09/14 - 09/15: THE BATTLE CLEATS OF PEACE - Ephesians 6:10 - 14
September 16, 2024

A YEAR OF PRAYER

A PRAYER TO STAND FIRM IN THE BATTLE

Standing firm in the battle putting on the whole armor of God.

10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 
11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 
12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14  Stand therefore… —Ephesians 6:10 - 14a

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place. —Ephesians 6:14

and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; —Ephesians 6:15

And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. —Ephesians 6:15 (AMPC)

BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

THE BATTLE CLEATS OF PEACE

1. The Gospel of peace gives courage to stand firm.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. —Galatians 2:20

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ —Isaiah 41:10

5 I called on the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is for me among those who help me;
8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. —Psalm 118:5 - 9

So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” —Hebrews 13:6

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. —Proverbs 18:10

2. The Gospel of peace gives strength to stand firm through deep roots.

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, —Ephesians 3:14 - 20

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:6 - 8

3. The Gospel of peace allows us to stand firm and fight in the face of the impossible.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, —Ephesians 3:20

10 And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.
11 Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?
12 Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”
13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.
14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” —Exodus 10:10 - 14

4. The Gospel of peace keeps us sure footed because Jesus is peace and has overcome.

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. —Colossians 2:15

Therefore He says: ”When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts
to men.” —Ephesians 4:8

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 15:57

1 I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings.
3 And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord.
4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who makes the Lord his refuge and trust, and turns not to the proud or to followers of false gods. —Psalm 40:1 - 4 (AMPC)

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. —1 Peter 5:10

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. —Romans 5:1 - 2