MONDAY March 10th
Well, because I looked at the table that the Lord prepares for us in the presence of our enemies from Psalm 23 in our last devotion, I want us to consider our enemies again today and take on board something else that has been provided for us so that we can be prepared to stand firm as our enemies surround us and it is found in Ephesians chapter 6:10-18
‘Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 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. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.’
If you are observant, you will notice that the word prepare does not appear in any of these verses, unless you use for example the NLT where it says in verse 15 ‘For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.’
But the whole thrust of this important section of Pauls letter to the church at Ephesus is that they back then as he wrote the letter, and we today as we read the letter are in a spiritual battle, and the battle is against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
It is a battle that is against the enemies that stand and watch us as we are feasting at the table that the Lord has prepared for us and mark this, the moment you get up from the table, your enemies, my enemies, for there are many of them will begin to do whatever they can to attack us. Therefore, we need to not only be prepared by feasting daily at the table, that is by getting our daily spiritual bread and our daily spiritual water, but by also preparing by putting on the whole armour of God so that ‘you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.’