Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 24 ‘Having Done All To Stand’???
Paul calls us to recognize the fact that we are at war with the enemy of our souls. As I go from day to day it is absolutely imperative that we recognize that spiritual warfare is real. I just want to take a few minutes today to remind us of the urgency of the hour!
I simply want us to consider Paul’s 6th chapter of the letter to the Ephesian church, and it’s just as important for us as it was for them. May we spend some time to consider our behavior, it does make a difference.
The first three chapters of this letter deal with our faith in Jesus and the confidence that we can have in Jesus, His saving work of salvation and the assurance of our relationship with HIM! Then in chapter four, he switches gears and calls us to live faithfully before God and man!
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye
walk worthy of the vocation
wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness
and meekness,
with longsuffering,
forbearing one another
in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body,
and one Spirit,
even as ye are called
in one hope
of your calling;
5 One Lord,
one faith,
one baptism,
6 One God and Father
of all,
who is above all,
and through all,
and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us
is given grace
according to the measure
of the gift of Christ.” Ephesians 4:1-7
Every born again believer is “given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” to live according to the “the vocation wherewith ye are called”—we are called to serve God and others, not to ‘sit’ down and ‘soak’ up the blessings of God, and fail to fulfill our calling to serve! And what does this service look like? Well, it doesn’t look like arrogant presumption on God’s goodness rather it expresses itself in:
lowliness— not exalting self (Romans 12:3)
meekness—strength in/Spirit’s control (Gal. 5:22-24)
longsuffering—patience toward people (Col. 3:12-13)
forbearing—holding up against opposition (Ro. 3:25)
in love….pursuing unity—oneness (minds set on Jesus not uniformity) (Ephesians 4:13)
Our character, behavior and attitudes ought to reflect our relationship with our life transforming Lord! We are to have the mind of Jesus—the life of a servant!
“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ,
if any comfort of love,
if any fellowship of the Spirit,
if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy,
that ye be likeminded,
having the same love,
being of one accord,
of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife
or vainglory;
but in lowliness of mind
let each esteem other
better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things,
but every man also on the things
of others.
5 Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery
to be equal with God:
7 But made himself
of no reputation,
and took upon him the form
of a servant,
and was made in the likeness
of men:
8 And being found in fashion
as a man,
he humbled himself,
and became obedient
unto death,
even the death
of the cross.” Philippians 2:1-8
We are called to serve—as our Lord served—humbly, totally and all to God’s glory, and the salvation of the lost! And when we serve God the enemy of our souls will not be happy—but we will face opposition, the very spiritual warfare that Paul describes in Ephesians 6. Let’s simply spend time this week pondering the meat of his challenge, as we lay out the principles of godly living as put forth in this passage.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord:
for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children
to wrath:
but bring them up
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
5 Servants,
be obedient to them that are your masters
according to the flesh,
with fear and trembling,
in singleness of your heart,
as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice,
as menpleasers;
but as the servants of Christ,
doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service,
as to the Lord,
and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing
any man doeth,
the same shall he receive of the Lord,
whether he be bond or free.
9 And, ye masters,
do the same things unto them,
forbearing threatening:
knowing that your Master
also is in heaven;
neither is there respect of persons
with him.
10 Finally, my brethren,
be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities,
against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness
of this world,
against spiritual wickedness
in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you
the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand
in the evil day,
and having done all,
to stand.
14 Stand therefore,
having your loins girt about
with truth,
and having on the breastplate
of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod
with the preparation
of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all,
taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench
all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God:
18 Praying always
with all prayer
and supplication
in the Spirit,
and watching thereunto
with all perseverance
and supplication
for all saints;” Ephesians 6:1-18
We must have our confidence and focus on The Lord no matter the circumstance—dressed in our armor—
Truth—Jesus is ‘the way—the truth—the life’—
John 14:6
Righteousness—His righteousness applied us—
2 Corinthians 5:21
Gospel of peace—Peace with God and peace of God—
Romans 5:1-2+; Philippians 4:6-7
Faith—Confidence that Jesus is the only way—
Hebrews 11:1 & 6
Salvation—The mind of Christ indwelling us–
Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-10
Word of God—Jesus the living Word and written Word—
John 1:1-5; Proverbs 30:5
Praying always—Keeping the line open with our God—
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
May you find confidence and reassurance in the power of the cross and The Lord who gave His life for you, not just His death, but His resurrection power, which sustains us in all things, times and circumstances?
“Jesus said unto her,
I am the resurrection, and the life:
he that believeth in me, though he were dead,
yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me
shall never die.
Believest thou this?” John 11:25-26
Amen and Amen!!!
