Lesson 21 Ephesian 6:10-23

Transcription

1 Lesson 21 Ephesian 6:10-23 The Armor of God The Boy Scout Motto is be prepared and as a populace, we seem preoccupied with preparation for whatever disaster might befall us. We have earthquake drills in case of an earthquake, fire drills in case of a fire, and lifeboat drills in case of a sinking ship (unless we are on an Italian cruise liner). Billions of dollars are spent each year on self-defense and home security to insure our physical safety. Spending on defense continues to be the largest item in our national budget. We are preoccupied with physical threats to our safety. However, as believers our greatest battle is not physical but spiritual. In his closing remarks, Paul tells believers the world is not a playground but a battleground as we enter into spiritual warfare with the devil, the world, and our flesh. The start of Jesus earthly ministry was marked with spiritual conflict with Satan as recorded in Matthew 4:1 10. At the end of Paul s ministry, he was able to say, I fought the good fight. Because of the certainty of spiritual conflict, the writers of the Expositor s Commentary state, this is no time to stop reading the letter what follows is crucial if readers hope to put its message into practice. 1 Just as we rightfully prepare to defend ourselves against physical attack, we must be even more diligent in our preparation for spiritual attack. We must remember in this spiritual war that the battle belongs to the Lord. When King Hezekiah was given terms of surrender by the Assyrians, he laid out the blasphemous letter before the Lord and gave the conflict to the Lord in prayer. Hezekiah awoke the next morning to 185,000 dead pagan soldiers. It has been said 1 Longman, Tremper, William W. Klein, David E. Garland, Todd D. Still, Robert L. Thomas, Andreas J. KÖstenberger, and Arthur A. Rupprecht. The Expositor s Bible Commentary, Ephesians Philemon. Vol. 12. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, Print. ~ 1 ~

2 that we are as strong as we allow ourselves to be strengthened by God. Our spiritual conflict is not a lofty theological discussion as we are engaged in hand-tohand combat with our adversary according to verse 12. Against the father of lies (John 8:44) we are told to put on the belt of truth. How different would the church of Corinth have been if only they had made their decisions based on God s truth and not worldly wisdom? We are to cover our vital organs with the breastplate of righteousness (described as fruit of the light in Ephesians 5:9). The breastplate of the Roman soldier was a thick toughened leather armor covering and protecting the entire torso. Righteousness and holiness are the very nature of God and a life lived in holiness gives no access to the enemy. We are to be shod or fitted with the gospel of peace. The Romans wore hobnailed boots to prevent slippage during battle. Likewise, we will not slip or fall; because of the gospel, we have peace with God and the peace of God during our spiritual battle with evil. We are to take up the shield of faith. The word for shield is for a large 2.5 by 4 barrier. Soldiers would link these large shields to form an impenetrable barrier in phalanx or tortoise formation, thus denying the enemy any access. This is a beautiful illustration of our protection within the Body of Christ as we link our shields of faith. Putting on the helmet of salvation is crucial. While the Greek word for the helmet literally means around the head, we must wrap our head around the concept that because of our salvation in Jesus the battle is already won. While engaged in a trial or temptation brought on by our adversary, it is easy in the tyranny of the moment to forget that we have already won. As Paul writes in Romans 8:37 39, No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ... nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God... in Christ Jesus our Lord (NLT). The sword of the spirit identified as the Word of God was a short dagger-like weapon between 6 and 18 long, thus indicating the close proximity of the spiritual combat. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He used the Word of God to effectively counter Satan s challenges. Just as Hezekiah, when threatened with imminent peril, wisely sought the Lord in prayer, we must always with all prayer seek the Lord. As we reach the halfway point in this year s study of Paul s letters, I am reminded from years of coaching distance runners that the halfway point in a race is when the pace lags and most runners lose heart. Men of Valor, it is my prayer that after this season of studying God s Word together that our shields are stronger and have been linked with our fellow believers while we continue to oil them daily with the Spirit of God. May our swords be sharper and not become rusty from disuse. My desire is that our shoes have a better grip or grasp of the gospel of peace as a result ~ 2 ~

3 of our studies together. I pray also that as we wear our breastplates of righteousness that they glisten and shine with holiness. Finally, my desire is that our heads (and hearts) have a fuller appreciation of our helmet of salvation. As Eleazar, one of David s mighty men of valor (2 Samuel 23:9 10), fought the enemies of God, it was said that although his hand grew weary it stuck (literally froze) to the sword and brought about a great victory. May our hands and hearts, like this mighty man of old, cling to the sword of God s Word to bring about a great victory for His Kingdom. Prayer Start by praying over the passage and asking the Holy Spirit to give you fresh insights and wisdom in understanding it. Then read through the entire passage two or three times. Scripture Meditation/Memorization One of the most fundamental and rewarding Christian disciplines that pays back in full spiritual dividends is Bible meditation/memorization. It is an absolutely fundamental in the formation of your spiritual development, spiritual walk and faith growth. In Psalm 1:1-2 (NLT), the Psalmist warrior, King David said, Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. Memory Verse [10] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV Format Change We have all had weeks in which the time available for preparation of our Bible study evaporates under an unexpected event or a pressing project at work. To enable everyone to complete the study, even when time is at a premium, the daily questions are being divided into two categories: essential and expanded. The essential questions are those necessary to understand key points of the passage. The expanded or growth questions help expand knowledge and gain deeper insight into the Scripture. ~ 3 ~

4 If you are concerned about having enough time to complete the whole study, it is suggested that you start by first answering the essential questions for each day and answer the expanded questions as time permits. Ephesians 6:10-24 Part 1: The Whole Armor of God No one would go into combat without all of the necessary weapons and equipment. Yet many Christians are unprepared for the spiritual battle that awaits them because they haven t appropriated all that God has graciously provided them for their protection. Our opposition (our fleshly nature, the world, and Satan) is seeking to destroy us as Peter warns us in 1 Peter 5:8, Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (NASB). 1. If we go into this spiritual battle trusting solely on our own strength and might, the results will be catastrophic. a. What do we learn from Ephesians 6:10 and Philippians 4:13? b. When we rely on the Lord, what assurances do we have according to 1 John 4:4b and Colossians 2:15? 2. According to verses who is our adversary? ~ 4 ~

5 3. Paul gives us our final marching order before we go into battle. a. What do we learn from verse 13? b. What encouragement can we gather from 2 nd Corinthians 10:3 5? c. If we follow our battle plan, what is the ultimate outcome according to James 4:7? 4. The spiritual battle is usually waged in our mind. Considering that our opponent is the father of lies, the first piece of equipment mentioned is vital. a. What is the first piece of armor? (verse 14a) b. Max Lucado in his book Glory Days tells us that when Satan attacks us with lies and doubts, we must be able to counter them with the truth of God s Word. What do you learn from Philippians 4:8 and John 8:32? ~ 5 ~

6 Ephesians 6:10-24 Part 2: The Whole Armor of God What to Wear to War Warren Wiersbe 1. What is the second piece of spiritual armor mentioned in verse 14b? a. What does 2 Corinthians 5:21 tell us about this? b. On this passage, J. Vernon McGee reminds us that it is the imputed righteousness of Christ that is essential. But he also reminds us the last three chapters of Ephesians have called us to live righteous lives, and he feels this is a key to spiritual victory. Do you agree with McGee? If so, explain why. 2. From verse 15 we are introduced to our third piece of armor. a. What is it? b. How does Romans 5:1 help us understand how we have peace through the gospel of Christ? ~ 6 ~

7 c. Our adversary is the accuser of the brethren; what does Romans 8:1 teach about those of us who have received Jesus as Savior? 3. The shield mentioned in verse 16 is a large rectangle that covered virtually the entire soldier in battle and could be connected or linked to the shields of other soldiers for a more effective defense. a. What do you feel are the fiery darts mentioned in this verse? b. How is the metaphor of shield especially accurate or helpful in illustrating the role of faith? 4. The only offensive weapon mentioned is the sword, or the Word of God. What can we learn about the use of this weapon from Satan s temptation of Christ in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1 11? 5. Paul s final battle strategy is to bring everything before the Lord in prayer (verse 18). What do the following verses teach on the benefits of prayer? a. Philippians 4:6 7 ~ 7 ~

8 b. 1 st Peter 5: *Which item in the full armor of God do you feel most comfortable with? Why? 2 a. *How are you using these weapons in your battle to live out the life God calls you to live? 7. *What role does prayer play in your spiritual battles? Lesson 21 Summary/Take Away To avoid walking in circles when lost in the wilderness, survival instructors teach their students to pick out the most prominent point in the distant landscape and walk toward it. In a similar sense we need to pick out the single most important truth in this week s study and apply it in our life as we walk toward Jesus and out of the wilderness. Please share with your group what that truth is for you, and how will you apply it this week: 2 Question taken from The Wiersbe Bible Study Series: Ephesians, published by David C. Cook, Colorado Springs, CO, 2010 ~ 8 ~

9 Memory Verse [10] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV Key Words/Phrases Write out the definition of these key words. You can use a regular dictionary or go to one of the Greek sources listed in the Tool Box at the end of the study. You may also use a concordance to see where else and how the word is used in the Bible. How would these phrases instruct or encourage us today? Put on the Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6:11) ~ 9 ~

10 MESSAGE NOTES Teacher: 2015 Mark Newton. All rights reserved. Express permission granted for use and reproduction by Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA. *Added questions by Warehouse Christian Ministries, Sacramento, CA ~ 10 ~