Tag: armor of God

Testing the Spirits

Job 4-5

Psalm 94

Hebrews 7

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            There are going to be some bits in today’s reading that are going to be a little bit scary once we dig a little, fair warning.  Potentially terrifying, if you hyperfocus on it (don’t).  If you are an anxious type of person already, you may want to skip over today’s devotion and quickly skim over the Job portion of the reading without looking too closely, and I’m being completely serious.  Nothing to see here folks, move along, move along…

            Last chance.  No?  Ok, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.  Today we’re going to be talking about some disturbing stuff.  If you are ever fortunate enough to look at a really, really old world map (mappae mundi, or “map of the world”, there are about 1100 surviving from the middle ages) that ancient mariners used, you’ll see a number of interesting illustrations and often a written note to warn the sailors along the lines of “Heere therre be Monsters“.  Well, they be here too, let’s talk about it.

            Firstly, are you aware that God sometimes tests and instructs us in our dreams?  It’s true, it’s scripturally and experientially proven.  If you want to do a deep dive on that subject, check out the devotion from 2/21/26 (my birthday!).  Job 33:14-18 has one of the clearest explanations of that: “14Indeed God speaks once, Or twice, yet no one perceives it. 15In a dream, a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls on men, While they slumber in their beds, 16Then He opens the ears of men, And seals in their discipline, 17That He may turn man aside from his conduct, And keep man from pride; 18He holds back his soul from the pit, And his life from passing over to death by a weapon.” (LSB).  This tells us clearly that God (or, God’s agent/s) not only speaks to us in our dreams, but instructs us, for the purpose of correcting our conduct and keeping us safe and from dying.  It also lets us know it’s often subtle, so subtle that we may not perceive it (unless we’re really paying attention).

            In Job 4:12-19 (or -21 if you prefer the longer reading) we see a very disturbing thing.  It appears that spiritual beings that are not of a benevolent disposition can also communicate in this same manner.  “12“Now a word was brought to me stealthily, And my ear received a whisper of it. 13Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men, 14Dread came upon me, and trembling, And made the multitude of my bones shake in dread. 15Then a spirit swept by my face; The hair of my flesh bristled up. 16It stood still, but I could not recognize its appearance; A form was before my eyes; There was silence, then I heard a voice: 17‘Can mankind be right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker? 18He puts no trust even in His slaves; And against His angels He charges error. 19How much more those who dwell in houses of clay Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth!” (LSB).  Is it just me, or does this diatribe seem like it’s coming from a disgruntled former employee?  The scary thing to me is, this is clearly not a benevolent spirit.  I’m not sure if it’s actually malevolent or not, but it’s certainly seditious.  It reminds me of the character Wormtongue, in the Lord of the Rings books/movies; using clever words to plant seeds of death and decay. 

            I pointed this out a few months ago to a beloved friend of mine who attends a bible study with me, and the information genuinely disturbed her.  The thing is, in our modern “scientific” world, we often disregard anything that we can’t explain away conveniently.  Scriptures tell us, however, that the world around us is much, much bigger than we perceive with our limited senses.  We know that there are spiritual beings, because scripture tells us there are.  I’m not talking about ghosts and stuff like that, I’m talking about spiritual beings that are outside our immediate range of perception, other species that exist differently than we do.  Do we understand it entirely? Probably not.  Do we have evidence of it’s existence in scripture? Absolutely.

            2 Kings 6:16-17 describes Elisha praying for his terrified servant to “open his eyes”, the servant can then see the myriad flaming chariots of God’s army surrounding them.  In Daniel 10: 12-13 we see a messenger angel telling Daniel that he was delayed because “a prince of the kingdom of persia” resisted him (we assume this is a spiritual being).  In Acts 12, we see Peter freed by an angel from a prison where he was soon to be executed.   Paul warns us explicitly in Ephesians 6:12 that we don’t fight against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil, and John tells us in 1 John 4:1 that we must “test the spirits, to see whether they are from God.”.  As human beings, our perceptions are limited, there are things unseen that we dwell within and among.  It’s very scary, it’s hard to punch something in the face if you can’t see it, even harder if you can’t or won’t even acknowledge it’s existence.  So, what are we to do?

            Right now would be a very good point to ask you to take a peek at yesterday’s devotional about the “Courts of Heaven” if you haven’t already.  In it there’s a very important understanding: every heavenly being and spiritual creature is under the authority of the Most High God.  In Job 1, when Satan (literally, “The Adversary”) wanted to do Job harm, God’s express permission was required before it was allowed.  EVERYTHING IN EXISTENCE IS UNDER GOD’S AUTHORITY.  That’s not in and of itself a guarantee of your personal safety, but here are a couple practical steps that you can take to help you in the spiritual battle:

PRACTICAL SPIRITUAL SELF DEFENSE (AND OFFENSE)

  1. Be a child of God.  Fathers protect their children, fiercely.  God will tear apart anything that tries to harm His children.  If the spirit of God is within you, lesser beings will flee.
  2. Pray, constantly and without ceasing.  When you see a cute bear cub you’re unlikely to go try and pet it if Mama bear is staring at you, growling loudly, hackled up and drooling while baring her teeth.  If you are talking to your Father, He is listening and watching closely and the spiritual enemies that seek to offer you harm will slip away and try to avoid notice.
  3. Put on the Armor of God.  Read Eph 6:10-18, it’s no accident that this comes during the same talk about being in spiritual warfare  Every defensive item listed is there to protect you.  Examine and then put on every item discussed.
  4. Carry a Sword.  In that little Armor of God section, there is only 1 offensive weapon that we have, and that is the word of God.  It’s not a coincidence that as a response to every temptation that Jesus overcame, he responded with scripture.  Carry your sword, the bible.  I don’t mean just put a bible in the glove box, I mean read it, study it, memorize it, and apply it to your life.  Don’t take lightly the fact that God gave His words, the same words that can birth galaxies and life, to you as a roadmap.
  5. Love God.  Know in your heart that God is supreme.  There is nothing greater than God.  No force, no power, no being, nothing is more powerful than God.  Lean into that, and cling to God.  If God allows something, even if it may be painful momentarily, know and trust that it will be for your benefit in the long run because “God works all things together for the good of  those who love Him”. (Rom 8:28)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Have you thought about this much?
  2. Were the above steps helpful to you? What other ideas can help?
  3. Have you ever been under spiritual attack?  Consider the instance(s) and the outcome(s), what could you have done better?

PRAYER

Father God, Creator and Ruler of all things, thank you for my life.  Please guide me, teach me, help me to be a child who pleases, and keep me safe from those who wish to do me harm.  Instruct me on the way that I should go, and grant me Your spirit.  Thank you, in Jesus name, Amen.

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The Sword of the Spirit

Old Testament: 1 Kings 13-14

Poetry: Proverbs 15

New Testament: Ephesians 6:17b

Ephesians 6:17b – “…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

We have been given the most powerful weapon of all – God’s Word. It’s so powerful that Jesus used the Word of God as he engaged in battle during his forty days in the wilderness. Three times, the devil proposed a tempting offer to the Son of God. And three times, the Son of God used the Word to fight back. After strike three, the devil turned tail and left Jesus alone. 

Have you ever used the Word of God while experiencing a spiritual attack? There have been nights where I have been lying in bed consumed with wonders and worries not able to sleep. I laid my Bible open on the edge of my bed, placed my hand upon the written word and eventually drifted off to a peaceful sleep. 

One particular day, anxiety was getting the better of me and the only thing that kept my mind from spiraling out of control was reading aloud 2 Samuel 22. I must have read that chapter twenty-two times that day. That day wasn’t easy, I was emotionally exhausted by the time the sun went down. But with the help of God’s Word, I managed to fight back and extinguish the flaming arrows that bombarded my mind. 

The author of Hebrews declares that “the word of God is living and active”. This is not just any sword, it is a double-edged sword that does damage going in and coming out of its intended target. It’s not a sword that will go dull or become irrelevant, it’s a sword that has withstood the test of time. It’s not just a sword for the elite warrior, it’s a sword that someone on the front lines of battle would use for both defensive and offensive maneuvers. It’s not a sword that is meant to be a decorative display, it’s a sword that is meant to be used.

An experienced soldier isn’t someone who has just seen a lot of battles. A soldier of high caliber is one who took their “basic training” seriously and continues to practice and hone their skills, even when they are not on “active duty”. 

Any professional athlete knows that their off season is not a multi-month vacation. It’s an opportunity to recover from injuries, cross train in other physical activities, continue with proper nutrition, and work on the finer skills of their game. 

Likewise, when we find ourselves in a period of peace, it is not time to lay aside our swords and eat grapes all day long. We need to be preparing for the next attack. If the Word of God is living and active – then we must also be living and active. Daily engagement with the Word is crucial, but so is being part of a church fellowship. Staying involved in local ministry, putting your spiritual gifts to good use is a way to stay ‘living and active’. 

While I am thrilled that you are reading these words, have you opened up your Bible today? It is a powerful weapon, forged with priceless materials, intended to protect and defend against the enemy’s attacks. Use it in times of battle. Use it in times of peace. Know this weapon inside and out. And may you be victorious as “you stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

-Bethany Ligon

Reflection Question

  1. How can you use the Sword of the Spirit during times of war? And in times of peace? What has God’s Word provided for you at different times?
  2. Can you tell of a time that God’s Word was exactly the weapon you needed? What did you find there? What did it provide for you? How did it change the battle? Who can you share this testimony with?
  3. Where do you tend to turn when you don’t turn to the Bible? How do those battles go?
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Head Protection

Old Testament: 1 Kings 11-12

Poetry: Proverbs 14

New Testament: Ephesians 6:17a

Ephesians 6:17a – “Take the helmet of salvation…”

Here’s a disquieting fact to start our devotion today: According to the International Brain Injury Association, 5.3 million Americans are living with some kind of disability due to a traumatic brain injury. 5.3 million is the population of South Carolina! Of course there are varying degrees of injury, but most are due to car accidents and sports-related incidents. 

And while 5.3 million is a staggering number, I’m willing to bet that there are so many more people living with spiritual battle scars in their minds. 

Our minds are such a vulnerable space and it’s one of the enemy’s favorite areas to attack. At least, that’s been my experience. Anyone else struggle with random thoughts popping up that obviously aren’t from God? 

But why attack the mind? Why not make the heart the primary target? Because our thoughts turn into words, which turn into actions, which turn into habits, which turn into our character. James, the half brother to Jesus, said it this way, “It is the evil that a person wants that tempts him. This desire causes sin. Then the sin grows and brings death.” (James 1:14-15, ICB) This is why it is imperative to protect this part of our body. 

For the apostle Paul, the author of this Epistle, the helmet was the perfect metaphor; after all, he was under house arrest when he wrote this letter. He probably had a lot of face time with a Roman guard who most likely wore some kind of helmet. Each piece of the helmet added another layer of protection against injury or death.

Paul calls this piece of the armor the helmet of salvation. The Greek form of the word for salvation is used only in this verse in all of the New Testament and it means “peace”. As we don this piece of armor, we can have the “peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 4:7)

Where does this salvation or peace come from? It comes from being in the Word of God daily: reading, studying, meditating, and memorizing it. We need to be intentional about the media that we consume and the conversations that we participate in. We need to be aware of entertaining the thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere. Protecting our minds against the thoughts that flow in and out should be something that is carefully monitored as we go about our daily living.

If you want to be in God’s Shalom peace while you engage in spiritual battle, be sure to wear the helmet of salvation.

-Bethany Ligon

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you think the enemy attacks minds? What about yours in particular?
  2. Describe the progression from thoughts to words to action to habits to character. Give an example that leads to ungodly character. Give an example that leads to godly character. Which type of thoughts do you work at thinking most?
  3. What protection is available to you against the thoughts that lead to ungodliness and death? In what ways can salvation and peace mean the same thing? What can you do (today) to strengthen your protection that God has made available to you?
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Fitted Feet

Old Testament: 1 Kings 7 & 8

Poetry: Proverbs 12

New Testament: Ephesians 6:15

When was the last time you regretted wearing a pair of shoes? I recently was on the hunt for a pair of gray sandals and I found some that I thought I might like from an online store. I ordered them and at first, they seemed to be very cushy and comfortable. As I wore them throughout the day, I noticed that the straps were rubbing the bottom of my ankle. It never caused a blister, thankfully, but it was just irritating. 

Anyone who is on their feet all day can tell you the value of having comfortable and supportive shoes. Whether it be someone in the medical field, law enforcement, military, food service industry, or in the classroom, having a good pair of shoes is a necessity. 

But what does having supportive footwear have to do with the Armor of God? A soldier’s boots (or sandals as ancient Roman soldiers would wear) are likely the one piece of their attire that they use for hours on end, every single day. They train with their weapons while wearing their boots. They go on marathon-long hikes while wearing their boots. They eat their meals while wearing their boots. And sometimes, they will even sleep while wearing their boots. If a soldier’s feet are sore or tired or have blisters, he or she becomes limited in what they can do – at least without any pain.  

Our verse today talks about being “fitted with readiness”. A soldier must be ready to go at any given moment. Likewise, as believers fighting in a spiritual battle, we must be prepared to take action at any point in time. 

And just what are we to take action with? The Gospel of Peace. This gospel includes the message of salvation and the Kingdom of God. As warriors in a spiritual battle, we need to remember whose army we fight for. When we are laser-focused on what we’re fighting for, we can be empowered and strengthened to fight against anyone or anything that is our opposition. So when temptation or persecution comes our way, we can make sure that we are in the ready position, set to take our Commander’s orders.

But also, the Gospel of Peace is something that we should be comfortable sharing with others who have not yet discovered it for themselves. Being ready to explain to others what we believe and why we believe it is another way to wield this piece of armor. Conversations with our friends, family, work buddies, and even random people you encounter in your day-to-day life can sometimes lead to discussions about our faith. When we are ready to share the Good News, we are showing ourselves to be prepared soldiers in the Lord’s army.

So let’s lace up our boots, and get ready to share the Good News of the Gospel of Peace!

-Bethany Ligon

Reflection Questions

  1. The gospel is only called the “gospel of peace” here in a passage about the spiritual war we are in. How would you describe the gospel of peace and why do you think this wording was chosen for this passage?
  2. Do you feel like you are ready to take action to follow your Commander’s orders today? What do you think could happen if you ARE ready? What could happen if you AREN’T ready for action? What could you do now to be more prepared? Do you think you have ever used an excuse of not being ready when God wanted you to do something?
  3. How can you share the gospel of peace with others this week?
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the Breastplate of Righteousness

Old Testament: 1 Kings 5 & 6

Poetry: Proverbs 11

New Testament: Ephesians 6:14b

As we continue our study on the Armor of God, we come across two terms that are not frequently used in our day to day vernacular: breastplate and righteousness. So let’s dig a little deeper in order to come to a better understanding.

The breastplate is the piece of armor that goes directly on top of the chest, protecting the heart, lungs, spleen, liver, and even the stomach. Longer breastplates would also cover and protect the intestines. Without this vitally important piece of the armor, any direct impalement by a sword, spear, or arrow could prove to be fatal. 

In modern warfare protection, soldiers wear vests made of a material called Kevlar. Invented by Stephanie Kwolek in 1965, its usefulness is not limited to body armor, but extends to brake pads, space suits, and drum heads. It’s been tested to be ten times stronger than steel, is capable of absorbing high-velocity impacts, and withstand extreme hot and cold temperatures. (Thanks Google AI for the information!) Today’s warriors don it knowing that their life could depend on it!

Righteousness is a word that is typically limited to “churchy conversations”. (Unless you were in high school in the early 90’s and claimed that something thrilling was “totally righteous”.) But what does this word really mean? Basically, it means to be in right standing before God; morally and ethically sound; to do the right thing with a pure heart. 

So how does a person become righteous? Romans 3:22-24 says, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Let’s try to tie this together. When we wear the breastplate of righteousness, we are literally layering on spiritual protection upon our hearts. Without this gear, we are vulnerable to the attacks from the enemy that could prove to be fatal. When we wear this armor of righteousness, we are able to stand before God and be seen worthy and faithful. His Holy Spirit will protect us. 

Some may be tempted to try to shortcut the cost and find cheap substitutes for this level of protection. Whether it be trying to buy our own righteousness by being a “good person” or living an inauthentic lifestyle, where your words and actions cover up a deceitful heart, the Bible is clear that there is only ONE source for a legitimate breastplate of righteousness. We must have faith in Jesus. Faith that accepts Jesus as Savior and Lord. Faith that believes the Lord will fight for us. Faith that commits to standing firm when everything around us crumbles. Faith that submits everything, our hopes and dreams, our plans and purposes, our resources and relationships, our past, present and future to the One who is called Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God. 

Yes, it is costly. But the protection and confidence that it provides is invaluable for the fight that we must fight. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph 6:12)

-Bethany Ligon

Reflection Questions

  1. How would you rate your righteousness: “to be in right standing before God; morally and ethically sound; to do the right thing with a pure heart”?
  2. How would you rate your faith in Jesus? What happens if you try to have righteousness apart from faith in Jesus? What does faith in Jesus lead you to be and do?
  3. How does a breastplate of righteousness protect you from the powers of this dark world? What would Satan want you to believe about the breastplate of righteousness? Where do you see this attitude/belief in the world?
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Belt of Truth Buckled

Old Testament: 1 Kings 3 & 4

Poetry: Proverbs 10

New Testament: Ephesians 6:14a

Heads up! This devotion is going to take you in a mini dive into the history of the buckle of all things! But first…

Many of us have read our key verse more than a handful of times in our lives. And we’ve even been taught about the belt of truth in our Sunday School lessons. It’s been explained that in ancient times, before a foot race or prior to battle, runners and warriors would tuck their long garments into their cloth belt, in order to provide free movement for the legs. 

As I considered this first half of this verse, the word buckle stuck out to me. My thoughts went a little something like this:

“Wait a minute…a buckle in ancient Roman times? This doesn’t make sense. The earliest I’ve ever seen buckles in history books is on the Pilgrims. Did Roman soldiers wear buckles?”

A few clicks in my web browser confirms that indeed, buckles were part of the Roman body armor. Depending on the type of armor, there could be one main buckle, or in segmented forms of armor, many mini buckles to hold all the pieces together. What’s more, the more elite soldiers had super fancy buckles, whereas those that served in the infantry had simpler and more practical buckles. 

Who knew???

With this new knowledge, our key verse today starts to take on an expanded meaning. Without the buckled belt of truth, the breastplate won’t stay in place and the protective plates on the shoulders wouldn’t be able to stay attached. Also, the tunic part of the armor which protected the groin wouldn’t have anything to attach to if it weren’t for the buckle. 

It all starts with the buckle on the belt. Just like it all starts with Truth. 

  • John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
  • John 8:32 – “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
  • 2 Timothy – “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
  • Psalm 25:5 – “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
  • Ephesians 1:13 – “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation…”

The start of our key verse in Ephesians chapter 6 begins with “Stand firm then…”. If we are ignorant of the Truth, there is no way that we can stand firm. We must know the Truth of YAHWEH, and His Son, Jesus. We must know the Truth of salvation and the coming Kingdom. If we fail to know these truths, then our efforts to stand firm against the attacks of our opposition will be for nothing. 

So buckle up and stand firm in Truth.

-Bethany Ligon

Reflection Questions

  1. What would happen if you went into battle but couldn’t keep your pants up, or were restricted by your long garments? How important is truth? How do the other components of the armor rely on truth? What happens if we try to stand firm without truth?
  2. What truths do you believe about YAHWEH, His Son, Jesus, salvation and the coming Kingdom? Are there any that you are unsure about and need to study more? How do these specific truths affect other pieces of your armor: salvation, righteousness, faith, and gospel of peace?
  3. What can you do today to be better buckled into the truth?
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The Struggle is Real

Old Testament: 2 Kings 15 & 16

Poetry: Psalm 134

New Testament: Ephesians 6

‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” – Ephesians 6:12

In 2002 the phrase “the struggle is real” was popularized by Tupac on his posthumous track, “Fame.”  The phrase up to this point was commonly used to discuss poverty, gang violence, racism, as well as more serious topics – until it entered the realm of pop culture. Fast forward ten years, the phrase takes an ironic turn, being used to qualify simple human conflict that was far from struggle. Constant yawns at work because you stayed up too late? The struggle is real.  Starting a new diet where you have to exchange your pasta for salad? The struggle is real. Have trouble opening a pickle jar? The struggle is real.  While this was a quick quip to be funny, it diminishes the real struggles that are faced in the world, forgetting what serious things are being battled in this every single day.

Paul closes his letter, and I close my time as your SGL writer,  by reminding us all that the struggle is indeed real.  Churchy Christians often forget that the struggle isn’t the style of worship music played, that camp is in a different venue, how long the sermon is, the logo that goes on the shirts and the signs, or the color of the carpet.  It is okay to care and have an opinion about these things, but if this is the conflict we have for Christ, this is an ironic, fake drama to distract us from our real issues.  There are greater forces at work trying to destroy the Gospel message. They already have power.  They already make gains.  They already are in control.  Open your eyes and ears, because the struggle is real!

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” – Ephesians 6:13-17

How are we to combat these forces? We need to stop playing the simulation shooter inside the four walls of the church and ready ourselves for the call of duty (see what I did there).  Your salvation is the target. This means you must stand your ground by readying yourself for battle as a soldier.  Only then will you stand firm.

This starts with the tactical belt of truth, which girds up our lions to make us more physically available to fight. We can move against the forces of evil swifter because the truth of God is an innate understanding (Psa 19).  Next, the bulletproof vest of righteousness that covers us along with the shield of faith. There will be shots fired at who we once were, but when we believe, we are covered by the blood of Christ (Phil 3:9-10). We also have the tactical boots of readiness.  These go wherever God calls us.  God makes us ready to move quickly to any terrain, literally or metaphorically, as a peacekeeping force, sharing hope and peace as Christ did (John 14:17).  Finally, there is the helmet of salvation and the semi-automatic Word of God. Though there is a constant barrage of targeted messages aiming for a headshot, we need to remember that God so loved us (John 3:16).  Additionally, we pull the trigger to directly take on evil.  Jesus shows us that we can combat temptation by faith-driven speaking of scripture (Matt 4).

There are forces after you every single day. The struggle is so real. Don’t be a casualty because you are not ready to meet your foe.  Garb yourself in the armor of God, knowing the battle belongs to the Lord.

“Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. (Be Strong In The Lord!) Victory Belongs To The Lord.” 2 Chron. 20:15b

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What ‘fake struggles’ do you spend too much time and effort fighting? What is the real battle that matters? Where do you see evidence of this real battle?
  2. What are the pieces of spiritual armor in Ephesians 6 and what is the purpose of each piece?
  3. Is there a piece that you think you use well? Which piece(s) do you need to work with some more to improve your battle against the evil forces?
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Take Your Stand

Ephesians 6

Friday, August 19, 2022

On several occasions, I have had the opportunity to witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The precision with which this exercise takes place is practically mesmerizing. But what I find even more fascinating are the tales that are told of when those on duty face extraordinary weather events and refuse to take shelter. They hold their ground. 

Paul concludes his letter to the Ephesians with more words of wisdom and encouragement. He reminds his readers that they will face the devil’s schemes and that they better be prepared. 

Preparation for battle takes many forms: from the physical training to acquiring the best equipment. But the most important thing is to have the mindset of a warrior. What Paul is telling the Ephesian church and you and I is that we HAVE to believe that God is who He says He is. We MUST take heart and have faith that He will do what He says He will do. We CANNOT have ‘Plan B’. We NEED to remain strong and determined regardless of the circumstances. 

The enemy will do whatever it takes to try to take us off course. We’ll be faced with trials and temptations; things that challenge our fortitude and things that might distract us from our purpose. Our reputations may be questioned; our relationships threatened; our resources depleted – but we can put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, helmet of salvation, and have our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. We can pick up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit and choose to stand and face whatever comes our way. 

You are a mighty warrior of the Most High. It’s time to hold your ground and take a stand.

-Bethany Ligon

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

  1. What is the purpose of each piece of armor described in Ephesians 6?
  2. What do the devil’s attacks and schemes look like for you right now? What attacks have you already faced victoriously?
  3. Which piece do you more often forget to put on? What is the danger of going into battle without this piece of armor?
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There’s a War Out There

Matthew 4

January 4

Deserts are dangerous places! Wild animals, extreme temperatures, lack of water, and don’t forget the devil, the tempter or Satan – he goes by many names – even in our short desert passage in Matthew 4 (vs. 1, 3, 10).

But, dangerous deserts aren’t his only hang-out. He was also spotted in an other-wise perfect garden giving a tantalizing advertisement for forbidden fruit. And, oh the trouble he caused there! The spiraling, echoing repercussions of which we can still feel and see and hear today. The darkness. The evil. The distance from God and His will and His way.

Don’t assume that if you don’t see a crafty red fellow with horns and a spiked tail or a wily talking snake that you are free from temptation and the spiritual battle between good and evil. Paul says it well in Ephesians 6:10-18. I encourage you to read the whole passage, but here I will include verses 11-14a

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then…”

Jesus shows us how to Stand Firm against the devil’s schemes. Adam and Eve show us how to crumble, reject God and His truth, listening instead to Satan’s lies and pursuing selfish gain and ultimately paying the consequences – which lasts for generations to come. Let’s not follow in Adam and Eve’s footprints as they take the serpent’s bait and then try to hide from God in their guilt.

Let’s look again at Jesus’ victorious example in Matthew 4:1-11.

It is interesting that Jesus had just completed a 40 day fast in the desert when Satan appears ready to tempt him with food. Certainly a fast of this length would make you hungry, so at first it seems maybe Jesus will be weakened by his current circumstances. However, keep in mind that a fast is NOT just not eating, an extreme diet plan. It is rather giving up typical food, schedules, conveniences, practices, self to instead focus on seeking God and drawing near to Him. 40 days of seeking God, sacrificing self “needs” to focus on His desires. Jesus’ stomach was empty but his spiritual tank was full up and ready for battle. He was armed with all the ingredients necessary for a successful stand against Satan. Truth. Righteousness. The gospel of peace. Faith to extinguish ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one. Salvation. AND interestingly the only offensive piece of equipment in the armor of God – the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. He was prepared to not just protect himself but he was also prepared to do battle with the forces that wanted to tear him from God and His will. He was armed with Scripture. He knew it well and he knew how to use it to rebuke Satan’s attacks.

That, is what I want. I want to stand firm in victory over Satan because armed with God’s armor and using God’s word has power over evil. I want to know and love and be practiced in God’s word so I can use God’s light from His words to scatter the darkness. And, that is what I want for you, too. Let’s suit up with the armor of God and His Word!

Questions for reflection and discussion

  1. On a scale of 1-10 how aware are you of the spiritual battle being waged right now? In Scott Deane’s class on Daniel and Revelation for Atlanta Bible College, he often said, “What happens in the spiritual world affects what happens in the physical world.” Do you see evidence of this in Scripture? Do you see evidence of this in our world today?
  2. When do you feel weak against evil and Satan’s attempts to pull you from God and His will? When do you feel spiritually strong? How can you make changes to increase the amount of time you feel more spiritually prepared to face the devil’s schemes?
  3. What was Jesus’ message when he began preaching (Matt 4:17)? Where did we hear this before? (Matt 3:2) Do you think we will hear it again in Matthew? Is it a message we still need to hear today?
  4. Who did Jesus call to follow him and fish for men in Matthew 4? What did they give up to follow Jesus? What are you willing to give up in order to have more time and resources to follow Jesus and fish for men? How are your fishing for men skills? How can you develop them more? Who do you know who is currently in darkness and in need of being caught for Jesus? What can you do this week to share Jesus with them?
2022 SeekGrowLove Bible Reading PlanDownload

Identity in Christ: A Well-Dressed Knight

Ephesians 6

Last week, we talked about our identity in Christ, grounded and rooted in him and made new in his grace and mercy. Today, we have one last look at this identity, and I think it’s important to read Ephesians 5 and 6. In response to this new identity, we are called to a new and better way. 

First, husbands and wives are called to love and to submit to one another in reverence for Christ. (5:21-33) Children are called to honor their father and mother. (6:1-3) Fathers are called to train and instruct their children. (6:4) Relationships between slaves and masters were expressed to show a better way to treat common social relationships in that day, and that Christ makes slave and master equal. (6:5-9) Praise God that as we have expanded on the promises of Scripture, slavery has been eradicated in the US and is fought against around the world. 

BUT, what I really want us to look at is how we are called to dress. I really enjoy renaissance fairs. It’s great; enjoying nature, seeing people dressed in amazing costumes, laughing at jokes and enjoying fair food! Who doesn’t love gnawing on a GIANT turkey leg or getting ye olde bratwurst? But my favorite part is the jousting tournaments. Knights dressed in armor, charming on horseback. In most jousts, the joust is real : they don’t plan who will hit the other, who will unseat the other, and who will win. How cool is that?!

I know Paul was thinking about Roman armor, but when I think about the armor of God, I imagine a medieval knight. A shining breastplate, a broad and defensive shield, a powerful sword! But is God really calling us to dress with armor, Roman or medieval? He is using the armor as a metaphor. We are in a war, but we protect our heart with righteousness and our head with salvation. We run in peace and wrap ourselves up with truth. When it finally comes time to battle, we pull out the sword of the spirit, the word of God. This means both Scripture and the gospel message, the written and living word of God! 

God is calling you to live in response to your identity in Christ. In how you treat your family and friends, in how you fight your battles, your identity in Christ should define everything about you. 

May you allow your identity in Christ to better your relationships. 

May you fight your battles against Satan, evil, and sin in the power and grace of God. 

May you be more like Jesus, this day and every day. 

-Jake Ballard

Read or listen to today’s Bible reading plan passages at BibleGateway here – Isaiah 5-6 and Ephesians 6

2021-seekgrowlove-bible-reading-plan-1Download