How can you beat the monumental accomplishment of the rock opera "Tommy" by the Who. At the beginning of the 1970's that was the task that faced Pete Townsend. He bought a little time by releasing "Live at Leeds" then got down to the serious task of writing and producing a new LP of songs that was to be released in 1971. "Who's Next" was an album that many thing was not only on a par with "Tommy" but surpassed it by miles. To this day "Who's Next" is regarded as one of the greatest rock albums of all time, with good reason as well. The songs on the album are just brilliant, the overall production and music presentation of the album is out of this world. This for the who was a commercial success and critical triumph. "Who's Next" gave The Who two of Rock-n-Roll's greatest anthems -"Baba O'Riley" and today's devotional "Won't get fooled again"
We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song
I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
The change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the fold, that's all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause the banners, they are flown in the next war
I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
No, no!
I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
Though I know that the hypnotized never lie
Do ya?
There's nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Are now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight
I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss
"Won't get fooled again" How many times have we all said that, only to find that we do get fooled again. How many times have all of us said we will not make the same mistake again and then go on to repeat that mistake over and over again. How many times have we said to ourselves "How can I be so gullible and be taken in again"and "When will I learn from all those mistakes". We are often really hard on ourselves and put ourselves down more than anyone one else could. We condemn ourselves much more powerfully than an outsider can. It is easy in our lives to be fooled, taken in, used and spat out at the other end. Fooled again by a friend, family member, fellow worker, or lover. Confrontation in times like these is often unavoidable and can be really messy. This is true for all aspects of our lives even spiritually we are in danger of being taken in by things that seem harmless enough and then prove to be anything of the sort. In the lyrics of "Won't get fooled again" we find the line "Then I'll get on my knees and pray - We don't get fooled again" In the lyrics of this great song there is time given to a spiritual dimension. The lyrics could have said "Grin and bear it and not get fooled again" or "I'll get on my feet and say we don't get fooled again" But they don't the include space for the spiritual dimension.
In chapter 6 of Paul's pastoral letter to the church in Ephesus Paul refers to the spiritual dimension of life when we are at risk of being fooled again. He uses different words to describe this like "the devil's schemes" or "powers of this dark world" or even still "spiritual forces of evil" Paul sets out in his letter to the church in Ephesus a kind of .....what to do when you are in danger of being fooled again.
Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
Paul encourages his readers in a pictorial way to put on certain virtues as if they were an armour. Of course it is not the armour that is important but the virtues that the armour represents. All of these virtues are to be active and not dormant in the lives of his readers in the church in Ephesus and in our lives too.
1. Paul encourages his readers to be - PEOPLE OF THE TRUTH.
Telling the truth, living honest lives and telling themselves the truth about who they are.
2. Paul encourages his readers to be PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHTEOUS.
To live lives that are not unrighteous, or self righteous but full of justice and right living.
3. Paul encourages his readers to be PEOPLE IN READINESS FOR PEACE.
Which means living in a constant state of readiness, (Not for war) but for peace.
4. Paul encourages his readers to be PEOPLE OF FAITH.
To learn how to trust and to have hope despite the difficulties or dangers they might face.
5. Paul speaks to his readers to be PEOPLE OF SALVATION.
Salvation to live in. Paul encourages his readers to constantly remind themselves to live in the freedom and liberty that Jesus gives.
6. Paul challenges his readers to be PEOPLE OF THE WORD OF GOD..
To be people who have a great knowledge of God's word and how it all fits together. that the Holy spirit is behind the word of God with the power of God.
These virtues Paul says stop us from being taken advantage of by the enemy of souls.
The trouble with these virtues is that the church generally is in love with the image of the armour, and in love with the idea that we can pray this armour on. (As if Paul ever meant that.) So much so that some are in danger of not actively incorporating Truth, Righteousness, Readiness for peace, Faith, Salvation, and the Word of God in our lives in an intentional way.
People are led to believe by well intentioned but deluded leaders, that simply "Praying the armour of God" will act as a talisman. (Of course that is not what they say, but it does not take to long to discover that is what they mean) It's not a talisman, or a formula, it's a way of life with Jesus. A way of life that Incarnates (Puts on) Jesus (That's what the armour represents) You cannot pray it on it has to be lived in and lived out.
We can see all these virtues of Ephesians 6 in Jesus and in his life lived on the earth. This is about a way of life that that incarnates (Puts on) Jesus. It's Jesus who confronts evil, It's the power of Jesus who defeats darkness. It's the life of Jesus that we are invited to put on and live in. His resurrection life. Simply praying "The Armour of God" will not achieve anything. It's Jesus in us which stops the evil one having his way. It's his life active in us. When the evil one is confronted by people who look like Jesus, sound Like Jesus, act like Jesus, who live like Jesus and who deal with evil like Jesus he cannot help but turn on his heels and run. We are far less likely to be fooled when our lives are full of the virtues of Jesus.
1. Paul encourages his readers to be - PEOPLE OF THE TRUTH.
Telling the truth, living honest lives and telling themselves the truth about who they are.
2. Paul encourages his readers to be PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHTEOUS.
To live lives that are not unrighteous, or self righteous but full of justice and right living.
3. Paul encourages his readers to be PEOPLE IN READINESS FOR PEACE.
Which means living in a constant state of readiness, (Not for war) but for peace.
4. Paul encourages his readers to be PEOPLE OF FAITH.
To learn how to trust and to have hope despite the difficulties or dangers they might face.
5. Paul speaks to his readers to be PEOPLE OF SALVATION.
Salvation to live in. Paul encourages his readers to constantly remind themselves to live in the freedom and liberty that Jesus gives.
6. Paul challenges his readers to be PEOPLE OF THE WORD OF GOD..
To be people who have a great knowledge of God's word and how it all fits together. that the Holy spirit is behind the word of God with the power of God.
These virtues Paul says stop us from being taken advantage of by the enemy of souls.
The trouble with these virtues is that the church generally is in love with the image of the armour, and in love with the idea that we can pray this armour on. (As if Paul ever meant that.) So much so that some are in danger of not actively incorporating Truth, Righteousness, Readiness for peace, Faith, Salvation, and the Word of God in our lives in an intentional way.
People are led to believe by well intentioned but deluded leaders, that simply "Praying the armour of God" will act as a talisman. (Of course that is not what they say, but it does not take to long to discover that is what they mean) It's not a talisman, or a formula, it's a way of life with Jesus. A way of life that Incarnates (Puts on) Jesus (That's what the armour represents) You cannot pray it on it has to be lived in and lived out.
We can see all these virtues of Ephesians 6 in Jesus and in his life lived on the earth. This is about a way of life that that incarnates (Puts on) Jesus. It's Jesus who confronts evil, It's the power of Jesus who defeats darkness. It's the life of Jesus that we are invited to put on and live in. His resurrection life. Simply praying "The Armour of God" will not achieve anything. It's Jesus in us which stops the evil one having his way. It's his life active in us. When the evil one is confronted by people who look like Jesus, sound Like Jesus, act like Jesus, who live like Jesus and who deal with evil like Jesus he cannot help but turn on his heels and run. We are far less likely to be fooled when our lives are full of the virtues of Jesus.
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