|
Author
|
Topic: condition to win
|
Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
|
posted
Hi Anastasius
Another excellent article.
Ephesians 6:13-17
6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Wearing the Whole Armor of God—Ephesians 6:10-20
In the Christian life, we battle against rulers and authorities (the powerful evil forces of fallen angels headed by Satan, who is a vicious fighter, see 1 Peter 5:8). To withstand their attacks, we must depend on God’s strength and use every piece of his armor. Paul was not only giving this counsel to the church, the body of Christ, but to all individuals within the church. The whole body needs to be armed. As you battle against “the powers of this dark world,” fight in the strength of the church, whose power comes from the Holy Spirit. What can your church do to be a Christian armory?
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (NIV)
The word “finally” signals the beginning of Paul’s conclusion to his letter, where he will give words of vital importance for his readers. In this letter, Paul explained the need for unity in the body of believers; here he further explained the need for that unity—there will be inevitable clashes with evil, and the church must be ready to stand and fight.
“Be strong in the Lord” refers to strength derived from God, not strength we humans have to somehow obtain. The words “be strong” describe continual empowering of the Christian community. God’s strength and his mighty power are part of the kingdom blessings available to God’s people. At the beginning of this letter, Paul prayed for believers to know God’s “incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” (1:19-20 NIV). The power that raised Christ from the dead empowers God’s people as they prepare for the spiritual battle they must face on this earth. They will need it, for, as the text continues, the struggle occurs in the spiritual realm and must be won with spiritual weapons. While the victory is certain, the battle still must be waged. Paul’s words are all in the plural, addressed to the church, who, like a warrior, needs to put on the complete armor of God. Of course, this combined effort calls for each member’s fullest participation.
Training
If you want to complete a marathon, you have to run hundreds of training miles. If you want to learn a foreign language, you have to spend some hours memorizing declensions and conjugations. If you want to play the piano, you have to learn the scales and how to read music. And if you want to accomplish anything for God, you have to spend time with the spiritual disciplines: Bible study, prayer, church involvement, fasting, serving. Being a Christian is not a learned skill or discipline; it’s a living relationship with our living Lord Jesus. But like any other relationship, if you want it to be deep and meaningful—beyond the superficial and empty formalities—it takes time and commitment. Do you set aside time for spiritual training?
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (NRSV)
God empowers his people, but he does not send them into battle unarmed. God’s people must put on the whole armor of God (see also Romans 13:12). The panoplia, or full armor, means complete equipment, head-to-toe protection, both defensively and offensively. This gear was for hand-to-hand combat, not for appearances. This “armor of God” was mentioned in the Old Testament. Isaiah 59:17 describes God as wearing the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation. Paul wrote this letter while chained to a Roman soldier. Certainly the soldier’s armor must have brought this metaphor to mind. Paul described a divine and complete “outfit” that God gives believers in order to provide all we need to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. The devil rules the world of darkness, the kingdom opposed to God. “Stand against” was a military term meaning to resist the enemy, hold the position, and offer no surrender. (For more on “stand,” see 6:13-14; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Colossians 4:12; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9.) Also called Satan, the devil will not fight fair; his “wiles” will often include subtle tricks and schemes. Our “ability to stand” in battle depends on our use of “the whole armor of God.”
Armed and Ready
Why would Christians not want to use the full armor? What keeps them from using God’s power?
1. They don’t sense danger or recognize the power of the enemy.
2. They don’t have all the weapons. They have never been taught the significance and importance of those weapons.
3. They are untrained in the use of those weapons. Without practice, no soldier can be ready for battle.
4. They may be in a comfort zone. Perhaps they are nowhere near the battle or they are somehow compromising with the enemy.
If you are a church leader, make sure your church prepares people. All believers must take hold of the power that God has made available to them. They cannot fight the battle without it.
Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (NRSV)
The Christians face a struggle against evil—describing hand-to-hand combat. But we are not in an earthly military campaign—our battle is not against enemies of blood and flesh. Instead, we battle the demons over whom Satan has control. Demons work to tempt people to sin. They were not created by Satan because God is the Creator of all. Rather, the demons are fallen angels who joined Satan in his rebellion and thus became perverted and evil. The descriptive words “rulers,” “authorities,” “cosmic powers,” and “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” reveal the characteristics of these enemies as well as their sphere of operations. “Rulers and authorities” are cosmic powers, or demons, mentioned in 1:21. These spiritual beings have limited power. “Cosmic powers of this present darkness” refers to those spiritual powers who aspire to world control. The “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” refers to the demons’ dwelling, planets and stars, from which the demons control the lives of people. Paul used the names of groups of evil powers not so much to establish classes or distinguish demonic powers as to show the full extent of Satan’s warfare.
In the New Testament it is not believers who tremble at the power of Satan, but demons who tremble at the power of God.
—Stephen Travis
Here is a host of spiritual forces arrayed against us, requiring us to use God’s full armor. These are real and powerful beings, not mere fantasies. Believers must not underestimate them. The Ephesians had practiced magic and witchcraft (Acts 19:19), so they were well aware of the power of the darkness. As the Bible explains the kingdom of light, the kingdom of darkness is exposed. These powers are “cosmic” and “spiritual”; thus, we fight the battle in that realm. (For discussion on “in the heavenly places,” see 1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10.)
We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat Christ’s church. When we believe in Christ, the satanic beings become our enemies, and they try every device to turn us away from him and back to sin. Although believers are assured of victory, we must engage in the struggle until Christ returns because Satan constantly battles against all who are on God’s side. Although Satan and his demons rule the world, they do not rule the universe; the stolen kingdom will be regained by Christ, the rightful ruler, when he appears. In the meantime, believers need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God has provided this power by giving us his Holy Spirit within us and his armor surrounding us. (See also 1 Timothy 1:18; 6:12.)
Know the Enemy
We fight a spiritual battle, but we might well ask, who is the enemy? It’s not the nonbeliever, although occasionally you will meet a person so full of evil and rebellion against God that he or she actually declares himself or herself the enemy of Christianity. The secular media or world systems work relentlessly to undermine God’s truth, but they are not the enemy either, although they are often tools in his hands. Our enemy is Satan and the spiritual “forces of evil.” Satan, the deceiver (Genesis 3), the accuser (Zechariah 3), the destroyer (1 Peter 5), is the adversary of our souls and of the souls of our friends and loved ones. As Paul sounded this battle call, he wanted us to know whom we’re fighting. Our enemy is powerful, but he is also a defeated foe. As you prepare to engage him in spiritual warfare, don’t be intimidated by his influence. Use the full armor of God and stand together with other believers.
Ephesians 6:13
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. (NKJV)
Therefore, the believers’ response to the reality of this warfare should be to take up the whole armor of God. The armor is ready for us; we merely need to take it. This changes the clothing metaphor slightly from 4:24, where Paul had instructed the believers to “put on” the new self. “Take up” is a technical military term describing preparation for battle. The armor is available, but the believer-soldier must “take it up” in order to be ready. We would be neglectful to do otherwise, for the battle is real, and we are Satan’s targets. Only with the armor will believers be able to withstand, a word describing standing against great opposition; indeed, it would be impossible to stand on our strength alone. Christian soldiers must be able to hold their ground and not flee or surrender under Satan’s attacks. The evil day refers to the hours of trial that have within themselves the seeds of the last and greatest trial. Christians must be prepared for every day’s conflicts with the forces of evil.
The words “having done all, to stand” probably summarize the believers’ victory after the battle. In ancient times, those still standing after the battle were the victors. The whole context implies that we have the victory. We must participate in Christ’s victory over Satan. We know the outcome of the war, but individual battles can be lost if any believers have not done all in order to stand (see also James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9).
Ephesians 6:14
Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist. (NRSV)
In order to stand therefore in the heat of battle, believers need every piece of God’s armor. The order of the pieces listed in the following verses is the order in which a soldier would put them on. First, Paul wrote, fasten the belt of truth around your waist. This belt, also called a girdle, was about six inches wide. Probably made of leather, it held together the clothing underneath as well as holding the other pieces of armor in place, such as the breastplate and the sheath for the sword. It may have contained a “breechclout,” an apron that protected the lower abdomen. It may have also braced the back in order to give strength. When the belt was fastened, the soldier was “on duty,” ready to fight. A slackened belt meant “off duty.” Christians, however, must face each day with a fastened belt, ready to fight the battle when needed.
As the belt formed the foundation of the soldier’s armor, the truth is the foundation of the Christian life. This “truth” refers to the believer’s character as a person who can be relied on for the truth. It certainly also refers to the truth of God’s Word and his message in the gospel. If we could not be absolutely sure of our faith, if we were not sure that Jesus is “the truth” (John 14:6), then there would be little use for the armor or in attempting to fight any battle. God’s truth, as revealed to us through Jesus Christ, forms the foundation of victorious Christian living.
When the enemy, the father of lies (John 8:44), attacks with his lies, half-truths, and distortions, we believers can stand on the truth we believe. Jesus prayed for his followers: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17 NKJV).
And put on the breastplate of righteousness. (NRSV)
Next, the soldier must put on the breastplate of righteousness. A breastplate was a large leather, bronze, or chain-mail piece that protected the body from the neck to the thighs. In Isaiah 59:17, God “put on righteousness as his breastplate.” Protecting the vital organs, the breastplate was a vital piece in the soldier’s armor. No soldier would go into battle without his breastplate. Often this had a back piece too, protecting the body from hits from behind.
“Righteousness” provides a significant defense; it gives the evidence that we have been made right with God and that this righteousness has been given us by the Holy Spirit. Believers have been made righteous through the blood of Christ. The believers then want to live in uprightness and integrity, desiring to please the One who saved them. Yet that won’t be easy. Satan is ready for battle at every turn, willing to hit us unfairly from behind if given the chance. Righteousness is the opposite of Satan’s complete wickedness. Satan seeks to thwart righteous living.
When the enemy, the accuser (Revelation 12:10), tries to convince us that we are not really saved, that we just keep on disappointing God, and that we’re “poor excuses” for Christians, we can stand up to him because of the righteousness we have been promised through our faith in Jesus Christ. “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22 NIV).
Battle Stations
Suppose you were in a fight to the death with someone and you held a sword in your hands. In the middle of the conflict, your opponent says, “Hey, you call that puny thing a sword? It doesn’t look like much of a sword to me. In fact, I don’t think it’s a sword at all.” Would you drop your weapon and try to fight without it? Of course not. Yet often we Christians surrender our weapons to a skeptical world. In 6:14-17 Paul describes our weaponry: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, footwear of the gospel, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God. That is an impressive display of armament, regardless of who believes it. As you engage in spiritual combat, make sure you have and use all the weapons God makes available.
Ephesians 6:15
And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (NIV)
A soldier wore special sandals or military shoes that protected his feet without slowing him down. Roman soldiers had special shoes made of soft leather with studded soles. This allowed them to march farther and faster as well as giving them facility of motion in battle—they could dig in and hold their ground when in hand-to-hand combat.
Believers also need special “shoes”—the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. The Word of God is the gospel, or Good News, that brings peace. In other words, believers are ready for battle because “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard [their] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 NKJV). They can stand firm, with peace, even in hand-to-hand combat, because they know that they are doing right and that they are on the winning side. Christians are in the battle both with the inner peace Christ has already given and the desire to produce that peace in the hearts of others. This can only happen as they share this “gospel of peace” with those who have not yet heard and accepted it.
When the enemy, the deceiver (Revelation 12:9), offers false ways to peace or tries to get us to focus on our concerns and fears, we Christian soldiers can stand up to him. Jesus promised, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27 NKJV).
Ephesians 6:16
With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (NRSV)
With all the pieces of armor mentioned above, the soldier needed to also carry extra protection in the form of a shield. The image was taken from the Roman shield, a large oblong or oval piece, approximately four feet high by two feet wide, made of wood and leather, often with an iron frame. Sometimes the leather would be soaked in water to help extinguish flaming arrows. The ancient “flaming arrow” or “fire dart” was made of cane with a flammable head that was lighted and then shot so as to set fire to wooden shields, cloth tents, etc. For Christians, this shield is faith—complete reliance on God. Faith means total dependence on God and willingness to do his will. It is not something we put on for a show for others. It means believing in his promises even though we don’t see those promises materializing yet. God gives faith to protect the believer (Ephesians 2:8). (See James 1:3 and 1 Peter 1:7 for more on faith as the key to victory.)
When the enemy, the ruler of this world (John 12:31), sends his flaming arrows of temptation, doubt, wrath, lust, despair, vengeance, problems, and trials into our lives, we can hold up our shields and quench them. We are assured that “whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith” (1 John 5:4 NRSV). We must take hold of God’s full resources. Faith gives us the strength to stand against Satan with firm courage, even when he uses his most fearsome weapons.
Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation. (NKJV)
The helmet protected the soldier’s head. Helmets were made of leather and brass, or sometimes bronze and iron—no sword could pierce a good helmet. Isaiah 59:17 describes God wearing a helmet of salvation. The dressed soldier would take his helmet and sword from an armor bearer. In the same way, believers are to take this helmet of salvation, for it is handed to them by God himself. First Thessalonians 5:8 calls believers to put on “the hope of salvation as a helmet.” This “hope” is a certainty—believers have complete assurance that God will do all that he has promised. Their salvation, already accomplished, will be consummated when Christ comes to claim his own. Christians, with the assurance of salvation protecting their minds, can stand against Satan’s attacks. As a blow to the head often means death, so a person without hope of salvation will be easily defeated by the enemy.
When the enemy, the devil (1 Peter 5:8), seeks to devour and destroy God’s people with empty or evil thoughts, trying to get us to doubt our salvation, we can trust in the protection of the helmet. Our salvation will be accomplished, for God has promised it. “Hope does not disappoint us” (Romans 5:5 NIV) because “our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11 NIV).
And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (NKJV) Finally, the soldier takes the sword of the Spirit—the only offensive weapon mentioned. This refers to the short sword used in close combat. The sharp, short sword was one of Rome’s great military innovations. The Roman army was called the “short swords” because of its use of the short swords in winning battles. The sword’s double edges made it ideal for “cut and thrust” strategy. The relative pronoun translated which could refer to “the Spirit” or to the whole phrase, “sword of the Spirit.” The Word of God is the Spirit’s sword (see Isaiah 11:4-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Hebrews 4:12). The Spirit makes the Word of God effective as we speak it and receive it. The Spirit gives the Word its penetrating power and sharp edge. Jesus’ use of God’s Word in his temptation prompts our use of it against Satan (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). With the Holy Spirit within, believers have the constant reminder of God’s Word to use against Satan’s temptations.
When the enemy, the tempter (Matthew 4:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 3:5), tries to tempt us to do evil, we have the power to send him away with the word of God. The Spirit will bring the words to mind, for Jesus promised, “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26 NIV).
(LIFE APPLICATION BIBLE COMMENTARY EPHESIANS)
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
| IP: Logged | 
|
|
becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87
|
posted
![[thumbsup2]](graemlins/thumbsup2.gif) quote:
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
another way the Holy Spirit worded the above quote...
But He Who Endures to the End Will Be Saved
(Matthew 24:13)
--------------------
Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Anastasius
Community Member
Member # 7995
|
posted
Conditions to win
Relevation 2:7
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
A soldier who is ready to fight will have victory if he heard and do the orders from the boss. Although at the time the soldier experienced problems in the household, or he was a sleep in the middle of the night. But If the commander ordered to duty him so he had to leave and leave everything his problem. Hearing voices of the commander is required, because the voices contains a strategy of war that must be done and with the strategies A good war is the determinant of success for the soldiers for the war.
Jesus is the commander of our lives and we are His soldier. God is equipping us with the HIS armor.
Ephesians 6:13-17
6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Weapons that we have accepted it is weapons which ready for use and will be useful if we know how to use it. God as only our commander wants us to win. He miss all His children want to hear HIS voice. Because by listening to His voice then the weapons that we have ,we can use its full potential. This becomes a formula should be noted that we win. God's voice contains a good war strategy
which would result in victory if we use. The voice of God is real and not a shadow. We must be ready like a soldier who is ready day and night to carry out tasks. Maybe God will speak to us when we are not ready, maybe also at times we fall asleep, or maybe when we are experiencing problems in our lives. So listen to good sound. Do it afraid and undaunted will of God will and make sure of victory with us. Also uninstall all the personal power that we have and replace it with the power of God who derived from HIS voice and make sure that the victory of sustainability will be mine. Gbu
Jesus save me
Jesus saved my life
Jesus care everything about you
Jesus love me
watch more @ http://jesus-care.blogspot.com/2010/...ns-to-win.html
Posts: 11 | From: Indonesia | Registered: Jan 2010
| IP: Logged |
|
|
|
Printer-friendly view of this topic
