Category Archives: Ephesians
You Say
If all of Ephesians 6:11 isn’t true, is any of it?
I say unequivocally it is. What do you say?
Ephesians 6:11 Amplified Bible (AMP) 11 Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. source
scheme A systematic plan of action (Free Dictionary)
strat·e·gy A plan of action resulting from strategy or intended to accomplish a specific goal. (Free Dictionary)
de·ceit The act or practice of deceiving; deception. A stratagem; a trick. The quality of being deceitful; falseness. (Free Dictionary)
Serious stuff, right? A systematic plan. A plan of action. The practice of deceiving.
Real serious!
So, what would we do if we knew a person with skin on their face had a systematic plan; a plan of action; and practiced deceiving us?
Would we pass it off without a thought? Would we write them off as harmless? Would we deny they exist?
No? Well . . . then.
So. What’s the Evil One up to in your life? Need help?
Romans 8:37 Amplified Bible (AMP) 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. source
Peering into the Possibility
Most often when I sit to read the Scriptures I have no agenda but I am purposed to hear whatever I hear and often what I hear (not verbally, of course) is a question and often the answer is oh, could it be.
Like today.
Luke 1 (because I am behind already – should have read Luke 1 yesterday, but catching up is as good as an on-time start). So, Luke 1; visiting the account of John’s (Cousin to Yeshua) birth.
Do you know what verse 15 says?
15 for he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord; and will never drink wine or liquor, and he will be filled with and empowered to act by the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. source
Does that mean no person who is drunk with wine or liquor (at least at the time of the intoxication) is filled with the Holy Spirit?
Wait!
Ephesians 5:18 (AMP) 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him. source
Drunk, intoxicated, plastered . . . etc is the definitive description.
Intoxication. Look closely at the word. INTOXICATION. What word do you see right there in the middle? Yep. TOXIC.
How about this definition? 1. The impaired condition caused by use of alcohol or a drug or other chemical substance source
And this one? 4. (Medicine) poisoning source
Do we dare peer into the possibility that consuming any substance to the point of TOXIC inhibits us from being filled with the Holy Spirit (at least at that intoxication)?
Reality proves that repeated intoxication is indeed toxic to the body and I’d say obviously even once is toxic to the soul of man (or woman).
Like it or not, I think the answer to our second question is yes.
I just came to hear.
Foot Gear
Shoes. Who doesn’t want a well-fitting, comfortable, and fashionable pair of shoes?
And what do shoes do? Well, they protect our feet from earth’s elements; cold, wet, sharp and/or damaging objects. We need shoes; we need a buffer between our feet and the terrain we touch down on.
Ephesians 6: 15 and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. source
Spiritually we also need a buffer, protection, from the cold, hot, hostile, sharp and damaging elements of this sin-cursed planet. And that protection is the Gospel of Peace. The Gospel of the Prince of Peace.
When functioning is healthy what do feet do?
Stand. Walk. Run.
And so
Spiritually, we stand righteous when we are in Christ.
Spiritually, we walk in peace and safety when we walk with JESUS.
Spiritually, we run, when we are in Christ, when we have shod our feet with His Gospel, we flee temptation.
We have a Belt of Truth, we have Righteous Body Armor to cover our inner being and we have well-fitting Foot Gear that enables us to maneuver hostile terrain in peace! Let’s get Dressed.
And we have PJs! :)
