Weekly Lift

Fully equipped

This is my final weekly lift.

It was during covid that we began these lifts and it has now been three and a half years of writing, which I have immensely enjoyed and from which I have gained great personal benefit.

And why is that? Because any time spent in God's word is time that helps us, time that prepares us, time that equips us and time that protects us. This is time spent with God that helps us deal with the broken world we live in. This is time that reminds us that God's ways are different from the world's ways. Satan, the great enemy, the great deceiver, would like nothing more than to distract us from the truth of God's ways.

And so Paul ends his letter to the Ephesian church with these well known words:

Paul deeply loves the Church of Ephesus and he is so desperate to equip them for life in the world so that they will not be distracted from God's kingdom purposes. And so he says:

1. Be strong in the Lord. Find your stregnth in him. In other words, do not think you are strong enough on your own! We need God's strength and power to deliver us each day from the threats and pressures of this world. Go on your own and you will not survive. We need him.

2. Our struggle is not against the world of flesh and blood. Although temptation and persecution often comes in these forms, the one creating these pressures is the evil one, working in the spiritual realm to undermine our faith wherever possible.

The enemy is evil. But God is our strength and none can stand against him. So what do we do?

Since we need God's strength, put on the armour he provides.

There's no need to disect this. Paul provides poetic language. We don't need to draw extensive analogies for every item. But here is what it means - here is the big picture:

Cover your whole self with God's protection. He has all you need to protect you from every attack. And every part of his protection is needed in this world...

Truth... Righteousness... Readiness to share the gospel... Faith in God... Remember your salvation, God's great promise for your future... and do not neglect the word of God.

All these things are importanat, but there's one more area to cover ourselves with:

Do not stop praying. For yourselves and for others. Prayer is the way we show and remember that the strength we need comes from God and his mighty hands. Prayer reminds us that God cares for us, listens to us, and acts for us. Paul prays for prayer that he will be fearless with the gospel, recognising that he is not fearless on his own! HE needs God. WE need God.

It is too easy to forget that God is our only resource when it comes to defending ourselves against this spiritual world of evil that stands against God and his plans. The only resource. God is the only one able to act and bring salvation.

And when all is said and done, prayer remains the breath of the Christian. It is our lifeforce and our protection in this world, until Jesus returns and brings us home.

Closing Benediction

May the God of peace who raised Jesus from the dead, our one true Lord, protect you, watch over you and your households, and bring you peace. May you know and share the truth of the gospel with those around you each day. And may we all stand firm in faith until the very last day, when we will see Him who is our King return to take us home.

Amen.