Ephesians 5-6
Walk
and Warfare

We should praise the sovereign God of creation because He exalts His holy ones, and brings them into a relationship with Him (it would probably help things if we were holy to be in His presence, fulfilling the purposes for which He created us, and worthy of His exaltation and relationship [cx Israel in most of its history]).

Sovereign Creator, You are worthy of all praise, from all that You have created; it's amazing that You want a relationship with me, may I be among those You exalt and bring near to Yourself; may my praise be pleasing to You. Amen.

This is a great verse to memorize since it explains the heart of the substitutionary atonement (cf. Isa 53). It's the center of the Bridge to Life illustration (which you should be able to draw and explain from memory on a napkin or envelope). Christ died (once) in our place, so we didn't have to. However, He didn't just die for our forgiveness, but so that we could have a relationship with Him and He could bless us (see the context and comments in 1Peter 3).

Learn how to share this passage with others by memorizing it and the Bridge to Life. Then use it to bring someone to God.

Lord Jesus, thanks for suffering and dying for me, so I could be forgiven and have a relationship with You; may I too, die to my old self, and live by the power of Your Spirit. Amen.

The previous chapter described how unified believers should live/walk worthy of their invitation to glory, so they actually arrive there. Chapter 5 describes how to walk in love, walk in the light, walk in wisdom, and walk in the Spirit, reaching the summit of unity, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Paul then parenthetically clarifies three hierarchical relationships that are exceptions to mutual submission. Finally he closes with the Spirit's strategy for corporate spiritual warfare, telling the Body how to stand in unity against the onslaughts of Satan. If the Body of believers follow God's instructions, they will be the temple in which He displays His glory to the world, and will fulfill God's final purpose for them as they share in the glorious inheritance of the saints in the light, during the future Kingdom of the Messiah.

Glory-bound believers need to walk in love, as children of light, wisely doing God's will, controlled by the Spirit of God, and submitted to the Lord and His Body. Whew!

Believers need to draw on God's strength and truth to live in unity and withstand the onslaughts of Satan; doing things independently is certain death (loss of dominion).

God, thanks that You always provide all I need to do Your will; thanks for like-minded believers, who are intent on loyally loving You. Amen.

I. The Ephesian (local) church was created by God to bring Himself glory as believers walked worthy of their calling in truth-based unity and love. (Temple motif 2:21)

Ac 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church….28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 "Therefore watch…

1Tim 1:3…remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine

? Ephesus was the best taught church in the NT. Did that ensure that Christ was pleased with it? If not, why not? (Rev 2:1ff)

II. Our Enemy, the Devil (demons) seeks to undermine God-glorifying Unity through deception and lies.

6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

? How does an individual believer obey the command to put on the armor? Are you dressed for battle or the beach?

III. Our Responsibility is to use God’s armor (and draw on His strength) to combat and STAND in Unity

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

We stand in unity and combat Satan by Learning, Living, and Loving others with the Truth. Our understanding and use of each piece of armor must first come from Paul’s use of it in the previous verses of Ephesians, describing truth about the nature of the Body and how our beliefs and actions must be in accord with that corporate truth. The question to ask and answer is how does each piece of armor protect or defend against Satan’s attempts to destroy unity. The individual believer must then act in accord with that understanding to accomplish God’s purposes and glory.

? Why the emphasis on standing? Why not charge the gates of hell with a water pistol and rescue/save the inhabitants?

A. TRUTH 14a Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,

1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head----Christ----

4:21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.

A. W. Pink states that Satan's chief aim is to estrange man's heart from God and his work consists of substituting his own lies in the place of divine truth…spiritual warfare occurs in the mind, and it is the mental reckoning or reasoning that results in a choice between God's Word and Satan's lie, although at the time we may not recognize the alternative offered to be a lie or from Satan. http://www.path-light.com/warfarelesson.htm

? Why is Truth so important? With what specific Truth must one gird themselves? How do you do that? What truths relate to unity?

B. RIGHTEOUSNESS 14b having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

4:21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

4:24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

5:9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),  6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Jas 4:7  Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.8  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

2Tim 2: 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

? How does personal  righteousness relate to  corporate unity? How does an ignored conscience open us up to Satan? What’s key to 4:24?

 C. Gospel of PEACE 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one…15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

2:17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

3:6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  1:2; 6:23

? How do/should you obey Eph 4:3?  How does the gospel of peace relate to unity? What lies does Satan pander re: peace?

 D. FAITH 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

1:15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

1:19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

3:12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

6:23 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

? How does  Satan throw darts? What effect do those darts have on unity? How does faith quench them? Faith in what?

E. SALVATION 17a And take the helmet of salvation,

1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

2:5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

1Thess 5:8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

I Pt 5:8 ¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

9  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

? How do the  different aspects of  salvation relate to the battle for maintaining unity?  How do you put the helmet of  salvation?

F. WORD 17b and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, Jn 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Mt 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, `You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'" 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, `You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32  "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

? How does one use the word of God against Satan? How do you gain the skill to use it?

G. PRAYER 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints----

1:16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height----19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

? What did Paul pray for the Ephesians? How do those things relate to unity?

? What other things did believers pray for other believers in the Bible? What role does discernment play in prayer?

God in a nutshell: God gives us the resources to accomplish His will, and expects us to do it.

Build-a-Jesus: Jesus is our Lord, who gave Himself for us, so we could give ourselves to Him.

Us in a nutshell: We need to live in love, walk in wisdom, and wage war with the weapons God had provided. Submission to a Biblical Body is a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit, as is submission in the other realms God specified.