This week’s devotions are based on Week 10 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Satan’s schemes are definitely deceptive and deviant…but the weapons the Lord gives us will overcome all that Satan can throw at us. So here’s the last four to wrap up the week and our series on Ephesians.
- Faith: 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
In the Garden of Eden, the first temptation Satan provided was one to doubt. “Did God really say…?” was the question he posed. The question created doubt that led to trusting Satan’s proposal more than God’s direction. As a result the blessing God intended Adam and Eve to enjoy was lost and the shame, guilt and challenges of living in a sinful world began. Faith is a confident trust in the Lord…even when his directions, promises, and Word don’t make sense. Faith is trusting that the Lord has our best in mind, even when it seems like life has taken a terrible turn. Faith is being confident that even what I can’t see or understand, I will always trust the Lord over the deceptive lies and doubts that Satan poses. He throws a lot of these arrows…the shield of faith extinguishes them so they fall harmless to the ground. Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
- Salvation: 17 Take the helmet of salvation
A ploy that Satan likes to use is to lead us to question if we are saved and going to go to heaven when we die. He leads us to believe we are not good enough or that God doesn’t love us enough. The helmet of salvation is the gift that God gives to secure all of our thoughts around the truth that we are saved by his grace, not our works. We are saved as a gift of God’s love, not because we have earned, deserved, or chosen it. The gift of salvation is completely God’s doing. So he guards all our thoughts with the confidence that our salvation is secure. Don’t let anything else get in your head! Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…
- Word of God: and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Martin Luther in his hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” spoke of the power we have against Satan is this, “One little word can fell him.” All Jesus had to do against Satan was swing a verse of Scripture and Satan had no answer. Perhaps the greatest weapon to discern and diffuse any onslaught of Satan is the power of the Word of God. Know it and use it! Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
- Prayer: 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Finally, use the gift of prayer. Prayer is the gift our heavenly Father gives to us to come to him with any and all requests. Prayer asks for discernment. Prayer asks for wisdom. Prayer seeks guidance. Prayer lays the concerns of our heart before the Lord. Prayer asks for spiritual and physical protection against the evil Satan gives. Prayer is the gift that God gives to allow us to come to him at any time…before, during or after the schemes of Satan hit. Prayer is an action of trust that realizes, I can’t do this on my own, but my Father can for me. Prayer is an expression of our trust that the only reason I will be standing after the devil throws is best at me is because my heavenly Father’s power is at work to overcome him. So if you are stuck or flailing, don’t forget to go to the Lord in prayer! Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
That wraps up this series. I pray it was a blessing to you as it was to me to share the thoughts that God brought to mind as we journeyed through Ephesians. Let me close this week, this series with the final words of Paul to the Ephesians and to us:
Ephesians 6:23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.