Have You Got What It Takes?

His Word: Epesians 6:10-18 MSG

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.”

Observation and Obedience: This is a call to arms. Paul is letting it be known that this life of following Christ and seeking after Him is not for sissies. It’s going to take all He’s given us to walk it out in grace, love and VICTORY. ALL HE’S FREELY GIVEN!

He didn’t leave us clues to a scavenger hunt. We don’t have to perform well to earn it. All we have to do is receive it, be thankful and USE what Jesus left us after sacrificing His all for us. 

Paul has been through the ringer for his beliefs. His letter to the Ephesians was not only written to warn them, but to instruct them so that they would be strong, be fruitful and be purposeful in their lives with the gifts AND responsibilities they’ve been given. 

Imagine being given all the best equipment, tools, instructions for oh……… let’s just say photography. It’s all there, GIVEN to you. Top of the line camera, lenses, flash, backdrops, filters, software, EVERYTHING and more GIVEN TO YOU……….EVEN the instructions and lessons from the BEST of THE BEST! You are so excited! You have a yearning and a desire to capture the beauty, priceless expressions and memories……….but you never open the manual, you never take the time to understand the language or learn the relationship between iso, shutter speed and aperture. In fact, you put the camera in Auto mode and just start shooting and shooting and shooting. You never change the lens, you never try the flash or software. You don’t make the commitment of time, and energy or risk blowing a shot or 200. Why do that when you can just leave it in auto mode?  Auto mode requires very little from you. Who would do this with such a gift?

Sadly and all too often, we do just that in our relationship with God. We go to church, we bless our food, we listen to Christian radio, we “like” or type “praying” to FB posts, we may even join a bible study. There. Done. We are doing our part. We are in Auto MODE!!!

Now let’s look at the giver of this generous gift. Can you even imagine how disappointed the giver would be? Can you imagine how you would feel if you had given that kind of a gift and never saw it used to it’s potential? 

That’s the message and the lesson here in part 1. God sent us the way, the truth and the life; JESUS. His birth, His life, His ministry, miracles and messages all recorded for us by the ones who lived it out with Him. His arrest, trial, torture and death, all witnessed and journaled. His victorious resurrection power displayed and documented. It’s all there for us in the instruction manual, THE BIBLE. The Teacher is even supplied through the Holy Spirit. We have the opportunity to be an intimate part of the relationship between God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We can experience the beauty of relationship between the Three in One. But we’re stuck in AUTO MODE. 

We need to turn the dial, we need to open the manual, put on a new lens, listen to the lessons, heck…… TAKE NOTES! Get with others that know and will share their knowledge and experiences of God’s Wonder Working Power. Put in the time, effort and commit to learning all you can!! IT’S WORTH IT!!! Your LIFE depends on it!

Paul’s warning us, that we had better arm ourselves and be ready!  “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 for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.”

In our next post, we’ll take a look at the “well-made weapons of the best materials” and how to apply them so as not to be defeated by the one who is Hell bent on destroying us.

Prayer: Father God, I come before you today with a new, fresh, inspired commitment to know You, follow You, heed Your warnings and receive Your protection and grace. You are Lord and I am yours. Thank You for your patience and love. Forgive me for my lackadaisical ways. I am battle weary and ready to be armed with Your BEST because of Jesus. Amen. 

Encouragement: USE IT OR LOSE IT!