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In his writings to the Christ-followers in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul lays out five keys to a winning life.
Key #1 Realize whose you are
Key #2 Take everything the Master has set out for you—well-made weapons
Key # 3 Be prepared
So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the devil throws your way.
This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels.
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.
Truth, righteousness,
peace,
faith,
and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.
In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
Ephesians 6:10-18 The Message
Jesus was prepared. He prepared by spending time with God and studying the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) and the prophets. He talked about the things of God with his family (his mother specifically) and those within his community.
Using the warfare analogy implies training, preparation, and establishing a strategy.
I recall a preacher once saying the time to get into shape isn’t when the burglar is at the door.
Put another way, the battle is not the first time you should be swinging a sword.
Key number three to a winning life is being prepared, but how does a Christ-follower do that?
In other translations the Apostle Paul describes suiting up for battle.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
You are prepared when you put on a truth belt.
During his suffering, Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor, asked Jesus what truth was.
In the Gospel book of John, Jesus tells us the truth about the Christ-follower.
“Make them holy – consecrated – with the truth; Your word is consecrating truth.”
John 17:17 The Message
You are prepared when you put on a righteous breastplate.
A breastplate covers the heart and chest of the warrior.
When righteousness covers your heart, you are protected from the enemies’ attacks, doubt, and unbelief.
For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.
Psalms 11:7 The New International Version
You are prepared when you put on Peace shoes.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 The New International Version
God’s peace permeates your life, moving beyond your capability to comprehend. It guards your heart (emotions) and your mind (thoughts).
I like the picture The Message Bible paints.
Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Philippians 4:7 The Message
- A sense of wholeness
- Everything is coming together for good
- Settles over you
- Christ displaces worry
The New Living Translations puts it this way:
For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
Ephesians 6:15 New Living Translation
Peace shoes=fully prepared
You are prepared when you take hold of the faith shield.
Faith is the belief and assurance that God is who he says he is and will do what he says he will do.
When the stinging arrows of doubt and unbelief from the devil are hurled at you, faith stops them because you believe that God is God and will uphold his Word concerning you.
In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
Ephesians 6:16 The New Living Translation
You are prepared when you put on the salvation helmet.
Salvation is surrendering your life (doing things your way) to embrace HIS life (following Christ).
Say the welcoming Word to God – “Jesus is my Master” – embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation.
Romans 10:9 The Message
When this helmet is on your head (your command center), you cannot be defeated and are prepared.
You are prepared when you pick up the sword of the Spirit.
The Word of God is central to a Christ-follower life.
Knowing it makes it a weapon—a sword—to combat the forces of darkness.
Jesus demonstrated how to wield it in the first post of this study.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
Ephesians 6:17 The New International Version
Winning in life isn’t about always being number one or being on top. For the Christ-follower, winning in life often means suffering in many things for the sake of an eternal reward.
The Apostle Paul is arguably the most significant writer of the New Testament. (Understanding that he wrote under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit)
He probably suffered (physically) more than the other apostles, with the possible exception of John (who is said to have been boiled in oil but did not die).
He gave up the religious high-life to walk with the Messiah (Jesus), and counted it an honor.
“You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar.
This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way.
All that’s left now is the shouting – God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming. ”
II Timothy 4:6-8 The Message
Allow this passage of scripture to sink into your heart.
I have run hard,
I believed all the way,
Now the shouting,
And God’s applause!
Have you ever considered what it takes for God to applaud?
IF you haven’t, the Apostle Paul tells you in this passage of New Testament scripture.
Next post, key # 4, the Word of God.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead provides you a living hope. It is a living anticipation full of expectation of something good happening.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. As I learn, I will pass it along so you, too, can learn. I hope that as you learn, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn.
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