Nov 21, 2011

Eph 6:14-19

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage. Read the Passage at least twice. Who is in the passage? What action verbs do you see? What other words stick out in your mind.


Paul uses a Roman soldiers uniform to share the uniform we should wear when we face this enemy of evil that is not flesh and blood. The key is what areas Paul tells us to seek and develop. By wearing the pieces listed we are able to stand the attacks of forces of evil. To fight against forces that are not flesh and blood we need equipment made not by us but by God Himself

Truth
Righteousness
Readiness from gospel of Peace
Faith
Salvation
Word of God
Pray

Look at these terms- What do they mean? Where do they come from? How do we get them? Why do we need them?

I think sometimes we get too caught up in the metaphors of these terms instead of looking at what Paul says is important to the faith.

First all begin with God. They do not come from what we start. For example truth is God originated. Even faith begins by God coming to us to give us something to trust in. Prayer also starts with God even wanting to have a conversation with us.
Second while all start with God we must either respond to it, like salvation, or continually develop it, like faith. They are qualities that we build on. Even salvation is built on. Phil 2:12.

Truth- Source is God, 4:21 says it comes from Jesus. With the truth we then interact with each other. The truth is key in 4:14-15. Without the focus of God we are tossed around by schemes. With the truth we can build the body of Christ.

Righteousness - Paul in is writings looks at this two ways. First we cannot make ourselves righteousness. 4:24 says we have to have a new self to have righteousness. See Phil 1:11, 3:9. In Romans 3:21--22 Righteousness cannot come by following the law (because no one is perfect) only through faith in Jesus.
Yet once you are put in right relationship with Christ we are called to seek to live a righteous life. Not because it will earn us salvation but because it is the right response to what God has done in our lives. see 5:9 and 2 Tim 3:16-17.

Readiness from Gospel of Peace. Christ is our peace (2:14-15) But we need to use this peace. As a soldier must be quick to respond so should a Christ follower. Quick to act in life in accordance with the good news of peace. It reminds me of 1 Pet 3:15-17 An important scripture to remember in the world we live in. (Also see Col 4:5-6) Being prepared to know how to respond in a way that honors God and also proclaims the truth. Being able to defend your faith both in words and how you live. It is the good news of peace that allows us to endure even when attacked.

Faith- Paul clearly sees faith as our response to what God has done in Jesus Christ. See 1:15, 2:8, 3:12,17. Paul in Romans says it is by our faith in Jesus removing our sins that we have a relationship with God (Roms 1:16-17) . With strong faith we can withstand the attacks of the evil forces. Jesus talked about the need for faith many times. It is why He is able to work in our lives (Luke 5:20, Luke 17:5-6) Without faith we lose the impact of God in our lives. Luke 22:32 shows Jesus praying for Peter's faith when Peter is attacked by Satan. The problem for Peter (and us) is not God's forgiveness; rather it is our acceptance of it. The belief that God can use us and would even want to.

Salvation - As Paul has already made clear of salvation is of God Eph 2:8-9. It is complete. It is the basis of our faith. Without God's salvation we are nothing. Rom 5:8 states God's care for us well. The reminder that God loves us so much allows us to fight the battle. The confidence in knowing that nothing can separate us from God gives us the bravery we need to fight with faith. See Rom 8:38-39.

Word of God- many make much of this being listed as an offensive attack weapon. In Hebrews it is said that it penetrates into our very soul. (Heb 4:12) Jesus used it as a reply to Satan's attacks when He was tested in the wilderness. Luke 4:4, 8, 12. The word of God helps us to discern the attacks of evil and reply to them. This word could also be talking about the words God promises to give those who stand trial for their faith (Matt 10:17-20) . Either way it takes developing a relationship with God to allow the Holy Spirit to work in the situations we find ourselves.
While knowing the basics of the Bible is important, Scripture memory can make a world of difference as we face life and the forces of evil.

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