A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. . . (ff)
Ephesians 6:10-11
Why is this a final word? Because Paul has reached the ultimate level of things submitted to God. See the diagram below.
Remember he has said God’s will is that everything to be submitted under the headship of Christ. Things in heaven and on earth. Now Paul’s thoughts turn to the wider picture. It is not as though this is a new thing. He has broached the subject before in Ephesian 3:10: God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display His wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. God’s wisdom and His love are on display to all of creation! His gospel is being displayed. The unfolding of His marvellous plan for all ages is becoming clearer to all. The humans for whom it was purposed and the principalities and powers looking on. Why Wisdom and Love, because that is what Paul says in chapter three. His wisdom is being displayed – Eph 3:10 and His Love is unfolding in its dimensions. (Eph 3:17-19). This Wisdom and Love is on display for all to see and come to understand. It is a life long journey. Why, because it is so deep! So deep and yet at the same time so simple. That is so “like God”. Simple in terms of the ease of understanding the principle and deep in terms of the level to which it descends and ascends. It’s a life long journey to grasp the height and depth and breadth of it all.
God wants to use the church to enforce that victory in the world (Bible Gem 656). How does he do that? When the church is functioning as it ought. When is that? When all are submitted to the head. When all are rightly aligned to the headship of Christ. That is why when the above diagram came to me (I think God gave it to me – one of those nano seconds when everything kind of fell into place) the “You” was put in the central position above “the church “. It is all very well talking about God’s principles or submission as Paul has been doing. It is all very well preaching about submission of woman in the church and in the home. It is all very well singing about God reigning, asking for Jesus to “reign Jesus reign”. But we need to grasp that fundamentally we are at the centre of it all. We individuals are the ones who must submit to His yoke. When we do all other things fall into perfect alignment. Which reminds me of a saying “Laugh and the world laughs with you . . . ” Well in this case maybe is a case of align and the world aligns with you.
When we are rightly submitted to God all other things fall into place. Husbands, get the point? You don’t need to worry about your wife submitting when you are rightly submitted to Christ. She will fall into line. When all the “you’s” are rightly aligned then the church is full ready and able to take on the evil world. Nothing, absolutely nothing can stop us. The issue is us rightly submitted. That’s why “oneness with Christ” was such a big issue in Jesus’ priestly prayer of John 17. It’s a big deal which lies at the centre of God’s plan. You take care of the little things – You . . . And God will take care of the big picture. The church and principalities and powers. EVERYTHING WILL COME UNDER HIS HEADSHIP. That’s why Paul can say every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Do demons have knees too?
More to come, much more.
If you place a small value on yourself, rest assured the world will not raise your price!
Rick Godwin
God may choose to showcase His power on the stage of your weakness.
Andy Stanley
The purpose in life is not to find yourself. It’s to lose yourself.
D. Brooks
Don’t waste your time try to change others. Use your time to change you, it’s a lot easier and you’ll see great success.
Jeffrey Rachmat
I think as I’ve grown older, I’m less into self-improvement + more into self-replacement. Just letting Jesus take over the entire house?
Rick Godwin