An Open Life

Ephesians 6:21, 22

²¹ But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; ²² whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.

In Christian life, we have been taught that it is important to not boast about one’s talents, riches or even deeds. But, in this context Paul takes great efforts so that everybody learns about his personal life. The interesting thing is that he makes this knowledge about Paul’s personal life a requirement or a lesson for believers.

Displaying our Deeds

In Mathew 5:14-16 Jesus wants our good works to shine upon men so that they would glorify God. But, in the next chapter (6:1) we can see that God would completely ignore them. This is not a contradiction in God’s words, but an important lesson of life. The purpose of Glorifying God should be fulfilled when others see our works and not self-exaltation. We have learnt from John 17 that glory to God is our repentance and holiness. We do not want others to just praise God, but to glorify Him. So, it is required that our lives should be open for others to see.

Further, Jesus says in Mathew 5:14 that we should be a city in a hill that everybody can see and come towards. This city is stable and does not appear and disappear at our will. Similarly, it does not discriminate and lights everybody’s lives. Also, it cannot be hidden means that our words or money can be hidden but the good deeds that are strongly built will shine strongly to change people’s lives. This is required for every Christian that this light automatically spreads from us to others.

Sometimes, we choose not to do injustice and just move away making way for others to commit it. This is selfish and equally dangerous and sinful. We really have to stand up against it. This quality is where we build the city in a hill and put the lamp in a lampstand. Hiding our salvation does no good to anyone.

In Ephesians 5:8 and 1 Thessalonians 5:5, Paul calls us Children of the Light. This means that we are a product of a larger light and we need to display every characteristic of the bigger light. In Philippians 2:14-16, we are asked to do every good deed among the evil generation with happiness so that we will be blameless and a light to others. This also ensures that we need to be watchful that the evil generation should see (and not may see).

In John 3:21, we read that anybody who practices the truth comes to the light so that everybody can see him. Here “truth” is not doing good deeds or charity, but righteousness and honesty. If these characters are strongly built into us, then we automatically rise up and live as witnesses. These words are told to Nicodemus as he came in the night. Our acceptance of Christ and repentance should be in the light so that everybody would see that God has taken control.

 Hypocrisy

But, for this cause displaying an alternate personality, that is, hypocrisy is the sin Jesus hated the highest. He could not bear the sight of Pharisees and others who lived an outward holy life. This was the primary teaching in many of His parables like the Good Samaritan and many more. We think that we are not hypocrites and this teaching is for others only.

In Mathew 21:28-32, we read the parable of the two sons which should be compared with the worship we do with all kinds of promises and commitments to God. Actual missionaries do not get any opportunities to worship God with the ambience we enjoy. This worship makes us hypocrites and liars in God’s eyes. We need to do away with these practices of emotional punch-dialogues to God as He clearly knows our intentions. This is the reason why we need to worship God in Spirit and Truth. This spirit is our inner most being which hosts our intentions and ambitions. These should change towards God during and after our worship and we need to try really hard to keep these commitments. A soulish worship is brought forth by creating an ambience and is not in the truth.

Similarly, in the parable of the two builders, (Luke 6:46-49) both the houses look identical in the outside. But deeper, the foundation should be laid on Christ and His love. If we make commitments because of others, the pastor or others like our interest in music, we become hypocrites. So, let us identify what the inspiration is every time we worship so that we are deeply rooted in Him.

In Luke 11:35, Jesus wants us to be careful about the light that we are possessing. If we are not careful, we might have darkness instead of light inside us. This means hypocrisy can be inside us unknowingly. We may think that everything in us is perfect, but there can be darkness instead.

Discernment

It is often said that we should not look at the personal lives of men of God. But, the Bible teaches otherwise. In Titus 1:9, Paul encourages Titus to choose Bishops who convict those who contradict a sound doctrine. If any preaches takes you anywhere other than Christ, it is our responsibility to convict them and bring them to light. The Old Testament instructs to put them to death (Deut 13:5). People use the verse “Judging is wrong” for criticizing based on Mathew 7:1 onwards. But, if this is true, we are not allowed to criticize not only pastors, but even politicians or cinema stars and should accept everybody. It is important for Christians to discern and ensure that a sound doctrine is preached and the preacher lives accordingly.

In the same chapter (7:20), Jesus wants us to know prophets by their fruits. We need to know whose words we are listening to.

Comfort

In Ep 6:22, we read that Paul’s affairs should comfort others. This is the difference between the deeds that glorify God or glorify men. Many testimonies would hurt people by pricking their inabilities. We should ensure that our words encourage others towards holiness and to glorify God.

So, let us live an open life that encourages, builds others towards Jesus. 

The Armour of God

Eph 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”.

The verse says that we need the armor of God to get the “ability” to stand against the wiles. These are the basic necessities for surviving or even just standing. The requirement of armor is that we do not know the enemy and so cover everything as much as possible. This acceptance is something this chapter teaches us. A Christian has be alert in all aspects to be successful. The armor is totally different from the concept of gifts which are optional. The armor is mandatory for every soldier for survival. The only difference between various men of god is the talent or gift they use for fighting.

The previous verse is the foremost foundation in this warfare: being strong in the Lord and the power of his might. Our understanding, love, obedience and relationship with God should be very strong and determine what we are. The armor is for every soldier, but a person becomes a soldier only when he is strong and otherwise, cannot hold this responsibility. We should allow the power of God’s might strengthen us.

The devil uses wiles meaning that he plans a lot cunningly to make us fail. We expect the darts only in a few forms we have been seeing in horror movies. Cunningness has a feature of pleasing us initially giving an illusion of what would come. And this cunningness is elaborated in the next verse as principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and wickedness that reach up to high places. A whole government and army is present there which is not to slay us directly but cunningly. Sometimes, it is preached that evil spirits steal blessings from us and we need to claim them back by shouting in the name of Jesus or praying or by quoting verses. We should consider the devil as a strong enemy who always waits for our failure and we need to be equipped strongly with the armor in order to survive the battle.

We can see similarities between earthly governments and this verse (verse 12). We have the spiritual wickedness as the actual forces we face in the war similar to goons or even policemen or army. Then rulers of darkness like the officers who control them. Then powers similar to Collectors or Thasildhars who ensure the rulers work efficiently and ultimately the principalities or law-makers. Somehow, it is fatal in our governments that the law-makers are given complete authority over everything in the government making powers and rulers obsolete.

We also need to understand the importance of winning the battle. Jesus had crushed Satan’s head through His life. Meaning, all the wiles of Satan had failed to make

Jesus fall. Our leader has made Satan a failure through His righteous and perfect living. Satan has failed at Jesus, but still has authority now and the victory of Jesus and the strength the Holy Spirit gives us an opportunity to win over Satan. Our victory is attained only when we finish living like Jesus did.

Belt of Truth

The first item in the armor is the belt which holds a person up and gives him the confidence. The truth is that Jesus is the only way to heaven. This truth should be strongly fit in us so that however any weapon of confusion comes, the truth will remain the same even if we die. This cannot be shaken. A loose or weak doctrine in us will weaken all the other protections we have. Based on John 8:32, it is required that we understand the truth completely and that frees us from the devil and makes us a strong opponent.

Breastplate of Righteousness

The breastplate is the innermost of all the other protections. This is behind the sword and shield. Also this is the most inactive thing here. We do not act or control using the breastplate. Similarly, righteousness should be something that we should attain as a habit and these characteristics will protect us subconsciously even if we do not apply it with our will.

Preparation of the Gospel of Peace: the slippers.

Interestingly being available for ministry is shown as a part of the armor. This preparation helps us move forward in our spiritual life. The gospel and truth contain the same information that Jesus saves. But the truth is something that we have and the gospel is when we share with others. We can see the same similarity between the belt and the slippers here. When a belt holds everything together, the preparation of evangelizing helps us move forward. Also, our preparation gives us more understanding of the truth. Rom 1:16 says that the Gospel is the power of God that is sent to others from us.

Shield of Faith

This is the most important thing of the armor and is emphasized by Paul himself saying “above all”. We can use this as a formula during trouble or testing. The first thing we do is that ensure that our trust in Jesus is intact and cannot be broken. The answer to everything in our life is that “God is in control”. This will help us keep away from anger or any other failure. This faith alone helped martyrs suffer. They strongly believed in Jesus and His promises of eternal life even though they haven’t seen anything with their eyes. Again, let us note that the shield is for “fiery darts” which cause immediate harm and look evil. Faith is sufficient for known enemies, but the enemy is crafty and may cause harm from any direction.

Helmet of Salvation

Salvation is from God and protects our head the most important part of the body. Also, this gives the understanding that the grace of God is the highest protection far above our righteousness or even faith. Unless God saves us, we look foolish carrying any other armor in the warfare.

Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God

This sword is the only offensive weapon here. The sword or word had the power to penetrate deep inside to our spirit and give us the understanding of the truth. This word does not initiate from us, but from the Holy Spirit. Whenever we fight against evil, we first pray and ask the Holy Spirit to come and give us words or verses. If we do not let the Holy Spirit take over, our warfare will fail miserably. (Heb 4:12)

Prayer

This preparation is not during warfare but while waiting for the enemy. Prayer keeps us awake. Prayer for other saints is also mentioned here which keeps us watchful. The word “all” implies many types and requirements for prayer and we need to give them all while waiting.

This armor and preparation makes us just stand and to win in this war, we are required to survive till our death and then Satan will be crushed just as Jesus did to him.