Ephesians 6:10-18 PHILLIPS In conclusion be strong—not in yourselves but in the Lord, in the power of his boundless resource. Put on God’s complete armour so that you can successfully resist all the devil’s methods of attack. For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organisations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil. Therefore, you must wear the whole armour of God that you may be able to resist evil in its day of power, and that even when you have fought to a standstill you may still stand your ground. Take your stand then with truth as your belt, righteousness your breastplate, the Gospel of peace firmly on your feet, salvation as your helmet and in your hand the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Above all be sure you take faith as your shield, for it can quench every burning missile the enemy hurls at you. Pray at all times with every kind of spiritual prayer, keeping alert and persistent as you pray for all Christ’s men and women.
Ephesians 6:10-18 MSG And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
Observation
This is a very familiar passage of Scripture, but has it become so familiar that we read it without hearing what it says? “For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organisations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil.” Paul is telling us that what happens in the world – all the physical pain, suffering, injustice, greed, oppression, hatred and every other evil work- are symptoms and evidence of this spiritual “unseen power that controls this dark world” creating division and chaos.
Paul is not saying that we should ignore the physical manifestations of evil, but rather encourages us here and in so many other places in his letters to actively demonstrate the love, grace and mercy of God by our actions. “Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.” He is saying that we will never truly overcome evil without using the weapons He provides – “Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own.” I note that the powerful overcoming weapons He provides are all intangible – truth, peace, salvation, righteousness, faith, the Word of God and prayer. These are our power, protection and ability to stand against all the Enemy can throw at us.
Impact on Me
I have been reminded of a little pamphlet I read years ago. It contained excerpts from a prayer warrior’s journal. There was one sentence that the Holy Spirit engraved on my soul – “We don’t have to hold out against the Devil; he has to hold out against us.” I was again reminded of that as the message of these verses has captured me over the last few months.
I am a doer. As a Disaster Relief Chaplain, my purpose is to wade into the pain and suffering to hug and encourage those who are hurting. However, in this recent pandemic I have been excluded from physically helping because I am in a high-risk category. I was frustrated in the beginning because I was feeling ineffective, excluded, even lazy. I was whining to God about this and He reminded me that there was plenty for me to do to bring comfort and healing using His intangible weapons. This passage of Scripture really impacted and arrested me. I have had to reassess how I value my power to do and what I can accomplish with the work of my hands against God’s power to do and what He can accomplish if I submit to the work of His hands.
What do I really believe about the power of prayer – the Word – the practice of His presence – the effectiveness in the true battle of being in Him as opposed to doing for Him? Am I so deceived, so proud, so blind, so basing the significance of my contribution on the approval of men or physical accomplishments that I limit myself to bringing only human weapons and resources to a spiritual battle? It has been a very sobering, painful cleaning out of the closets of my soul, but also liberating, hopeful and full of grace as I cull out the clutter to rediscover the forgotten treasures.
Prayer
Lord, You are the Lord Almighty, the God of angel armies, Who has graciously enlisted and offered to equip me for this battle that rages in this world. Train me to first and always equip myself with Your weapons, to first and always say Yes to orders from You, to first and always follow Your battle plan, to first and always give the praise and glory to You, to first and always look to You alone for approval, to first and always be faithful to find my provision in You, to first and always submit to Your training. Lord, continually search my heart for insubordination, self promotion and disloyalty of any nature and work in me the discipline of a warrior for You in this spiritual conflict. Make it so, in Jesus’s name, I pray.
Pressing On In His Footsteps 