10-12 And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
13-18 Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
19-20 And don't forget to pray for me. Pray that I'll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out. Ephesians 6:10-20 The Message translation
Just a reminder that this series is about the well-made weapons God has designed for us to win the battles we find ourselves in. Ephesians chapter six tells us we have several weapons we are to use in this “life-or-death fight”. We talked about Truth in #25 and have touched on a Peace in #14 and Faith in #19 and #21. If you’d like a copy of these, just type me a note and I’ll send them individually or send the entire set your way.
Once more, here is the list and this time we’ll work on #2.
1. Truth
2. Righteousness
3. Peace [see Tome 14 dated 8/12/2009]
4. Faith [see Tome 19 date 2/15/9 and 21 dated3/10/10]
5. Salvation
6. God’s word
7. Prayer
8. Keep your eyes open
9. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
First off, let me admit that even talking about Righteousness intimidates me. I know my life story and I am the last man on earth who should presume to describe, model or write on the subject. Even though Psalms 51:7[ii] says that my black sin has been washed by His red blood and I am now whiter than snow, this topic inspires a devout respect. I suppose that’s okay since Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:” So let the scary learning begin.
First, es muy verdad, certain, that this weapon cannot be manmade. Isaiah 64 confesses, in his role as a prophet…
V6 ‘All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
The Christ joins in the condemnation of the superfluous religious leaders of his day in his most famous sermon…
20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20
Later Jesus was so bold he called them hypocrites…
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Matthew 23:25-28
When I read these [and 1 Corinthians 13] there is no question that Righteousness is not manufactured by a well intended, religious, virtuous or appointed persons. Righteousness starts with having the Son within…
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:11-12
The Roman writer gives a historical perspective and contrasts the rightness of the law to the righteousness in Christ.
3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Romans 10
The shipwrecked, jailbird, whipped and harassed preacher named St. Paul put it this way,
20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Okay, we know the source. Perhaps John 15 explains the power supply of this practical weapon as good as any passage.
The Vine and the Branches
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:1-8
Perhaps the most telling thing about this agrarian depiction is the declaration of what Righteousness is for, its purpose, its ultimate goal-to bear much fruit. What fruit you say? That would be the peaches, bananas, apples, pears, grapes and melons of souls [how’s that for diversity J ] getting in the Pearly Gates!
So this spiritual flak jacket is not about me being correct or accurate or in some way morally superior. Sometimes I worry more about whether I am right and it has nothing to do with being properly clothed his righteousness to get his work done for his credit and Glory. Thanks be to God, as the old saints say, that this is all swept away by simply wrapping myself in him so that He is lifted up and letting Him be the one that is right in the end.
So, God’s work gets done but what is in it for me, you ask [come on, admit it, it’s just us girls here]. Well, obeying His rules for battle attire has its other benefits and a reader shares this good news,
“God has molded our hearts through the Breastplate of Righteousness, and it is through Gods Righteousness that we are able to hold up against the enemy. It is important to guard our hearts [as] it affects everything we do. Our hearts should seek God first, for seeking God gives our lives a purpose and at the same time delivers a blow against the enemy. In seeking Gods purpose we will find that our lives are satisfying and fit.” Tom T.
Tom’s got some good meat for us to chew on as he points us to Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Did you pick up on Tom’s point about how we conform to the shape of His breastplate and in so doing our hearts are guarded, protected, supported? That is a powerful word picture. Instead of a prideful man puffing out his chest as an expression of how right he may think he is and expecting God to fit His armor to a ‘puffed up’ man, Tom shows us a humble man fitting, bending, adjusting into the shape God has for him[iii]. It is not about asking God to protect his [my] image but rather being molded, shaped into God’s image as we put on his armor and in so doing we are rightly fitted for the battle ahead. Also tucked inside this powerful paragraph is the reminder that our heart is kept right when enshrouded in his armor, contained in his will, surrounded by his plan. Tom, I really like this insight. You point us to humility, as well, as a powerful character trait for a fierce warrior for the Lord.
Next is #5, Salvation. The old translations refer to it as the Helmet of Salvation. Honestly, these writings come from being challenged by these boot camp lessons and putting them to paper helps me wrap my head around them. It would be an honor if you’d drop me a line in the next few weeks to share your thoughts about any one of these weapons or specifically about how you use the salvation helmet in your battle. Perhaps if the Breastplate of Righteousness guards the heart then the Salvation helmet may be guarding the….stay tuned!
[i] http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?model=18
[ii] Psalm 51:7 (New International Version,) 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
[iii] Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8
#14 Peace August 12, 2009
When the plaintiff cry, “All I want is a little peace and quiet!” is uttered there is no question that the speaker wants an antagonist to be silenced. The oppressors can be anything from the hustle and bustle of city life to the constant crying of their own darling child. The point is that they only sense peace when something no longer is present.
Wars end when one force overwhelms another and the parties contract or sues for a cessation of conflict under conditional terms if they reach an impasse or unconditional if, like the Allies in WWII, the victor[s] have brought their enemies to their knees. Again, peace in this context is defined by what no longer transpires between the combatants.
Colt made a lawman’s Single Action handgun called the Peacemaker in 1873. Remarkable in that it replaced the cap and ball percussion revolver with a cartridge system that facilitated faster reloading and more accurate shooting. Peace came to the lawman’s town when he had shot all of the hombres in the black hats. Once again, the term is defined by what no longer exists.
At my lake cabin what is there is as important as what is not there.
John 14 25"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
The world has always defined peace by what is absent at any one time while God has always defined peace by what is present-His presence. The futility mankind pursues in seeking “world peace” is that removing conflict, eliminating oppression, and ceasing hostilities does not bring peace. Peace is only found when a powerful force fills the void. A mother’s love calms a screaming child, a mighty army occupies the land, a lawman walks the street and a Spirit descending from the throne of God fills a heart to usher in peace.
In the Old Testament the Priestly blessing is in Numbers chapter 6:
22 The LORD said to Moses,
23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 " ' "The LORD bless you and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." '
27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."
Obviously, God is not giving his people a nothing, an absence, a hole, when he bestowed this blessing through his priests. He is giving them something to sustain them. Similarly, Christ knew we have days like this and left us his Comforter to overwhelm the trouble and fear in ours lives.
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