Instruction
Scripture: Ephesians6:10-20
Ephesians 6:10 begins a switch in the tone of this letter.
Paul started out by writing about God’s grace and then moved to describing how
one should live having experienced that grace. Now he focuses on the challenge
to the life in Christ which come from spiritual forces and the protection God
gives to His people to protect them from those dangers so that in the end they
may stand. The function of this passage is to warn the reader of the danger we
face, but also to encourage us because God has protected us and has given us a
weapon that defeats our enemy.
Teaching
This passage is a favorite for many people because they love
the image it provides of wading into combat with the spiritual forces of evil
and claiming victory over them. However, we must be clear that the victory is
ours because Jesus won it, not because of our own valor or strength. Indeed,
mostly what we are encouraged to do in this combat is to put on the armor that
God provides for us so we may stand under the temptations and struggles we will
face.
The armor itself is telling as to how we are attacked. The
belt of truth protects our sexual organs. From of old Satan has attacked God’s
people with sexual temptations. The breastplate of righteousness covers our
hearts, but this righteousness is not ours it is Jesus’ given to us so we know
we are forgiven. On our feet is the gospel of peace. People often stumble when
the path gets hard and stressful. God gives us peace to continue to follow Him.
The shield of faith is a large rectangular shield, coated in leather, soaked in
water to put out the flaming darts of the evil one. It is faith that sees and
receives God’s gifts of salvation and deflects the devils’ torments and
accusations from us. The helmet of salvation protects our head. Our thoughts can
often be led astray, remembering Jesus’ salvation keeps us from sin. And
finally the sword of the spirit – the only offensive weapon – which is the Word
of God – is what we use to go forth and rescue sinners like ourselves,
prayerfully speaking the Word that gives life.
Life
Ponder for a moment how the different pieces of the armor of
God address our needs as we struggle to stand under temptations. How remarkable
and comforting it is that God knows our needs so well! Not only that, but in
His love for us He gives us what we need so that in the end we will be found
standing firmly in the faith.
Prayer
This prayer is written
in the themes of Instruction and Confession.
Lord, You protect us so magnificently. Because You know our
weaknesses and our enemies’ strength so well You cover us to keep us safe
sexually, morally, spiritually, and mentally. Not only that, but You have given
us Your Word, the one weapon that our foes must flee from and which can be used
to rescue captives from sin’s clutches. We pray that you would always keep and
defend us.
Forgive us for those times we have neglected our armor, let
down our guard, or in any other way given in to temptation. Forgive us for
thinking that temptation was light or easy and we could handle it on our own,
for we wrestle with powers which are beyond us. Forgive us for Jesus’ sake.
Amen.
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