Category: Devotions

It isn’t my armour it is God’s.

Therefore put on the full armour 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. Ephesians 6 v 13

Lord, I have fought and argued in my life and I have also run and hid. But you offer me an alternative. To stand. Fully-prepared, immovable and still standing no matter what comes my way. I choose to stand before the battle of today, during it and after it.

I choose to stand and watch you do your work.

I stand protected by your armour. It is not my strength, power or armour, it is yours.

I stand with you, by your side, never forsaken nor forgotten. You are near.

In the day of evil, during the onslaught of the schemes of the enemy, I remain.

I don’t need to react like others do. There’s no need to rant either in my head or for the world to see. I don’t need to retreat either. I just stand here. Not moving. Stubbornly standing.

I stand in what I know. You.

I stand protected. By you.

I stand in peace. It is your battle not mine.

I stand in victory. I know who you are!

So I get up onto my feet. I will not indulge in self-pity.

I still and rest my soul.

I stand in you.

Amen

Prayer is not just talking to God it is preparing yourself to fight against what will hurt.

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. Ephesians 6 v 12

Lord, the defeated don’t fight anymore, but those who follow you know the battle is relentless.

I am in a war. It’s the war of the soul. It is our struggle. I am not alone. It is a community fight. You fill us with the Spirit and the impact is seen in our submission in community and in marriage, in the home and work. It is also where the arguments exist. But that’s not where you want me to argue. I begin again today. Whether hurting or angry, bitter or complaining, I silence myself. That person is not the problem. So I refuse to argue anymore in my mind with them.

As I talk to you I know there is one talking to me constantly moving against your purposes in my life, church, community and nation. He sows seeds of doubt and confusion. He wants many to retreat and surrender to him not YOU.

So I contend in prayer.

As I talk to you I also declare against the enemy of my soul. I fight the rulers, authorities, the powers and the spiritual forces. I don’t care how organised the devil is nor where these positional forces are but I speak radically and passionately in prayer against those opposed to your purposes. I am not sure how to differentiate them, others have their opinion on this, but I don’t care, I just take my stand.

I know they seek to frustrate Your plan for my life. So I commit myself to your will once again.

I know they seek to attack me when I least expect it so I stand alert today. I stand alert to the community you have placed me in. I stand alert in all my relationships with people. I stand alert and I go to the cross.

They seek discouragement but you cannot discourage what has died to self.

In prayer I die.

In the Amen I rise, ready for the battle has been won for today.

Amen

Life is tough. But we don’t need to go under.

There is another way.

Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6 v 11

Lord, fill me again and again with the Spirit.

I am aware of the battle I am in. I will not run from it. I will not cave into it. I will stand up against it. I stand in faith.

I set my face like flint, I resolutely set myself towards what is ahead of me, just like you did.

I am where you have placed me. So I will remain. I will not be removed. I will keep going.

I embrace courage. I say NO to easier paths.

I choose my attitude and my actions for today, this is my armour. My character is inside of me and it is there where the armour is needed.

My outward appearance is not as important as what is inside of me.

I can only do this battle with your armour. I can only go through the pain and the trials with your armour. So Lord, fill me again and again with the Spirit.

The devil is my accuser and I am not unaware that he is scheming even now. He has his methods, crafty and deceptive they may be, but he will not outwit me, for you are with me and your armour is on me. He may condemn me but there is no condemnation. He may accuse me before you but your blood speaks a better word. He is a liar and there is no truth in him.

I put on your armour. I clothe myself with Christ. I take my stand. I am ready today.

Amen

It’s finally. After all that has been said …

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6 v 10

Lord Jesus, if the Apostle could write those words while he was in prison then in my circumstance I also know I can have confidence that you will protect me and strengthen me.

If he knew what it was to suffer like the persecuted Church today and if he went through stoning to the point of nearly dying and found he could rely on you, then so can I.

If he didn’t know what tomorrow would bring though he knew it involved pain and if he could focus on being strong in the Lord then I can certainly face my tomorrow.

If he instructs the Church (in a city where witchcraft and worship to Artemis was rife) to demonstrate the power of the Lord then in my locality I can ask for the power of the Lord to triumph over all powers.

Finally, after all he has already said about the power of resurrection (1: 19-20) may that same power which raised Christ from the dead be in me today.

Finally, after all he has already said about the power that transforms (3: 7) and how the gospel had radically changed him then I have confidence in that same gospel today.

Finally, after all he has said about the power of love (3: 18-19) I pray that people will see Jesus in me today. Help me see Jesus in other people and in the circumstances of my life.

Amen

I don’t think there has been a year quite like this year in my lifetime. The pandemic and then issues like identity and race have become a very important discussion point in our society and Churches.

If this is the Apostles household code then it is at first reading uncomfortable reading. Words like submission cause a reaction, obedience in the home between children to their parents have also responses of the many horrible stories of abuse and now slavery? Surely Paul will call for the emancipation of slaves? It doesn’t even appear the thought had crossed his mind.

I think perhaps Paul is not trying to devise a new way of life but how the Spirit would help us in the one we are in.

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favouritism with him.” Ephesians 6 v 5-9.

Slavery seems to have been universal at this time. There are estimates of up to 60 million slaves in the Roman Empire. Many were well-treated and many were abused. They included not only domestic slaves and manual labourers but educated people as well. Nobody challenged this constitution.

Paul is not looking to a new world but with the filling of the Spirit our lives are then changed and charged with purpose so that whatever we are doing we are really serving Christ. Behind their master is Christ, maybe hard to imagine, but the Spirit can help you find the face of Christ even in the worst of places.

But again, slaves have rights according to Paul. Masters are given 3 principles to live by:

1. Do the same as slaves. That is if you hope to receive respect then show it; if you hope to receive service then give it.
2. Don’t threaten. They are not to misuse their position of authority.
3. Realise that Jesus is the Master. He is over them as much as they are over the slaves.

The Spirit impacts our church relationships, our marriages, our homes and our work places. That’s why we need to go on being filled.

The family in the home is one of the basic centres of the Kingdom of God. Before there was a Church there was a family, before there was anything created there was a family, before God was Creator or Saviour He was Father.

The home and the family was instituted by God, it is exalted in the Bible, it is the symbol of something greater, it is one of the main foundations of society and it is the primary influence on character development.

Yet we live today in a society where the family is threatened from all sides. The home is threatened.

Yesterday one of my Pastors was telling me of how a teenage boy was just in the words of his mum ‘uncontrollable’. The boy could not be kept inside the home, he would jump through windows and then go on a destructive plan of action and now about to be charged for criminality. We know this isn’t anything new nor shocking to our world today.

The Apostle continues in the context of being filled with the Spirit …

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.“Honour your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. Fathers,do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6 v 1-4

Obedience to parents was very much part of the covenant law of Moses (Leviticus 19: 203). It was God’s intention for children to submit to their parents.

But as with marriage it is set in the framework of partnership. Children have rights and that is their fathers should not provoke them, which is the meaning of exasperation. They should train them and instruct them but do so in the manner that Christ is the one who is training them. To berate them angrily due to the child’s lack of self-discipline isn’t exactly demonstrating self-discipline.

Is this possible? Are we setting ourselves up to fail? Who has the perfect family? No one.

The filling of the Spirit spills out into the home and He invades the relationships there and again it is to reveal Christ. Obey …in the Lord; bring them up … of the Lord.

One of my Pastors drove through the night get to the hospital bedside of his mother who is critically ill. He is there this morning as I post this, being the son he is called to be, honouring his mother. It is a beautiful image and one that will be repeated throughout the world today. Children who were taught so early on to grab hold of the security of their parents hands are today placing the hands of their parents into theirs to bring peace and assurance. It is the circle of life. The circle of love that God ordained. It speaks of Christ.

I think we are understanding that for Paul this is all about Jesus.

Together is better. Each doing what we are called to do is better. Whether that be married or single.

Think of the Godhead and the submission there. Father, Son, Spirit, all submitting to one another. Not one higher or lower. Co-equal, the same essence and substance, different but the same, the oneness.

Think of the Church. Can we see the Godhead?

Think of the marriage. Can we see the Godhead?

“This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5 v 32-33

Paul draws this little section to a close. “Ah he’s actually talking about Christ and the Church. He’s not really talking about marriage. What a relief!” As if he is correcting that thought he uses the word ‘however’ or ‘nevertheless’. “What I’ve said about marriage I do hold to.”

In this final sentence (if we haven’t already realised this) there is an assumption that as the husband will love his wife she in turn will respect him. This is the partnership. If his love is lost or marred then it will become so difficult for her to respect him and vice versa.

He is to love her like he loves himself. Isn’t this open to abuse? Will he become a doormat? Under the thumb? The potential for abuse only shows how potentially beautiful he could be.

She is to show respect. The word is actually fear and probably why the translators thought it not wise to use that word because it isn’t what Paul is saying. It is profound honour. Isn’t this open to abuse? Will she become a slave? The potential for abuse only shows how potentially beautiful she could be.

That is the partnership. It doesn’t really work without both partners involved. It is collaboration. No one higher than the other. Each submitted to one another. A oneness.

How is this possible?

It is a work of the Spirit. Be being filled with the Spirit. The only way.

Easier because knowing that my life is always about Christ helps to make sense of it.

The Apostle commanded us to be continually filled with the Spirit. Then he shows us how the Spirit is demonstrated in our lives with our relationships, within Church community, marriages, parent/child and master/slaves. The latter ones which we are yet to discover.

The motivation to be the best I can be in any one of those settings isn’t enough if I just want to be a model citizen. However, knowing it is about my discipleship and about the place I give Christ in my life is the reason I keep trying. Does that mean I don’t love people and it is just a life of obedience shackled to my responsibilities? Of course not. But I do find it easier when Christ is the centre of my life.

Let’s read a section we have been discovering over the last several days and focus on where I have underlined: It’s from chapter 5 v18-32.

Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her  to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 

If this is just a household code by Paul then we may well be right to react and kick back against it. As he continues to talk about the relationships of parent/child and master/slave, we may wonder how much is cultural, what do the instructions really mean, how do we interpret submission for example?

But it is easier if we see everything in our life is about Christ. We are either a mirror of Him or we are demonstrating through our relationships His beauty towards us.

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. Ephesians 5 v31-32

For this reason, a man will leave his parents in a switching of loyalty, he will cleave, glue himself in a uniting way to his wife so that they become one person not two individual separate beings. It is profound, a mystery, a creation mandate hidden in Christ to be discovered. But it is a mirror for I am talking about the relationship between Christ and the Church.

Does that mean I have to stay if I am abused? To suggest it is an anathema to me.

Does that mean I only do my part if others are seeing Christ in the same way? If your friend/partner/spouse etc are not following Christ then all the more reason to do your part.

Does that mean I have to keep working at my relationships? Yes it is a discipleship journey.

Make it about Christ and there is no fight. Well, not with each other anyway.

In this section of the prison letter Paul is writing of the impact of being filled with the Spirit will have on our lives.

He has already said that because of the Spirit a) our mouths will worship and encourage, b) we will be thankful c) we will submit to one another d) the wives will submit to their husbands e) husbands will love their wives.

He is ultimately speaking of the task of the Spirit which is to build the relationship between Christ and the Church. Let’s read:

“In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.” Ephesians 5 v 28-30

There are some who find this difficult but the majority of us have no problem in loving ourselves. What does that mean? Here’s a list which is not exhaustive but just to help us understand:

1. We satisfy our own desires.
2. We go where we want to go and do what we want to do.
3. Make our own decisions.
4. Gentle with our own failings and quickly forgive ourselves.
5. We react defensively against any attack on anything we might have said or stand for.
6. We don’t let others forces us to be who we are not.

Just think of how Jesus has responded to you throughout your relationship with Him. Read that list again.

He has satisfied you; He has given you freedom to go and be and make your way in life; when those choices have led to failure He has been gentle and quick to forgive and heal you; He has defended you strongly and has enabled you to be the best version of yourself not by force but by encouragement. It has been a beautiful partnership.

The Apostle says it is the duty of the husband who is copying Christ to love his wife in this same kind of way. Read the paragraph above again.

Yes I do think wives should submit to their husbands. But which wife wouldn’t want to in the context of living with such a husband? He restores the word submission into something beautiful as he lays his life down for her.

Is this some impossible dream?

Paul says it is only possible because of continually being filled with the Holy Spirit.

And for those who are not married as we presume Paul wasn’t then it still applies because ultimately this is about Christ and the Church. It is about you and others submitting to Christ the head, the leader of the body, the Church.

We live in a world where if as an individual you want to live your life according to what is written in the Bible then no one is going to comment, you will be permitted.

However it is going to become increasingly difficult for the Church to have a ‘household code’ because of so much hurt that has been caused to innocent victims of oppressors. We need to totally rescue and support the abused and at the same time still uphold the beautiful concepts found in the Bible. But it will become difficult also because offence comes far more easier today in our world which is divided by opinion.

I wonder what the Apostle would write today. What would his household code be? Would it cover race, sexual identity and poverty? Whatever the changes I believe he would still be writing about the same person and that everything in this world of ours, all our relationships, activities, problems and challenges, successes and victories are only illustrations of a greater relationship that we have with this person:

Jesus Christ.

Paul says in our next verse, “In this same way, (husbands) ought …). Ephesians 5 v 28

In the same way or “So …”

The word refers to what precedes.

And what has preceded is of course a description of the love and submission of Christ for us.

So ….

Submit to one another, wives submit to your husbands and husbands love and submit to your wives. Why? Paul will spell it out soon when he tells us he is definitely thinking about our relationship with Christ. But for now, ‘in the same way …’

Almost 30 years ago I wore a bracelet, WWJD. What would Jesus do? It was a campaign to encourage us all to copy Christ.

What would he do if he walked my life? He does.

What would he say if he was behind my mouth? He is.

Let’s demonstrate Christ today.

Let’s copy Christ.