Ephesians 6:18-24: "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. As Paul ends his letter to the church in Ephesus, he encourages them to the keep "praying always" (Ephesians 6:18-24, NKJV). Clearly, prayer is one the critical components of Christianity, yet many believers seem to regard prayer as an occasional luxury. (John MacArthur, p. 89) As I reflected, I realized that I absolutely used to think that! I thought that it didn't really matter if I prayed because God was in control of everything anyway. What is my little prayer going to do? Surely God has more "important" things to deal with! I realized though that these thoughts were coming from a place of arrogance and lack of trust. These thoughts meant that I could handle things on my own and didn't trust that God would really make a difference. I learned something else this week too from John 15:7-8. "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." God wants us to trust Him and pray to Him. He wants us to ask. It isn't because He doesn't already know what is going to happen, but so that He can respond to our requests. He wants to give believers what we ask Him for. It is through this that he is glorified! His faithful response to our prayers increase our faith and give testimony of God to others. He is like an earthly father who wants his children to go to him and rely on him. "When we work, we work, but when we pray, God works." - Unknown Consider these questions honestly and share your thoughts in the comments below. 4) How does Luke 22:39-46 contribute to your understanding of prayer as a weapon in our war against Satan? 5) Clearly, prayer is one of the critical components of Christianity, yet many believers seem to regard prayer as an occasional luxury. Why? 7) What do the quotes on p. 90 and, more importantly, the Scriptural texts studied in this lesson, teach or remind you of as you contemplate your own habits of prayer? As we close our time together studying Ephesians, consider if you are fully trusting God? Is His Word, the Bible, your truth? It is OK to wrestle with the question of who God really is to you. He invites us into this conversation with Him! He is waiting with arms wide open to give you "every spiritual blessing in Christ: (Ephesians 1: 3).
1 Comment
Friends, Lesson 11 of our study (Ephesians, John MacArthur) could not have come at a more perfect time for me. Ephesians 6:10-17 is about the reality of spiritual warfare. I kinda felt this week like the Enemy was coming at me from all sides. He knows where my sticking points are and he was hammering them home. Back spasms for no apparent reason? A true test of my patience. Every afternoon and evening busy with games, practices and tournaments? That hated feeling of being overwhelmed, panic was rising up in me. My sweet girl facing crazy stuff at school that no kid her age should be exposed to? A knife in the heart, twisting. Satan knows where it hurts us the most and he targets those places. Trust me, the Enemy is real and I have felt that this week in big and small ways. Then on my day of being most at my wits end I sat down to do this lesson. And you know what I read? No matter how clever, Satan won't win. He won't!! When Jesus comes back he is gonna squash Satan's head with his little pinky toe. Done. And now, while I wait for that sweet sweet moment, God has given me all the tools I need to stand up, point my finger in the Enemy's face and say "NOT TODAY!" So let's dive in. If you haven't already, read Ephesians 6:10-17. If we are walking worthy of our calling...then we can be absolutely certain that we will have opposition and conflict. The good news is that God does not leave His children unprepared or unprotected in this cosmic conflict. This passage is a heartening reminder of all that God has done and all that we must do to win the victory. In Christ, not only can we withstand the devil's assaults, but we can also defeat the diabolical forces that are arrayed against God and His church. The gates of hell cannot stand against us! (MacArthur, p. 77) If we are living a Spirit-filled life we can expect to be in a spiritual battle. But God has given us the defensive and offensive weapons we need to prevail. Did you catch in question #2 what the only offensive weapon is? The WORD of God! That's it! That's the only offensive weapon we need to slay the dragon. Jesus gave us a perfect example of this in Luke 4:1-13. When He was tempted by Satan in the desert, all Jesus did to defend Himself was quote Scripture. "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Hebrews 4:12 Abide Friends, once again it comes back to reading the Word. Because if we're not reading God's Words, they won't be in our minds when we need them in the heat of the battle. This lesson also comes with a word of caution. It is easy for believers...to become complacent and become oblivious to the seriousness of the battle around them. They rejoice in "victories" that involve no battles and in a kind of peace that is merely the absence of conflict. This is the victory and peace of the draft dodger or defector who refuses to fight. They are not interested in armor because they are not engaged in war. If you are abiding in Jesus you should be aware of the battle around you. But don't let it get you down. We win! Use the armor God has provided for you and stand confidently, knowing the One who created you and loves you is behind you ready to fight.
Please take some time for honest reflection of the following questions, and share your thoughts in the comments below. 2.) What protective (defensive) pieces of armor are children of God given in their ongoing struggle with the forces of evil? What offensive weapons are we given with which to wage war? 6.) Read 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8. What should be the Christian's frame of mind? 7.) What does this study teach or remind you about spiritual warfare? How aware are you of the cosmic conflict going on between God and His enemies? 9.) How successfully do you resist (Satan's temptations)? What new ways do you need to put on your armor and stand? Ask God to give you the grace to stand in His strength and to fight as you should. Moving right along in our group study, ladies! The points in this reading can easily be brushed aside as old or skimmed over without taking them to heart. As always, this weeks reading and reflection continued to shape me. Paul continues his writing in the book of Ephesians reminding us that "true spirituality always reveals itself in the rough and tumble of everyday life" (Ephesians, John MacArthur. p 69). In other words, our actions matter. God's two basic commands to us are to love God and love others. Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Remember that in the beginning of his letter to the church of Ephesus, Paul reminds the people how deeply loved and cherished they are as God's chosen sons and daughters. Our calling to love God and others is simply a response to the great love He has given us first. Do you know God's deep love for you? If so, we can trust the words of scripture as our guide. In our text from Ephesians 5:22- 6:9 and again in Colossians 3:18-4:1, Paul teaches that God requires every believer to be submissive in the ways He has ordained and how we can honor God in our relationships. "There are no classifications of Christians. Every believer in Jesus Christ has exactly the same salvation, the same standing before God, the same divine nature and resources, and then same divine promises and inheritance (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; James 1:1-9). But in matters of role and function, God has made distinctions (p 74). Take some time for some honest reflection on the questions below. If you'd like to share your thoughts with us, please comment below. (5.) What do you think it means to submit? (9.) How can authority be a wise and good thing? How can authority be harmful when abused? (10.) Given what you've studied about God's intention for husbands, wives, children, and parents, what encourages you? What convicts you? Our summer weekly study gatherings on the book of Ephesians was a time of growth for many of us. Let's keep it going! Since we are not done with our book, we will continue with weekly blog posts to keep encouraging you in finishing up our study. We'll highlight parts of the lesson, including a few of the questions--please share your thoughts by commenting below! This week's post is about Lesson 9 in our book, and it's based on Ephesians 5:15-21. So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:15-21 This lesson talks a lot about how the Ephesians are to live in Christ while being "surrounded by pagans who lived for the moment, who rejected the general revelation of God in creation and the special revelation of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ." (p. 61) Paul says that being filled with the Holy Spirit is the only way to walk out their faith while living in a world that doesn't acknowledge God. So how are we to be filled with the Holy Spirit? "To be filled with the Spirit involves confession of sin, surrender of will, intellect, body, time, talent, possessions, and desires... It is simply taking the Word of Christ (Scripture) and letting it indwell and infuse every part of our being. To be filled with God's Spirit is to be filled with His Word. And as we are filled with God's Word, it controls our thinking and action, and we thereby come more and more under the Spirit's control." (p. 65) Friends, once again, it comes back to abiding! If we want to be filled with God's Spirit, we have to fill ourselves with His Word. It's really that simple! Why do I so often try to make it more complicated? Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5 Take some time for some honest reflection on the questions below. If you'd like to share your thoughts with us, please comment below.
(2.) According to Paul, what evidence proves that a person is filled with the Spirit? (7.) Are you taking the time to read and meditate on God's Word? Why or why not? (9.) How can you make the most of the time God has given you? In light of the truth that your days are numbered, what trivial activities do you need to drop from your daily schedule? What activities do you need to add? Don't know where to start in making room for God in your life? Our Abide Planning Sheet could help! |
Kaylee & HeatherWe were just two moms who started abiding in Christ and praying together weekly. Find out more about Our Story. Archives
September 2020
CategoriesWeekly EmailsWould you like to be added to our email list? We send out emails weekly with encouragement and thoughts on our current study. Email us and we'll get you on the list!
|