WHAT IS OUR GOAL?
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Opening Prayer
Thank you, Lord God, for giving me everything I need to stand against the devil’s schemes. Help me to be without fear in everything you call me to do.
Read EPHESIANS 6:10–24
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Final Greetings
21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
23 Peace to the brothers and sisters,[a] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.[b]
Footnotes
- Ephesians 6:23 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
- Ephesians 6:24 Or Grace and immortality to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What part of the armor of God is hardest for you to put on?
After everything Paul has written, he ends with an amazing picture of what the Christian looks like in the spiritual realm. The armor of God reflects the blessings of God with which Paul began his letter. We are equipped with truth, righteousness, faith, and salvation. With this as our clothing, you might expect that Paul would want the Christian to be advancing, taking ground, and fighting for God, but that is not the picture he paints. The church is engaged in a struggle with evil powers, unseen but active in the heavenly realms. The role of the church is to remain faithful to God.
We are to be hopeful and expectant that God’s kingdom will advance and that salvation will come to all corners of the world. The Christian faith is optimistic about the future, as Jesus will return to restore all things. At the same time, we need to recognize the reality that in a broken world, one of the hardest things to do is to remain faithful to Christ throughout our lives, in seasons of ease and celebration, and those of difficulty and pain. We are to be like the steadfast tree of Psalm 1, planted by the streams of water, which is the rule and reign of God. We need to be constantly drawing on that refreshing source of life.
Paul’s picture is a reminder that we can do something each day to draw close to him. A friend of mine once told me that they would stand in front of a mirror and act out putting on this armor while praying for God to make each item a reality in their mind and heart. These are not just words Paul writes, they are the true status we have before the Father, the identity we live in each day.
Apply
Act out putting on the armor, asking the Spirit of God to impress the importance of each piece on your mind and inner being.
Closing prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to be a faithful witness to Christ, a loving brother or sister in the church, and committed to prayer.
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