based on the LGG Study, The Arrmor of God / w6d1
Scripture: Ephesians 6;10-18 / SOAP verses 17-18
Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Ephesians 6:17-18
Hopefully, after six weeks of starting Mondays with this passage, we have all become more familiar with the wisdom, truth, and help it offers us – so that we will not let down our guard. May we keep the armor of God on 24/7, 365 days of the year – ready to help us stand firm and resist the devil’s schemes.
Let’s not forget the necessity of suiting up daily with the whole armor of God. Let’s make it a daily practice to put on…
- the Belt of Truth
- the Breast Plate of Righteousness – and
- the Shoes of Peace
May we faithfully…
- Take up the Shield of Faith – and
- Put on the Helmet of Salvation and
- take the Sword of the of the Spirit
And don’t forget to …
- pray at all times… for all believers everywhere
We will study the final piece of our armor this week, which is the sword of the Spirit – defined by Paul as the Word of God. Then, we will, at Paul’s suggestion, cover it all with prayer and an alertness. Remember this armor belongs to God and we will not be successful using any of it without first seeking His strength and power as Paul instructed us in the beginning of our study.
“Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”
Colossians 4:2
Did You Know?
I found a fascinating note about the Sword of the Spirit that helped me understand just how powerful this offensive weapon really is. When I picture a “sword” I pictured a long sheath like sword, however, according to BIbileref.com the sword Paul describes is a short-bladed sword, easy to carry and draw quickly in combat. It is meant to kill and defeat the enemy during attack.
God’s Word is able and meant to be used like this in our spiritual battles. Christ Himself sets the example for us as we read in Matthew 4:1-11, where we find three examples of Jesus using the Word of God to defeat the enemy. I encourage you to read how He did it and not to miss the ending when the devil left him alone. May we be quick to follow His lead by being prepared with the Word whenever the enemy strikes.
Our Secret Weapon
When Jesus told His disciples He would be leaving them He also told them about another that would come and be with them so that they could carry on the work of the Father. Here in our passage today, Paul tells them to “pray in the Spirit,” the One that Christ said would be their helper.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and will remind us of everything [Christ] has told us.
John 14:26
Reflecting on the Journey
What is the importance of praying at all times?
Response to God’s Word
Father, hide Your Word in our hearts that we might stand firm in the battles with temptation and all of the devil’s schemes. May we be sensitive to Your Spirit and powerful in Your might. Help us to remember that the battle belongs to You and You have empowered us with all that we need to stand firm. Remind us to stay devoted to prayer not only for ourselves but for the body of Christ and as the enemy wages war against Your people. May we not be detoured by his tactics and lose sight of the call to spread the Gospel. In Jesus’ Name – Amen!
Going Further on the Journey
Don’t forget to check out today’s Love God Greatly Blog Post