Reading: Ephesians 6
My Verse: "Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God" (6:14).
Our pastor taught an enlightening sermon on this concept of "Standing Firm". He was concerned about a recent trend or movement that actually encourages believers to seek out and engage in battle with the evil forces of Satan. He showed us through scripture that this was actually not a biblical teaching. His teaching made me not only realize that everything I hear needs to be checked. I need to make sure the teaching is scriptural.
After his lesson on this I read this verse in a different light. For Paul teaches us that we are to:
"Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger] and, having done all [the crises demands], to stand [firmly in your place]" (6:13). Yes, there is no mention of charging out into battle here. Throughout this passage I am told to stand - hold my ground.
Our pastor pointed out that we are incredibly weak before evil. We cannot and should not be charging out or seeking battle. We need to focus on being fully armed so that we will when it becomes necessary be able to hold our ground - and we would be doing well to do that! "Put on God's whole armor that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil" (6:11).
Oh, Lord, thank You for this lesson and reminder. You do the battling for me. I need only stay clothed in the full armor, that You provide, and so be able to stand firmly. If I do that I can be assured of victory.
"For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith. Who is it that is victorious over the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (I John 5:4,5)
With this wonderful assurance and the full armor of You I can stand firmly "against [all] the strategies and deceits of the devil" (6:11).
Thank You, Lord Jesus!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God" (6:14).
Our pastor taught an enlightening sermon on this concept of "Standing Firm". He was concerned about a recent trend or movement that actually encourages believers to seek out and engage in battle with the evil forces of Satan. He showed us through scripture that this was actually not a biblical teaching. His teaching made me not only realize that everything I hear needs to be checked. I need to make sure the teaching is scriptural.
After his lesson on this I read this verse in a different light. For Paul teaches us that we are to:
"Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger] and, having done all [the crises demands], to stand [firmly in your place]" (6:13). Yes, there is no mention of charging out into battle here. Throughout this passage I am told to stand - hold my ground.
Our pastor pointed out that we are incredibly weak before evil. We cannot and should not be charging out or seeking battle. We need to focus on being fully armed so that we will when it becomes necessary be able to hold our ground - and we would be doing well to do that! "Put on God's whole armor that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil" (6:11).
Oh, Lord, thank You for this lesson and reminder. You do the battling for me. I need only stay clothed in the full armor, that You provide, and so be able to stand firmly. If I do that I can be assured of victory.
"For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith. Who is it that is victorious over the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (I John 5:4,5)
With this wonderful assurance and the full armor of You I can stand firmly "against [all] the strategies and deceits of the devil" (6:11).
Thank You, Lord Jesus!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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