How do we stand in the world around us today?
I want to be empowered to stand firm, how about you? Ephesians 6 gives a clear strategy that will enable any Christian to do just that. Personally, I photocopy these scriptures and print them in bunches of 30. Each day I tape one into my journal and pray through it, asking for God’s protection and armor to cover me. If I happen to miss a day or two, rereading these truths straighten me right up. I underline parts that especially stand out to me. I will sometimes tangent off on one piece of armor. One day I was walking and as I got to the belt of truth I laughed. I had a hip belt around my waist for my phone. I always want to lose a pound or two and this day as I prayed for the belt of truth, I laughed out loud with Jesus because my pouch had gotten a little tighter.
The world seems to be falling apart and the pressure is intensifying. These 10 versus can equip us, inform us, prepare us, and give a clear strategy for fighting the war around us. At some point we must wake up to the fact there is an unseen war that threatens at levels we can hardly understand.
Jesus said in John 10:10 that the thief will come, and his agenda is to kill, steal, and destroy. He wants to destroy us our peace, our families, our marriages. He wants to steal our jobs, our sobriety and relationships with friends. And he doesn’t want to just steal them, he wants to kill and destroy them. His mission is to destroy us at every level. Jesus has a different goal; he calls it abundance. To have abundance is to have more than enough. Peace in Hebrew is Shalom. Sholom translates to mean enough. The time is come for us to choose.
As Christians we are either arming up to stand firm, knowing the battle is Gods or we are letting evil have its way. We can blame our troubles on our husbands, our mothers and fathers, our boss, the economy, the president’s behavior, the government, the fires, the tornadoes, China. Blaming will not fix anything. We are the leaders of tomorrow. At some point we must stop blaming and start taking responsibility for change, becoming leaders who first choose to follow. If we are not following Jesus to stand firm, no other leader can empower us for the true battle. It starts with me and you, willing to follow closely so we can learn how to lead like Jesus. “He” is more than enough to empower us to withstand this evil day.
Will you join me?
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for the saints, and also for me, that words may be given me and opening my mouth boldly and fearlessly, to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I might declare it boldly and fearlessly, as I ought to speak.”
-Ephesians 6:10-20
