,2011) 1:18; 1:17; 3:19; 4:7,16 ("measure"); Philippians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9;12:28; Romans 1:1-25; 2 Timothy 3:17; 2 Peter 1:2 ("knowledge"); Philippians 1:27; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 10:14; Hebrews 5:12 through 6:1 (5:12-6:1); Philippians 3:8 ("knowledge of Christ")

.Ephesians 4:14 | (Nov.6,2011) 6:11; Hebrews 13:9; Hosea 12:1; Jude 1:12; James 1:6; Acts 19:27-34 (had these people been following God, and the Word of God and not relying on what a man says, or what they perceive a man is saying, they would not have been deceived); Acts 20:30

.Ephesians 4:15 | (Nov.6,2011) 4:25; Jeremiah 33:15; Colossians 2:19 / Ephesians 2:21 & 4:16; 1 Chronicles 29:11

.Ephesians 4:16 | (Nov.6,2011) 4:7,13 ("measure"); 2:21 ("fitly joined"); 1 Corinthians 1:10; Colossians 3:14; Hebrews 11:40; Proverbs 6:6-7 (Note: With "books" such as Psalms and Proverbs, you may sometimes see them referenced in different ways. For example, Proverbs 6:6-7 could have also been written Proverb 6:6-7. The first way is like saying "The book of Proverbs, Chapter 6, verses 6 through 7, while the second way is like saying "The 6th Proverb, verses 6 through 7." Likewise with Psalms, one may say "Psalms 23" ("The book of Psalms, Chapter 23") for example, or "Psalm 23" ("The 23rd Psalm"). Both ways can be regarded as correct.

.Ephesians 4:17 | (Nov.6,2011) 2:2; 1 Corinthians 9:19;3:20

.Ephesians 4:18 | (Nov.6,2011) Numbers 22:31

.Ephesians 4:19 | (Nov.6,2011) 1 Thessalonians 4:7; Galatians 5:19

.Ephesians 4:20-21 | (Nov.6,2011) 4:13; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 John 2:20,27; Psalm 142:10;

.Ephesians 4:22 | (Nov.6,2011) 2:3; 2 Timothy 2:15; Colossians 3:2,8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:14; 2 Peter 3:11; 2 Peter 1:4; Romans 7:11;

.Ephesians 4:23 | (Nov.6,2011) (It is my understanding that this "spirit" spoken of here is in or part of the mind, or a state of being, Godly or ungodly); Romans 12:2

.Ephesians 4:24 | (Nov.6,2011) 1:4; Romans 5:17-19; Genesis 1:26 "after Our likeness"; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Luke 1:75

.Ephesians 4:25 | (Nov.6,2011) 4:4,15; Hebrews 13:3; Jeremiah 9:5; Zechariah 8:16; Romans 12:5

.Ephesians 4:26 | 4:31; (Nov.6,2011) Psalm 4:4; Anger without sin

.Ephesians 4:28 | (Nov.6,2011) Evidence that the word "let" does not simply mean "allow" (passively), but requires one to take action perhaps.; Psalm 62:10; A pickwit (learned word in a dream) is someone highly skilled with his/her hands.

.Ephesians 4:29 | (Nov.6,2011) 5:19; Don't speak with corrupt communication.; Romans 3:13-14; 2 Corinthians 12:19

.Ephesians 4:30 | (Nov.6,2011) 1:13,7; Luke 21:28;

.Ephesians 4:31 | (Nov.6,2011) 4:26; 1 Peter 2:1

.Ephesians 4:32 | Matthew 6:14-15 is a very important scripture, one of the most important you'll read in your life. I would say that this is THE most important scripture in the Bible, but just as Jesus couldn't say there was only one most important commandment, I can't say there's only one most important scripture.
(Nov.6,2011) Colossians 3:12; Titus 3:4; 2 Peter 1:7

Day 186: Job 30-31; Ephesians 5

.Ephesians 5:3 | This verse says "let it not once be named among you," letting us know that we are supposed to be living on another level now that we in Christ are saints. It's tempting to say, "oh, well just one time won't hurt." I'm not saying you can't ever have done anything wrong, but we are not supposed to be living weak lives, ignoring the power of God and The Spirit within us. I know I say "don't do it," but there's conditioning involved as well. We must condition ourselves to live this life. Just like our flesh needs to eat everyday, our spirit needs to eat all day everyday.

.Ephesians 5:4 | I just wanted to point out here, that it says jesting. Jesting is pretty much making fun of people. It may be fun for the moment, but its this is the opposite of love. It tears people down. God has spoken on this issue. You should also know that in 1 Cor 6:9 it says revilers will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Essentially, revilers are those who verbally abuse others.

.Ephesians 5:5 | A whoremonger is a whore, or as we say today, a ho. There will be no hoes in heaven, neither covetous, idolators (idolatry), or unclean person. This is in line with 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.

.Ephesians 5:8 | He doesn't seem to be simply saying, "they were completely in darkness." He says they were "sometimes" darkness, which of course says that sometimes they weren't darkness. This is apparently why he's telling them things like "let it not once be named among you." When we do things we are not supposed to do, we often say we made mistakes. Mistakes are pretty rare, and it's even more rare that the same mistake is ever made twice. What we usually do is make bad choices, and we do so purposely, because we want to. We may underestimate the consequences or convince ourselves that we can escape the consequences or weren't aware of them, but we usually know when we're doing something we're not supposed to do. The end of this verse, even tells us to walk as children of light. To say "walk" is a little more than saying "live" (live as children of light), because walking is an activity, not simply just a state of being. And verse 9 tells us why.

.Ephesians 5:9 | Remember what we talked about a few days ago in Galatians 5 about the fruit of the spirit and works of the flesh. If your fruit is not looking right... (Very Important: If you missed these notes earlier about Galatians 5:19-23, click here to read these notes for Day 180.)

.Ephesians 5:11 | Again, this makes reference back to Galatians 5:19 and those works of darkness (works of the flesh). You should have these memorized. Okay now, Paul says here to "reprove" those works. Reproof (reprove) means to express blame, to charge with a fault, to express disproval of, etc. I would like to have had this scripture in mind when I wrote on Gal. 5, but I did mention this very thing there though. So When you look and see your fruit is not looking too good, you know you can blame those things, and you should disapprove of those things as well and put them away from you. Have no fellowship with those things. And as I'm writing this to you, I'm learning with you, and writing these things to myself as well. Some of the days I missed posting Bible notes are because I, at times, had fellowship with unfruitful works. I've talked to God about it and repented, but let me say to you, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Ephesians 5:12... wait Ephesians 5:12 / Galatians 5 (maybe there's a Christian version of pleading the 5th). Now before I get too specific, can I plead the 5th chapter right here? Thanks! I knew you'd understand.
It just occurred to me... If I remember correctly from my childhood studies, fruit does not grow in the dark (not good fruit, at least). When a tree has good fruit, it's evidence that that tree has lived in the light. Therefore, as Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, "ye shall know them by their fruits," and that "every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire" (Matt 7:19), and then again He says "by their fruits ye shall know them."

.Ephesians 5:14 | In Matthew 8:22, Jesus says to his new disciples "Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead." Remember back in Eph 2:5, Paul says that God "even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)." This leads us to believe that he is not exactly talking about a physical death, but a spiritual. The reason I say "not exactly" is because a spiritual death is also a physical death, or at least leading one on a path to a physical death and eternal death (damnation). This is what you see when you see a person being baptized. You see this awakening or resurrection from death unto life.

.Ephesians 5:18 | The wording of this tells us that when a person is drunk, they do not have the filling of the Holy Spirit. It's my understanding that when you see a drunk man, you are seeing a man with the Holy Spirit any godly influence flushed out of him, which is probably why there are so many behavioral problems with drunk people. Also remember 1 Corinthians 6:10.

.Ephesians 5:20 | In Philippians 4:6, Paul instructs to include thanksgiving with our prayer and supplication.

.Ephesians 5:25 | One of the ways Christ loved the church was to live sinless for 33 years, denying His flesh and its desires or temptations. The following verses address this more.

.Ephesians 5:30 | We are members of the body of Jesus Christ. Just as Eve lived in Adam before she was taken out from him (his rib), so do we live in Jesus Christ and make up His body here on earth. We, through this, are also members one of another. In Ephesians 1:22-23, Paul testifies also that the church is the body of Christ. Therefore, we are the church, and members of the church. There are some now who, without scripture reference, claim that you must be a member of a local church house in order to be considered a legitimate Christian. But I say, as the Bible says, you must be a member of the body of Christ, which is the church. Joining a local church (however you do that) may benefit you in many ways, and I wouldn't say it's a bad thing at all, but is not a biblical requirement for the Christian, as long as we do still come together in fellowship and live that which is stated in Ephesians 4:16. What I'm telling you is that if you meet a brother or sister in Christ that is not a member of local church, do not exclude them; do not forsake their fellowship; and do not assume that they are lost, disobedient, or not a member of the church (the body of Christ). I know what many of you have been taught, but let us regard the word of God more than the word of man. And where the two conflict, let God be true but every man a liar (Romans 3:4).

.Ephesians 5:30-32 | This very thing is mentioned by Adam in Genesis 2:23-24. It would make sense that verse 24 wasn't speaking of Adam, but of Christ. It starts with the word "therefore." Also, Adam had no mother to leave. Jesus did. Jesus also had a Father to leave as well. His leaving the Father may be reference to Him coming down to earth and/or taking on our sins and dying as a sinner.

Day 187: Job 32-33; Ephesians 6

.Job 32:6-11 | I need to memorize this scripture, so I can recite it to all of the people who look at me strange and ask me how old I am, as to say "you're too young to tell me anything about life." I was only about 3 years old when I went and stood before my mother and asked her one simple question, "who are you living for?" and when she replied "I don't know, who am I supposed to be living for?" I said "the Lord" and went back outside to continue playing in the dirt. It wasn't my age or anything I'd learned over the years or even in school (I wasn't in school), but as Elihu says in Job 32:8, there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." I've known many 8 year old poets and writers who speak with more wisdom than some people in their 50's, 60's and 70's. This also goes with what's said in 1 Peter 4:11 that "...if a man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ." To state it another way, although man may be ordained through another man or get a theology degree from a school or ministers training course, or whatever, it's God who gives man the ability to minister in the first place, should we ever get it confused. I've seen the glory given to schools and to other men, saying "look at the ministers we've produced." But enough said about that issue.

.Ephesians 6:2-3 | Exodus 20:12. This says honour them. It doesn't say do everything they tell you to do and believe everything they tell you to believe. And true, there is another scripture that says for children to obey their parents in the lord. I believe that was speaking to children, and may not apply to when parents outside of the Lord tell their children to do things that are not right.

.Ephesians 6:11 | Paul, in Romans 13:12, says let's cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light, which goes with yesterday's scripture Eph 5, and Galatians 5:19-23 a few days before. Also regard Ephesians 4:14 about the wiles of the devil.

.Ephesians 6:12 | Paul speaks about this in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4. In Ephesians 3:10 he mentions that there are also, of course, principalities and powers in heavenly places. Again, read thoroughly and see that this verse (12) does not say "rulers of this world," it says "rulers of the darkness of this world..." Satan and his demons are not the rulers of this world, although they may be rulers of the darkness, but even them and the darkness are subject to God's rulership.

.Ephesians 6:13 | Instead of writing it out again, especially since I'm short on time at the moment, Let me point to what I've already written on this site regarding the whole armour of God. Go to the Basic Training page of this website and read and scroll down or click on the links called "The Whole Armour of God." This is essentially why this site was created. If I didn't mention it there, "having done all, to stand" indicates that we have to do some things on our part in order to stand, not just sit back and expect God to do all the work. (I just now updated an error I had written there about not having back armour. I said there was no case where anyone in an honorable act ran from the enemy, but I forgot about Joseph who ran from Pharaoh's wife when she tried to force him to "lay" with her. The Bible does tell us in 1 Cor 6:9 to "flee fornication," so there are some things we are not supposed to try to stand and battle with or rely on armour. We dealt with this situation about Joseph and fleeing fornication on Day 16 bible notes.)
(May.5.2014) Isaiah 59:17 specifically mentions certain elements of the armour of God.
This verse ends saying "having done all, to stand." I'd like to point out that standing is not passive, as we see in Esther 8:11 when they are told to stand for their life, or in other words, to fight for their life. Now, we have a term called "standing your ground," and it, by no means, means being passive. Do not picture a person standing at a bus stop; it is not speaking of standing around, but standing firm, not being moved, taking a stand, standing for truth and righteousness.

.Ephesians 6:14 | Isaiah 59:17 speaks of the breastplate of righteousness. When you walk as a Christian, you'll notice that the first thing your enemy is going to do is point out where you're not living a righteous life according to the scripture you claim to live by. He's aiming for your chest, but your righteousness is a protection from this to the point where they cannot find an opening to strike you at, like with Jesus, they couldn't find anything to accuse him of, so they had to resort to lying on him. This is echoed well in Titus 2:7-8, so make sure you read that as well.
(May.5.2014)
Breastplate is a gift (Exodus 28:4,15)
Psalms 71:2; 132:9
Romans 4:6; 5:17-19; 10:3
Philippians 1:11
1 Samuel 12:3-5
1 John 3:7
1 Peter 2:12; 3:16
Having your loins girded/girt (Exodus 12:11)
Looking at Proverbs 3:1-4, perhaps the apostles and saints live by different rules, because many are killed for keeping God's commandments and following Christ. Our hearts keeping His commandments is part of the breastplate of righteousness, and like the breastplate in the Old Testament, it too is a gift, as said in Philippians 2:13 (God works on the inside of us so that we will want to do what pleases Him and then actually do what pleases Him). Perhaps things have also changed from what is said in verse 4 also, although it does still seem to stand, both in the scriptures and now, although now reviled and persecuted at the same time. As Jesus prophesied in Matthew 5:11, "blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." It can only be "falsely" that they say all manner of evil against us if we have on the breastplate of righteousness. We have found favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man, but there are also now sharp divisions between those who desire to follow God's commandments and those who are against them. Seeing this, we must remember that Jesus also said that He came to bring a sword, not peace. What a sword does is cause division. It divides one thing from another. Verse 17 here in Ephesians identifies the sword of the spirit as being the word of God. And as we see in Hebrews 4:12, it has the ultimate preciseness when dividing one thing from another, even cutting precisely along the ultra fine lines of the intentions of the heart, although this line often seems blurred and abstract to you and I without the Word of God. The breastplate of righteousness is needed for protection when there is division between the bad and the good, and the bad take aim at the chest of the good to try to destroy them. It will then only be by God's allowing that they are ever successful in destroying any, and not because the saints left their chest unprotected by not having on righteousness.
Christ is our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30)

.Ephesians 6:15 | Jeremiah 2:25 says "withhold thy foot from being unshod." Shod may essentially mean having on shoes, or having your foot wrapped in protection. (May.5.2014) Exodus 12:11 speaks of having shoes on your feet (feet shod).

.Ephesians 6:16 | Proverbs 30:5 speaks of God's word being a shield to them that put their trust in Him. This trust in Him would be their faith, as it's called here "the shield of faith."

.Ephesians 6:17 | Isaiah 59:17 speaks of the helmet of salvation.

.Ephesians 6:19 | Ephesians 3:4-5 mentions how this is the work of apostles and prophets.

.Ephesians 6:20 | 3:1; 1 Corinthians 9:19;

Day 188: Job 34-35; Philippians 1

.Philippians 1:8 | "For God is my record" - You'll have to go to the King James Version of the Bible for this part because I believe almost all of the other versions have deleted or removed a large portion of the scriptures I'm about to reference. 1 John 5:7 says For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." Verse 8 says "And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." So we see that when he says God is his record right here, he's speaking of his record in heaven, sort of like the idea of the Lamb's Book of Life that I pray has your name in it. In fact, he could be referring to that as well. There is a difference between bearing record, and bearing witness.

.Philippians 1:15 | Notice the terms "envy and strife" are mentioned here. These were also named among the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:20-21.

.Philippians 1:15-18 | We'd be wise to look at our world around us now and see what happens when there's a famous person. Everyone talks about them and writes about them to get their own little piece of the spotlight, or because they know that people's hearts are tied to that person or people in some way. So you can bet that there were others who preached about Christ or even wrote about him, who didn't have His interest in mind and weren't even followers of Him. Tabloids are nothing new either, whether verbal or written. And it's also wise to remember that Jesus was lied on when they couldn't find anything true to convict Him of. Some of you know how that feels. So we have to realize that we can't give ear to everything we hear with the mention of Jesus' name, no matter how old or new it may be. And we can't just trust everything someone pushes our way just because someone says "scholars agree on this." Perhaps it's something you can judge by looking at the fruit of it, whether it's good or not. However, in this scripture, Paul is rejoicing either way because he realizes that either way someone talks about Jesus, they're still talking about Him, and the awareness is getting out about Him, thus people will not be able to say they never heard of Him. Jesus did not become so popular just because everybody said good things about Him.

.Philippians 1:21-25 | There is a simple understanding here. Heaven is better than this wretched place we live in, both in our time and in Paul's time. He's simply saying that if he dies, he's going to heaven where he will not suffer, be lied on, treated bad, ignored, and locked up. Yet, he realizes that he's needed here on earth to help others, so he endures here for others benefit, just as Jesus endured here through all He went through in order for us to be saved.

.Philippians 1:27 | We must live like our lives will become biblical. In fact, our lives are part of the gospel of Christ as we tell our testimonies of Christ working in and through us as well. The people in the Bible didn't know that their lives would be looked at by all of us and learned from, but just the same, people are looking at your life and learning from you as well, whether you realize it or not.

.Philippians 1:28 | Psalm 27:1-3; 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (That may be the first scripture I ever memorized.)

Day 189: Job 36-37; Philippians 2

.Job 37:25 | Matthew 6:25-34

.Job 37:28 | Hebrews 13:5

.Philippians 2:10-11 | Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:10-11; Romans 10:9

.Philippians 2:13 | Deuteronomy 30:11-14; (May.4.2014) God works on the inside of us so that we will want to do what pleases Him and then actually do what pleases Him.

.Philippians 2:21 | 2 Timothy 4:3

Day 190: Job 38-40; Philippians 3

.Job 38:30 | Numbers 20:8

.Philippians 3:5 | Paul's tribal religious history.

.Philippians 3:8 | Notice that he didn't say that Christ wins him, but that he wins Christ, which I would say also ties in with Phil 3:14 , especially with the use of the word "prize."

.Philippians 3:9 | Galatians 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

.Philippians 3:14 | So what exactly is this mark we are supposed to be pressing toward? I have no reason to doubt that it's ultimately referring to Ephesians 4:13-16. This also speaks about us being one. Some other important scriptures on that are Galatians 3:25-28, John 17:21, Phil. 3:21. Some other verses I'd recommend looking over in regards to Phil 3:14-15 are Colossians 3:14-23 and Ephesians 1:18.

.Philippians 3:15-19 | (Jan.20.2014) 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2:16

Day 191: Job 41-42; Philippians 4

.Job 42:14 | Didn't know this was a Bible name, did you? Think about this story next time you're eating your pancakes.

.Philippians 4:6 | I couldn't wait till we got to this verse. I'd like to have more time at the moment though, but here goes.
"Be careful for nothing..." Okay, I know what some of you are saying. I know some versions say "be anxious for nothing," but I'll tell you why the word anxious doesn't quite fit here. First, ask yourself "what's wrong with the word 'careful?'" That's not a hard word for us to understand, so why has it been changed to a harder word if the claim is that newer translations are supposed to be easier to read? I'll just state plainly that the word "careful" is not the same as "anxious" and you can't use the two interchangeably, and I'll show you why. Careful means just what it sounds like "full of care." I'll give you a few scriptures in a second to show that. But anxious means having anxiety. Sometime during this week, probably today, someone told you "be careful." Do you think they were telling you to be anxious? No, they were telling you to be full of care with where you're going, what you're doing, what you're saying, etc. When's the last time anyone ever told you to be anxious? "Okay now, have anxiety!" I've never heard that. Now, let's look at the word "careful" as used in 2 Kings 4:13 "...Say now to her, Behold, thou has been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee?" This is clearly saying full of care, not anxious. In Luke 10:41 Jesus says "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:" I could almost see the word "anxious" fitting in here perfectly, except for the fact that he says "and troubled." I think anxiety would be included with saying "troubled" so if he was saying "anxious and troubled" it would kind of be redundant, such as saying "frightened and afraid." Being full of care, doesn't mean the same thing as troubled though. However, I wouldn't argue that point very far though it makes sense to me. In 1 Corinthians 7:32 Paul says "But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord." I think this shows the definite link between the word "careful" and "care." Finally, Jeremiah 17:8 says "For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters.... and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." This here in Jeremiah likens a man trusting in the Lord to a tree. This is speaking as if saying the tree is not giving care to the conditions around it and adapting, such as sucking up less water through its roots or producing less fruit to conserve. The word anxious would not fit here. I've never seen an anxious tree though, and I'm not quite sure how anxiety would help a tree.
"...but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." So why should we not be full of care? Because we can pray to God and also ask God for what we need (which is pretty much what supplication means) and we can have faith in Him to take care of us in all ways necessary (Romans 5:1; Matthew 11:24).
So what would it mean for a person to be full of care? and why would that be a bad thing? Acts 19:36 shows us an example. Alexander, who is encouraging people to worship the goddess Diana want them to be careful just as the world wants us to be careful. He wanted them to be quiet and considerate of the fact that these Ephesians worshipped Diana and to pretty much go with the flow (do nothing rashly). In a world that's in a downward spiral and corrupt, you have to have faith in God, walk by that faith, and trusting that if you live in Him by His Spirit, following His word that you will do what is right. Neither should you have so much care for your own life and status in man's eyes that you neglect the truth. If Jesus and His apostles would have been careful, they could have lived and not been killed and crucified for preaching the gospel and speaking the truth, but what good would that have done the world?

.Philippians 4:7 | Romans 5:1; Isaiah 26:3

.Philippians 4:8 | Instead of sitting there thinking about all of the negative things that have or could happen, or how people treat you wrong, unfairly, dirty, or so much around you lacks virtue, think about these other things. So often, we miss the blessings and greatness all around us because we're so busy focusing on the negative things.

.Philippians 4:9 | Romans 8:9. Also, know that there is no peace with the wicked (Isaiah 48:22).

.Philippians 4:13 | Luke 1:37; Matthew 19:26

.Philippians 4:15 | 2 Corinthians 9:7; they likely didn't communicate with Paul concerning giving and receiving because he was not preaching in favor of tithing. You can bet, that just like now (with this new age version of tithing man has concocted), there were many people also who didn't want to give up the tithing system, because it may have been profitable for them. It's possible the word "communication" would have a slightly different meaning than "speaking with," seeing how it's used in verse 14, but the point here would still be the same. Also notice that in 2 Corinth 9:7, although many preachers preach this verse in reference to your tithing, this scripture and surrounding scriptures don't say anything about tithing. It speaks of "giving." You've given someone something before, right? You've given someone money before too, whether you decided to give them a penny, nickel, dime, dollar, $100 or $1000.

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