God’s Armor – Ephesians 6:11-12
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to
stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we
are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but
against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil
spirits in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:11-12 (New Living Translation)
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:11-12 (New King James Version)
So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made
weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will
be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.
This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from
and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a
life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Ephesians 6:11-12 (The Message)
For some reason I received this twice today. Tells me to REALLY take note of this as I have been struggling with a call to ministry and what the Lord would have me do.
On the days I fail to put on God’s armour I find being a Christian oh so hard. Those who want His work of love to fail, and so me to fail, are many. It amases me that I stilll have days of going to war without my armour on. Guess I don’t always learn from pain and mistakes. I am longing for the time that my walk will become a routine, daily re-dedication and that will include getting dressed appropriately!
Keith, there is a priesthood of all believers to which all us Christians belong. That gives us whether lay or ordained a daily ministry – we bring people and their needs to God.
We support and serve one another (1 Peter 4:8-11; Eph 5:1-2; 1 Cor 12:14-26).
We pray – for those who will not or cannot – for government and leadership (1 Tim 2:1-2) – that God’s kingdom comes to everyone (Matt 6:9-13) – for those who persecute the church (Matt 5:44).
The particular life of the priest, pastor, minister is one spent working on behalf of God. On His behalf is the forgiveness of sin (John 20:21-23), the acts of baptism, preaching and teaching God’s Word (Matt 28:18-20), the administration of the sacrament.(1 Cor 11:23-25). Pastors also act on the church’s behalf when in response to God’s love of us they lead the church in acts of praise and prayer, offering and thanksgiving.
Keith are you eager for this role? Are you passionate about it? If every time you feel our Father’s warmth on your face your heart’s desire is for a particular form of ministry, go forward in the confidence of a desire that is God given.