{"id":45989,"date":"2021-04-18T21:00:54","date_gmt":"2021-04-18T18:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=45989"},"modified":"2025-05-16T16:06:52","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T13:06:52","slug":"we-are-protected-by-the-power-of-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/04\/18\/we-are-protected-by-the-power-of-god\/","title":{"rendered":"WE ARE PROTECTED BY THE POWER OF GOD"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Blessed <\/span>be <\/span>the <\/span>name <\/span>of <\/span>our <\/span>Lord <\/span>and <\/span>Savior <\/span>Jesus <\/span>Christ!<\/span><\/strong>
Welcome <\/span>to <\/span>this <\/span>Bible <\/span>study\u2014<\/span>a <\/span>reflection <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>living <\/span>and <\/span>powerful <\/span>Word <\/span>of <\/span>God <\/span>that <\/span>brings <\/span>life, <\/span>light, <\/span>and <\/span>strength <\/span>to <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>believe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sealed <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>Day <\/span>of <\/span>Redemption<\/span><\/h3>\n

When <\/span>we <\/span>believe <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>Lord <\/span>Jesus <\/span>Christ, <\/span>are <\/span>baptized, <\/span>and <\/span>receive <\/span>the <\/span>gift <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Holy <\/span>Spirit, <\/span>the <\/span>Bible <\/span>tells <\/span>us <\/span>that <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>sealed<\/span><\/em> by <\/span>the <\/span>Spirit <\/span>of <\/span>God <\/span>until <\/span>the <\/span>day <\/span>of <\/span>redemption.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ephesians <\/span>4:<\/span>30 (<\/span>ESV)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201c<\/span>And <\/span>do <\/span>not <\/span>grieve <\/span>the <\/span>Holy <\/span>Spirit <\/span>of <\/span>God, <\/span>by <\/span>whom <\/span>you <\/span>were <\/span>sealed <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>day <\/span>of <\/span>redemption.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This \u201c<\/span>day <\/span>of <\/span>redemption\u201d <\/span>refers <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>future <\/span>redemption <\/span>of <\/span>our <\/span>bodies<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>which <\/span>will <\/span>take <\/span>place <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>return <\/span>of <\/span>Christ. <\/span>On <\/span>that <\/span>day\u2014<\/span>often <\/span>called <\/span>the <\/span>rapture<\/span><\/em>\u2014<\/span>our <\/span>mortal <\/span>bodies <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>transformed <\/span>into <\/span>glorious, <\/span>incorruptible <\/span>bodies. <\/span>This <\/span>transformation <\/span>will <\/span>occur <\/span>in <\/span>an <\/span>instant, <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>sounding <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>last <\/span>trumpet.<\/span><\/p>\n

1 <\/span>Corinthians <\/span>15:<\/span>52\u2013<\/span>54 (<\/span>ESV)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201c<\/span>In <\/span>a <\/span>moment, <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>twinkling <\/span>of <\/span>an <\/span>eye, <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>last <\/span>trumpet. <\/span>For <\/span>the <\/span>trumpet <\/span>will <\/span>sound, <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>dead <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>raised <\/span>imperishable, <\/span>and <\/span>we <\/span>shall <\/span>be <\/span>changed… <\/span>then <\/span>shall <\/span>come <\/span>to <\/span>pass <\/span>the <\/span>saying <\/span>that <\/span>is <\/span>written: \u2018<\/span>Death <\/span>is <\/span>swallowed <\/span>up <\/span>in <\/span>victory.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

So <\/span>then, <\/span>salvation <\/span>happens <\/span>in <\/span>stages:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    The <\/span>Redemption <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Spirit<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 <\/span>This <\/span>happens <\/span>when <\/span>we <\/span>receive <\/span>Christ <\/span>as <\/span>Lord, <\/span>are <\/span>baptized, <\/span>and <\/span>are <\/span>filled <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>Holy <\/span>Spirit. <\/span>Our <\/span>spirit <\/span>is <\/span>made <\/span>alive <\/span>in <\/span>Christ, <\/span>forgiven, <\/span>and <\/span>secure.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    The <\/span>Redemption <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Body<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 <\/span>This <\/span>will <\/span>happen <\/span>when <\/span>Christ <\/span>returns <\/span>and <\/span>gives <\/span>us <\/span>new, <\/span>glorified <\/span>bodies.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Though <\/span>our <\/span>spirits <\/span>have <\/span>been <\/span>redeemed, <\/span>we <\/span>still <\/span>live <\/span>in <\/span>mortal <\/span>bodies <\/span>that <\/span>experience <\/span>pain, <\/span>sickness, <\/span>and <\/span>weakness. <\/span>That\u2019s <\/span>why <\/span>even <\/span>believers <\/span>sometimes <\/span>suffer, <\/span>become <\/span>ill, <\/span>or <\/span>endure <\/span>hardship. <\/span>These <\/span>are <\/span>not <\/span>signs <\/span>of <\/span>spiritual <\/span>failure <\/span>but <\/span>reminders <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>full <\/span>redemption <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>body <\/span>is <\/span>yet <\/span>to <\/span>come.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Romans <\/span>8:<\/span>23 (<\/span>ESV)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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    \u201c<\/span>And <\/span>not <\/span>only <\/span>the <\/span>creation, <\/span>but <\/span>we <\/span>ourselves, <\/span>who <\/span>have <\/span>the <\/span>firstfruits <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Spirit, <\/span>groan <\/span>inwardly <\/span>as <\/span>we <\/span>wait <\/span>eagerly <\/span>for <\/span>adoption <\/span>as <\/span>sons, <\/span>the <\/span>redemption <\/span>of <\/span>our <\/span>bodies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    Kept <\/span>by <\/span>the <\/span>Power <\/span>of <\/span>God<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Until <\/span>that <\/span>final <\/span>day, <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>are <\/span>in <\/span>Christ <\/span>are <\/span>kept<\/span><\/strong> and <\/span>guarded<\/span><\/strong> by <\/span>the <\/span>power <\/span>of <\/span>God <\/span>through <\/span>faith.<\/span><\/p>\n

    1 <\/span>Peter <\/span>1:<\/span>5 (<\/span>ESV)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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    \u201c…<\/span>who <\/span>by <\/span>God’s <\/span>power <\/span>are <\/span>being <\/span>guarded <\/span>through <\/span>faith <\/span>for <\/span>a <\/span>salvation <\/span>ready <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>revealed <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>last <\/span>time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    This <\/span>means <\/span>that <\/span>once <\/span>we\u2019ve <\/span>received <\/span>salvation <\/span>through <\/span>faith <\/span>in <\/span>Christ, <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>power <\/span>begins <\/span>to <\/span>work <\/span>in <\/span>us\u2014<\/span>not <\/span>only <\/span>to <\/span>protect <\/span>us, <\/span>but <\/span>to <\/span>strengthen <\/span>and <\/span>sustain <\/span>us <\/span>through <\/span>life\u2019s <\/span>challenges. <\/span>Every <\/span>trial, <\/span>temptation, <\/span>or <\/span>hardship <\/span>is <\/span>allowed <\/span>by <\/span>God <\/span>with <\/span>a <\/span>purpose\u2014<\/span>to <\/span>refine <\/span>our <\/span>faith <\/span>and <\/span>shape <\/span>our <\/span>character.<\/span><\/p>\n

    James <\/span>1:<\/span>2\u2013<\/span>3 (<\/span>ESV)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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    \u201c<\/span>Count <\/span>it <\/span>all <\/span>joy, <\/span>my <\/span>brothers, <\/span>when <\/span>you <\/span>meet <\/span>trials <\/span>of <\/span>various <\/span>kinds, <\/span>for <\/span>you <\/span>know <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>testing <\/span>of <\/span>your <\/span>faith <\/span>produces <\/span>steadfastness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    These <\/span>are <\/span>no <\/span>longer <\/span>destructive <\/span>trials <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>enemy <\/span>meant <\/span>to <\/span>destroy <\/span>us. <\/span>Instead, <\/span>they <\/span>are <\/span>God-<\/span>permitted <\/span>tests<\/span><\/strong> designed <\/span>to <\/span>grow <\/span>us.<\/span><\/p>\n

    However, <\/span>if <\/span>a <\/span>person <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>yet <\/span>in <\/span>Christ\u2014<\/span>that <\/span>is, <\/span>has <\/span>not <\/span>believed <\/span>in <\/span>Jesus, <\/span>been <\/span>baptized, <\/span>and <\/span>received <\/span>the <\/span>Holy <\/span>Spirit\u2014<\/span>then <\/span>their <\/span>struggles <\/span>and <\/span>sufferings <\/span>are <\/span>not <\/span>redemptive <\/span>in <\/span>nature. <\/span>The <\/span>enemy <\/span>uses <\/span>them <\/span>to <\/span>steal, <\/span>kill, <\/span>and <\/span>destroy (<\/span>John <\/span>10:<\/span>10). <\/span>Such <\/span>people <\/span>are <\/span>outside <\/span>the <\/span>covering <\/span>of <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>protective <\/span>power.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Only <\/span>by <\/span>coming <\/span>into <\/span>Christ <\/span>can <\/span>we <\/span>escape <\/span>the <\/span>destructive <\/span>schemes <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>enemy <\/span>and <\/span>come <\/span>under <\/span>the <\/span>saving <\/span>power <\/span>of <\/span>God.<\/span><\/p>\n

    How <\/span>to <\/span>Come <\/span>Under <\/span>the <\/span>Power <\/span>of <\/span>God<\/span><\/h3>\n

    This <\/span>protective <\/span>power <\/span>of <\/span>God <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>obtained <\/span>through <\/span>someone <\/span>laying <\/span>hands <\/span>on <\/span>you <\/span>or <\/span>praying <\/span>over <\/span>you. <\/span>It <\/span>comes <\/span>through <\/span>believing <\/span>the <\/span>gospel<\/span><\/strong>\u2014<\/span>the <\/span>message <\/span>of <\/span>Jesus <\/span>Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

    You <\/span>must <\/span>believe:<\/span><\/p>\n

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    • \n

      That <\/span>Jesus <\/span>Christ <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>Son <\/span>of <\/span>God.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      That <\/span>He <\/span>was <\/span>born <\/span>of <\/span>a <\/span>virgin <\/span>over <\/span>2,000 <\/span>years <\/span>ago.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      That <\/span>He <\/span>died <\/span>for <\/span>your <\/span>sins, <\/span>was <\/span>buried, <\/span>and <\/span>rose <\/span>again <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>third <\/span>day.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      That <\/span>He <\/span>now <\/span>lives <\/span>forever, <\/span>seated <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>right <\/span>hand <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Father.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      And <\/span>that <\/span>He <\/span>is <\/span>coming <\/span>again <\/span>to <\/span>receive <\/span>His <\/span>church <\/span>and <\/span>to <\/span>judge <\/span>the <\/span>world.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      John <\/span>14:<\/span>6 (<\/span>ESV)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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      \u201c<\/span>Jesus <\/span>said <\/span>to <\/span>him, \u2018<\/span>I <\/span>am <\/span>the <\/span>way, <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>truth, <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>life. <\/span>No <\/span>one <\/span>comes <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>Father <\/span>except <\/span>through <\/span>me.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      Once <\/span>you <\/span>believe <\/span>this, <\/span>the <\/span>next <\/span>step <\/span>is <\/span>baptism<\/span><\/strong>. <\/span>Jesus <\/span>said:<\/span><\/p>\n

      Mark <\/span>16:<\/span>16 (<\/span>ESV)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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      \u201c<\/span>Whoever <\/span>believes <\/span>and <\/span>is <\/span>baptized <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>saved, <\/span>but <\/span>whoever <\/span>does <\/span>not <\/span>believe <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>condemned.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      Biblical <\/span>baptism <\/span>is <\/span>immersion <\/span>in <\/span>water (<\/span>John <\/span>3:<\/span>23) <\/span>and <\/span>should <\/span>be <\/span>done <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>name <\/span>of <\/span>Jesus <\/span>Christ<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>which <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>name <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Father, <\/span>Son, <\/span>and <\/span>Holy <\/span>Spirit (<\/span>Matthew <\/span>28:<\/span>19; <\/span>Acts <\/span>2:<\/span>38). <\/span>Through <\/span>this, <\/span>you <\/span>identify <\/span>with <\/span>His <\/span>death, <\/span>burial, <\/span>and <\/span>resurrection.<\/span><\/p>\n

      As <\/span>you <\/span>are <\/span>baptized, <\/span>the <\/span>Holy <\/span>Spirit <\/span>will <\/span>either <\/span>come <\/span>upon <\/span>you <\/span>or <\/span>will <\/span>have <\/span>already <\/span>begun <\/span>His <\/span>work <\/span>in <\/span>you. <\/span>He <\/span>will <\/span>guide <\/span>you <\/span>into <\/span>all <\/span>truth <\/span>and <\/span>empower <\/span>you <\/span>to <\/span>walk <\/span>in <\/span>obedience.<\/span><\/p>\n

      From <\/span>that <\/span>point <\/span>forward, <\/span>you <\/span>are <\/span>sealed <\/span>by <\/span>the <\/span>Holy <\/span>Spirit <\/span>and <\/span>kept <\/span>by <\/span>the <\/span>power <\/span>of <\/span>God<\/span><\/strong>. <\/span>Trials <\/span>may <\/span>still <\/span>come, <\/span>but <\/span>they <\/span>are <\/span>now <\/span>opportunities <\/span>to <\/span>grow <\/span>and <\/span>glorify <\/span>God, <\/span>not <\/span>weapons <\/span>to <\/span>destroy <\/span>you. <\/span>And <\/span>through <\/span>every <\/span>season, <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>power <\/span>will <\/span>sustain <\/span>and <\/span>protect <\/span>you\u2014<\/span>until <\/span>the <\/span>day <\/span>your <\/span>body, <\/span>too, <\/span>is <\/span>redeemed.<\/span><\/p>\n

      So <\/span>the <\/span>choice <\/span>is <\/span>yours:<\/span><\/p>\n

      Will <\/span>you <\/span>receive <\/span>Christ, <\/span>walk <\/span>under <\/span>the <\/span>protection <\/span>of <\/span>God’s <\/span>power, <\/span>and <\/span>await <\/span>the <\/span>redemption <\/span>of <\/span>your <\/span>body?<\/span>
      Or <\/span>will <\/span>you <\/span>remain <\/span>outside <\/span>of <\/span>His <\/span>grace, <\/span>vulnerable <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>enemy, <\/span>and <\/span>face <\/span>eternal <\/span>separation?<\/span><\/p>\n

      Today, <\/span>if <\/span>you <\/span>hear <\/span>His <\/span>voice, <\/span>do <\/span>not <\/span>harden <\/span>your <\/span>heart (<\/span>Hebrews <\/span>3:<\/span>15). <\/span>Come <\/span>under <\/span>the <\/span>power <\/span>of <\/span>God.<\/span><\/p>\n

      May <\/span>the <\/span>Lord <\/span>bless <\/span>you <\/span>and <\/span>keep <\/span>you, <\/span>now <\/span>and <\/span>forever.<\/span><\/strong>
      Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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