Category Archives: Protection

Bible, Conviction, Persuasion, Protection, Romans, Scripture

I AM CONVINCED

ROMANS 8:38

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,”

What does it take for you to be persuaded about something? In this day of AI, you have to be careful about what persuades you. What might seem to be true could, in fact, be totally fabricated by the use of AI. I am convinced of a few things. I am convinced that I am sixty-five years old. I am convinced I live in TN. I am convinced I have been serving the Lord since April 1979. Other than that, it’s all up for grabs, lol.

But Paul tells us today that we can be convinced, just as he was, of some things. The word “convinced” is a primary verb used throughout the New Testament for being persuaded about faith. In faith, the Greek word here is peitho which is the root of pistis (faith). HELPS Word-studies says, “The Lord persuades the yielded believer to be confident in His preferred-will (Galatians 5:10; 2 Timothy 1:12).” Are you convinced?

APPLICATION

Paul was a persuader! In Thessalonica, when he preached to the Jews there, some of them believed. Acts 17:4 says, “And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas,…” Why were they convinced? Because Paul taught from the Scriptures how Jesus had to suffer and die and was the long awaited Messiah, the Christ. Then the Holy Spirit did His job and wooed them to the Lord. It is not only up to us. God uses us, but He calls them.

One of my favorite verses that uses peitho is 2 Timothy 1:12. “For this reason I also suffer these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to protect what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” There is even a hymn entitled “I Know Whom I Have Believed.” All four stanzas of that hymn talk about what we do not know. Here is the first one:

“I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me He hath made known,

nor why, unworthy, Christ in love redeemed for His own.”

But then the Chorus burst out:

“But I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able

to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day. “

Praise be to God for the convincing power of the cross and His unfailing love for us. He has convinced me. Has He convinced you?

Lord, I am persuaded. I am convinced that You are able to keep me secure against all that comes against me.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Persecution, Protection, Romans, Scripture, Suffering, Sufficiency, Witness

PERSECUTION

ROMANS 8:36

“Just as it is written: ‘FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE REGARDED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.’”

I receive daily emails from Voice of the Martyrs. The stories they share humble me beyond words. Persecution is real today throughout the world. One report says that 32 Christians are killed every day in Nigeria. Only recently has the U.S. raised complaints to the Nigerian government about this. The government there, of course, denies such killings are taking place.

Paul wrote of such persecutions here in Romans and quoted Psalm 44:22 in today’s verse. The sons of Korah wrote this Psalm to encourage the followers of Jehovah to be brave in the midst of persecution. They tell them in the previous two verses, “20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or extended our hands to a strange god, 21 Would God not find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” God knows when and how we are facing any type of persecution for our faith. Submit to it as a badge of honor.

APPLICATION

Take a minute and examine your walk with Christ. Does it expose you to persecution? Are you fearful of being killed for your faith? I read in a missionary friend’s prayer letter today this request. “As we worship today at the local fellowship. Pray for our brothers and sisters who face incredible persecution. Every day we get new reports of believers being attacked or threatened. Pray they will be strong in the Lord and not in fear. The enemy can’t stop God’s work.” That’s an eyewitness to persecution in an unnamed country.

In the ministry in which I serve (Every Man A Warrior), we hear of our leaders facing similar threats. We have had some of our leaders kidnapped and others interrogated by police. As I sit here in the comfort of my home in TN, I do not face such threats. The worst I would be subject to is perhaps some chiding or rude comments. I encourage you to stand firm in your faith for the cause of Christ.

Pray for your persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. We are told in 1 Peter 5:9-10, “9 So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

Father, I praise You for the persecution You allow in our lives which drives us to our knees in obedience to Your calling. 

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Danger, Protection, Scripture, Sin, Transgressions

GUARDRAILS

ROMANS 4:15

“for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.”

I live in Tennessee and often drive on roads that have guardrails that protect cars from steering into a gulley or drop off. Those guardrails are meant to protect, but you can still go over them if you are driving recklessly or at a high rate of speed. The best guardrails can’t protect you from your own stupidity. Pay attention to them.

Paul points out in today’s verse that the law played the role much like a guardrail. The word translated as “violation” is “parábasis (from pará, ‘contrary’ and bainō, ‘go) – properly, an ‘overstepping’; a deliberate going over ‘the line.’ parábasis  (‘a stepping over the line’) in the NT refers to the willful disregard (breaking) of God’s law which defies His drawn-lines (boundaries); an arrogant ‘over-stepping.’” (HELPS Word-studies)

APPLICATION

That’s the same picture as going over the guardrail. Listen, God gave the law to guide men towards Him, knowing they would buck against it. What happens when you tell a two-year-old not to touch something? He touches it, right? The guardrails of the law pointed us towards God, but since it was given to Moses men have rebelled against it.

Now, you can go over the guardrails accidentally. You may get knocked over by someone else. That’s where my analogy ends. (By the way, no analogy is perfect) But with the law, men have deliberately chosen to jump the rail. They have chosen the pathway of sin. Instead of staying on the road prepared by the Lord, they decide to take the route most traveled by other sinners, one in which there are major potholes and pitfalls.

1 Timothy 6:9 warns us of one particular problem men face. “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction.” The guardrail of reliance on God for our provision instead of chasing wealth is there for a reason. God knows what lies on the other side – ruin and destruction. He is protecting us against such transgressions.

The next time you see a guardrail on the highway, think about this verse and thank God for His guardrails He has given us to walk in. Thank Him for Jesus.

O Father, keep me inside the guardrails and away from danger.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Peace, Promises, Protection, Scripture, Security

ONLY ONE PEACE IS TRULY PEACEFUL

PHILIPPIANS 4:7

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Prepositions, punctuation and conjunctions can dramatically change the meaning of statement. For instance, if I said, “Let’s eat, Grandma,” you would all say that’s great. But if I said, “Let’s eat Grandma,” you might call the police. Right? We sometimes pass right over the little words or characters, but we believe that every “jot and tittle” of God’s Word is from His mouth, do we not?

So, when Paul says in today’s verse, “the peace of God,” we need pause and look at what he said. Of the 1327 times theos (God) is used in the New Testament, 698 of those times it is the genitive, theou (of God). That’s pretty significant, don’t you think. The Word of God seems to point a lot to the things that are of God. Paul knew that only the peace which belonged to (that’s what the genitive means) God can give us peace. Only His peace is will.

APPLICATION

But look at the rest of this verse. This peace is not an idle peace. First of all, it “surpasses all comprehension.” It is incomprehensible. We cannot fathom the depths of God’s peace. We cannot understand why He would give it to us. We do not know how it truly works but can feel it working. Am I right?

Jesus said in John 14:27, “‘Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.” Because He said that, Paul can tell us that it “will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” God’s peace is actively guarding our hearts and minds. Isn’t that awesome?

Our hearts and our minds are guarded by God’s peace. How does He do that? By drawing us close to us. James 4:8 tells us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” What a promise! And if God is near, our hearts and minds are guarded. His Spirit in us works with God’s peace to comfort and protect us. What a marvelous God we have. Amen?

Lord, thank You for Your peace in my life. I could not face a day without it.

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Bible, Defense, Devil, Faith, Protection, Satan, Scripture

OUR FORCE SHIELD

EPHESIANS 6:16

“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.” 

I grew up a Star Trek fan. I mean, come on, what child in the 60’s wasn’t! Each week we would tune in to see what other alien race Captain Kirk, Spok, Scottie and Bones would be battling. The Star Trek Enterprise was equipped with a protective force field which could be used to protect it against the missiles fired from enemy spaceships. Those missiles would bounce off or explode on impact. What a great defense!

As Christians, we have our own force shield called the “shield of faith.” This shield is standard equipped given to each believer at salvation. Unfortunately, too many of us literally let our guard down. Paul tells us why this is dangerous. He says with that shield we “will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” We should never “leave home without it.” Right? Those flaming arrows can come at any time.

APPLICATION

MacLaren’s Expositions talk about these “flaming arrows” and why they are so dangerous to the unshielded believer. “But there are things in us all to which the fiery darts do especially appeal: desires, appetites, passions; or-to use the word which refined people are so afraid of, although the Bible is not, ‘lusts-which war against the soul,’ and which need only a touch of fire to flare up like a tar-barrel, in thick foul smoke darkening the heavens. There are fiery darts that strike these animal natures of ours, and set them all aflame. But, there are other fiery darts than these. There are plenty of other desires in us: wishes, cowardices, weaknesses of all sorts, that, once touched with the devil’s dart, will burn fiercely enough. We all know that.”

Do you have any of those things within your heart? We all have some weakness which we have probably revealed to the evil one. That’s his target. That’s his bullseye. Our defense, however, is our shield of faith. Our faith in Jesus, in His shed blood, quenches any flaming arrow fired against us. We hold that shield up to protect us from this relentless adversary.

And, unlike the Starship Enterprise, our shield is everlasting. It is stronger than any foe. Why? Is it because of our faith? No, it is because of the Faith Giver. He gives us His never ending supply of faith. Paul said it well when he said in Romans 1:17, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.’”

Father God, thank You for giving me the shield of faith to protect myself from the devil’s flaming arrows and accusations.

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Battles, Bible, Protection, Safety, Scripture, Stumbling

STUMBLING BLOCKS

GALATIANS 5:11

“But as for me, brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated.”

I have been having trouble the past few years since I developed neuropathy in my feet. I stumble easily. I have to watch where I step and how fast I walk. The problem is really my toes. They are pretty much numb all the time. It’s hard to balance and not trip when you can’t feel your toes. So, just about any rock or stick that protrudes from the grown can literally be my downfall.

The Greek word for “stumbling block” used in today’s verse by Paul means “the trigger of a trap (the mechanism closing a trap down on the unsuspecting victim)” (HELPS Word-studies). The word is used 15 times in the New Testament in various ways. Let me encourage you to do a word study on the word. The reason Paul uses the word here is to show the Galatians the futility of trying to keep the law. There were those among them who insisted that circumcision be done for all male believers. Paul says emphatically that he did not preach circumcision (no matter what anyone might say) for if he had, there would have been no issue with the Jews and the cross.

APPLICATION

We all have to deal with stumbling blocks in our life, don’t we? Jesus even did. In Matthew 16:22-23, in fact, he calls Peter one. “22 And yet Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You!’ 23 But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s purposes, but men’s.’” Peter was an obstacle for Jesus here. There is no room for stumbling blocks in our lives.

John uses the word in 1 John 2:10. “The one who loves his brother and sister remains in the Light, and there is nothing in him to cause stumbling.” That makes sense, doesn’t it? If you are walking in the light, you are less likely to stumble on something. When we walk in the light of Jesus, those things that try to trip us up are exposed and we can avoid them. Are you walking in the light?

I pray you are not being that stumbling block like Peter was in Matthew 16. We can be you know. We can do or say things that can cause someone to stumble. Don’t do that. Keep your path straight. Keep it free of debris. Don’t let yourself get caught up in something that could cause someone else to fall. Remember, walk in the light!

O Lord, keep me from stumbling or from being a stumbling block.

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Appeasement, Belief, Bible, Eternity, Grace, Justified, Protection, Righteousness, Salvation, Scripture

IF ONE, THEN THE OTHER

GALATIANS 5:4

“You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by the Law; you have fallen from grace.”

If I had a billion dollars, I would give most it away. But since I don’t have a billion dollars, I can’t do that. No one is going to benefit from my imaginary wealth. One can’t happen because the other is not reality. That’s the best I can do to draw a comparison to today’s verse (which could be a confusing one). Let’s look at what Paul is really saying.

Today’s verse is a prime example of why you can’t just read a verse out of context. Taken by itself, you may presume that someone could lose their salvation (fallen from grace). Not so fast. Look at the second phrase (you who…by the Law). Is it possible to be justified by the Law? Of course not. Paul has been preaching that this whole letter. If that is not true, then the last phrase (fallen from grace) is not true either. Paul has never taught that this was possible. We’ll see another passage below that backs that up.

APPLICATION

Look at Romans 3:20. “because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin.” Ever since the Mosaic Law was handed down, man has been trying to keep it. Remember, if they failed in one aspect of the Law, they were considered failed to the whole Law. No one could achieve that – at least no one until Jesus.

A little further down in Romans 3, we read this, “27 Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” You can’t get much clearer than that. Don’t you wish the Galatians had had the letter to the Romans to read? (Romans wasn’t written until several years later.) Aren’t you glad you do?

Bottom line from Paul: You can’t do anything to justify yourself. You can’t keep enough laws. You can’t do enough good. It is only through Jesus that you can be justified. It is His righteousness which gives you access to your salvation and your eternal home. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!

Only through Your Son, Jesus Christ, am I able to be called righteous in Your eyes.

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Allies, Bible, Defense, Guard, Guardian, Protection, Scripture

GUARDIAN

GALATIANS 3:24

“Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.”

When I worked in the Child Welfare field, I often had dealings with people who served as a Guardian-ad-litem (GAL). That person was someone who watched out for the care of a child who had been placed in state custody. They were appointed by the court to ensure that proper placement occurred and, once it did, that the custodian at that site was meeting the social, spiritual, educational and medical needs of the child. Most, if not all, these GALs I met were special people with good hearts.

Paul describes the Law much like a GAL. Its purpose was to direct and care for the people. Its purpose was to try to guard them against getting hurt by giving them clear directions on how to live. But try as it might, the Law could not save them. It was limited. It was powerless to save. It did, however, point to Christ Who can save us.

APPLICATION

The Greek word for guardian is paidagōgos. It’s only used three times in the New Testament (here, in tomorrow’s verse and in 1 Corinthians 4:15). HELPS Word Studies says it “is used of the role of the Law (OT), especially the necessary “letter” (foundation, technicalities) needed to establish the doctrines of salvation, grace, faith, etc.” A guardian is a good thing, even though many people who have one begin to resent it. They want their freedom. Hmmm, that sounds familiar, doesn’t it.

1 Corinthians 4:15 says, “For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.” What was Paul saying here? Guardians are no guarantee of getting things right. You need someone to truly come alongside you and spend time with you. You need someone to serve as your role model.

In my ministry (Every Man A Warrior), we do just that. We get men to spend time with men and be each other’s allies. We need each other. We need others to serve as our guardians, our role models, our defenders and protectors. All of that is for one purpose – to point each other to Christ. Nothing is more important than that. Can you do that for someone?

Father, help me be a good “guardian” for another brother in Christ to help them in their walk with You.

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Allies, Battles, Bible, Crushed, Defeat, Enemies, Fighting, Following, Protection, Scripture

CRUSHED UNDERFOOT

MALACHI 4:3

“‘And you will crush the wicked underfoot, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I am preparing,’ says the LORD of armies.”

Okay, this is going to sound weird, but the instant image I got when I read this verse was someone crushing a lit cigarette with their food on the ground. You’ve probably seen someone do it, too. That lit cigarette is smothered and crushed by the bottom of their shoe. Usually there’s some rubbing also to make sure the fire is out. I know – not a very biblical example, but you get the picture.

The Lord is not crushing cigarettes, but He does say the wicked will be crushed that way by His followers. He will give them the strength and power to smother out the fire of the wicked. They will lose all their strength. “On the day I am preparing” is an unknown day. We can rest, however, in the fact that He is preparing it, so it will be right on time.

APPLICATION

Psalm 68:21 says, “Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.” We have that promise. Just like He promised the children of Israel to crush the wicked, He will crush our enemies today. In Luke 10:19 we are told when Jesus was talking to the seventy-two disciples He had sent out, “‘Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.’”

Now, this is an important point – you have no power to do this on your own. The power, the authority, all comes from Him. He is the one crushing them, not you. So, if we have that power through Him, why do we fear? We have no reason to. He is our strength. It is His heel that crushes them.

The whole time Jesus was on earth Satan was trying to find a way to bring Him down. He even used one of Jesus’ disciples (Judas Iscariot). The devil thought he had won when Jesus was crucified and buried, but his head was crushed by the heel of the Savior on Resurrection Morning. Jesus is just as triumphant today. Trust Him.

O Lord, my God, I praise You for crushing the wicked and my enemies. I have nothing to fear with You so near.

P.S. For my frequent followers, I will be taking a short break when we finish Malachi in three days. I will pick back up on January 1. Pray that the Lord shows me where to go to next in our daily study.

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Allies, Battles, Bible, Defeat, Defense, Deliverance, Demons, Devil, Enemies, Protection, Rescue, Scripture

THE DEVOURER

MALACHI 3:11

“‘Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruit of your ground; nor will the vine in the field prove fruitless to you,’ says the LORD of armies.”

One thing I have learned from ministry is that we are in constant need of protection from those who want to devour, eat up and destroy what we are trying to do for the Lord. The enemy does not want us to be successful in God’s work. He will do anything to destroy it. He will use anything at his disposal. So, I pray for His protection all the time.

In verse 11 of Malachi 3, God promises the people that as a result of their obedience in giving, which have discussed the last couple of days, He will protect them. I love what Matthew Poole says in his commentary about this verse. “The devourer; all kinds of devourers, the locust, the canker-worm, caterpillar, etc., pests of those countries very often; though they are in mighty armies and incredible multitudes, yet a rebuke from God will check them all at once as if they were but one.”

APPLICATION

Did you catch that last phrase in the above paragraph? “yet a rebuke from God will check them all at once as if they were but one.” Even if the devil sends hordes of demons against you, one rebuke of God will send them all scattering. Woo-hoo! Just one little flick of His finger! We have an all-powerful God watching our back. Who ‘ya gonna call? Not Ghost Busters. I am going to call on Jesus.

We are promised God’s protection today just as suredly as the Old Testament believers were. God is still God. He hasn’t changed. He still loves His children. He still gives His protection when needed. He still moves in and destroys those incoming volleys of the devil.

Look at these verses in Psalms 3. “1 LORD, how my enemies have increased! Many are rising up against me. 2 Many are saying of my soul, ‘There is no salvation for him in God.’ Selah 3 But You, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.” As a friend of mine used to say, “If that don’t light your fire, your woods wet.” Glory, Hallelujah! We serve a living Savior.

“I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today; I know that He is living, Whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him He’s always near.”

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