Equipped for Service: He Wants The Works

As Paul begins to close this letter, he concludes with some instructions based on the idea of the reality of opposition.  That as God is working to unify all things in Christ, there are opposing forces working to KEEP us from being unified in Christ!  As a result, His final words for the Asian church of Ephesus, are given in regards to ensuring that they make it to the DESTINATION that God has for them in spite of all the opposing forces they are and will continue to face.

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Partner with the Lord

Walk with him in faith and obedience!

“Grow powerful in union with the Lord” – Pastor Kenneth Bryant

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Prioritize His Strength, the Lord’s Power: 

Rely on His power, trust it when you are in crisis. Let it be your first resort, Not the last!

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Protect with the Armor of God

Implicit in the text is the idea that you cannot put on the whole armor without being strong in the Lord and being reliant on HIS power!

His premise becomes that IF the whole armor is put on, do this, you will be able to stand (withstand) against the wiles of the devil:

 

STAND: (Greek)

g2476. ἵστημι histēmi; a prolonged form of a primary στάω staō (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively): — abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up).

The greek definition of the word has several connotations. It could mean:

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Stand By

Stand by God, near the cross, the armor allows us to stand close to the Lord in the trying times and opposing forces.  We are NOT by ourselves, GOD is standing with you!

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Stand Immovable

Stand where we are planted. In other words, not tossed by every wind and wave of doctrine, but standing and being faithful WHERE God planted us. The armor allows us to stand immovable for the assignment that God gives us!

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Stand Ready

The armor allows us to stand ready for the next move of God! Yes, we are faithful where we are planted, but when God gives the next order, we should be ready to move.  Because where we are now, is NOT the end. God is going to move, and when the armor is on, I am standing ready to move when He gives the order to go to the next glory.  I am able to Stand!