
Ephesians 6:10-11 (Bible in Basic English Version)
Lastly, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His power. Take up God’s instruments of war, so that you may be able to keep your position against all the deceits of the Evil One.
The verses in Ephesians 6:10-11 come after strong instruction to walk away from our sinful desires of the flesh. That is why these verses begin with “lastly…” How many times do we struggle with a sin in our life that we just can’t seem to overcome? We pray, we ask for strength, we ask for wisdom, yes, we ask for a lot of things. One thing has to happen before the heart of repentance can grieve the sin in our lives for good.
WE have to make a conscious decision to turn away from the sin and towards God’s will for our lives. The Word says if we turn…then “lastly, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His power. WE can then draw strength from Him to HEAR Wisdom speak to us and we can BE FREE!!! Amen. YES! Amen! Next the Word directs our steps to:
1. Take up the instruments of war, (action for us)
2. That we may be able to keep our position against all the deceits of the evil one (in God’s strength and in God’s Power, action for God)
Over the next week we will learn what those instruments of war are, how to get them and how to use them to be strong in restraining from sinful behavior.
Prayer
Lord, we need you. In a world bombarded with the acceptance and even encouragement of the things that go against Your call to righteousness, especially the people that call You Lord. Please help us maintain our position against the coercion of the enemy to stumble into sin. Help us oh God to be a people of righteousness about whom You can say, “Well done my good and faithful servants.” If we are in sin right now Lord, show us that open doorway to turn away and chase after your goodness and your mercy and clothe us in Your robe of righteousness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.