The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 24:8 (HCSB)
8 The one who plots evil will be called a schemer.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 70:4 (HCSB)
4 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let those who love Your salvation continually say, "God is great!"
The Word of God for encouragement:
Ephesians 6:10-18 (HCSB)
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil.
12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
13 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.
14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest,
15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.
16 In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's word.
18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
My observation:
In today's focal passage the Apostle Paul has some final words to the people in the church at Ephesus. He warns them about the dangers that they face as they live out their relationship with Christ in a hostile environment.
The world around us, and the ground that we walk on, is a battleground and not a playground. We expose ourselves to great danger if we don't take seriously the strategy and the strength of Satan. Remember this about the devil.
1 Peter 5:8 (HCSB)
8 Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
However, in these final words, the Apostle Paul has some encouraging good news of how we can survive and succeed in this fallen world.
We have all of the weapons that we need in our arsenal; we just have to use them. We need to use what God has provided for his people every day. We need to dress for strength and we will have success. To seal the deal, we must use every day, in every way, and all the time, the weapon of supplication. We must pray without ceasing. I didn't make this up; notice verses 10, 13, and 18, and you will find these words leaping off the page: strength, success, and supplication. To stand successfully, you must put on the full armor of God.
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that our hearts will not grow weak and discouraged by the strategy and the strength of the enemy that comes against us. Father, help us to realize and put to use the weapons that you have provided us to overcome the forces that are aligned against us.
Father, I thank you for providing so abundantly for all that we will ever need to fight the good fight of faith, and finish the course that you have laid out for your people. Give us the faith to believe in the promises of God, and to use the provisions of God to stand and succeed. In Jesus name, Amen.
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Ephesians 1:1-2 (HCSB)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will: To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus.
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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