Insurance (Ephesians, Chapter 6) Series

Series Title: The Heavenly Reserve Bank of God (Ephesians)

Message Title: Insurance (Ephesians, Chapter 6)

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

There is much to learn about in this short epistle to the Ephesians. In chapter one, we were able to see exactly where a Christian stands when they are brought into the family of God.

Chapter 1, verse 13 tells us,

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him…

In chapter 2, we can see our purpose, position, potential, and our perfection! Such verses as, chapter 2, verses 4 and 5 remind us of those very things.

Chapter 2, verses 4 and 5

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--

In chapter 3 we see the overwhelming abundance that is found in Christ, and in chapter 4, Paul begins telling us how to utilize those riches we’ve been provided.

Chapter 5 of Ephesians told us to please God, and to understand God’s will for our lives.

What is left for us to do, then? We’ve got the instructions, we’ve been told we’ve received the riches, the mercy, and the grace, and even how to put them to good use. What is left for us? Is there anything left? Yes, we have to realize that these things cannot be done of our own power, because if they are, they are vain efforts to lift ourselves up. They are selfish acts done for ourselves. They are works that have their start in us, and not in God.

Therefore Paul warns us in Ephesians 6:10

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

If it is possible, we should run that through our mind each and every time we set out to do something. Yet, oddly enough, this verse seldom accompanies any scripture quoting, while verses 11 through 18 of Ephesians chapter 6, are probably some of the most quoted scripture verses that we give our children in the home, school and Sunday school.

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 saints.

But many times, when people go to the sixth chapter of Ephesians to use this much quoted passage they leave out verse 10,

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

which is actually the beginning of Paul’s comparison to the armored soldier that he was chained to during his imprisonment.

Don’t get me wrong, we do need the armor of God. But, it is the armor OF GOD! We are relying on Him to provide the protection, yet we don’t refer to the strength or the power. Additionally, we often fail to tap into the strength that can be ours in the Lord, we fail to tap into the mighty power of God. Many times, our daily routine becomes just that, a boring routine without any mention of or supplication for God’s power.

Well, maybe it might be best if we used an illustration. Here’s a story about a missionary, and how routine things can become.

Herbert Jackson, a retired missionary, was telling a seminary missions class how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without pushing it. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years. Finally, bad health forced the Jackson family to leave the mission field. Before they left, a new missionary was assigned and came to that mission station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.