Key Verse: 'For our struggle is not against enemies of flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places' (Ephesians 6:12).
Introduction
In today's Epistle, the Apostle Paul addresses Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based witnessing paschal faith communities. He reminds these witnesses that they have been given the same divine power, protection and guidance of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ had to proclaim, incarnate and manifest God's redemptive plan for kingdom living here on earth. God's redemptive plan includes mankind's freedom from and victory over the presence and forces of evil, resurrection from spiritual death and ascension in spiritual formation and maturity in Christ. In the power of the Holy spirit witnesses of the Gospel of Christ are called and empowered to follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery and manifesting kingdom living here on earth as it is in heaven, in the mind of the spirit (Matthew 6:9-13, Mark 8:31-34, Luke 4:16-21, 17:20-21; Acts 1:8, Romans 8:12-17, Ephesians 6:10).
Witnessing paschal faith communities are engaged in spiritual warfare
Paul therefore admonishes witnesses and witnessing paschal faith communities in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups to put on the power and strength of the spiritual armor, which the Godhead has made available to them. God's spiritual armor will enable them to overcome the deception, greed, tricks, sin, alienation, incivility, guilt, and spiritual death of the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh, on earth and in the heavenly places (Luke 17:20-37). He reminds witnesses that their battle is not against the flesh and blood of human beings. Their battle is against emotional, intellectual and spiritual wickedness, within and outside of every person. These forces and powers of the mind of the flesh are the invisible rulers, authorities, and dark cosmic powers of the sin and evil of Satan, the inappropriate dominion of the mind of flesh, in human attitudes, mindsets, actions, relationships and lives, throughout planet earth (Matthew 16:33, Mark 8:32-33, Romans 8:5-8, Ephesians 6:11-12).
God's armor for spiritual warfare
Because all people, believers and unbelievers alike, continue to encounter and are subject to the inappropriate dominion of the mind of the flesh within and without, the Apostle Paul enjoins all witnesses and witnessing paschal faith communities to be steadfast and diligent in clothing themselves in God's spiritual armor. By embracing the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit, he assured them that when the evil days come, they will be able to resist and ward off the selfishness, condemnation, exploitation, victimization and destruction of Satan, the inappropriate dominion of the mind of the flesh. In the mind of the spirit, they will be able to stand their ground in the truth of the Gospel of Christ. In the mind of the spirit, they will wear the breastplate of righteousness (Romans 8:1-17, Ephesians 6:13-14).
Preparation for spiritual warfare
In Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based preparation for spiritual warfare, Paul encourage witnessing paschal faith communities to embrace the peacefulness, compassion, agape love, inclusiveness, civility, mercy and kindness of the mind of the spirit, as essential and normal attitudes and elements of human behavior and action. As they faithfully seek, discern and serve Christ, God's invisible Presence and Image in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ, themselves, and all person, the Godhead will shield them from the power, control, hatred and destruction of both internal as well as external evil thought, attitudes, and actions they will encounter, in the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh. Paul assured them that in the mind of the spirit, God will equip them with the helmet of salvation (Genesis 1:26-31, Romans 8:12-17, Ephesians 6:15-16).
Divine weapons for spiritual warfare
In addition to the divine initiative of Jesus Christ's redemptive work of salvation, Paul stresses the human initiative and urgent need for witnesses to study, share, memorize and store the words of Holy Scripture and especially the teaching of Jesus Christ, in their souls, hearts and minds (Matthew 5, 6, 7). These holy writings and oral tradition are the foundation of truth and sword of the spirit, for the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit. Like Jesus Christ in his wilderness encounter with the Devil, the word of God is the believers sure defensive and offensive weapon against the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life (Luke 4:1-13, Ephesians 6:17, 1 John 2:15-17).
Admonished to pray in the mind of the spirit
Paul then encouraged witness and witnessing paschal faith communities in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups to center their prayer, worship, caring, teaching, serving, healing and sharing in true prayer, by always knowing that in the Godhead we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). In that awareness, true witnesses of the Gospel of Christ can always be fully dependent on God's guidance and help. He admonished them to not only be faithful in prayer, but to also live their lives, in the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit. Paul then encourage them to never be discouraged and give up, but be fervent in prayer for all of God's people, throughout the earth (Matthew 6:5-15, Romans 8:12-17, Ephesians 6:18-19).
Conclusion
The Apostle Paul concluded by reminding these believers that he was now imprisoned, because he proclaimed the Gospel of Christ. He assured them that they can now be fully empowered and equipped by the Godhead, to proclaim the same Gospel of Christ, as revealed in Jesus Christ, if they dwell in the mind of the spirit. Paul then asked them to pray that he would remain rooted, grounded and bold in declaring the truth and the mysteries of the Gospel of Christ, as God's Ambassador, in the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit (Ephesians 6:20, Romans 8:12-17).
Reference Articles
Season of Pentecost, Proper 16
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