2023-Q3-L13

2023-Q3-L13: Waging Peace

Read for This Week’s Study: Eph. 6:10-20; 1 Pet. 4:1; 1 Pet. 5:8; Isa. 59:17; Isa. 52:8-10; 1 Thess. 5:16-18.

Memory Text: Memory Text: “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:16, 17, 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.’

1 Peter 4:1 (ESV): 4 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV): 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Isaiah 59:17 (ESV): 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 wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

Isaiah 52:8–10 (ESV): 8 The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion. 9 Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (ESV): 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Notes

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. The truth will set you free. The truth must not lonely be understood, but experienced. Eternal life is to KNOW God (intimitely.

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.

Notes (2)

Matthew 10:34-36: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come
to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.

Cannot have peace with selfishness, hostility, fear

Matthew 11:12: From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been breaking forth, and every man in it is breaking forth.

breaking forth—Jesus is using Micah 2:12-13 imagery, which is where sheep held in a pen break through the gate into pasture and freedom.

"breach-maker" was John the Baptist. The people then “broke through, passed the gate and went out” (MICAH 2:13). “Their king passed on before them.” This “king” would then be prophetically speaking of the coming Messiah.

"gates of hell." The Greek is Hades. It is in reference to Sheol in the OT. Job 17:16; Isaiah 38:10.

All true healing starts with the correct diagnosis. If the diagnosis is wrong, then the treatment is wrong.

All true spiritual healing starts with the TRUTH about yourself and your condition.

Belt of Truth. Diagnosis

Breastplate. To protect the heart.

Gospel of peace. To bring peace to ourselves and others. A message of Reconciliation.

Helmet of salvation. Mind with discernment.

Wage Ware in the Strength of the Lord.

We are waging war against the supernatural, and we are not supernatural, so we need all the help we can get.

Soldier moves into a position (location, truth) he must defend (i.e. stand firm).

The deeper danger is that of deception. Warning against superficiality.

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You can have peace in the midst of war. No compromise in order to achieve peace.

Doubt comes in the day of evil.

Hebrews 4:12. The sword is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The first order of business in this cosmic battle is to reveal the kind of God that we will be spending eternity with.

Is it the God which Satan and the world portrays, or is it the God of the Bible?

The 1st angel's message is first and foremost, a revelation of God the Father and of Christ.

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

The helmet of salvation is something you must first experience. It is YOUR testimony of the truth.

You cannot be an expert at everything, or even an expert at nothing, but you better be an expert at your own experience, because you ought to know your life better than anyone else. And if there is anything you know, or should know, is if you are truly saved.

By this we shall KNOW that we are of the truth and reassure our hearts before him, whenever our hearts condemn us.

What can keep you STRONG is what you have already experienced.

PRAYER: We are dependent beings from beginning to end. We cannot, nor will not be independent in this conflict with evil. We will always need the power and supernatural help from God. It may come in different ways, but it will always be necessary. And if you don't ask, you don't receive. So, get into the habit of asking and depending on God.

The first lie of the Serpent was in a sense, you don't need to be dependent on God--make your own decisions. The term is: presumption.

1. Supplication: the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.

2. Persistence.

3. Intercessorship.

4. With boldness.

Prayer is part of the whole armor. It is not the whole armor. You can pray, and not have the truth on the matter. You can pray, and not have the faith. You can pray and not have the righteousness that God requires and provides. You can pray and not have the peace of God.

{6:20} “an ambassador [bound] in a chain.” The particular word for “chain” (G254, alysis) in this verse is a slight chain by which he was “coupled” round the right wrist to the left of a soldier. Paul may have intended a double meaning here. That is, while physically bound by a chain to a soldier, he was nevertheless spiritually “bound” to Christ as his ambassador. His prayer request is also double in purpose: to receive the gift of utterance and the gift of boldness (or freedom) to speak.

Ephesians overview:

Letter divided in 3 parts:

1. Seated with Christ. {chs. 1-3}. We are "in" Christ.

Election: {1:4-6} Chose you from the foundation of the world to the praise of His glory

Salvation: {2:8-10} Saved by grace through faith

Transformation: {3:20-21} to him who is able...according to the power at work within us, to him be glory

key ideas: the church, one body, God's wisdom, God's glory

2. Walking in Christ. {chs. 4-5 to 6:9} . Christ is "in" us.

Stewardship: {4:1-16} walk in a manner worthy of the calling; He gave gifts to equip the saints, for building up the body of Christ

Fellowship: {4:32; 5:21} Be kind to one another; imitators of God; submit to one another

Relationship: {5:22-6:9} Love/respect: husbands-wives, children-parents, slaves-masters

key ideas: built thru spiritual gifts, caring community, Christ's bride

3. Standing for Christ. {6:10 to end}

Power: {6:10} Be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might

Poise: {6:11-17} The armor of God

Prayer: {6:18-20} Praying at all times in the spirit

key ideas: An army of believers

God's Armor

"Put on" (equipment): Belt of truth (anchored-to / secure-in the Bible), Breastplate of righteousness (accepted in or "put on" Christ), Shoes of the gospel (assured by the gospel).

"Take up" (engagement): Shield of faith (growth), Helmet of salvation (maturing mind), sword of the spirit.

A trusting and testing faith.

Which gospel? Of: forgiveness only, moral right and doctrine ("be right"), prosperity ("claim my rights"), social action ("meet others' needs"), consumer ("meet my needs"), kingdom ("follow me")

Dual purpose of Christ's first coming (plan of redemption): (1) salvation of man, (2) vindicate the character of God. PP 68.

The whole purpose of man is (Ecclesiastes 12:13): fear God ("worship and glorify") and keep his commandments.

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

Duty says "I do what I do because I ought to."

Discipline says "I do what I do because I have to."

Delight says "I do what I do because I want to."

Devotion says "I do what I do because I love to."

The devil saw me with my head down and thought he'd won, until I said "Amen."

MH 182.1: Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on the merits of the Saviour. By prayer, by the study of His word, by faith in His abiding presence, the weakest of human beings may live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold them by a hand that will never let go.

SUNDAY. The Church: A Unified Army

MONDAY. Belt and Breastplate

TUESDAY. Shoes: The Church Wages Peace

WEDNESDAY. Shield, Helmet, and Sword

THURSDAY. Practicing Battlefield Prayer

FRIDAY. Further Thought: What is the significance of Paul’s labeling himself “an ambassador in chains” (Eph. 6:20, ESV)? Ambassadors often played challenging roles during wartime, so Paul’s self-description fits the context of his military metaphor. Ambassadors were to be treated with the respect due the person or country that sent them. So there is stark contrast between Paul’s status as ambassador for the Supreme Ruler of the cosmos and the utter disrespect signaled by his chains (literally, “chain”). However, since ambassadors would wear a “chain of office,” Paul’s mention of a “chain” may be “spiced with irony,” in which he sees his chain as “a decoration to be worn with distinction.” — David J. Williams, Paul’s Metaphors: Their Context and Character (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999), p. 152.

APPENDIX

{6:10} Paul starts out this chiastic paragraph (vv.10-20) with a triple reference to power, using three different Greek words: the verb endunamoó and two nouns, kratos and ischus.

Ephesians 6:10: Finally, my brothers, be strong [G1743, endunamoó] in the Lord and in the strength [G2904, kratos] of his might [G2479, ischus].

The apostle used the same words, all three in noun form, at the beginning of his letter when describing God’s greatness and power, as revealed in Christ.

Ephesians 1:19: and what is the exceeding greatness of his power [g1411, dynamis] toward us who believe, according to the working of the strength [g2904, kratos] of his might [g2479, ischus]

He thereby completes his letter by telling the Ephesians that this power residing in Christ is available to them in order to battle against the invisible foe.