Learning To Stand

on account of this, take up the whole armor of God so that powerful ability to withstand in the day of evil and the whole working out, stand. (Ephesians 6:13, my translation)

The word for "working out" κατεργάζομαι (katergazomai) means to work out; to effect, produce, bring out as a result. Notice that you are working out the "whole" armor, each piece you put on, take up, and learn to stand against evil. The word "whole armor" πανοπλία (panoplia) actually refers to the whole, "arms" or "armor," not just the defensive parts but weapons. From it we get the English word panoply.* God is not expecting us to put on the whole armor and go to battle without training, so we are working out or bringing into effect the whole armor of God, in which we have the power to stand against the schemes of the devil. We are learning to stand in the might of his strength.

"... working out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for existing God that works in you, also to will and work on behalf of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13)

Here we see the same word, working out, κατεργάζομαι (katergazomai) which means we are not working for our salvation, but working it out, bringing it into effect against evil. We are at war, learning to work out our salvation in the struggle against the flesh and evil, "abstain from fleshly desires which war against your soul" (1 Peter 2:11). It is evil that uses this weakness of the flesh. Paul writes about these principles that evil is near and sin is dwelling in our members, and there it wages war against the mind so if we do not learn to stand against, it will bring us into captivity (Romans 7:21-24). This wretched state of the believer Paul writes about is what Peter means when he says "fleshly desires war against your soul."

"Finally, be empowered in the Lord also in the might of his strength. Put on the full armor of God towards having the power to stand..." (Ephesians 6:10)

God is teaching us to stand, he leaves us in this world, in this body, he allows the attack of evil forces against us for the purpose that we stand, grow strong in Him. Without being strengthened we can not stand with others to help strengthen them. When you fail to stand remember God is working it out, get back up, take up the whole armor, of hope, peace, righteousness, truth, the Word and Spirit, be strengthened in faith working in love, and prayer, stand. Remember the disciples who tried to cast out a demon and got beat up? (Matthew 17:19; Acts 19:16) God is working it out, but before we can stand we must be founded, established, prepared.

"Finally, be empowered in the Lord..."

"Finally" means the rest, remainder; furthermore. Chapter 6 is the rest, the previous instructions Paul gives in Ephesians 1-5. To know that God predestined us for adoption, sealed us with His Spirit as a pledge of our inheritance, has given us the same power that raised Christ. To know we are favored, redeemed, forgiven. That Christ dwells in our hearts through faith, and we are rooted and grounded in love, so to know the deep love of Christ, in which both we will endure and be victorious. This is our hope in God that we are sharing in the glory of God, and not only that but can rejoice in suffering (which is true joy, when the fiery darts of the devil come our way and we stand victorious) knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance works out the proving of our faith and this produces hope, which doesn't disappoint as the love of God is poured out into our hearts through the Spirit. (Romans 5:1-5; James 1:2-3).

"Now, we know that all things work together for good, to the ones loved of God, the ones existing called according to his purpose because those he foreknew he predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son..." (Romans 8:28, my translation)

God has chosen us according to what He purposed in Christ before he created the world. It is very encouraging to know this and He is working out all things according to our good and His purpose. That He is working out our salvation, that he is the one at work to will and to work on behalf of his good pleasure, purpose. When our will aligns with his, as our minds are renewed to accept his will as good, we find delight, pleasure, satisfaction in Him. In this, we learn to stand.

The Crucible

" The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies ." 1 He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. The definition of zeal is great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective. It is this time, to arouse zeal, shout, raise a war cry! As Paul writes, " In diligence not lagging in spirit being fervent serving the Lord ." 2 Our energy comes in the bond of brotherhood, formed in the crucible of combat. A crucible is place of severe test or trial, it is derived from Latin crucibulum ("night-lamp, metallurgic melting-pot"), and is a derivative of crux ("cross"). 3 The Bible speaks of the crucible of the cross for Jesus and for those who follow Him. The purpose of a soldier is two-fold; to accomplish the mission and to care for one another, as commanded. Each soldier has a role to play on a team. Without knowin...

One Grace

" moreover, One, to each of us has been given Grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ ." 1 Grace is a founding principle of Christianity. It is by Grace we grow into the fullness of Christ through faith; " to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. " 2 Without Grace we will never reach this fullness. The weakness in the Law was it attempted to do it in the flesh, and people failed over and over, so God in His infinite wisdom, unveiled this mystery, through faith in Christ we have grace to boldly approach His throne of Grace, to receive grace and mercy as needed! This gift of Grace is properly understood by examining this verse in three parts; moreover, One Grace, to each of us has been given, according to the measure of the gift of Christ . First, we understand, One grace, it is easy to miss the One, and this verse is translated in different ways, I believe it says One Grace and i...

Word Of Life

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. " 1 Jesus is the Word, He was in the beginning with God. 2 All things were made through Him. He is the Word and Light of men, the way, the path, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." 4 Thus we can say as the Psalmist, Jesus, the Word, is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path. 5 "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." 6 Concerning the Word of Life, " the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life ," Proclaimed, that our joy may be complete, a glory like that in the beginning, fellowship with the Father, with one another, and with his Son Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot...

Truth All Around You

Stand then girding your loins in truth and putting on the breastplate of righteousness. * How can a soldier stand in battle if he has not been prepared, trained? How can a house stand if it has been built on sand? How can we stand against spiritual forces if we have not been prepared? Our battle is not against flesh and blood so in regards to such, what good is armor to a child or how can one stained with dirty clothes stand with a defiled conscious? To stand one must be prepared, be his workmanship, someone prepared beforehand to do battle. For this purpose you begin girding your loins in truth, putting on truth, wrapping truth all around you. ... girding your loins in truth... * The word girding is perizōnnymi (from peri "about, around" and zōnnymi "put on") meaning around about put on. Often gird your loins with truth is translated as putting on a belt. Surely we can say truth holds on the garments and confidence in truth is important in standing. I like th...

Those He Calls He Equips

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen . Hebrews 13:20-21 When God calls us he equips us, the God of Peace, the one who brought us from the dead by the blood of the Eternal Covenant, will equip you so to do his will. So in this concept of being equipped, we see the calling being irrevocable. "For it is God who works in you to Will and to act on behalf of his good pleasure." Philippians 2:13 God called you, he's working in you equipping you to work on behalf of his good pleasure. "So that the man of God may be complete fully equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:17 . In Hebrews 12 we read God disciplines those he loves, so that we share in his holy character, as the scriptures...

Hypocrisy and Self-righteousness

“ Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you ” Matthew 7:1–2 In Mathew 7 Jesus is speaking out against hypocrisy, he coins the term, it is exposed as a very serious sin. Because of their hypocrisy these religious leaders were leading his people astray. Today it is the same, it is a top reason why people do not attend a church. Of course we blame the sinner and hear cute little sayings like, come join us you will fit right in... which makes light of the situation. On a more serious note, Jesus gives seven woes to the Pharisees, he even warns them of hell fire and damnation, for their hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Hypocrisy is basically pretending to be something you are not, it is not to be confused with our imperfection. Our righteousness is found in Christ alone, not in self. Hypocrisy and self righteousness is usually seen by others when we in our own righteousn...

Formed Into The Same Image

because those he foreknew also he predestined, to form to the image of His Son, to the extent He exists the firstborn of many brethren . * The word for form in this verse is σύμμορφος ( symmorphos ) from sym "same, with, or together" and morphos "form or shape." We are being formed, shaped into the same image as Christ. This word has the same root word morphos as in transformed, μεταμορφόω ( metamorphos ) from meta "among, with, after" and morphos "form or shape." Into the same form as Christ we are predestined. Adam was a living soul, but Christ was a life giving Spirit. Adam was formed in the image of God but that image was corrupted. In Christ we are formed a new, so that image is being restored. To be a Christian is more than just doing good works, more than just going to heaven, we are called to be formed into an image after Christ, Christ like. who will transfigure our lowly bodies into the same form as his glorious body, according t...

Feed On Me

"Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me." 1 This "living" Jesus speaks of is eternal or everlasting Life but what does this mean? Is this life an after life in heaven as traditionally taught or something we begin to experience here on earth? We read that Life is in knowing, a personal experience, " this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent ." 2 We receive the Spirit of life when we first believed, but the true disciple of Christ is known by abiding, these have learned that Life is in eating the bread of Life and drinking living water. Life is in Christ, all else has become as rubbish but to know Christ, and the Life he gives, "so also the one who feeds on Me will live." "So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples. and you will know the truth, ...

Kiss the Son

Why do the nations rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel, together against Yahweh and against his anointed. Break apart their bands and cast away their cords. He who sits in the heavens laughs, Yahweh scoffs. Then shall he speak unto them with anger, fury, and dismay. I established my King upon Zion, My Holy Hill. I will declare the decree of Yahweh who said, you are my son, you I have this day begotten. Ask concerning, I will establish nations your inheritance Your possession the uttermost parts of the earth. You shall afflict them with a staff of iron on a potter's vessel dashed to pieces. Now, O, kings be wise, be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, because brutish is his wrath. Blessed are all who put their trust in Him. 1

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