William Randolph Hearst was a very wealthy newspaper publisher who had an incredible collection of art. The Hearst mansion in northern California is a testament to his insatiable desire for artistic treasures. On one occasion he learned of some artwork he was determined to obtain. He sent his agent abroad to search for the treasure. After months of investigating, the agent reported that the treasure had been found. To further sweeten the find, Hearst learned that the relic wouldn’t cost him a dime. He already owned it. The rediscovered piece was in Hearst’s warehouse with many other treasures that had likewise never been uncrated.
The desire for acquiring more can sometimes blind us from what we already possess.
———————————-
Many Christians live in blissful, yet stressful, ignorance of the resources available to them. John MacArthur says: “where the Lord’s work is genuinely being done Satan will not fail to oppose it.”
Read Eph 6:10-20 (Focus verses: 6:10, 13-14a)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened…
Emphasis:
Verse 13 begins with “Therefore” – because you know your enemy and can identify his activity, this is what you should do.
If we fail to recognise the seriousness of our enemy and his schemes against us, we will fail to recognise the importance of knowing our spiritual resources and our spiritual armour.
Spiritual resources are not a one-shot fix-it-all solution to life’s difficulties.
take up
This is a call to action. This does not happen by itself. It’s not an automatic part of being a believer.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (2Co 10:3-5).
the whole armour of God
Partial armour still leavings you defenceless.
When God provides armour, it is a full armour intended for full protection.
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day
God’s resources, His armour is not intended to turn you into a wild worrier who causes death and carnage.
God’s armour is designed to preserve and strengthen life.
God’s armour is intended to be used to make the believer “stand.”
God’s resources are (Eph 4:11-14) …so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
ONLY God’s armour can armour us in advance for the days of evil.
and having done all, to stand firm
The end result is that when the day of evil is done and gone, the armoured believer is left standing.
Stand therefore, having fastened…
Note the time tense, “having” – past, those who have in the past lived in the pattern of being armoured, will stand firm in the Lord.
Notice also, how well the armour is to be fitted to your life, “fastened” – to gird all around, tightly attached.
Questions:
How is it that we can be unaware of our spiritual resources?
What begins happening within us when we stop “taking up” the armour?
What practical ways can we make “being armoured” a pattern of our lives?
