Let the Beauty of Jesus be Seen in Me (Part 3)
Let the Beauty of Jesus be Seen in Me (Part 2) As followers of Christ whose goal is to radiate the beauty of Jesus, we must be obedient ourselves. Not only is obedience essential to inherit eternal life (Matthew 7:21), it is also necessary to display the beauty of Jesus. Jesus was obedient, so if I am not obedient, I am nothing like Jesus. Therefore, I cannot display His beauty in my life. The point seems simple enough, but why…
3 Things Being a False Witness Can Do
“The ends justify the means” and “A little white lie never hurt anyone” — these two clichés miss the obvious and contradict Almighty God. Proverbs 6:16-19 reveals seven things that the Lord hates. These abominations do not belong in the realm of moral ambiguity, yet man will run to defend them to some degree or another. James warns us about the tongue’s great potential to destroy, and John was told that “all liars” will have their part in the lake…
From the Director’s Desk: Southwest Servants’ Academy
For the last decade, SWSBS has hosted a summer youth training academy. Each year, high school students endure the grind of being full-time students at SWSBS. From 8:30 a.m. chapel to all-day classes, to evening activities, these few days are packed with study, food, fun, and fellowship. Southwest Servants’ Academy (S2A) is a unique summer experience. Different from camps, the focus of S2A is the hour-by-hour classroom instruction similar to our full-time two-year program. We have textual classes on books…
The Sword of the Spirit
There are two opposing forces in this world – God andSatan. As children of God, we are at war with Satan.He is our enemy, and we cannot allow ourselves tobe defeated by him. To help us win this victory, Paul tells usto put on the whole armor of God. Most of the pieces of thisarmor are defensive – that is, they help to protect us whenwe face our enemy. There is, however, an offensive weaponat our disposal: the Sword of…
The Helmet of Salvation
The armor of God, found in Ephesians 6:14-18, is broken down into six distinct pieces of equipment. As a part of this protection, the Helmet of Salvation is given by God to His Christians. How do we put it on, and keep it on? In order to answer these questions, we must first ask why a helmet? The Roman military pragmatically designed their helmets to be easily identifiable, especially in the heat of battle. Also, a Roman soldier was meant…
The Shield of Faith
The Christian’s experience in this life can be pictured by the imagery of a three-fold cord comprised of strands identified as God, the person, and the community (Eccles. 4:9-12). When one becomes a Christian they become one with God and also a part of the body of Christ, which Scripture tells us is the church (Col. 1:24). Since the collective body is comprised of many individuals, it logically follows that the strength of the individual impacts the strength of the…
Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel
Before a soldier would ever lift his sword, he laced his sandals. For him, sure footing could be what turned the tide in the heat of battle. The shoes of the legionnaire did not fight the battle, nor did they have any offensive quality. They burrowed lightly into the dirt and helped the soldier to stand his ground. Paul writes to struggling Christians about their common goal: to win a spiritual war. This passage encourages believers to prepare for constant…
The Breastplate of Righteousness
In the daily spiritual battles we all face, God does not leave His people defenseless. The Apostle Paul urges believers to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11). This armor is essential for every Christian engaged in the good warfare (1 Tim. 1:18). As Paul told Timothy, we must “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,” refusing to become entangled in the affairs…
Girded with Truth
If forced to surrender one piece of armor, many would instinctively protect the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, or the sword of the Spirit. A belt might seem less vital as a disposable article of clothing. Yet Paul lists it as essential armor, underscoring its strategic importance in ancient Roman culture. Without the belt of truth firmly buckled, the other pieces shift and fail under pressure. Paul says we should “Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with…
Influence or Influenced? (Colossians 3:17)
In our world today, it is estimated that roughly 6.5 to 7 billion people own a smartphone. Of those numbers, almost 6 billion people are on social media. Of these billions of users, millions of them are striving to be “influencers.” They make posts and videos trying to convince people how to eat, workout, dress, travel, handle finances, parent, work, practice Christianity, and live their lives. It can be quite overwhelming. The reality is, billions of people are being influenced…
From the Director’s Desk
Have you ever been through events in your life that have changed you? Think about boot camp. A soldier who enters basic training for a military branch will graduate as a different person. The experience with its training, focus, emphasis, discipline, feedback, and arrangement transforms someone from a citizen to a soldier (sailor/airman/ marine/guardsman). There are other transformative experiences in life. Some last days or weeks while others last months or years. After such experiences, one may look back and…
From Slaves to Free
“I think slavery is the next thing to hell.” – Harriet Tubman, 1856 Harriet Tubman was a conductor for the Underground Railroad. She knew the difficulties of escaping slavery; thus, she was likened to Moses. Egypt had enslaved Israel, and during their Exodus, Moses and the Israelites overcame many difficulties. The struggles they faced while escaping Egyptian slavery are notably similar to the struggles Christians face while escaping slavery to sin (John 8:34). Though Pharaoh never stood a chance at…