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The whole armor of God! A reflection on Ephesians 6.10-20

Jun 27, 2020

28 June 2020 ICUC ONLINE SERVICE

I’ve no idea what Charles is preaching on this Sunday so this is a personal reflection on the passage he has chosen Ephesians 6:10-20. It is a passage about Spiritual warfare and how you can defend yourselves from the enemy with the armour of God. I think we are always in a spiritual battle with our own sinfulness, with broken systems which seem to take on a life of their own, and with powers like the devil. It is important to remember that ultimately God is in control and in Jesus has already won the war.

My one experience of “powers like the devil” was when I was called into a room where a young woman was distressed, ghost white, stuck speaking in what seemed to be tongues but in between the tongues was cursing God and saying horrible things in English. This is not my thing!!! I had been studying the book of Romans at college and perhaps the greatest passage about the Spirit of God and the Love of God in the Bible is Romans chapter 8. It includes these words “all who are led by the Spirit are the Children of God.” (Romans 8:14) Faced with this distressed young woman I got out my Bible and I read Romans 8 out loud from beginning to end. She stopped calling out and speaking in tongues and returned to herself. The colour returned to her face and she even smiled. We prayed together.

We receive the word of God in the Bible and its promises can help us move forward and defend ourselves when we are oppressed by sin, (our own and others), and when we are confronted by other forces beyond ourselves. One of the greatest assurances we have in the Bible is that we are saved. Whenever our hearts or the devil says you are worthless or unworthy you can respond with “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. (Romans 8:1) So take up the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God and the helmet of salvation and God in you will win the fight.

God, thankyou that for me there is no condemnation for by your presence with me in the Spirit I know that I am surrounded and filled with the power and love of Jesus. In times of temptation, trial, and accusation, help me bring this to mind and bring me to safety. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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