2023-Q3-L12

2023-Q3-L12: The Call to Stand

Read for This Week’s Study: Eph. 6:10-20; Deut. 20:2-4; Rom. 13:11-14; 1 Thess. 5:6-8; 1 Cor. 15:23, 24.

Memory Text: Memory Text: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 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).

Scriptures

Deuteronomy 20:2–4 (ESV): 2 And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people 3 and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, 4 for the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’

Romans 13:11–14 (ESV): 11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

1 Thessalonians 5:6–8 (ESV): 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

1 Corinthians 15:23–24 (ESV): 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (WEB): For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, 5 throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is made full.

Isaiah 59:15b-17: Yahweh saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor. Therefore his own arm brought salvation to him; and his righteousness sustained him. 17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head. He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle.

Notes

Ephesians 6:10: Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, [that is,] in the strength of his might.

“in the energy of Him the Strong.”

Ephesians 6:10. Lit. “in the might [kratos] of his strength [ischus].” This is an attributed genitive: “mighty strength.” It could also be genitive of origin: “might that originates from his strength”; or genitive of production: “might produced by his strength.” To allow for multiple understandings we left the “of” formulation intact in the translation, rather than translate the genitive to its primary meaning. The Greek reads, “in the might [kratos] of his strength [ischus].” This one verse places an amazing amount of emphasis on the power that we have in Christ, and the power that we need if we are going to stand for God throughout our lives.

Ephesians 6:11: "schemes". Others: strategies, wiles, evil tricks, deceptive tactics, crafty assaults

"schemes." Greek methodeias [G3180, (plural)]. 1. to follow up or investigate by method and settled plan; 2. to follow craftily, frame devices, deceive. Also, cunning arts, deceit, craft, trickery

"wrestle." Struggle.

"Stand." The term is action based. It is a call to be alert because some action is expected or anticipated.

Taking a position and holding it. Resistance and invincible.

Identify the right enemy. It is not against flesh and blood. The war is against ourselves. Battles over self and sin. Hereditary tendencies. Inclinations to evil.

The battles to doubt salvation, to lose faith, state of fear, ignorance of truth, no desire to pray

Victory is assured. Our duty is to put ourselves in God's will.

Stand firm in the Lord (Phil. 4:1). Stand your ground. This war is over evil. Will we allow it to advance, or will we do our best to resist it.

Overview of Ephesians:

Chapters 1-4. The hidden message revealed in Christ:

spiritual blessings; saved by grace; peace and unity; thru the church the wisdom of God made known; grounded in love; the body of Christ; put on the new man (4:18-32).

Chapters 5-6: Imitators of God: walk in love; walk as children of light; walk careful and wise; spirit of submission

Understand the Gospel: We are supplied with armament

Helmet of salvation is gifted to us by the grace of God. Eph. 2:5; 3:2, 7

Shield of faith is gifted to us by Christ. Eph 2:8; 3:12

Breastplate of righteousness is gifted to us by Christ. Eph 2:8-10

Feet shod with gospel of peace. Eph. 2:14 ("he is our peace")

Belt of truth is gifted to us by Christ. Eph 1:13 ("word of truth). The written word of God (3:3-4)

Prayer. Eph 1:16. There is never a time when you don't need the help of God. Pray constantly to retain the armor of God.

COL 333.1: As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings.

Sword of the Spirit.

Revelation 19:11-16 (WEB): I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself. 13 He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called “The Word of God.” 14 The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. 15 Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod.Psalm 2:9 He treads the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Revelation 20:4: I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Self defense: Luke 22:36.

Seven pieces of the armor

Belt of truth. Jesus is the truth. It is centered on him. It is truth from without; not from within. It is not "my truth" but God's truth. It is not from intuition but from inspiration. It is God breathed.

Breastplate of righteousness. Elements of goodness that we are not capable of on our own. The breastplate protects the heart, the seat of emotions. The source of happiness is centered on God's presence.

Gospel of peace. Shoes to protect the feet on the journey. To maintain steadiness and balance. We go in the right path.

Shield of faith. Large protective armor against arguments leading to doubt.

Helmet of salvation. Protects the mind from distractions and lies.

Sword of the spirit. It is the spirit's sword not our sword. It is the sword given to us by the spirit to use in our earthly lives. The "word" here is not logos but rhema. The word rhema often refers more to the words that are spoken. Just as a sword is only effective when it is used, the word of God is most effective when it is spoken.

Prayer. The spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

SUNDAY. Battle Speech

From the lesson: Paul will identify the relationship with Christ as the most important and defining one for believers.

MONDAY. Finding Strength in Christ

TUESDAY. The Great Controversy in Paul’s Letters

WEDNESDAY. Standing on the Ancient Battlefield

THURSDAY. Wrestling Against Evil Powers

FRIDAY. Further Thought:

APPENDIX