Ephesians 6:14-24

[Shield]

Shield> Thank you for attending tonight's study:)
Shield> Lets pray
Shield> Father here we are
Shield> in your presence
Shield> we take a moment Lord
Shield> to pause quietly
Shield> we are too hurried in our lives
Shield> help us pause and reflect
Shield> on You
Shield> and Your Word
Shield> may this time be fruitful
Shield> and may we be challenged in this final session on Ephesians to press forward into a deeper understanding of its riches
Shield> help us revisit the text again and again
Shield> bless each one here tonight
Shield> and minister to the many around the world who will view this log
Shield> may they not feel as though they are mere spectators
Shield> rather may they sense your Spirit moving in their hearts in now
Shield> in the precious name of your Son Jesus we pray
Shield> amen
Shield> we have quite a bit of material to cover
Shield> and we are not going to try to do it all
Shield> rather we shall take a bit of a selective approach in our emphasis
Shield> not in a way that is unfaithful to the text mind you
Shield> but in a way that helps us to take a step back and view the broad picture
Shield> and causes us to see the armor of God passage in a new light
Shield> so lets get to it
Shield> I will voice you folks in a moment
Shield> as per our custom I ask that if you have a question or comment you indicate that with a o/
Shield> that way we can be orderly
Shield> ok
Shield> I will quickly post the text we covered last week for context
Shield> and then we shall move on
Shield> Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
Shield> Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
Shield> Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Shield> Ephesians 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Shield> and now we carry on
Shield> with the understanding that the readers have been given a mandate
Shield> to take up the full armor of God
Shield> and that they should stand firm
Shield> this command is brought forth with the weight of the entire letter as its impetus
Shield> as we shall see shortly
Shield> Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Shield> now then
Shield> we see again the command to stand firm
Shield> and how does this verse ask us to do that specifically?
Shield> please feel free to raise your hand and share
salti> o/
Shield> yes please salti:)
salti> in truth and righteousness we are to stand firm
Shield> yes indeed
Shield> what is truth?
salti> without those things it is impossible.... wouldnt you say?
Shield> I spose the same question could be asked about righteousness
Shield> yes I would
Shield> I completely agree
Shield> :)
Bride> o/
Shield> yes Bride
Bride> without truth we cannot combat the father of lies
Shield> very good point
Shield> let me share some verses
Shield> that show the treatment of truth in the body of the letter
Shield> Ephesians 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Shield> the message of truth
Shield> when we listen to and believe the truth of the gospel
Shield> we are sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit
Shield> Ephesians 4:21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
Shield> truth is in Christ
salti> o/
Shield> yes salti
Shield> Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
salti> you mentioned truth relating to our salvation in Christ....
Shield> yes
salti> we know that scripture says there is not one righteous....
Shield> true
salti> but through our faith in Christ..
salti> righteousness is accredited to us..
Shield> yes
salti> same concept.. i never saw it that way :)
Shield> :)
Shield> good point
Shield> lets talk about righteousness for a moment
Shield> Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Shield> the breastplate of righteousness
Shield> Ephesians 4:24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Shield> here are some thoughts for you to consider
Shield> put on the new self
Shield> which in the likeness of God...
Shield> has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Shield> putting on the breastplate of righteouness is so much more than a mere legal action
Shield> it is so much more than living morally important as that is
Shield> it is indicative of our personal relationship with the Lord God
Shield> having trusted Jesus as our Savior
Shield> and receiving His free gift of salvation
Shield> we are made righteous
Shield> as salti said
Shield> righteousness is imputed to us
Shield> because our old character is put to death
Shield> and Christ's character takes up residence in our hearts
Shield> Ephesians 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Shield> I love this verse
Shield> perhaps its because I am primarily motivated in my ministery to evangelize
Shield> but God expects believers to be ready at all times to be witnesses:)
Shield> the good news or gospel of peace is the message that Jesus came to save us from our sins:)
Shield> Ephesians 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Shield> Ephesians 6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Shield> any thoughts?
tiggy> o/
Shield> yes tiggy
tiggy> the evil one often attacks us through doubt or fear, both of which are extinguisehed through faith in the gospel
Shield> yes true
Shield> how do you suppose the shield of faith works to combat the attacks?
tiggy> o/
Shield> yes tiggy
Shield> go ahead tiggy
tiggy> it blocks them..as we focus our thoughts on the gospel, on the Lord, we are not thinking fearful or doubtful things
Shield> yes I would agree with that
<Shield> think of it this way
Shield> when we focus our attention on the Lord God....
Shield> we will be equipped to deal with the things that the evil one would throw our way
Shield> lets view some verses for a moment
Shield> Ephesians 1:15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,
Shield> Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Shield> our faith is in Christ
Shield> and it is by grace we have been saved through faith
Shield> Ephesians 3:12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Shield> :)
Shield> think of it
Shield> we have access to the throne room of God
Shield> in Christ and through faith in Christ
Shield> with freedom and confidence
Shield> practice the discipline of prayer every morning:)
Shield> and meditate on this truth
Shield> and see what happens to your fears:)
Shield> and come back next week or email me and tell me what the Lord has done:)
salti> :)
Shield> you will not be sorry you did:)
Shield> Ephesians 3:16-17 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith....
Shield> through the shield of faith you will be strengthened
Shield> Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Shield> there is only one true faith
Shield> faith in Christ Jesus our Lord
Shield> for it is only through Jesus that we may be saved
Shield> lets continue
Shield> Ephesians 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Shield> what is it saying?
Shield> yes salti
salti> its saying receive Christ in whom all these things are found.. and His word which guides us
Shield> very well said
Shield> and that is precisely true
salti> His word is given.. like the sword which is a weapon against all that comes against us
Shield> there are no hidden meanings here
Shield> yes indeed
Shield> His Word is truth
Shield> Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
Shield> I am going to go ahead and post the remainder of the verses...
Shield> and then I shall have some closing comments
Shield> Ephesians 6:19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
Shield> Ephesians 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Shield> Ephesians 6:21 But that you also may know about my cir***stances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.
Shield> Ephesians 6:22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.
Shield> Ephesians 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Shield> Ephesians 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.
Shield> Grace be to each of you....
Shield> who love the Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love
Shield> with a love that cannot perish
Shield> and that will not fade on a whim
Shield> because it is the love that the Lord God has deposited in your hearts when you trusted Jesus as your Savior
Shield> saint
Shield> saints
Shield> God loves you
Shield> the letter to the Ephesians is intended to help the original readers and those in christendon who would read it thereafter to understand who they are in Christ
Shield> it is intended for YOU to understnd who YOU are IN Christ
Shield> lets pray
tiggy> Father,
tiggy> we thank You for this opportunity to study Your word
tiggy> it is an honor and a privilege to do so
tiggy> thank You too for Shield's faithfulness to You
tiggy> and to teach Your word uncompromisingly
tiggy> Please bless each one who reads this study
tiggy> and we love You dearly Lord...
tiggy> In Jesus name amen
Shield> thanks tiggy!
salti> amen
Shield> thanks everyone:)

[Pillar]

This is a difficult thing for me, I have a difficult time finding alone time with God, however I do it anyways - it is an obedience thing. I have seen the positive effects of this one on one time with God and have experienced how it can really help to keep me focused on the Lord in any situation, but I still find myself trying to skip that part of the day from time to time. My flesh and my human logic - the enemy, tells me that it is a waste of time; we must stay focused!