Ephesians (Program #57) – The Whole Armor of God (2)

Four verses in Ephesians Chapter 6 mentioned 6 items that are associated with spiritual warfare. Beginning at verse 14, it says “Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth (#1) and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (#2)  And having shod your feet with the firm foundation of the gospel of peace; (#3). Besides all these, having taken up the shield of faith, (#4) with which you will be able to quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And receive the helmet of salvation (#5) and finally the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God.”

Six items in two groups. The first group : the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the feet shod with the firm foundation of the gospel of peace. These three things prepare us for the warfare. While the second group provide us for the weapons, the implements that we need to fight the battle.

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Ephesians (Program #56) – The Whole Armor of God (1)

The book of Ephesians unveils the Church as the center of God’s purpose and eternal plan. It also shows us the Church in several aspects that progress from the Body of Christ to a full grown man fully matured in life, in the expression of God to ultimately become the Bride of Christ for His satisfaction. That brings us to Chapter 6 and spiritual warfare.  Verse 10 “Finally, be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil”

It’s here that many readers of the Bible lose sight of one very crucial truth regarding the real focus of Ephesians.  Remember, Ephesians is a book on the Church, the corporate expression of God and in the realm of spiritual warfare, this is even more crucial. For us to put on the whole armor takes the Body, all the members, we can not fight the spiritual battle alone.

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Ephesians (Program #55) – Warfare to Deal with the Spiritual Enemy (2)

Spiritual warfare something that every genuine believer encounters if they have had any experience in the Christians life. It seems like almost immediately after we received the Lord Jesus Christ as our salvation, we soon encounter the very real fact that God has an enemy in this universe. The Bible admonishes us not to be ignorant of this enemy and his stratagems or devices.

Ephesians Chapter 6 more than any passage in the New Testament enlighten us regarding this warfare and shows us the crucial factors in this universal struggle are not our own strength or even our own spirituality but to be empowered so that we might stand in the Body. If you ever had problems with Satan, you wouldn’t want to miss today’s fellowship on this Life-Study from Ephesians.

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Ephesians (Program #54) – Warfare to Deal with the Spiritual Enemy (1)

After 5 marvelous chapters leading us progressively to ultimately see the highest aspect of the Church in God’s eternal purpose, the New Man, expressing a full grown man and then seeing the Church as the Bride to satisfy the longing within the heart of Christ.  At last we come to the final chapter and the final aspect of the Church in Ephesians and here the scene changes from a positive one with Christ and His loving Bride to warfare, a universal conflict, but not between right and wrong or good and evil. A universal conflict or clash of wills, God’s and Satan’s. It is in this light that we see the Church not as a loving Bride, even as a New Man, but as a fierce, corporate warrior.

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Ephesians (Program #53) – A Summary of Exhortation in Chapter 5

Ephesians is the most profound book in the Bible portraying the Church as the Body of Christ, as the New Man, as the Bride and eventually a corporate warrior. No other book brings us such depth of understanding, to this very central item in God’s eternal purpose.

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Ephesians (Program #52) – God’s Desire for a Glorious Church

What is the characteristic that you most desire in the Church?  Would it be a nice Church where you feel comfortable? Or how about I want a victorious Church, full of power? Or how about a spiritual Church with the highest teaching?  Well, in Ephesians 5, Paul tells us about the Church that God is seeking.

“Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her that He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word, that He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish.”

So, the goal for the Church is not to be good, spiritual, victorious or even powerful. What God is after and what we should be focus on is a glorious Church.

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Ephesians (Program #51) – Sanctifying, Cleansing, Nourishing and Cherishing

Christians are all the time trying to figure out just how to get God to give them what they want. They do this in their homes, their jobs, their marriages, relationships. And it seems book after book, conference after conference are all one way or another focus on these things.  But one book in the Bible gives us a clear view of what God is after, what God wants. Listen again to Ephesians Chapter 5, “….. Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her. that He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word, that He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish.”  Yes, what God is after is a Church and a glorious Church.

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Ephesians (Program #50) – Christ in Three Stages

There is a marvelous passage in Ephesians Chapter 5, related to the relationship of husbands and wives and wives submitting to the husbands and husbands loving their wives. This passage is ofter quoted at wedding services and we may think we know it but as we touch it today, we will see it open up in a way that unveils a view of Christ that most likely we had never encountered before.

Listen to these three verses and see if you can see the three stages of Christ revealed.  “Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her. that He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word, that He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish.”

We fellowship over this very, very deep, profound portion that often get over looked.

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Ephesians (Program #49) – Christ Sanctifying the Church by Cleansing Her

In Genesis Chapter 2 God produced a bride for Adam by first putting him to sleep and then taking something from his side. “And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, ..and He took one of his ribs.. And Jehovah God built the rib, …. into a woman and brought her to the man. And the man said, This time this is bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh;”

When Christ was dying on the cross something was also released from His side. John 19:34 “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water.”

Now listen to Ephesians 5,  “Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her that He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word, that He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish.”

Blood and water from the side of our Lord Jesus. A rib from the side of Adam. Both cases, the result is the Bride.

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Ephesians (Program #48) – A Mysterious Type of Christ and the Church

It’s well known among Christians that Ephesians Chapter 5 offers many meaningful and helpful words for married couple embarking on life journey together.  It reads in verse 31 & 32, “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh.”  But far beyond its’ value for our married life, it actually reveals the longing deep within the heart of God for a counter part for Christ.  “This mystery is great, (Paul continues) but I speak with regard to Christ and the church.”

To understand this aspect more fully, we need to return to the very first pages of the Bible on Genesis Chapter 2,  “And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. And Jehovah God built the rib, which He had taken from the man, into a woman and brought her to the man.”  What did Genesis 2 in Ephesians 5 reveal regarding God’s eternal desire?

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