I’m one of those parents… the kind that is completely guilty of the after-holiday clearance shopping. Being a mom of 4, in a mostly single-income home, I’ve had to get creative a time or two (or more than I can count). It became a joke between a few friends that the day after a holiday is when I would stock up on the holiday chocolates. Yes. Yes, I would (though not as often now). There was a year, when the kiddos were all little (and the oldest was happy about it), that we chose December 30th as the day we would celebrate Christmas as a family. Everything that had to do with Christmas was 75% off before we celebrated. I wouldn’t mind doing that again. Halloween was always a favorite, too, because my kiddos love to dress up! One boy among a house of princesses… I love being able to find costumes at 50%-75% off for my kiddos to play in. Storm trooper, Captain America, the Hulk, Princess This and That, Minnie Mouse, and so many more… it’s a dress-up party all year long. The only drawback I’ve found is the glitter that is around all year from the princess dresses – I can never seem to keep it at bay.
While the kiddos love the opportunities to dress up, pretending to be a princess held prisoner by a storm trooper and rescued by Minnie Mouse, I’m not sure I would ever pay full price for the costumes. We all know they’re cheaply made (the ones purchased at places like Wal-Mart and Target), and while they resemble the characters, they’re a far cry from being close to accurate. Imagine being a storm trooper and having 2-3 velcro tabs to press together at the back in order to secure your uniform! As I write this, notice how you can picture it in your mind: the glitter from the princess dresses, the velcro pieces to secure the costume in place, and I didn’t even go into the fake muscles built into the Captain America and Hulk costumes (those muscles are hilarious when paired with my twig-of-a-son)! And if you’re not able to picture the costumes in their cheaply made glory, I’m sure you can imagine 50% off candy. I don’t have anything grand to pair this with, but the Apostle Paul did.
So much of what we read in the Bible contains cultural pictures, things that were common at that time, to express truths about God’s love as Creator, Savior, and Father. Unless you’ve specifically studied the uniform of a Roman soldier in the first century, you’re bound to miss some significant aspects of the armor that Paul uses in teaching about the armor of God. The book of Ephesians is a letter written to the church in Ephesus, during the golden age they experienced in the first century. This is when it was occupied by the Romans and Christianity started spreading on account of visits from Paul and others. Ephesus experienced such a prosperous time because it was considered the most important trading center of Asia Minor. With so much wealth, there was bound to be the temptation for crime, thus the Roman soldiers being a normal part of the landscape. So Paul used this to relate the tools we have as Christians in a way that could be understood at that time.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put in the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)
There was quite a bit of persecution that the early church experienced. Just so you have an idea, out of 54 emperors, there were about 12 who went out of their way to harass Christians over a span of approximately 300 years. Paul, the very author of the letter to the church in Ephesus, was martyred! Something all of us can take away from the 4 verses above, something we can even apply to much of what we see going on right now, is the truth in what the Christian church is up against: the devil’s schemes and the spiritual forces of evil.
Over the last year, there has been a huge spotlight shown into many underground worlds, one being the horrible world of human trafficking. High profile, elite, famous or however you may want to categorize them, have been accused of heinous things done to other human beings – many of them children. As sickened as I am at the thought that these atrocities actually happened, I have to step back and remind myself (over and over again) that God still loves them – those who allow themselves to be used by the devil. Anyone who mocks and spews hatred at God and Christians are still loved by God! “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV) While these people are not the devil, they’re allowing themselves to be used by him – they’re essentially puppets who bring about the devil’s schemes. The battle we’re to be armed for is not against a celebrity, politician, CEO, or Facebook “friend”, but rather the spiritual forces that are at work in them.
“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. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” Ephesians 6:18-20 (NIV)
On all occasions… with all types… and all requests… pray. As I stated in my post last week that introduced this series, we’ve been praying quite a bit in regards to a silly thing like allergies. God wants us to pray for the little things and the big things. The verses above remind me also of another passage in regards to characteristics of the believer. Paul tells the church in Ephesus to pray for him to not only speak, but to speak the right words and to do it fearlessly.
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” II Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
Sometimes it’s scary to stand up for what we know to be right; to be the voice that proclaims God’s goodness. I find it so beneficial in my prayer life, and when facing obstacles, to remember this: I’m not fighting for victory, but I’m fighting from victory. I’m already a winner because of Jesus! My prayer life radically changed when I took hold of that revelation. I’m not begging God to beat what the devil tries to throw my way because I know that God has already provided victory in every area of my life. He was pierced, crushed, and wounded so that we could be saved – spiritual salvation, covenant salvation, and our physical salvation (Isaiah 53:5 and I Peter 2:24).
I hope you’ll join me next week as I delve into the different parts of the armor that Paul discusses with the church in Ephesus. I thought it important, though, to start with the position we’re fighting from. We’re victors and our prayers – on all occasions, all types, and every kind of request – our prayers pack a potent punch! You’ve already got the victory, thanks to the Lord, Jesus Christ, so stand fearlessly in that victory and proclaim God’s goodness, love, and mercy for all to hear.