Hey Clawson Family!

Song:

Scripture:

Ephesians 6:10-18 New Living Translation

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[b] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[c] 17 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.[d]

Devotional:

Paul wasn’t praying that the Ephesian believers would receive their abundant inheritance of spiritual riches, blessings, power, and authority but that they would realize it was already theirs. As Christians, they already possess these things, just as we do. But until they realized it, what good could it accomplish? 

In reality, the spiritual armor he describes in Ephesians 6 is merely a repeat of—a different way of expressing—what Paul had been explaining in the first portion of the letter. How could they “put on” or “take up” things they didn’t know they had? The first step for them—the first step for us—in utilizing the spiritual resources we’ve been given is to open our spiritual eyes so we can see them. 

The story of Elisha and his vision-impaired servant in 2 Kings 6 is a prime example of this. The setting is a battle between the enraged king of Aram and the nation of Israel. 

Elisha’s servant got an eyeful. At first, he could only see the enemy, which likely left him no other response than fear and anxiety. But then he immediately became tuned in to a game-changing spiritual reality: more was at his disposal and working on his behalf than he could have imagined. What his physical eyes could see was no match for what they couldn’t see. Elisha’s prayer helped make him aware of all the resources and strength on his side fighting against the enemy. 

To be confident and victorious, you’ve got to be able to “see” it. 

In Ephesians 1, Paul accentuates just a few of the gifts God has given us. There are many more; each one specifically connects with your spiritual armor and weapons. The first key to understanding how they all fit into your ability to pin down the enemy is vision. You cannot use them if you’re not able to fully recognize them if you’re not aware of their availability and importance in successfully waging war against the enemy. 

Victory starts here. It starts today. It starts with a prayer for vision. So join Paul in asking the Lord to open your eyes more fully so you can not only detect the enemy’s activity, but can also be fully aware of what God has given you to disarm and defeat him in your life.

Journal:

In your journal, answer the following questions. Where has the enemy been attacking you in your life? Is there an area or even multiple areas that he has gained influence and is winning his game of tug of war? That you need to take it back violently? What areas in your life is it time for you to stand and fight for?

Training: 

Put your training into action you could join us for pre-service prayer at 9:00 am on Sunday Morning in the fellowship hall