Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, 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 6:19 – 20

As Paul concludes his contemplations on spiritual armor he asks for prayer for himself, for he is in jeopardy in Rome, awaiting trial.

He wrote, I am an ambassador in chains.  Christ’s ambassador, a person representing Christ and his Kingdom, is in chains!  That is to be taken literally.  Paul is a prisoner in Rome!  His crime?  Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Instead of going quiet, he asks the Ephesians believers to pray for him, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.  Preaching the Gospel to all mankind

As far as his spirit is concerned, that could not be imprisoned.  He is free as any child of God. He was not the prisoner of Rome but the prisoner of Jesus Christ!   His loyalty is to his Lord and to no one else.

This puts everything into perspective.  I need to stop now and again to ask the question, where does my ultimate loyalty lie and am I living in that reality.  My culture has its own priorities and I must be careful lest I am tempted to follow theirs.  Lord Jesus, give me, like Paul, the compulsion to preach the Word of God fearlessly, for I am mercifully bound to do that!

Tammy focuses the sun’s rays through her plastic colander while all look on during the height of our eclipse, about 78%.

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 Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6: 18

A powerful weapon – prayer.

In the Spirit.  I find myself praying for what I want, not what the Spirit wants to give me.

On all occasions.  Some days I can live without turning to prayer, except in the set times.  I need to learn to live submerged in prayer, bathed in prayer.  I am sure there are many lacks in my spiritual life, the foremost is not settling my mind in constant prayer, praying for everything.

With all kinds of prayers and requests.  I certainly do not consciously pray on all occasions, nor do I pray with a great variety of prayers.  I do try to be in prayer from the time I arise in the morning until night, always open to hearing God nudge me to pray specifically.  This is a spiritual discipline I must cultivate more and more.  Lord, settle my mind!

Always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  This is a shift!  I have been thinking of praying for my needs, and that is good, but the Spirit has a huge prayer door that is open before me – all the Lord’s people.  I pray a good deal for myself, not nearly enough for others whom I do not even know, who are saved and following the Lord anywhere in the world.

I am, I do believe, in the kindergarten of prayer.  Lord, help me to learn.

Tammy held a collander in such a way that it cast a shadow on white paper.  Each hole was an eclipsing moon/sun shot.  Breathtaking.

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:17

Living in Tanzania, I heard, again and again, believers say, “I am saved!”  It was not a boast but a declaration that Jesus saved them and they are walking as saved persons.  It also clarified that they are new people, in a sense, much different from what they once were, in the world, and a declaration that their identity has changed.

I found that it mystified some why we white people are so reluctant to speak of the most important thing that could ever be experienced by human beings, that God saves us.  Even us missionaries who were supposed to be “super” Christians, seldom if ever speak like that.

I realize that by announcing that you are saved, you are protecting your “head” so to speak.  Here Paul thinks of that testimony as a “helmet” that protects the head!  And we well know that the head controls every part of the body and enlivens the spiritual aspects of life.  How wonderful to know that salvation protests our heads, as we live as saved people.

The second gift in this verse is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  It is an offensive and defensive weapon.  What soldier would be caught for a moment without a sword?  Figuratively speaking, that sword is God’s word.  Our word does not count for very much, but when the word of God speaks through us, power is released that is astounding and eternal.  We speak not our words but the words of God that are revealed to us.

Beauty under the roses.

And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one

Ephesians 6:15 – 16

Ready feet.  Ready to stand in the gospel of peace.  “Stand” means not to be moved.  All kinds of voices will tempt us to take up weapons that are not ours, but those of the enemy.  We dare never use the weapons of Satan to try to further the cause of grace, never.  Never slip into his boots. Feet were meant to stand and to carry us.  Let us be careful how we use them.

The shield of faith.  A shield is defensive, guarding us against what the enemy might be throwing against us.  That shield is “faith.”  It is standing on the firm foundation of the Gospel of Jesus and the promises of God to protect us.  Arrows of all kinds will be hurled at us, without pity at all.  Our shield of faith is our only protection.

The Lord knows our weakness and has prepared the appropriate weapons for each one of us believers.  Our part is simple, “put on.”  That sounds simple so why are we so reluctant to do it?  I suppose it is either that we do not believe that God will hear us or maybe we just do not want to.  Or are we so convinced in our own efforts that we do not even involve God?

On special occasions we get ourselves over to the ice cream place, about  a half mile from home.  Location for our celebrating Paul and Tammy’s 18th.

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.

Ephesians 6:12

Paul takes us deeper into an understanding of the spiritual battle we are engaged in.  I seldom consider this.  What or who are we struggling against as we follow Jesus Christ?  I suppose the most important thing is to define the enemy.  As I ponder Paul’s words I am reminded that there is dark world, spiritual forces of evil that are determined to erode the faith of believers.   He calls them the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  My mind has trouble trying to comprehend this – forces in the heavenly realm that are arrayed against the disciples of Jesus Christ.  The circles in which I live do not try to understand it, or even recognize its reality.

Whether I understand this or not, it is a reality that Paul is talking about.  In fact, come to think of it, it is the world view of all saints through the ages.  I understand that Martin Luther even threw his ink well against the devil!  I think of evil people, evil influences and the like.  Paul sees a realm where the spiritual powers are seeking to destroy the power of Jesus Christ.

I found that my African friends had an awareness of this realm than I did, by far. We followers of Jesus in all ages and in all cultures are battling against a determined enemy!  He is unseen but there all the while.  His battle is against those who love Jesus and follow him.  Do I believe that?  Lord, give me spiritual eyes to see!