Pastor/Teacher, Jim Rickard
Grace Fellowship
Church
www.GraceDoctrine.org
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www.GraceDoctrine.org
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Before we
begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, (If You have - Trusted
in Him for Eternal Life), it is important to prepare yourself to: Take-in God’s
Word and/or Participate in a Communion Service, so take a moment to name, cite,
or acknowledge your sins privately, directly to God the Father. This will
assure that you are in fellowship with God the Father & the Holy Spirit’s
convicting ministry will then be able to teach you as the Holy Spirit is the
real teacher.
1 John 1:9 says— “If we confess [simply
name, cite, or acknowledge to God the Father] our sins [known sins], He
is faithful and just to forgive us our sins [known sins] and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
[all unknown & forgotten sins].”
For those of you who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior, please see: The Salvation Message @ the
end of this document.
2 Pet 3:9, “The Lord is
not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward
you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
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We have noted in the last few chapters of Ephesians how to
“Walk in Christ,” including:
Walking in Unity – 4:1-16
Walking in Purity – 4:17-32
Walking in Love – 5:1-6
Walking in Light – 5:7-14
Walking in Wisdom – 5:15-6:9
Eph 6:10-24; 1:19-23; 2:1-3; Psa 18:39; 35:1-3
As we study the last
section of this book we are going to learn how to…
Stand in Warfare – 6:10-20.
Having noted our personal internal warfare of the Angelic
Conflict in the previous chapters, now we are going to note the external
warfare we are all a part of during the Angelic Conflict. Having learned the
description of the ideal home and workplace, the focus now shifts to the
battlefield.
Many times the NT speaks of the Christian life in military
terms. Yet, the language here describes something that is more than just a
figure of speech. This battle is real, difficult, and dangerous. Although
salvation is free to the person who receives it, it is not brought to its
highest point without great effort. The Angelic Conflict is real and part of
the reality of human life, whether people comprehend it or not.
For the believer, no true soldier of Jesus Christ can expect
to be immune from it and the assaults of the enemy. Likewise, no Christian can
afford to be neutral in this conflict. Therefore, in this section, believers
are called to stand firm in the midst of spiritual warfare by means of God’s
power, with God’s armor, and in constant prayer.
As Christians, we face three enemies: the world, the flesh,
and the devil, Eph 2:1-3.
1. “The world,” refers to the system around us that is
opposed to God, Satan’s cosmic system, that caters to “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of
life,” 1 John 2:15-17. Society apart from God is a simple, but accurate,
definition of “the world.”
2. “The flesh” is the Old Sin Nature that we inherited from
Adam, a nature that is opposed to God and can do nothing spiritual to please
God.
3. “The devil,” a real fallen angel who led the rebellion
against God in eternity past, who has stayed in rebellion and is the leader of
the fallen angelic forces to thwart God’s plan for mankind and your life.
Yet, by His death and resurrection, Christ has overcome the
world, John 16:33; Gal 6:14, and the
flesh, Rom 6:1-6; Gal 2:20, and the
devil, Eph 1:19-23. Therefore, as
believers, we do not fight for victory, we fight from a position of victory!
The Spirit of God enables us, by faith, to appropriate Christ’s victory for
ourselves.
Therefore, in these closing verses of the letter, Paul
discussed four topics so we, by understanding and applying these truths, might
walk in victory: The Empowerment, vs. 10;
The Enemy, vs. 11-12; The Equipment,
vs 13-17; The Energy, vs. 18-20; The Encouragement, vs. 21-24.
1. Empowerment,
vs. 10.
Vs. 10
Eph 6:10, “Finally,
be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”
Before delving into the conflict, God reminds us of the
strength and power that is available to every believer to be victorious in the
Angelic Conflict, using three Greek words in this passage, DUNAMIS, KRATOS, and
ISCHUS. Therefore, this section discusses a believer’s use of God’s resources
to help him stand against evil powers.
Whereas every division of Eph 4:1-6:9, was introduced by the Greek inferential Particle OUN, Eph 4:1, 17; 5:1, 7, 15, and the verb
“walk,” PERIPATEO; Eph 4:1, 17; 5:1, 8,
15, this final division is signaled by “finally,” as the Greek
begins with HO LOIPOS, in the Adverbial use of a Genitive phrase.
LOIPOS, λοιπός
means, “remaining, over, from now, rest, other.” Literally it reads, “the
remaining, the rest, etc.” Paul used it often to conclude a message or give one
final point, cf. 2 Cor 13:11; Phil 3:1; 4:8; 1 Thes 4:1; 2 Thes 3:1.
Many times, those constructions include, “brethren,” ADELPHOS, as do some variant
Greek translations of this passage. But ADELPHOS should not be included here.
But if we take this
literally, as we should, it means, “for the remaining or rest of the time, or
from now on.” In other words, going forward in your Christian walk, do what is
commanded in this passage, “be empowered for battle by God.”
This also tells us
that Paul foresees the impact of this book on the Royal Family of God. He sees
it as turning people around and moving them in the right direction. He sees it
as the means of getting believers oriented to the Plan of God and entering into
the tactical victories of the Angelic Conflict.
As we have seen in
this book, it demands growth. From the time that you start the first chapter
and begin to see that you are in the Plan of God, and that you are special in
the plan of God, and that you live in a special age, from that moment on, Ephesians
becomes extremely important to empower and enable you to be victorious inside
the Angelic Conflict.
Psa 18:39, “For You have girded me with strength for
battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.”
Psa 35:1-3, “Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with
me; fight against those who fight against me. 2Take hold of buckler
and shield and rise up for my help. 3Draw also the spear and the
battle-axe to meet those who pursue me; say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation’.”
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A
PERSONAL NOTE FOR YOU
John 6:47 says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me [Jesus Christ] has everlasting life.”
Notice again
what John 6:47 says, “he who believes in Me [Jesus Christ] has everlasting life.” It doesn’t say, “will have;” it says,
“has.” Therefore, the very moment you believe Jesus Christ’s promise of
everlasting life, you have it, and it can never be lost or taken away from you [John 10:28-29]. Furthermore, the gift
of everlasting life [also called eternal life in Scripture] is available to
every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.
John 3:14-18 says: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but
have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the
world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but
he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in
the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Eph 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any
man should boast.”
If
you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I am here to tell
you that Jesus loves you. He loves you so much that He gave His life for you.
God the Father also loves you. He loves you so much that He gave His only Son
for you by sending Him to the Cross. At the Cross Jesus died in your place.
Taking upon Himself all of your sins and all of my sins. He was judged for our
sins and paid the price for our sins. Therefore, our sins will never be held
against us.
Right
where you are, you now have the opportunity to make the greatest decision in
your life. To accept the free gift of salvation and eternal life by truly
believing that Jesus Christ died for your sins and was raised on the third day
as the proof of the promise of eternal life. So right now, you can pause and
reflect on what Christ has done for you and say to the Father:
"Yes
Father, I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ,
died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins."
If you have done that, I Welcome You to the Eternal
Family of God !!!
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Grace Fellowship Church
Pastor/Teacher: James H. Rickard
23 Messenger Street, Unit 3
Plainville, MA 02762
Copyright © 2001 - 2017.
Property of: James H Rickard Bible Ministries
All Rights Reserved.
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