Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 18 (Rollie-Pollie Bug Christians! Part 4: Building A Hedge Against Satan)

By admin On May 20th, 2015

 

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 18

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Rollie-Pollie Bug Christians!

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Part 4:

“Building A Hedge Against Satan”

To read Part 1, click here…September 6th (Rollie-Pollie Bug Christians!)

 

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Are you a Rollie-Pollie Bug Christian?

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Well are you?

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Armadillidium_vulgare_001.jpg

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Are you one of those Christians who respond to all the troubles which assail you, by simply curling up into a little ball, and hiding in God’s Secret Hiding Place?

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Do you sometimes just pull your covers over you and hide yourself in God’s protective shell which He surrounds you with?

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Do you just roll yourself up in a little ball and pray to Him? Do you just close out the world and listen to some quiet music, or maybe a Bible reading?

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Well, if you are one of those types, then you are definitely a Rollie-Pollie Bug Christian! That’s for sure!

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But that’s not necessarily a bad thing! You see, a “Rollie Pollie Bug” is one of those little garden bugs who wears a little coat of armor. And when threatened or attacked, this little bug simply curls up into a little ball, and completely surrounds itself with its coat of armor!

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Photo, above left: Armadillidium vulgare – Pill Bug – cropped – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

Photo, above right: Rollie-Pollie Doodle-Bug – Slater rolled up – cropped – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

 

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BUILDING A HEDGE 

.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Slater_rolled_up_for_wiki.jpg 
Well, this little bug can teach us further lessons, than merely curling up with God during times of trouble.

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You see, most of us Christians are struggling to build a hedge (wall) against the Devil and his evil angels. And the fact is, most of us don’t do so well, a good share of the time, do we?

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Photo, above right: Rollie-Pollie Doodle-Bug – Slater rolled up – cropped – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

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WHAT IS THAT WALL?

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The Bible repeatedly speaks of walls of protection…

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Listen… “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” Proverbs 25:28

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Right here in Proverbs is the key verse to understanding just what God is trying to get us to understand, when He speaks of walls.

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Western Wall 9th Avenue – Stones – Wikipedia – Public domain

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JOB’S HEDGE

.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bonnat02.jpg

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But perhaps, an even more revealing passage is found in the true account of the man, Job…

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Listen… “Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nothing? Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?” Job 1:9, 10

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So here is a very remarkable truth, which should arrest the attention of every child of God who struggles with sin, and suffers the attacks of Satan. A protective wall! What a concept!

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Job (oil on canvas) by Bonnat, Leon Joseph Florentin (1833-1922) – Wikimedia – Public Domain

 

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HOW DO I BUILD A WALL?

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And this raises the question… “How can I have that same impenetrable wall around my own life? How can I have that same hedge which neither Satan, nor his evil cohorts can break through?”

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Well, obviously, the short answer would be, “perfect obedience”.

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The problem with such an answer as “perfect obedience” is, that it seems like a mountain too high to climb!

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Dry stone wall building in South Wales – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License

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FOLLOWING JESUS

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Slater_rolled_up_for_wiki.jpg

So let’s merely ponder for a moment about, “how can I, a weak and stumbling http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABrooklyn_Museum_-_Jesus_Discourses_with_His_Disciples_(J%C3%A9sus_s'entretient_avec_ses_disciples)_-_James_Tissot.jpgChristian, can ever hope to have such a wall of protection around myself?” 

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The very first thing for the Christian to understand is that the Christian life is a journey, and not the destination.

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And just as those first disciples forsook all, to follow Jesus, so too, we Christians today have the very same calling! Jesus calls us to forsake this selfish world and begin to follow Him as disciples! What a wonderful purpose! What a great commission!

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Jesus Discourses with His Disciples – James Tissot – by Brooklyn Museum – by Wikipedia – Public Domain

 

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RE-LEARNING NEW PRINCIPLES

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Now a disciple is merely being, “a student”. Yes, the Christian life is a life of learning. Or rather it is a life of re-learning!

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And let’s face it, we have been reared up in the ways of this Babylonish world! Our hearts have been filled to the brim with the principles of this fallen world! And all around us are those who walk in worldly affections and lusts, and stand in rebellion against the principles of Heaven!

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And so, becoming a disciple of Jesus, is the spiritual journey which we must continue throughout all the days of our life: a quest out of this fallen world, and upward in search of our new Heavenly home!

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US Navy – Chaplain Lt. Jason Gregory reads Bible on weather deck – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

 

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EVEN THE WEAKEST CAN WIN!

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Slater_rolled_up_for_wiki.jpg

Now this journey doesn’t require physical strength or even great mental abilities.

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And we can begin our heavenward ascent wherever we are: in a wheelchair, or hospital bed, or in incarceration.

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Listen…“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

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Quite a promise, wouldn’t you agree?

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ABOVE PICTURE: Prayer – Wherefore He is able to save to the uttermost…” Hebrews 7:25

 

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FORSAKING ALL!

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But it does require a total forsaking of this world. And here is where most people fail. Yes, today’s churches, either by precept and/or by example, fail to encourage this forsaking of “all”.

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And no, to forsake the world does not mean that we quit our job or give away all our belongings. But when the Holy Spirit truly begins to indwell our hearts, the things of the world slowly lose their grip on us.

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It’s like that old song… “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face! And the things of the world will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace!”

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Woman with Bible – Braet von Überfeldt – 1866 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

 

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MEEKNESS OF HEART

.http://www.joyfulheart.com/easter/tissot-passion.htm

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Now as we read about those first disciples, we begin to understand that they were very erring and weak and stumbling.

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But none of them were stubborn nor hard-hearted! Even Peter quickly repented when rebuked by Jesus. And this too, must be our attitude if we expect to continue our heavenward journey. Yes, the Bible presents many new concepts of life.

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And the Christian pilgrim must be willing to accept this new way of living, and not stubbornly refuse to change or try to rationalize our way out of obedience!

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Tissot – The Sorrow of Peter – Joyful Heart.com

 

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BRAND NEW PRINCIPLES!

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For instance, the Bible says… “Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.” Proverbs 4:6

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Yes, here in this opulent and hedonistic society, we have been conditioned to believe that we are to pursue the so-called “Babylonish Dream” of becoming wealthy. And so, this above proverb is not something that comes natural to our thinking.

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And if we truly expect to find peace of God, as well as the protection from the Enemy of Souls, we must begin to hide these many Bible precepts within our heart, that they eventually become the sum and substance of the basic principles of our life!

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Thus, the Christian life begins to become the process of removing those old corrupt principles of the world, and re-filling our minds with these new divine heavenly principles.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Dream Maker of Babylon – Signs Of Heaven.org

 

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JOY IN BECOMING LIKE JESUS!

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And what a joy it is to follow Jesus, as He patiently instructs us, His disciples, in the ways of Heaven! (Of course, such joy in heavenly things is a gift given by the indwelling of God’s Spirit within the heart of every true worshipper)

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And what a wonderful experience it is, when we can begin to live by each and every one of these new Heavenly precepts…

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Listen… “Consider how I love Thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to Thy lovingkindness.” Psalm 119:159

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Yes, the Spirit which now indwells our heart gives us joy in such obedience!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“WITH ALL THINE HEART”

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“And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

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But those who do not yet have this joy must begin to seek after this priceless treasure! Ceaseless prayer and constant striving after this gift of grace, is what pleases God.

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Oh yes, it is a gift of grace! But God, in His infinite wisdom causes us to seek for it, as if it were by our own mere human strength. And yet, behind the scenes, God works within us, giving us the desire and ability to seek after these things!

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ABOVE PICTURE: Prayer – Wherefore He is able to save to the uttermost…” Hebrews 7:25

 

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BE LIKE THE ROLLIE-POLLIE BUG

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So today’s admonition is to begin our journey up the pathway to Heaven, and to begin to enclose ourselves in the heavenly armor of God’s Word and unceasing prayer!

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Just like the Rollie-Pollie bug encloses his self with his protective armor.

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Photo, above right: Rollie-Pollie Doodle-Bug – Slater rolled up – cropped – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

 

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Slater_rolled_up_for_wiki.jpg

Well, this is just an introduction to this topic of building up the walls of protection around us. And hopefully, more devotionals will be written concerning this very important work of the Christian.

 

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TO READ PART 5, GO HERE…

JUNE 25 (Rollie-Pollie Bug Christians! Part 5: “Curling Up With God”)

Rollie-Pollie Doodle-Bug – Slater rolled up – Wikipedia – Share-Alike License

 

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rezando.jpg

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, I want that wall of protection against the attacks of the Enemy, and the total indwelling of the Spirit of God. Let this be the all-consuming purpose of my life…

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

 

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…(Taking Back This Nation For God! Part 3: A Hedge With A Swinging Gate!), or you can also read…The False Prophet, Part 9: The Devil Owns The Fence!), or you can also read… Ark of the Covenant Constellation, Pt. 2: How To Enter The Most Holy Place, or you can also read this shorter article… “August 25th (End-Time Exodus! Part 1)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

 

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THE END

 

.picture - soldiers of the cross - armor up!

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

 

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ORION THE SOLDIER

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The pagan cultures saw this incredible constellation as a hunter, with a club.

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Well, they weren’t too far off. Actually, God created it to appear like a soldier. This is because all nature presents aspects of the Gospel.

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Listen… “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” Psalm 19:1.

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And so now we are amazed to discover that beyond the awesome grandeur of the starry night-heavens, God has actually written the Love of God upon the heavenly scroll!   

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Orionurania – wikipedia – public domain

 

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7 MAJOR STARS OF ORION…

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:25_Orionis_location.png

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Orion Constellation can best be seen all winter (but even in August in the pre-dawn hours of morning in eastern skies) traveling east to west through the night, in mid-sky.

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To find the seven major stars of Orion (one star on each shoulder and one star on each foot, plus the three stars which make his belt), you can locate on just about any clear night regardless of the blackness of the night. To find Orion’s other stars, you need more star-visibility…a darker, moonless night, and possibly away from city lights.

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Orion – wikimedia – share-alike license

ABOVE PICTURE: soldiers of the cross – armor up! – www.signsofheaven.org

 

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Orion the Soldier (Armor of God)

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TOMORROW…

JUNE 19 (Eternal Torment? Part 7: The Hypocrisy)

Buddhist Hell – Wikipedia – public domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #533 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.

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