Ephesians 6. Doing it ourselves without the gifts given to us? I don't think so.
Good Morning
Stand with me and lift your bible and repeat after me.
This is my Bible.
I am what it says I am.
I can do what it says I can do.
I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.
Today I will learn more of the word of God.
The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God.
I will never be the same.
I will never be the same.
In Jesus Name
Amen?
Before you sit down, say good morning to your brothers and sisters.
Turn with me in your Bible to the book of Ephesians, Chapter 6 and say, “Amen” when you are there.
Today we are going to look at and be encouraged by what our brother Paul wrote while he was behind bars.
Paul spent time writing what the Lord wanted him to share with the people of Ephesus in ancient Greece. This book ends up sharing about the strength and protection that God provides to those who know Him.
The Whole Armor of God
Let us go to the 10th verse to start.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
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, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (NIV)
Have you ever thought about what Paul wrote in this book. He built what is considered a masterpiece of how great life is when we place Jesus in our life as the prominent direction for us.
The verses we just read together are just a small piece of what life can be like if we truly follow the meaning and the strength, we are given in our relationship with Him.
Have you ever read the verses that we just read and been able to feel what they really mean.
Let’s look at verse number 10. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” How are we to be strong? How about having confidence by remembering what He has already done for you and I? Our past experience is a great example. Write down a list of what you have been able to accomplish or get through in your life because of Him.
Verses number 11 through 16 are giving us the protection against what the enemy has attempted or will be attempting to harm us with during our lives.
Think of all of the things that you and I have been through in our lives that we can look back upon. The trials of daily living in sometimes seemingly impossible situations that we know that without His help we would not have made it through. God has been watching over us since before we were born, and He has always been there including those times when we felt so alone. That is why He provides these pieces of armor for us to stand up to whatever comes our way.
There is a great song out by Zach Williams called, “Jesus Fault” that illustrates how He watches over us even when we stray far away.
Some of the lyrics are as follows.
“I guess that’s what happens when he chases you down.
Everything’s different there’s a new me in town.
I don’t wake up angry at the mirror on the wall.
So, if you miss the old me,
Well, that’s Jesus' fault.”
It is kind of funny to blame Jesus for anything, but it is a clever way of looking at things. Many times, in life, we want things to turn out our way and they just do not work out no matter how hard we try.
Verse 17 is the best reminder about the great gift we are given, salvation. I often ask this question. “Who in this room should not be alive today? Please raise your hand.”
Many hands are raised, and I then ask why are you still alive?
The answer is simple. God has a plan and through the help of having a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ, life is attainable.
Verse 18 says a simple thing. Prayer.
Pray when things are bad and when things are good. Develop the personal relationship that you have in Christ not just asking for things but thanking Him for what He has given you.
Every breath you take is a gift from God because He loves you and I more than we can ever imagine.
Verse 19 is one that we need to accept in the time we are in. Share Him with others about what He has done for you and what he can do for them. Some of the people you know, or meet may not accept it but by showing His love, in what we do, they may have a seed planted in them. You do not have to be a pastor, an evangelist, or a full time missionary, but just a follower of Jesus Christ by walking the walk daily with Him and for Him.
People will see the change in you and think about by the little seed that you plant in them by being a loving example of the love that flows from you from Him.
In verse 20 Paul talked about even though he was in chains, he still would follow Jesus and share His love.
We do not have to shout out our faith but just ask the creator of life to show us how to show the love of His son to those we know and those we are going to meet during our time here on earth.
Let us use the gifts He has given us, no matter what they may be to not try to keep walking through life doing it ourselves. Let us continue to grow in our faith in Him and use what He has given us during each day of life.
There is a song by JJ Weeks that says in part:
“Let them see You in me.
Let them hear You when I speak.
Let them feel You when I sing.
Let them see You,
Let them see You in me.
Amen?
Let us bow our heads.
