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For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of
God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand firm.
It isn't a flesh-and-blood battle that we engage. Our war is
a spiritual war. It is a war of ideas. It is a war of authorities. It is a
counter-cultural war. The systems, the patterns, the assumptions of how to live
in this world are often contrary to the good news of grace that Jesus offers.
When they are, we resist in the power and authority of Jesus. In Christ we
resist any and all oppression, injustice, and hatred, whether it is cultural,
systemic, natural, or demonic. It is in God's power and God's strength alone
that we can resist. And in him, we will resist.
Ephesians 6:18-20
…praying at all times
in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with
all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that
words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of
the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it
boldly, as I ought to speak.
Prepare spiritually for a spiritual battle. Remain in the
spirit, communicating with God always, in every way. Go to him for everything
you need. Never forget that you are not alone in this battle. Remember your
brothers-in-arms also, by praying for them every chance you get. Especially
remember those who are persecuted, or have been arrested for their active
resistance to the powers that be. Pray that they will remain bold and true, and
continue to proclaim justice and God's truth without compromise or apology,
even behind bars or answering to a judge. They are ambassadors of the Kingdom
of Heaven, as we are, but the natural kingdoms of this world that are hostile
to God's truth have put these representatives of Christ in jail. Pray that they
would not be afraid in the face of such opposition, and continue to declare the
truth of grace, mercy, and justice in Jesus, whatever the circumstance.
The first three chapters of Ephesians remind us that we are
seated in Christ. The battle is won in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. We
receive this as a gift, through faith. The next two chapters are intensely
practical, reminding us that we are walking in Christ. Now that Jesus bought
us, and we have been adopted into God's family, we are to therefore be
imitators of God, living lives of love, submission, and humble service in our
community, and through our community to others.
As the writer turns toward the powers of this world that
would be contrary to this radical God filled life of love and service, I am
often frustrated that the next action were expressed more actively. We should
fight. We should actively make this reality manifest in the lives of those who
oppose it.
I do not deny that chapter six is active. The writer isn't
saying that we do not fight, or that we do not wrestle. On the contrary, his
description of our resistance is militaristic. Clearly, he has actively
resisted the contrary powers, since he finds himself in jail for doing so.
However, the verb used to describe our battle is not fight, but stand (The
pattern I'm identifying of Sit, Walk, Stand came from Watchman Nee). The
weapons and armour described are ideological, spiritual, and abstract. His most
explicit practical direction for how to fight is to pray. We resist by
standing. We fight by praying.
To be honest, I used to be more of a praying man than I am
today. Somewhere along the line I just got really frustrated with praying that
God would bring justice for the poor and hungry, and just decided I'd rather
give them a sandwich myself (Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's
book Becoming the Answer to our Prayers has good things to say about this It's on IVP, of course, because apparently every book I recommend this year is on that label.).
As I consider this passage, what I realize is that my actions toward justice
today were birthed in the closets of my prayer years ago. If I believe the
first five chapters of Ephesians, I must humbly submit that my own service for
the poor and oppressed comes through allowing myself to be God's instrument of
freedom and blessing in the world. This is his desire for each of us, that we
would manifest his nature of grace and love everywhere we go. For this to
happen, we need to know his heart. We need those moments of quiet and
reflection and meditation and worship in his presence. If I want to continue to
grow in effective love and justice and grace and resistance to the powers of
this world tomorrow, I need to continue to be on my knees receiving the
strength to do so today.
There are two sides to my spiritual preparation for
resistance revealed in this chapter. The first is awareness of the true nature
of who and what I am resisting. The second is awareness of others who are
experiencing persecution for their resistance. In both I stand. In both I pray.
All active resistance by those in Christ begins here, otherwise we are battling
naked and alone, and we will fail.
In God's armour, we resist in his strength. The battle is
already won, and the victory is ours.
Ephesians reminds me that it is in humble prayer that my own
authority and power is sacrificed, and exchanged through faith for the power
and authority of God necessary to serve and resist as he intends.
My prayer will be intentional and two fold. First, I will
pray daily for righteousness and justice for the oppressed and the oppressor.
Secondly, I will pray daily for those who are persecuted for their actions of
justice and righteousness, proclamation of truth, and resistance to the powers
of oppression.
I will continue to be inform myself of the local, national,
and international situations where people are resisting the powers, and pray
for people by name.
The battle is the Lord's.
+
vv10-20 - The armour
of God is used by faith in God's power and authority, not our own strength.
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