Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
After a few weeks of guest speakers at our church and travel on my part, I want to get back to our study of the full armor of God. I believe understanding this armor is a key to walking in the favor God wants to release for his people in 2013. To review a bit, favor is a force that comes from God, which causes God’s people to receive preferential treatment for no natural reason. As I began the year, the Lord led me to Exodus 3:21-22.
Exodus 3:21-22 (NKJV) 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. 22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
This is an example of the kind of favor God wants to bring to his people. The Hebrew women were slaves. The Egyptians were their masters. The bible tells us God gave the Hebrew women favor with the Egyptians and caused them to give their treasure to the Hebrews. There was no reason for them to do that. God moved on them and they did. I believe that is what God wants to do for you. I cannot explain how and cannot tell with whom God will give you favor, but I believe that as you and I obey the Lord, he will give us favor with key people.
Favor comes because God brings it. The Hebrew women did not threaten the Egyptians. The fact that it was the women who asked points to the fact that this favor did not come because of any personal ability to intimidate the Egyptians. They were slaves and they were women. The Egyptians did what they did because of the favor of God.
On the other hand, at the time they made this request, the Hebrew God was judging the Egyptians. It was evident to all that their God was very powerful. This gave the Hebrew women the courage to ask what the Lord said to ask. I believe favor will flow to those who know they are in a position of strength. Though they did nothing to intimidate the Egyptian women, the Hebrews did not come as beggars or slaves. They came as those who knew their God was mighty.
We need to understand that the church is in a position of strength. Today’s scripture is one we have quoted before, but I believe it is good to remind ourselves of what the Lord is saying. After Jesus had risen from the dead, he made this proclamation to the disciples. All power or authority was now in his hands and we were to go in that power. The world may not recognize his authority, but we must.
The spirit world is more real than the natural world. The spirit created the natural. If we do not believe that, we do not believe the bible. In the spirit, Jesus is the dominant force. Therefore, in the earth the church, his body, is the dominant force. It may not look like it in the short term, but it is true. In the end, everyone will know this is the reality.
Ephesians 1:10 (NKJV) 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth–in Him.
There is a day coming when all things will be brought together under Jesus Christ. That is the future, but what about the present. Look at Ephesians 1:22-23 in the Amplified Bible.
Ephesians 1:22-23 (AMP) 22 And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church], 23 Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].
The Father has placed everything, natural and spiritual, under the feet of Jesus and Jesus is the head of the church. The church is to exercise this dominion in the earth. We are the dominant spiritual force in the earth. We just do not know it. The devil through the world is trying to get us to believe just the opposite, but we need to understand that the bible tells the real story. We are in a position of strength and we can believe that favor will flow to that strength as it is needed.
This brings us to what we have been studying. Ephesians 6:10 tells us to be strong in the Lord and the power of his might. How are we to walk in the strength that we have in Jesus? One way we do that is to cloth ourselves in the full armor of God described in the next few verses.
Up to this point, we have looked at the belt of truth. This simple piece of clothing is vital to the armor. It holds everything together. It is made up of honesty, integrity, character and faithfulness. Then there is the breastplate of righteousness. Our breastplate is made out of the righteousness of God purchased by the sacrifice of Jesus. When we confront the devil, the first thing he sees is that righteousness. What is under the breastplate is none of the devil’s business. This righteousness protects the vital spiritual organs of faith, love and holiness.
The next piece of armor is listed in Ephesians 6:15.
Ephesians 6:15 (NKJV) 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
It is hard to believe that one of the most important parts of the Roman armor were their shoes. However, their shoes were a major factor that contributed to the power of their army. In the same way, our spiritual shoes are vital to our victory over the forces of darkness. This week we will learn about them.
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