EPHESIANS 6vv18-23

Chapter 6 v18-24
Ceaseless sighs of prayer rising high above                             vv18-22
Constant streams of power descending from above                vv23-24

Christians possess a power, which, when wielded properly, is greater than any power on earth...they are in direct contact with the very throne of the universe.   Paul has enumerated the spiritual battle cladding, but there is one greater than them all and that is a hot line to God (reverently of course).   The power of prayer is without limit, and it has been well scripted "Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saints upon their knees."   Paul concludes this epistle of heavenly themes with an appeal for us to use the power of prayer.

• Praying always.......ceaseless prayer, ever conscious of the God who sees us, and who cares for us.   Praying in the home and at work and in leisure time, praying in the morning and at noon and the evening.   His own example chapter 1v16 "...cease not to give thanks for you making mention of you in my prayers."   To the Roman saints chapter 1v9 "...without ceasing I make mention of you in my prayers."   1 Thessalonians 1v2 "We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers."   His command 1 Thessalonians 5v17 "Pray without ceasing."
• Praying ....with all prayer and supplication       Pray for everything, don't leave anything out;  prayers about things in general;   supplications about specific needs.   Supplication is a petition give to a person of higher authority, and it carries the idea of a specific request.   It would be a good exercise to list the different prayers of the bible, but we are in no way limited to those.
• Praying.....in the Spirit       Very important, only God can communicate God to us and only God can communicate us to God.   Paul reveals in Romans chapter 8vv26-27 "..the Spirit helps our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered, and He which searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession according to God."
• Praying.....with all perseverance      Continuance in prayer is in view.   We should keep on praying until we get an answer!   This is called importunity in prayer and is illustrated by the Lord in Luke 11vv5-10.   Persistence in prayer pays dividends...if we do not persist in prayers, the chances are we are just saying prayers, which can become a mere ritual.   God requires heart prayer, real prayer, prayer that really wants a result.   In the context of temptation, our Lord said "watch and pray", now in the context of the progress of the work Paul says "pray and watch!"  We are to pray business-like expecting answers, not always the answers we anticipate, not always according to our will.
• Praying.... for all saints       All whom God has sanctified, all believers, all those redeemed at infinite cost, they are all to be in our prayers.   We cannot know them all, but God does;   we cannot name them all but God does and they are all precious in His sight and should be in ours too.  The term is used throughout the epistle.....c/f 1v1; 1v15; 2v19; 3v8; 3v18; 4v12; and now 4v18.   After all this no Christian should be wondering what they will do with their lives.   If all these blogs do is to encourage even one saint to take up mantle of prayer, the most effective weapon in the Christian armoury, it will have been all worthwhile.
• Praying..... for the servants       This is in two parts in verses 19-22;   firstly the front line servants like Paul in the preaching;   secondly for the background servants, the unsung heroes like Tychicus.   They are all necessary in the work of the Lord, and the all need our prayers.   Paul says "and for me..."  We have to pray for the preachers, it is not easy work, and often thankless work, humanly speaking.   We are to pray for three things....a) utterance, the ability to communicate Divine truth;   b) boldness, the hearers are not always sympathetic and at times antagonistic;   c) clarity  to make known the mystery of the gospel.   Paul sees himself as an ambassador in bonds, representing the Lord in a difficult situation, communicating to people opposed to the gospel.   There are many such today and we can partner with them in prayer.   We cannot all be Pauls, and Paul relied on the help of unknowns like Tychicus who served with Paul in the background.   A man of the same name is found in Acts 20v4; Colossians 4v7; 2 Timothy 4v12; and Titus 3v12   and on the assumption he is the same man, he was a stalwart in the work.   Paul called him "a beloved brother, and faithful minister(servant) in the Lord."  Again he said he was " A fellowservant"   He was, possibly a script writer for Paul, he was certainly a messenger and reporter, who made many journeys on behalf of the apostle.   These need or prayers.
• Constant streams of grace and power from above       These are manifold and continual and unconditional coming down from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.   Peace, and love with faith, and grace to all those who love our Lord in sincerity (in incorruption.)   There is the suggestion here that some feign lie for the Lord, God knows the hearts.

EPHESIANS 6 vv10-17

Christian conflict                             Chapter 6v10-17

  Standing resolutely in the face of a determined enemy

I have often wondered why Paul leaves this important issue to the last ("Finally..."), almost making it an appendage to the letter.   It is surely because he wants us to see the blessings before the battles, the resources before the rigours.   I note a similar phraseology in these verses to ones in chapter 1;   there in vv21-22 he speaks of "...principalities, and powers, and mights, and dominions..".   In chapter 6 he uses the same words to describe the enemy of believers, but , before he portrays the enemy, he has given us the vision of our glorious risen and ascended Lord, who has been exalted "far above" those powers and has "all things under His feet" including the armies of demons arrayed against us!   The same enemy who tracked the footsteps of our blessed Lord throughout His life, will also trouble us in our lives but he is a defeated enemy.

Nevertheless we must not underestimate the task and he prepares the Christians by putting them on a war footing using military terminology.   We must realise, in this life we are in a war zone.   Watchman Nee in his commentary on Ephesians, put in a graphic way, the gist of which is this;   We are

• Seated in heavenly places in Christ                      chapter 2
• Walking on earth in the power of new life            chapters4/5
• Standing against a hellish foe                               chapter6

Confronted, as we are with an INVISIBLE, INTANGIBLE, and DEMONIC foe, we have all that is necessary to stand.   We are to be passive and active in our stand against an enemy more powerful than we.
Passive   "Be strong (strengthened) in the Lord and in the power of His might."   Not strong enough for this we need inward strength supplied by the Lord.   Ephesians not only expounds the grace of God but also the power of God; 1v18/19; 2v1; 3v16; 3v21.  
Active     "Put on the whole armour of God."     the panoply.... the entire battle dress for defence and offence in the heat of battle.   There are four main areas of study;

1. The nature of the enemy
2. The nature of the conflict
3. The methods of the enemy
4. The armour of God

1.   Firstly, they are in vast numbers;   according to Revelation 12v4 they are estimated to be one third of a numberless throng of angels, drawn away by Satan.   Then they are said to be spiritual, that is invisible but very real.    They are very ordered and organised, being arranged in stratas as follows:

Principalities (the elite high ranking individuals who control vast swathes of the spiritual world);   Powers (authorities, involving every conceivable unit of government, whether national, regional or local;  these could be considered as being behind the politics of the world....the bible is clear that behind the powers on earth there are higher powers.);   Rulers of the darkness of this age (inventors of evil doctrines and practises, pervading the academic world, promoting philosophies, religions, ideologies, sustainers of the world system in opposition to God.;   Spiritual wickedness in high places (promoters of all lawlessness, controlling the world of pleasure and self-pleasing, the spirit of rebellion against God.)   It should be clear to all that there are things going on in this world that can only be explained in terms of diabolical influence and control.   Control of mass media communication, education, politics, entertainment, religions, health, all areas of life.

2.   Not long range warfare, but close combat, making it a very personal conflict indeed.   He uses the term "wrestle", which indicates a very intensive experience.   Jesus spoke of this in John 14v30 "...the prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me."   The picture is vivid and self- explanatory.

3.  The methods are twofold and they have never changed from the beginning.   First deception "the wiles of the devil" then destruction "the fiery darts of the wicked one."   When the ploy of deception fails, let every one of us be aware that the destruction of spiritual life is intended if not the destruction of physical life.   The bible casts Satan as at once "an angel of light", and again as "a roaring lion.".   Back in Eden, he used deception to bring humanity down, the result was destruction, spiritual death, then physical death, and ultimately eternal death.   He cannot touch the eternal destiny of the Christian, but the intention is to destroy the life.

4.   Note the cooperation required in the reality of close combat with such a powerful and determined enemy......"Put on the whole armour of God"  v10;   "..take unto you the whole armour of God." v13;   "Withstand in the evil day..." v13 (i.e. the times when the attacks come);   "having done all stand" v13 (i.e. when the attacks are successfully defended.).   He now enumerates the full panoply of armour with which the Christian is protected.   The battle is not with flesh and blood but with unseen spiritual forces.   Paul reflected on this in 2 Corinthians chapter 10v4 "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds...."   What is then the armour of God made available to us?   Paul envisages a soldier in full battle garb.

• The girdle of truth       This is INTEGRITY, something which is singularly lacking in the world.   We were saved by "the word of truth" chapter 1v13;   we were taught "the truth as it is in Jesus" chapter 4v21;   we are to "speak the truth in love" chapter 4v15;   we are "after God created in righteousness and true holiness" chapter 4v24.   Everything else is a lie, whether doctrinal or practical.   Satan is a liar and the father of it, said the Lord Jesus.   We refuse the false gods and false religions, peddled by him, we do not deal in lies or half-truths;  it is such integrity of soul (God given) that will preserve us in the conflict.   The girdle or the belt of a soldier held together the whole armour, being linked to the breastplate and the leg girths and the sheath which holds the sword, so truth, integrity, whether in belief or in behaviour is fundamental to our spiritual survival.
• The breastplate of righteousness       This is LOYALTY, first to the Lord, then to our fellow members.   The breastplate is a full body cover protecting the heart.   The heart is the very seat of human emotion and when Satan takes on the saints he has to weaken their deep loyalty to God and His saints.   The heart that was once given over to sin and unrighteousness is now com mitted to do what is right.   This is because God has made us right with Himself;   we are righteous, therefore we live righteously.   The new man "has been created in righteousness" and we are to "put it on" chapter 4v24.   We have it, we just have to put it on!   "Walk in love, as Christ also loved us...." chapter 5v2.   Demonstrate the features and the fruit of the new life "for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth...." chapter5v9.   Love to the Lord and love to the saints is what is right, wherever we look in the bible and this supersedes all other considerations.   The breastplate of righteousness is a very formidable defence.
• The feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace       This is STABILITY.   The aim is to stand in the face of combat and for this we need proper footwear.   If we are to walk in the Christian pathway, if we are to stand in the heat of conflict we are to be shod.   The word preparation is the idea of "readiness", that is to always be ready, to have at our fingertips and at the forefront of our minds the gospel of peace.   The gospel of peace because in this I am reconciled to God and why should I mar that by succumbing to the one who took me away?  "He is our peace" chapter2v14.   Through Him we have been reconciled to God..."The work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness shall be quietness and assurance forever.   The gospel has settled all questions, there is no fear for the future, and no devil can proclaim otherwise.   "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.   We stand firmly on this sure foundation, we do not cower before a lying enemy, we stand, having at the ready always, the gospel that has given us peace with God, and no demon can unsettle us.
• The shield of faith       This is SECURITY;   he says "above all" or "over all", meaning to cover all.....the shield was a full body protection from head to foot.   This is to deflect "the fiery darts of the wicked one."   The thought here is of missiles sent with the intention to hurt...they could be temptations to sin (he is the tempter), or accusations of sin ( he is "diabolos" the false accuser).   Scriptures like Zechariah 3vv1-4; Revelation 12 v10; 2 Corinthians 11v3;   1 Timothy 3v6 etc. apply.  Christians under such attacks can become frustrated, and discouraged, and the only protection they have is their faith; faith in the sure word of God that says they don't need to yield to temptation (Romans chapter 6v12-22), and that if they sin we have full provision made (1 John 1v7 and 2vv1-2).   Faith can be at different levels, but the constant bombardment only strengthens it.   The reality we face is recorded in Revelation 12v10 is that the devil accuses the people of God, before the face of God day and night!   There is a lovely truth hidden in the Greek in these verses....."The shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts...."   The word for "able" is from the root word for power dunamis, which is power in motion, power in action, effective power!!   Translated thus it says "...the shield of faith by which you will be empowered.....enough said.   The power of grace is greater than the power of sin, the power of God within us is greater than the power of evil, from wherever it comes.
• The helmet of salvation       This is CERTAINTY, the protection of the mind, from all doubt and despair.   In Eden Satan first attacked the mind of Eve...his tactics were successful and they follow the same pattern today    DOUBT, DENIAL, DISSATISFACTION, DISOBEDIENCE, DELUSION then finally Death!   He began with the mind and that led to the hand that took in defiance against God.   It was also in Eden God pronounced His salvation, the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent's head.   God's salvation is the only antidote to sin and Satan.   Salvation is a blanket term and involves many aspects, which take care of everything that sin lost, and it is the understanding of the full orbed glory of the gospel that stops Satan before he can even start.   In the blanket term of Salvation used by Paul in Romans 1v16, and other places are the truths of election/predestination;  regeneration;  propitiation;  redemption;  justification;   reconciliation;   sanctification;  glorification;   presentation;   manifestation.   A study of these will take a lifetime to digest, but essentially God's salvation is so comprehensive, it leaves no stone unturned, to such a degree, that no demon, however many, can destroy and no human can ever gainsay.   Christian take the helmet (the word is receive), and go forward on full confidence to ultimate success.
• The sword of the Spirit      This is VICTORY.   It is defined as" the spoken word of God", not so much a quotation of the general scripture, but the word applied to a specific situation.   This requires greater knowledge and skill to use it timeously.   It is "the word in season" of Isaiah 50v4;   the "word fitly spoken" of Proverbs 25v11;   the "instant word" of 2 Timothy4v2.   It is best illustrated in the Lord's confrontation with Satan in the temptation, where He lifted three short sharp words from Deuteronomy chapters 6&8.   He said "...it is written......it is written again...it is written.   He met the adversary of God with this and the result was decisive....the gospel writers record;   "Then the devil leaveth Him" Matthew 4v11;   "Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit..." Luke 4v14.   His victory can be our victory by the same word.   The sword is the short sword used in close combat;  no one, not even Satan is any match for the spoken word of God, which, according to Hebrews 4v12 is "..living and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.   No one, whether angel or demon or mortal man  can gainsay that so the Christian is in possession of the ultimate spiritual weapon, enough to meet any situation

EPHESIANS 6 vv1-9

Walk circumspectly                Chapter 6v1-9

a)   In the home              verses 1-4

b)   In the workplace      verses 5-9

Christianity is to affect our walk, our deeds, our demeanour, our lifestyle, in every aspect of life.   Perhaps the two places where it will be most challenging is in the two spheres above.  

a)  Parents and children in the sphere of the home;   there are demands made of both.   The secret of it all is to bring the Lord into the relationship......"Children obey your parents in the Lord:   for this is right."   This is in accordance with the fifth commandment, of the ten , but which is the first commandment with promise.   This commandment applies to all children in all homes, but it should be particularly true in Christian homes.   The promise is stated in Deuteronomy 5v18, "..that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."

Length of days and quality of days are in this promise.   An illustration of this principle is recorded in Jeremiah 35 v18-19.   We are all tenants on God's earth....scripture makes clear that God our creator determines the length of our days, and, indeed, the bounds of our habitation Acts 17 vv21-28..   We are all dependent on Him for all things in life, it is therefore a wise choice to obey His will.   He has given us all parents to guide us, and he expects us to honour them.   Parents may not always be right, but what is always right is that we honour them.   The word Paul uses for "right" is very important....it is the word "just" or "righteous."   This is a word which proclaims the justice of God in all the earth.   All wrongs will be put to rights, as the prophet Jeremiah asserts in that very revealing portion in chapter 9v24 "I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness and judgment and righteousness in the earth for in these things I delight, saith the Lord."   Every shortfall of honour to parents, every overstepping the mark, will be met with the balancing justice from the Lord.   It is an unalterable law of life on God's earth.

There is also a balancing provision to the parents in that fathers are to administer control in the household in a mature and gentle way, not to provoke children to anger.   Colossians 3v21 adds "lest they be discouraged."   There must be a firm but positive upbringing, such that children respect the Lord, but also benefit, as the word "nurture" would suggest.   Some have put it like this "Cultivating what is godly, and curbing what is ungodly", which I think is a fair summary.   There is no call for a father to exasperate a child,  but rather to foster in them that which is good.   Our heavenly Father is kind, but also holy, and the balance must be struck.

b)   Servants and Masters in the workplace.   The daily necessity of work means that we spend a large part of our lives in this occupation and we are to walk in that sphere for God;  there is a word for both.   The universe is described in the bible as the "Cosmos", which is the opposite of "Chaos", in the Greek and refers to an ordered arrangement of things.   There is structure at every level in this world and in the new birth these natural strata's are to be observed.   Paul states as much in 1 Corinthians 7v20 "Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called."   This is in the context of marriage but the principle applies across the spectrum of life.   There are servants and there are masters and so it must be in this world.   Attention is drawn to the demeanour of servants in the workplace.

Firstly they are enjoined to assess their work as "unto the Lord".   The Lord is their master not men;   note the repetition of this in the verses:

• verse 5..."as unto Christ";   verse 6...."as the servants of Christ";   verse 6 "doing the will of God";   verse 7 "as to the Lord."   They serve the Lord, not men.   Certain qualities are to be evident as follows:
• Obedience    In all situations the will of the master is paramount.
• Respect         "Fear and trembling", yielding to the superior power, fearful to offend the source of living.   Grandmother's advice "don't bite the hand that feeds you!".
• Devotion      "singleness of heart as unto Christ..."   loyalty in service.
• Diligence    "Not with eyeservice as menpleasers..... not working only when the boss is looking, not clockwatching, but with the heart, just as we should be serving the Lord.
• Courtesy      "...with good will..."    desirous of, and working toward, the benefit of the employer.

This we should know, the Lord expects everyone who works to be rewarded properly, and in the case where servants go beyond the call of duty, and are, for this, unrewarded, the Lord Himself will be the rewarder, and this principle will apply whether bond or free.   Serving as unto the Lord,

no one will lose out for the good (the extra) they have done.

There is also a word to those who are masters;   in a time when some have been overbearing, Christian masters are to be different......not overbearing, "forbearing threatening", knowing that they have a Master in heaven, who will deal with them in the same way should they abuse their power of position.   If however they reward good work done beyond contractual obligations, they will receive a reward from above.   God exercises righteousness always and there is no respect of persons, God has no favourites, within the universal structure of things we are all treated the same.

EPHESIANS 5vv22-33

Walk circumspectly                        Chapter 5v22-33

3)   A new concept of marriage elevating the Divine institution to a high level.

The prescription for a perfect marriage!   No earthly plan for marriage comes close to this.   Two people, wife and husband in unbreakable union because their bond is in Christ.   Wives in submission, husbands demonstrating real love, the kind that God has displayed.

• Headship     Wives in submission to their husbands      This is in the context of the Christian way to acknowledge Divinely instituted order of things in the universe.   Everything will run smoothly when that order is observed by all parties.   It is not so much the idea of superiority that is in view, rather the relative roles we are to play in the good decorum of Christian society, rather like planets and stars in their orbit for the stability of the galaxy.   It comes after the command to "submit one to another";   this was to be practical...... wives to husbands(chapter 5v22-33), children to parents ((chapter 6v1-4),  servants to masters (chapter 6v5-9).   In any society there must be, of necessity, a structure, and it requires each of us in our respective roles to play our part.   God expects Christian wives to submit to their husbands as per the example of the godly women of the bible;   1 Peter 3v6 "...as Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him lord; whose daughters ye are....".   Note the force of the little word "own"....their own husbands.   Their personal possession so far as marital faithfulness is concerned, and they are to be respected because of that.   The standard is high....as unto the Lord... their husbands are to be held in high esteem as the Lord!   The reason is clear, Divine order in the universal scheme of things;   it may not be the way of a godless world, it is God's way.   "The husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church."   The balance of this is stated, not only is He the head, He is the saviour of the body.   The word for saviour-soter- can mean deliverer or preserver and always carries the thought of active responsibility.   This underlines the caring aspect of the union.   The conclusion is that "...therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so also let the wives be subject to their own husbands...."   Note the scope of this...."in everything!"
• Lordship      Husbands to love their wives      In a day of chronic marriage breakdown, what an opportunity for Christian husbands to demonstrate God's kind of love.   The word is agape God's love, love that gives all and seeks no return, love that pervades in all situations.   Again the standard is the highest possible "even as Christ loved the Church...."   Few of us have attained to this but this is teaching of Paul that a Christian marriage should reflect the love of Christ.   He now turns to the great mystery of Christ and the Church as the pattern for marriage.

Firstly we see that Christ gave Himself;   no one can give any more than themselves.   If we give ourselves to another, they have everything we are and have.  For Christ this involved sacrifice of a supreme nature.   He gave Himself that He might sanctify and cleanse it.... the church comprising sinful beings were not fit companions for the perfect Son of God, and so He makes them fit by the cleansing power of the spoken word of God.   This process of cleansing will continue until what He calls "the presentation".   There are to be two presentations in the future, the presentation to Himself in Ephesians 5 v27;   then the presentation to the Father in Colossians 1v22 and Jude v24.   Only perfection will do for Divine beings.   Thus the love of Christ extends not only to the cleansing of sinners, but to the beautification of saints.   Note the language of the scriptures already mentioned....a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it may be holy and without blemish...";   "...holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight...";   "...faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy."   His love was expressed in His desire for their ultimate perfection and blessing.   This is exactly how we husbands are to treat our wives.   There are three metaphors in Ephesians to describe the relationship of Christ and the Church..... The body of Christ the temple of God the bride of Christ.   The emphasis in these is activity, sanctity, and love respectively and sums up privileges of believers in union with Christ.   The concept that sinful people could be in such close union to the Lord of all heaven is nothing short of amazing;   the fact that this is to be the pattern for the relationship of husband and wife is also amazing.   This elevates marriage to unprecedented levels;   human marriage is to reflect the union of Christ and the Church.   This union is unbreakable, it will issue in perfection, it is based on sacrificial love, it reflects a desire for the best for the partner.   There would be no marital breakdown if this standard were observed.   Says Paul, " So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies..."   There's an obligation about it; firstly they made a vow, then they have received love from Christ so they have an obligation to reciprocate that.   He now expands it to the natural argument;   they are to love their wives "as their own bodies".    This now reveals the biblical concept of marriage.....Genesis 2v24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh."   God's estimate of the marriage bond is that husband and wife are one flesh.   Since no man ever yet hated his own flesh, it is becoming that they love their wife as their own body.   The Lord nourishes and cherishes the church, that is He brings it to maturity by good spiritual feeding, and He keeps it warm by keeping them close to Himself...this is also how Christian men are to be with their wives. 

Paul then refers to the metaphorical image of the church as His body, just as the man is one flesh with the woman so is the union of Christ and the church.   He calls it "a great mystery", and it is the model for all marriages.