Ephesians 6.13-24 (7)
Pray Psalm 149.5-9.
Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;
To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
To execute on them the written judgment—
This honor have all His saints.
Praise the LORD!
Sing Psalm 149.5-9
(Toulon: I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art)
Sing to the LORD, exult with great delight!
Sing on your beds with joy to God by night!
Sing praise and take His Word into your hand;
publish His grace and wrath in every land!
Read Ephesians 6.13-24; meditate on verse 14-18.
Envision yourself clothed, armed, and ready for today’s battle.
Preparation
1. Where do you need to improve in using the things mentioned here?
2. What should our prayers be like?
Meditation
Paul ended his epistle with a rallying cry, a call to arms. Like a general, preparing his troops for battle, or a coach, pep-talking his team before they take the field, Paul wanted these last words to pull together the doctrinal teaching of chapters 1-3 and the practical instruction of chapters 4-6. “You know these truths” he seemed to be saying (1-3), “now get out there and live them!” (4-6)
He says the same to us.
The Christian life is a constant battle to overcome evil with good and pursue the grace and peace of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. We can’t stand still. We can’t not enter the fray. Fight the good fight day by day as, filled with the Spirit, you redeem each moment God gives you so that He may fill you with Himself and overflow into your world.
Thank you for journeying with us through this study of the book of Ephesians. What a powerful and positive book, and we hope this slow walk through it has helped you in your walk with and work for the Lord.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Dressed in truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, salvation, the Word, and constant prayer (Eph. 6.14-18),
we are ready to impart comfort, peace, love, faith, and grace “to all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity” (Eph. 6.22-24); and we are fully prepared to daily face down our enemy.
Also, we are ready, and set, to go share the love and salvation of Jesus,
through good works, to those who need to know His grace and forgiveness.
Knowledge, that helps us to “fight the good fight day by day, filled with the Spirit, so that we redeem each moment, filled with Himself, and overflowing to the world” is the knowledge of our own frailty and total dependance upon God. This knowledge gives purpose to the time of our lives.
“LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You;
certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.
Surely every man walks about like a shadow…” (Ps. 39.4-6).
“So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90.12).
Armed and Ready.
Make each day count in doing good works for Jesus’ sake.
Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad…
Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,
Tell of His power to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
True, every moment you live…
Give as ’twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true…
Make me a blessing,
Make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray
Make me a blessing to someone today.
(Ira B. Wilson, 1924)
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us…having predestined us to adoption…to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1.2-6).
Godspeed.
Reflection
1. What are the main lessons you have learned or reviewed from this study of Ephesians?
2. Are you putting those lessons to work in your life?
3. Whom will you encourage today with what you have learned from the book of Ephesians?
And all grace and blessings come to the saints from God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace, that is, the favor of God; and all good, spiritual and temporal, which is from it, is and shall be with all those who thus love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and with them only. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Ephesians 6.20-24
Pray Psalm 149.1-4.
Praise God and thank Him for the book of Ephesians. Pray specifically, mentioning whatever you have learned or been reminded of during our study of this book. Call on Him to arm you for this day’s work of grace and peace.
Sing Psalm 149.1-4.
(Toulon: I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art)
Sing to the LORD a glorious song and new!
Praise Him you people, to Whom praise is due!
Let us rejoice, let us be glad in Him
Who has created us and cleansed our sin.
Praise Him with dance, with tambourine and lyre!
To be so praised is God’s one great desire.
LORD, beautify Your holy ones with grace;
show us the glory of Your saving face.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: In our ReVision series we turn to examine the essential values of the Kingdom economy. Our Read Moore podcast is now perusing Joy to Your World!. The Crosfigell teaching letter continues our study of Coemgen of Glendalough. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
