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.
Has your work in God become routine, and maybe even routinely difficult? Do you seem to have a loose connection? Does there seem to be a nagging thought in the back of your mind that there is an easier or better way, or even a more successful way? Remember, the power has been there this whole time, and all we have to do is re-connect to get it flowing back into our lives.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Yes, we need to be strong in the Lord. Yet, why does Paul say it a different way in the second part of that sentence? “in his mighty power.” I believe he says it a second time to emphasize the need to rely on the Lord, and to remind us of just how powerful the Lord is. Remember what Jesus said, in Luke 18:27,
Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
You know, if you were to look back over the first several verses of Ephesians chapter 6, you would see that Paul is reminding various people to remember their ‘places’ or, their ‘stations in life’ where they have been placed by God. It’s important that we remember that we are human. It’s important to remember to where and what we have been called. And, it’s important to remember that God has all the strength and power that we need to succeed in whatever works He has appointed for us to do.
An interesting illustration about how we need to remind ourselves daily of just how weak we are is this one.
Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great and king of Macedon, was always accompanied by two men who had a very interesting duty. One man was to say to him each morning, "Philip, remember that you are but a man," while the second asked the king each evening, "Philip, have you remembered that you are but a man?"
It doesn’t matter whether you are the President or the King of a country, you are still second, because God is first! As we constantly remember and rely on the power of God, then putting on the Armor of God is the next logical step. For God knows what lurks out in the world and in the heavenly realms. Things that are seen and unseen, things that are human and inhuman.
Let’s look at those verses, verses 11 through 18 of Ephesians 6. What we are going to look at though, is a little different than the norm.
Full (vs. 11, 13)
Stand (vs. 11, 13, 14)
In the Spirit (v. 18)
With this in mind (v. 18)
This are some of those words or phrases that we might normally just glance over, many times not taking the time to really consider their placement in the passage or their contribution to the armor of God, or even their relevance to what we might be doing.
Full (vs. 11)
Full. This word, which is found in verses 11 and 13 indicates complete, comprehensive, detailed. Paul is cautioning us against having a cavalier or casual attitude, anytime! Notice the word when and its placement in verse 13, this indicates preparedness. This indicates a preparation that takes place beforehand. He’s telling us to put on the full armor of God now, this very minute, so that when the day of evil comes we will be able to stand our ground in the Lord.
Could you imagine an army riding out to meet the enemy, then stopping to put on their armor? Could you imagine them trying to tell their adversaries, “Oh, excuse us for a few minutes while we put on our armor.” They would have been massacred! There wouldn’t have been anything left, and, there will not be anything left of you, either, if you don’t put on the full armor of God, all of it, now! Don’t leave one article of armor out of the picture. You need all of it to succeed in the works that God has appointed for you.
The Belt of truth
The Breastplate of righteousness
The feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel
The shield of Faith
The helmet of salvation, and,
The Sword of the Spirit
Stand (vs. 11, 13, 14)
Now that we know that we need all of it. What’s next? Well, the next word that stands out is the very word stand. Let’s go back to our earlier illustration of that army that went out to the battle without their armor on. But, this time let’s think of them this way, they have their armor on, but now they are sitting down in the field as the enemy approaches. Can you imagine, again, what would happen to them if they were to ask, “Oh, just a minute while we try to stand up.” The enemy is not going to let them take a stand. The enemy will not allow them to stand up. And, the enemy will not allow you to stand up either. We need to be already standing and facing the enemy. And, we need to be in the full armor of God.
In the Spirit (v. 18)
What is this in the Spirit? How does one get into the Spirit? Are you in the Spirit?
These questions are answered by following these simple guidelines:
1. Place all of your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
2. Pray and talk to God daily.
3. Read your Bible.
4. Go to church
5. Use your Spiritual Gifts
Then you will know an indescribable nearness, or a closeness with God, and:
Your prayers will reflect that Spirit-filled relationship,
Your life will reflect that Spirit-filled relationship,
Your attitude will reflect that Spirit-filled relationship,
Your relationships will reflect that Spirit-filled relationship.
Those are some results that we really need to have in our lives. Then, taking this all in…
With this in mind (v. 18)
Paul is asking us to keep these things, that is the information given in verses 10-18, in our minds. He’s telling us to make sure that it is there and available right away. Keeping these things all in our mind so that we will not forget them.
We can’t afford to go up against the world alone. We need to rely on the strength and power of God to
Enable us
Empower us
Enlighten us
Encourage us
Without the strength and power of God, we are no different than the unbeliever that is running around lost in the world.
