Ephesians 6:13-17; The vital part played by the messenger in God’s salvation plan.Sunday May 1,2022Eph 6:14-15 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
“preparation” – hetoimasia = prepared or ready. The believer with a grasp of the truth and functional righteousness is to be always ready with the gospel.
This is the only time this version of the word is used, but its sister word metoimosis used many times. It is often used in reference to being ready for the return of Christ, and it is also used of being ready to make a defense before others for the reason of your hope in life. “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1Pe 3:15).
This thought goes along with the previous “in order that you are able (continually) to stand (when needed)” in Eph 6:11.
Last time we noted that the messenger with the gospel of peace has the enemy arrayed against him and also against those to whom he is bringing the message.
Unlike the gospel of peace, the peace that Christ brings, the devil gives mankind “flaming arrows (missiles).”
The gospel brings peace to the individual soul and to the community of believers who all realize that they are all under the one Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, the righteous, who sits above all rule and authority. Satan gives evil to the world, which drives people away from one another, makes them combative, destroying for the sake of self. This is the mix that we, redeemed new humanity, find ourselves in. The only freedom for the prisoners of evil, its sin and death, is the gospel.
This is Mark’s opening line in his gospel.
Mar 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Then he introduces us to the Lord’s forerunner, John the Baptist, both prophetically and historically. And then his account of the ministry of Christ begins.
Mar 1:14-15 And after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Then, in Mark’s account, Jesus calls on Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow Him and then He goes into the synagogue of Capernaum, a place He would visit many times.
Mar 1:21-28 And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22 And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, "What do we have to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!" 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" 26 And throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice, and came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." 28 And immediately the news about Him went out everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.
Psalms 143 (NASB) 143:1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications! Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness! 143:2 And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is righteous. 143:3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead. 143:4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart is appalled within me. 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands. 143:6 I stretch out my hands to You; My soul longs for You, as a parched land. Selah. 143:7 Answer me quickly, O Lord, my spirit fails; Do not hide Your face from me, Or I will become like those who go down to the pit. 143:8 Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul. 143:9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I take refuge in You. 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. 143:11 For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive me. In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble. 143:12 And in Your lovingkindness, cut off my enemies And destroy all those who afflict my soul, For I am Your servant.
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