EXPLORE IT! - Ephesians 6:10-24

Ephesians 6:10-24

The Devil made me do it!  Have you ever used this excuse?  You knew better, you decided not to, but you did it anyway…it had to have been Satan!  This phrase (“the Devil made me do it”) was made popular in the 1970’s on the Flip Wilson Show; though, Paul could have coined it back in A.D. 60 when he wrote his letter to the Ephesians.

As we conclude our journey through this letter to the Ephesians this week, Paul gives us instructions to “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11).  The reason we are to do so?  “So that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11b).  Paul felt it was so important for us to understand why, he reiterates his point in 6:13, “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.”  We must prepare ourselves for the intense spiritual struggles we will face as Christians.

We must be prepared to stand against the strategies of Satan.  He knows us well and strategizes against us just like an army creates a battle plan in order to gain land from the opposition.  Wherever we are weak, wherever we are easily tempted, Satan will attack there.  Satan wants us to lose the ground we are standing on; the ground Jesus has already won for us!  When we get angry and yell, when we lie or cheat, or when we commit any sin, we lose ground.  When we are not gentle, we lose ground.  Satan’s ultimate desire is not just causing sin, but our heart and our soul.  He desires for us to give up and walk away from Jesus and our faith.

So, we must be on guard!  We must recognize our areas of weakness and develop ways to protect ourselves – creating boundaries, developing accountability relationships, and possibly removing people and/or activities from our lives.  We must remain focused so that, “after you have done everything,” (Ephesians 6:13b) you will be standing.

Blessings,Pastor Amy