Get the ARMOUR for the war

Ephesians 6 : 11-12 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

God gave us the equipment to protect us in the battle against principalities. The attack is spiritual, and it is damaging in every day possible. When we have the will to go to war for God but don’t know how to protect ourselves from the devil’s weapon, we are likely to be an easy target to put down. In the letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul warned them not only to have a strong relationship with God but also the armoury to fight the enemy. Like a physical battle, the spiritual world is also in constant turmoil. There are only two sides to war—the good and evil. 

God’s armoury that we need to wear is mentioned in verses 16-18, above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

We need faith, the firm grip of salvation, the word of God, and prayers. All these elements combined, and we will be invincible to the devil’s traps and evil power. However, knowing that we are still prone to temptations of the flesh, we don’t always have all the equipment for every battle. This fact made us aware we need God’s grace to complete us. We, as humans, are not created as a strong being. God made us dependent on Him for a reason. He never wants us to detach from Him. It is unnatural to live without God’s guidance in this life. The constant needs for validation, acceptance, and a greater meaning to life than oneself are clear indications we are connected to a higher being that created this universe.

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DO NOT BEFRIEND the DARKNESS

Ephesians 5: 11-13 “…have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.”

Do not stay in the darkness. Do not befriend those who love it and make their living from deceit and manipulations. Nowadays, we have big misconceptions about understanding love and justice in the Christian world. Some churches are convinced that loving means accepting everything, everyone and all behaviours, even the bad ones. The dominant culture in congregations believes that if they condemn a certain act, they are judging, regardless of the impact caused by the person. Therefore, it is hard for anyone to differentiate right from wrong. In the name of love, everything is permitted and allowed. This statement is untrue and never valid if we are to follow Jesus’ principles. 

There is clear guidance on what we can and can’t do. These include which type of people we can befriend, the community to interact with, and even the places to stay. In the Old Testament, we have Lot’s life story as a reference. Lot never asked God’s guidance on who, where and how he should conduct his life. As a result of his associating with the wrong people from an ungodly community in a sinful environment, Lot lost not just his possessions but also his family and livelihood. 

Not everyone is meant to be with us because not every soul can connect with us and vice versa. God created us for a specific purpose, and this includes reaching out to certain people, at a designated time and place. Yet one thing is certain, we need boundaries to keep the darkness away from us. The first line starts in our hearts and minds. When we are willing to keep ourselves clean, God will help us to make it happen. 

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WORDS = POWER

Ephesians 4: 29-30 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Jokes, sarcasm, swearing and insults have been part of any culture since the beginning of human time. Not all of them are negative, but most of them aren’t meant to develop anyone. All four of them made the same statements, to show people the current state that they are in either as an individual or as a nation. 

Bad jokes and sarcasm go hand in hand to remind people of their bad habits and shortcomings. At the same time, swearing and insults are used to release frustration and anger. Throughout time, these four types of statements have had profound impacts on our history. Due to some improper jokes, resentment occurs and piles up into unhealthy grudges. Likewise, to insults, wars were made, and people were killed just to prove one’s ego. 

Words have power. We understand its power because we believe God made His creation with Words and not a blueprint drawing. In the beginning, was the Word, and Jesus is “The Word become flesh.” Therefore, anything that utilizes words will have great consequences in the spiritual and physical world. These facts show why we should be careful with our minds and what comes out of our mouths. As much as possible, we need to select our words wisely. We ask the Holy Spirit to be our break whenever we are provoked to say corrupt words that will hurt people. 

Selecting our words to edify others doesn’t mean we lie to mask reality. At times, we do need to correct our friends and loved ones with words that seem harsh as a warning. Yet, when our heart intends to build up the person, the words that come out will have the power to bless the hearer. It all came back to the core of our hearts. What we want to achieve and why we want to do it. Everything we desire will be reflected in our actions and chosen words when we communicate. 

The Ephesians was one of the richest congregations in finance and education. They didn’t lack the knowledge to communicate well. What they needed was the love to develop each other through their words. Paul warned them that what they did could grieve the Holy Spirit. It is not a small matter, as it means they will grieve God Himself. With words, we can curse and pray. Therefore, love should be the base for everything we think, do and say.

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Speak the TRUTH as a habit

Ephesians 4: 25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbour,” for we are members of one another.

Lying is often considered as a small sin. That is why we have the term white lies to justify the action in exchange for a better condition. One of the reasons why most people make lies as their problem-solving is due to the instant outcome that could happen. Lies often give a quick result that people want. 

When someone is telling the truth, we don’t know the response and how the other party would react. Second, if miscommunication happens, the truth will be distorted and easily turned into another lie. Yet, the most problematic would be the reputation of the truth itself. People often dislike the truth because they think it will hurt them. “The truth hurts” is engrained inside our minds when it’s clearly another lie. 

God says the truth shall set you free. It is not supposed to hurt you, especially when we know that the truth in our faith means Jesus Christ Himself. Does Jesus hurt people? No, He heals them, loves them and never gives up on developing anyone to be the best version of themselves. The truth is not painful. It’s not a condition where we are constantly convicted as sinners. On the contrary, it reminds us that we are winners in the race against evil.

“Let each one of you speak the truth to your neighbour,” which means we should say the truth a habit. We should try our best to speak it lovingly to encourage people to be better characters in the future.

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GROWing UP is NOT an OPTION

Ephesians 4:14 – 15 “That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head …Christ.“

After Paul explained unity in the body of Christ and went on to write what the congregation should strive to become. He gave the analogy of a growing child who will be a fully grown adult through God’s processes. It is someone who will help others and be the servant leader for the people.

The analogy was on point, knowing that babies and children are adorable. However, they are fully vulnerable, dependent and constantly need attention. These behaviours are acceptable for new believers that we classify as baby Christians. Yet eventually, all babies will grow, as it is not an option for a human to stay as a child forever. God made life so all living beings can absorb new things and apply them to their life to fulfil what God assigned them to do. When we give ourselves to Him, the refining process will be non-stop, even in the afterlife. Therefore, anyone who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior has to embrace the requirements God has set before them.

Now, how do we acknowledge spiritual maturity in a believer? Well, it is very straightforward. People who are secure in the Lord would not easily be swayed by sweet talks, empty praises and provocations. Has the courage to stand true to what she or he believes in, isn’t quick to make careless decisions based on their emotional state, but knows what God wants in every situation. Acquire good self-control and do not easily take sides just because of one report. A character growing in the Lord, who also has a close relationship with God and understands what is right and wrong to solve problems with heavenly wisdom. Not dependent on doctrines alone or fell to the temptation of replacing God’s relationship with His creation in any form possible. 

Growing up always involves discipline, knowledge, perseverance, courage, pain and fun. It is inevitable for any follower of Christ to stay in the same state as when they first met Jesus. God will make us grow whether we like it or not. He will constantly refine us to be leaders in His format and equip us to declare His glory as His first plan for humanity. Therefore, be prepared for a new phase in our lives every time God believe that we are ready for the next level. 

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-Unity- is not easy

Ephesians 4: 1-3 ” I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

In this letter, Paul wrote to ensure that the new followers understand the strength and impact of unity as one body, the body of Christ. Unity is not something easy for anyone to attain. We, humans, tend to be selfish and self-centred. Yet, at the same time, we need group validation and acceptance. This paradox is a recipe for a disaster. The good news is that we will have the will and understanding to unite with others especially when we have a common goal. That is to praise and expand God’s influence.   

Unfortunately, even unity amongst believers is often a great challenge. A community, a group or a family can be united if each member has the will to contribute and stay to develop each other. It is fragile and often easily changed into a great fight between defending who is right and wrong. 

We hear the phrase iron sharpens irons, or it takes a diamond to shape another diamond. However, we often forget that growth can’t happen unless we, as a community, give ourselves freely for God to work in us. Too many church members made ministry their gathering event rather than a time of devotion to God’s work. Most churches would tolerate laziness, disrespectful and irresponsible behaviours in the name of not being judgemental. Yet these actions will only lead to the destruction of God’s children’s quality and character. The opposite is also as damaging when a church is worshipping legalism and doctrines more than hearing directly from God to have a mutual relationship with Him.

Throughout history, we have lived with superficial unity. It is a condition filled with fear, anger and distrust that can only last until the next tyrant comes to the scene and destroys the previous dictator. Therefore we know that a true unity out of love and trust isn’t attainable without God’s intervention. The outcome is clear, a unity that embraces hearts will bring forth healthy communities, a good environment and a thriving economy. The supernatural will manifest in the physical to always remind us of what is the sole element for unity in God’s body. It is Jesus’ sacrifice and our faith in Him. When we focus on doing His will, rest assured we are united in His purpose to be blessings for others.

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GRACE : a gift

Ephesians 2 : 8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

We are here by God’s grace, not by accident. We are present today due to His grace, not due to circumstances. We are saved for eternity because of His gift of life not because of the sacrifices we made in our lifetime. No matter what the reality tells us, it is the truth that even bitter incidents such as wars, genocides and murders can be ended and solved. Human heinous crimes can be stopped and rectified only if we as a society acknowledge and let God intervene in our decision-making. He has the power to fix everything and has already promised us hope that we will not disappoint if we come to Him for help. Unfortunately, we often refuse His gift of wisdom and law to use in our justice system. Thus, the gift of life becomes a nightmare to so many people.

When all things are a gift, then what we need to do is ask. A gift is a present given freely by the giver. We can’t force anyone to give something if the person doesn’t want to. Therefore, God gave us conditions on how He will give His grace to us. Following His words and commandments, but most importantly, is to continue maintaining a good relationship with Him. Even the Bible can’t describe God’s character fully. God is much too immense to be captured in words. Only God Himself can communicate His heart in the right manner to our minds. 

In Ephesians, Paul wrote that we are God’s workmanship. Jesus gave us His life as the utmost role model and His Holy Spirit to guide us even in this century. Following God requires constant communication with Him. Like any relationship, it is a process that requires a commitment. God is moulding us to ensure we are in our most effective to do His will and thus able to expand His grace unto others.

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OUR INHERITANCE

Ephesians 1 : 11 -12 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

When we hear the word inheritance, what things cross our minds? Is it wealth, property, knowledge or authority? At times, we would receive all that, but other times, we were given the absolute opposite. Debts, problems, unsolved questions, and even curses are all common parts of what we receive from the previous generations. 

In the letter to the congregation in Ephesians, Paul wrote about the inheritance they will receive. As followers of Christ, all of us will accept God’s love, eternal life and His power. And just like human inheritance that passed down what they had to the next lineage, God’s inheritance for us is passing down what He has to us.  

When we receive His inheritance, we also carry the responsibility that comes with it. God has given us talents, blessings and power not only for us to enjoy individually but utilize them to help others and expand His kingdom. God has given us the end goal of what we need to achieve with Him. That is to gather as many souls as we know and lead them back to His embrace. With this purpose and what God has equipped us with, we are ready to do His will to make His name glorious.

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ACKNOWLEDGING SINS & SALVATION

Ephesians 1 :7  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

Forgiveness of sins seems to be an over-the-top statement nowadays. People stop using this phrase in daily conversation because many are careful not to sound judgmental towards others. We have gone to another extreme point, from a highly prejudiced and closed society to communities that are inclusive and open-minded. Yet, our inclusivity is often veiled with fear that others will judge us instead of our genuine care to welcome new souls into our circle.

Thus, the word forgiveness of sins becomes too one-sided because it means we made a grave mistake. Nowadays, wrong and right are subjective and can be determined by many factors, including the goodwill in our actions, even when the means to get it is destructive. 

The word sin is so strong because it means something is wrong. When something is wrong, then something must be right. Declaring that we know what is right and wrong seems to be great arrogance in this era. Yet God is clear in His message. Without the knowledge of right and wrong, we won’t recognize sin and salvation. When we can’t decipher what is evil, then we aren’t able to appreciate the force of good that is supposed to triumph over it. All His creation needs salvation because everyone has fallen short of His glory due to the fall. So yes, there was a mistake, a fault, a wrongdoing that happened for God to fix and redeem. 

We must hold on to this understanding of forgiveness. We will not need forgiveness if we think we are never wrong. The lies that the devil instilled in us were ancient, as he made us believe that we are invincible when in reality, we are very fragile. We need forgiveness because none of us are free from mistakes. People harm others intentionally or not. The impact is real, and we can see it everywhere. Only God Himself can redeem all the damages done through millennial of hate, deceit and death. 

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WISDOM to KNOW GOD

Ephesians 1:17  “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.”

Wisdom is something which everyone wants. It is God’s gift for us to understand His ways and solve problems with efficiency and love. When there is wisdom in decision-making, it will be a fair share for everyone. Even though it’s rare to always have an equal outcome, with wisdom, one can move forward with less damage and more results. Unfortunately, this understanding of problem-solving isn’t that popular anymore. Nowadays, people focus more on emotions and actions rather than thinking of the long-term consequences.

In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul wrote that he was praying for them to receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation. Yes, those two are spirits, just like anger, greed or lust, each one of them a spirit that affects our lives. The difference between the spiritual and physical is minimal. All changes can occur in us when we allow them to come in and influence us. With the bodies, the impact is visible. Whereas with spirits, it takes a while to manifest. 

With these two spirits, we can know God better. It takes a lot of knowledge, character, and help from the Holy Spirit to understand how God works and who He is as a creator. We tend to question everything, but when we have wisdom, we will have the revelation of how things work and how God created life in its original design and function. 

It takes the same process of knowing God as knowing someone we love. Whether a friend or a relative, everyone takes time, trust and mutual interest in one another. However, unlike a human, God is immense in His personality and presence. We might understand only a glimpse of His character, yet the intimacy and the bond built between us and Him will make us bold and strong enough to face any challenges ahead. Therefore, let’s ask God for the spirit of wisdom to be closer to Him and for others to maintain peace.

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