Your Ministry

Your Ministry

Armor of the Prince of Peace Vol. 1

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Bill Campbell

Publisher

Your Ministry

Armor of the Prince of Peace

(Vol.1)

ISBN 978-0-987927-3-6

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012-04 Bill Campbell

For more information contact:

http://www.BillCampbellCanada.com

Vancouver, British Columbia

Canada

Copyright

All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. No part of this book may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

Contents

1. The Presentation 2. The Living 3. The Citizen 4. The Understanding

5. The Control 6. The Message 7. The Truth 8. The Knowledge

To All Believers

You are important !

This book, Your Ministry, opens with parts of the apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus … in which he addresses the various ministries of the believer along with the Spiritual armor that God has provided for each of us.

Every person in the Kingdom of God has a unique purpose from God, … and unique protection from God.

You will soon discover the Spiritual life that He has called you to. For this is your true eternal destiny. - Bill C.

Your Ministry

and Discovering Spiritual Armor

Chapter One

The Presentation

"I beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation … wherewith you are called, ... endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit. There is one body, one Spirit, ... one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

He gave some apostles, ... some evangelists, ... some pastors, and some teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, ... for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, from whom the whole body fitly joined together according to the effectual working in the measure of every part ... makes an increase of the body ... unto the edifying of itself.

Walk not as others, in the vanity of their mind, having their understanding darkened, ... being alienated from the life of God ... because of the blindness of their heart. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man for we are members one of another. Be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Be filled with the Spirit.

Finally, ... be strong in the Lord, in the Power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, ... against the rulers of the darkness of this world, ... against spiritual wickedness in high places." - Ephesians chs.4,5,6

Armor and ministry are closely associated, and are for protection, and identity. And normally there are other people involved too, ... to create an army that has ability

This is not a selfish concept, (solely for the protection of one’s self), but rather on the contrary, it usually represents the strength, and warfare, … of some great Kingdom.

Learning about Warfare

Armor has always been adapted to its time, and place of struggle. Let's face it, it's not armor unless it is contemporary, and useful in its protection, … and ability.

So, let's see the bigger picture, and put armor where it belongs, on the warring soldier, in the midst of battle, serving a Kingdom, ... along with other soldiers.

There are some things that will destroy a Kingdom, and an army, even if it has the best of armor, and I want to talk to you about this before we introduce the armor, and ministry.

Jesus said ...

Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house, ... falls. - St. Luke 11:17

There are so many dangers that an army faces internally that need to be talked about in order to maintain safety, strength, and unity; that to address the issue of armor would almost be futile without some attention given. After all, what good is armor ... if an army is self-destructing ?

Almost everything that the Apostle Paul talked about in his letter to the Christians at Ephesus, prior to talking about armor, ... was his concern for the morale, the readiness, and the steadfastness of the group.

So, first we must understand that we are referring to a Spiritually equipped group: for that's what God's army is. Opinion, experience, education, social influence, age, or any other carnal attribute, is not what this book is about.

When we are prepared to desolate our opinion so that we might receive from the Spirit, ... there will be no arguing. When we are prepared to desolate our fear so that we can receive from the Spirit, ... faith will arise.

When a group lets carnal opinion move amongst its ranks confusion will enter, and dissent and arguing will result. Or (just as devastating) toleration and political correctness: ... all the while ignoring the Spiritual insight, and ability, that is so crucial to functioning in the Kingdom of God.

Deceit, jealousy, competition, and self-promotion, all serve to destroy confidence, and stir up strife.

Lean not unto your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; ... fear the Lord ... - Proverbs 3:5-7

....

"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

But, if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, ... and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." - 1 John 1:5-7 (see also: Acts 2:38)

If the group that you are in ... is not walking in the light, either you have to introduce them to the Kingdom of God, or find fellowship where people are walking in the light. After all, when we meet, it is about … fellowship in the light.

The Group

We have seen nice groups; and we have seen groups that are on an agenda …that hate all types of sin. They hate, and they tear down. Being full of idealism, and all kinds of idiosyncrasies, they are wise in their own conceits. There is a people that have taken this extreme position … even to a prideful hatred.

The first group is nice; and everybody works together, and nobody has anything bad to say. We have even taken for granted that when we see a crowd all doing the same thing … that it is Spiritual. But, don't let this become an expectation. To play follow the leader isn't necessarily spiritual. Unity isn't necessarily Spiritual.

Have you ever been to a sports event where the crowd erupts into applause; or even does the wave from one side of the grandstand to the other ? To get caught up in this activity is not Spiritual; ... it's just an event.

When God's army moves together in Spirit a variety of color will be expressed. The intricate unique expression will enrich the Body, and declare God's majesty. It's like the army that the prophet Joel saw. (Joel ch.2) Or, the one that Peter, and the apostle Paul, saw. (Acts 2:16, 1 Corinthians chs.12,14) It's this eternal army that we will talk about as we move through this book.

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Jesus and John the Baptist

2 Part Gospel

Understanding the Background (how it started)

Within the period of several months God was bringing forth two babies ... that were to fulfill the Spirit Word which had been prophesied years before. We would be introduced to John (the Baptist), and Jesus (the Christ). Each was to play an important role in the introduction of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

John's message was the call to preparation, repentance, and cleansing. (water baptism) (Luke 1:16,17,76-80, Matthew 3:1-6,8, Mark 1:2-4, and John 1:15-36, ch.3:22-36)

Jesus' message was the reconciliation of people to God. He would baptize them with God's Spirit, and they would walk in fellowship with God. (known later as the Promise of the Father, the abiding presence of His Spirit - St. John chs.14,15,16) (Luke 1:32,33, and ch.2:32-35, ch.3:16,17, ch.4:18-21, Mark 1:8, Matthew 1:21, ch.3:11,12, and ch.4:17, and St. John 1:1-18, ch.3:1-23)

This background won't change. This is the fulfillment of the old prophecies, as they are recorded in the writings.

Understanding (the message)

Why was Jesus … baptized by John the Baptist ? What was he doing ? Washing away sin ? (St. Matthew 3:6) Cleansing ?

What was John's message ? Repentance ?

Why was Jesus there ? What happened to him when he was baptized ? (St. Matthew 3:16,17)

If we were to read Peter's answer to the crowd on the Day of Pentecost, when asked what must we do?, we would see a similar picture. (look at the similarity)

Jesus, when he was baptized …

"Then came Jesus unto John, to be baptized of him.

Jesus, answering him said, it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." - St. Matthew 3:13-17

Peter, when asked the question, Men, and brethren, What shall we do ?

"Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

What we see is a systematic two-fold message. We see the requirement on behalf of the individual; and the blessing on behalf of God. (let me give you another two examples)

Again, Peter preaching to the Gentiles at the house of Cornelius, when the gift of the Holy Ghost was suddenly poured out upon them …

Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we ? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. - Acts 10:44-47

And, Paul, as he was traveling, came across some folks who had been baptized in water; but not yet of the Holy Ghost. They knew the repentance part; but they didn't know about the promise of the Holy Ghost.

And when Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; ... and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied. - Acts 19:3-6

As we see in the gospel of John (St.