Day 6: Armed and Dangerous! (Ephesians 6 - FINAL CHAPTER)

 

DAY 6 (And last day for Ephesians)

(Click for DAY 1/ DAY 2 / DAY 3 / DAY 4 / DAY 5)

Worship Song: War Song by Robert Gay, and Shout to the Lord by Hillsong Worship

Reading: Ephesians 6

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. - Ephesians 6:13

Kids, did you know that you are armed and dangerous? If you knew the power and authority that you have in Christ, if you knew just how to use it, hell would tremble. 

***THIS IS YOUR CUE TO LISTEN TO WAR SONG BY ROBERT GAY IF YOU HAVEN'T YET***

Having gone through the entire epistle of Ephesians with fresh eyes, I now feel that the whole of chapters 1 to 5 was building up to chapter 6. Each chapter in itself is already powerful - BUT, you would only be able to understand and *accept by faith* the truths he lays out in chapter 6 after reading all of them. 

The first truth you need to know is that there is an ongoing war. I was born into it. My father was born into it. His father was born into it. When Lucifer fell from heaven, that war started. 

This war happens in the Spiritual Realm and manifests itself into the Physical Realm where you and I live. Some of us are blessed to see, hear, and feel what goes on in the Spiritual Realm. Many of us don't. But regardless of whether you see it, hear it, feel it, or not, this war exists. 

"How does this war affect me?"

This war and how you fight in it can and will affect you in many ways. It can dictate and affect your peace, your safety, your health, your joy, etc. So it is essential that we fight well. More importantly, it is essential that we choose to fight with the winning side - God. He is the Lord of Heaven's Armies, and with Him are the mighty and powerful hosts that Archangel St. Michael leads.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO WAR:

1. The Spirit (power) that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is the same Spirit (power) that lives in you! (Romans 8:11) Remember, we are united in Christ! 

2. We are seated in heavenly places with Jesus Christ, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked. We are fighting with Jesus Christ from ABOVE! This is our amazing and strategic position! 

3. God has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing - weapons of warfare included!

THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD

Ephesians 6 is famous for revealing to us what the Full Armor of God is - the Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Shoes of Peace, Shield of Faith, and the Helmet of Salvation. 

1. BELT OF TRUTH - A belt secures, therefore we rest our security on the TRUTH. The enemy cannot attack us with lies when we know the truth.

2. BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - We fight evil with good, always. But our righteousness is nothing, for we are by nature, sinful. And so we put on the righteousness of God, not ours. 

3. SHOES OF PEACE - We wear this so that wherever we go we bring with us the Peace of God. Peace comes from understanding the power of God and being confident in that. We walk in that power when we wear the shoes of peace. 

4. SHIELD OF FAITH - This is needed so we can "Fight the good fight of faith!" You know why it is a shield? Because unless you lift it up to protect yourself, it is useless. "Faith without works/action is dead!" (James 1:17)

5. HELMET OF SALVATION - The enemy will always attack your mind. The Helmet of Salvation guarantees us that we are already saved. Jesus Christ already died for our sins. 

Until Jesus Christ comes back again, that war will continue - in fact, it will reach its glorious climax on His return. As I mentioned in the DAY 5 devo, there is no middle ground. Either we live as people of light or people of darkness. Either we fight on God's army, or we fight in satan's army. You cannot be neutral. 

No one can be neutral because everyone will be tested. Everyone will be challenged. Everyone will fight. We need to remember everything St. Paul taught us in Ephesians - that we are adopted sons and daughters of a God who has unlimited and glorious resources. That as His children, we are blessed with every Spiritual Blessing, we are loved immensely and extravagantly. This love encourages us to respond with humility, to live as People of Light. To desire to imitate God. To remember that our sinful nature is already gone and we are now a new creation.

All these things will give us that confident hope in God. That when finally we are pushed in the frontlines of the battle, we will know how to fight, what to fight with, and Who is fighting with us.

"When the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." 

The Last Man standing will be Jesus Christ. Who do you want to stand with? Decide now what roles you will play in this war.

PEOPLE OF LIGHT. CHILDREN OF GOD. UNITED AND POSITIONED WITH CHRIST. 

*ARMED AND DANGEROUS*

Prayer: Father God, thank You for this beautiful time of learning and empowerment. Truly Your word is alive and active - and *USEFUL!* Forgive me for all the times I didn't seek Your word because I thought it was dull and unfathomable. But oh Holy Spirit, I am ever so grateful for Your beautiful revelations and I look forward to more learning as You continue to help me unpack more of The Word. I pray for everyone who reads my Ephesians Devos. I pray that they will feel empowered like I do. 

As we continue to live our day-to-day lives, help us to always wear every piece of the armor You have richly given to us. Give us a divine revelation of each piece, and how they keep us safe and defend us from the attacks of the enemy. As we fight with You, thank You for always placing in our hearts that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is the same Spirit that lives in me! This makes me victorious! Thank You as well that you have placed me in an advantageous position for battle, seated in heavenly places with Jesus Christ, far above from the enemy. Remind me always of the authority I have in You as Your child. May I be an armed and dangerous warrior for the Kingdom of God. I claim victory, oh Lord! I claim victory in You! Amen.