Follower of the Way

Take up the whole armor of God - Ephesians 6:13

At the end of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul urges the brethren to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and tells them to be prepared with Spiritual armor.

Waist - Gird with Truth

Breastplate of Righteousness

Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace

Shield of Faith

Helmet of Salvation

Sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God)

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit

Paul, urged them to be prepared to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  The armor listed above is needed to be able to withstand.

As we look earlier in Ephesians we see so many great promises and assurances of hope.

    We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (1:3)

    Predestined to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ (1:5)

    In him we have redemption and forgiveness of sin (1:7)

    In the ages to come he will show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness in toward us in Christ Jesus (2:7)

    We are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and member of the household of God (2:19)

    We are being built together for a dwelling place for God in the spirit (2:22)

    God is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us (3:20)

How great are the promises of God.  Paul emphasized this and his hope that the Ephesians would understand this when he noted his prayer for them in chapter 1 verses 17-19.

    1)  That God would give a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Jesus Christ)

    2) The eyes of your understanding be enlightened

    3)  That you may know what is the hope of His calling

    4)  What are the riches of His Glory

    5)  What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His might power

When we come to understand the greatness of God and his promises we will seek to live a changed life

    1)  For we are His workmanship, creating in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (2:10)

    2)  We should not longer walk as the world (4:17)

    3)  Put away lying (4:25)

    4)  Be angry and do not sin (4:26)

    5)  Let not corrupt word proceed out of your mouth (4:29)

    6)  Do no grieve the Hold Spirit of God (4:30)

    7)  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away (4:31)

    8)  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving on another (4:32)

    9)  Walk as children of light (5:9)

When we see the great promises of God we will want to ensure we take up the whole armor of God to protect ourselves to be able to enjoy these great promises.

Reading for Today - Ephesians 6:10-23 - Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil

Ephesians 6:10-20 (ESV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

 

As Christians, we should make sure we have put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand against “the schemes of the devil”.  Satan tests us in many ways, but God provides the armor we need to stand against him.  The Christian’s armor is truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.  If we equip ourselves with these things we can overcome whatever satan may try to tempt us with.  The Christian armor is not one were we pick and choose which pieces we want for our defense.  Paul tells his readers to take up the whole armor of God.  He tells them this so that they “may be able to withstand in the evil day”.  Let us each seek to take up the whole armor of God so that we stand.  The final part of the Christians armor is prayer.  Paul tells his readers to pray at all times and asks that they make prayers for him and all the saints.  We should pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ and that those who are not in Christ will have the opportunity to hear the word that they might come to know Christ as well.

Reading for Today - Ephesians 5:22-6:9 - doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man

Ephesians 5:22-6:9 (ESV)
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”  This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.  However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.  Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.  Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

 

The Bible has guidance on our relationships and roles.  God wants what is best for us and has a role for us.  In this passage Paul has guidance for Husbands, Wives, Parents, and Children.  Paul’s advice to Bondservants is good advice as we go to work.  We should not just give eye-service, but work from the heart, “rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man”.  Also, bosses would do well to listen to Paul’s words to masters and also treat employees with good will.

Reading for Today - Ephesians 5:1-21 - Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time

Ephesians 5:1-21 (ESV)
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.  Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.  For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.  Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.  For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.  But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”  Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

 

We should walk as Christ giving ourselves up to the benefit of others.  We should seek to live a life of purity and a life in the light.  Paul encouraged the Ephesians to “try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”  May we seek to know what pleases God and follow it with our all heart, mind and soul.

Reading for Today - Ephesians 4:17-32 - Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do

Ephesians 4:17-32 (ESV)
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.  They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.  They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.  But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.  Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.  Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

 

In several places in the Bible it warns of those who have hardness of heart.  Hardness of heart can occur when one doesn’t walk in the ways of God and takes pleasure in the ways of the world.  That hardness of heart leads to a darkened understanding and a life alienated from the life of God.  When one seeks after their own way instead of the way of God they can become callous and darkened in their understanding.

We need to be those who are seeking Christ.  We need to those who are constantly seeking the knowledge of God that can only be found in the scriptures.  We need to be truthful.  We need to know how to be angry and not sin.  We should seek to use the abilities we have to do honest work so that we will have to be able to share with those in need.  We should not have bitterness.  We should not have malice.  We should be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving.

The many letters of Paul offer us so much encouragement and much to think about how we should live.  We should be seeking to put our thoughts on things of God.  We should be seeking to have pure thoughts and seeking to put out of our lives the things that are evil.  May we each seek to a life pleasing to God, seeking each day to grow closer to Him and growing closer to the example provide by His Son Jesus Christ.

Reading for Today - Ephesians 4:1-16 - we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ

Ephesians 4:1-16 (ESV)
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”  (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?
He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)  And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

 

We should “walk in a manner worth of the calling to which [we] have been called.”  When we walk in that way we should have:

1)      Humility

2)      Gentleness

3)      Patience

4)      Bearing with one another in love

5)      Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

 

It is easy to see from those characteristics that a Christian should stand out in comparison to those who follow after the ways of the world.  The world will question why someone would demonstrate these characteristics in adversity and in abundance, but as Christians we have a great hope and by faith we can show these characteristics as we seek to follow the example of Christ in each and all circumstances.

 

Paul notes that there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism and one God and Father.  Christ didn’t die to create a number of churches or creeds.  Christ died for his church to create one body.  Christ prayed for unity in the garden in John 17.  Our desire should be to seek to be the church and body that Christ died for.  To be the body and church that we read about in the Bible.  We should seek unity based on the Bible.  It is easy to see why Christ prayed for unity in John 17 – that the world might believe.

 

It takes all of us working together to build up the church.  Each of us has special talents.  Some are good at teaching, others in leading, others in service.  Whatever our ability we should seek to use it for the glory of God and to equip the saints and to build up the body of Christ.  May we seek the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God.  May we seek to be full grown in Christ that we will not be “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

On the contrary – let us seek “to grow up in every way into him who is the head, in Christ”.  May we seek to build up the body in love.  My our every desire to be to seek Christ and to help others in attaining that aim.

Reading for Today - Ephesians 3:14-21 - to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge

Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV)
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

 

How great is God’s love for us.  When we recognize the breadth, length, height, and depth of God’s love for us we cannot but be compelled to seek to serve Him and to seek to show the love He has shown us to others.  God can do mighty things through us if we will allow Him to use us.  May we all seek to do what we can, where we are to be a light to the world showing the love of God to all we come in contact with.

Below is a poem attributed to Teresa of Avila

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Reading for Today - Ephesians 3:1-13 - to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ

Ephesians 3:1-13 (ESV)
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.  When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.  Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.  To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.  This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.  So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Reading for Today - Ephesians 2:11-22 - For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father

Ephesians 2:11-22 (ESV)
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.  And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

 

We were without hope, but God sent his Son and made a way for us to be reconciled to Him.  If we are in Christ, Christ has made peace for us with God by His shedding of blood on the cross.  Not only has Christ made peace for us, but we are members of the household God.  How great and amazing are the promises of God to those who love and serve Him.  May we seek to study the Word of God that we may live a life led by Him.  May His word dwell in us and show in our life. 

Reading for today - Ephesians 2:1-10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works

Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV)
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

Our lives should be alive in Christ.  God has great things waiting for us.  We should be about living the life God has prepared for us, a life of good works, walking daily seeking to be pleasing to Him and being a light to all those around us.  We were created for good works.  Yet, we do not earn our salvation by those good works.  Our salvation is the gift of God.  We do need to obey God’s plan for salvation to access His saving grace.  But it is His gift to us, for we could not doing anything of our own merit to earn and deserve the grace He provides to us in Christ Jesus.

Reading for Today - Ephesians 1:11-23 - that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you

Ephesians 1:11-23 (ESV)
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.  In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.  For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

 

How awesome is our God.  How great is His plan for us.  Paul was encouraged by the Ephesians faith and their love for the saints.  We too need to be examples of both faith and love.  Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians was that God would give them the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.  Paul wanted them to “know what is the hope to which [God] had called them” and to know the immeasurable greatness of God’s power.  We too should want the same.  We have been called to a great hope.  Great is our hope in Christ.  May our hope in Him give us the sight to be able to endure.  May our knowledge of His word cause us to seek to live in a way that is pleasing to God.  May we seek to be lights in the world guiding a lost world to Him and strengthening our fellow saints in our Christian walk.

Reading for Today - Ephesians 1:1-10 - In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:1-10 (ESV)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

 

Before the foundation of the world God chose us in Christ.  God desires for us to serve Him and to live for Him.  God has chosen those who have put their faith in Christ and are walking according to His will.  God has predestined us for adoption as sons.  How wonderful and awesome to think that God has chosen us for adoption.  What marvelous grace God has bestowed upon us to give us forgiveness through the blood of his son.  How amazing his grace that he would adopt us.  How wonderful that we have been born in this time that we can become Christians and that we can know the mystery of his will that were not known and understood before Christ and the deliverance of the new testament.  May we seek each day to live a life that glorifies him that we may be found in Christ when he returns.