Category Archives: Ephesians

The Army And The Armor

There are a couple of things Paul says in Ephesians 6:10-18 that really ought to ring our bell.  One is fairly obvious, but I think the other lies below the surface. The truth we’re more familiar with in his emphasis on us relying on the Lord and His power (as opposed to our own).  “Be strong in the LordContinue reading “The Army And The Armor”

Stand!

When we consider the picture of the Christian armor that Paul paints in Ephesians 6:10ff, there are a couple of things that can be easily overlooked which are critical to us having an accurate understanding of spiritual warfare.  One involves the word “stand” (v. 10, 13-14).  It can leave us with the impression of a soldier merely standing thereContinue reading “Stand!”

Spiritual Warfare: Stand!

Paul’s words to the Ephesians concerning “the powers of this dark world,” and “the spiritual forces of evil” (6:12), assume a truth that is much less a part of our world view today than it would have been in the first century.  That truth is that there is a spiritual world consisting of evil powers asContinue reading “Spiritual Warfare: Stand!”

Spiritual Warfare: The Triumph Of The Cross

The cross is central to us because it is central to Christ!  Jesus blessed Peter for recognizing He was the Christ (Matthew 16:17), then sternly rebuked him moments later when Peter sought to separate being Christ from bearing the cross (v. 21-23).  Jesus made it clear—to be Christ-centered you must be cross-centered.  But it’s not just theology—it’s biography. We foundContinue reading “Spiritual Warfare: The Triumph Of The Cross”

Spiritual Warfare: Identifying The Enemy (2)

2.  Spiritual forces are at work in our world. The New Testament world was filled with demons, evil spirits, and certain people who had supernatural power over such entities. It’s easy to see how it all worked—the demons and spirits possessed people, caused illness, disease, insanity, and even death. The people with power over them cast these demonsContinue reading “Spiritual Warfare: Identifying The Enemy (2)”

Spiritual Warfare: Identifying The Enemy (1)

Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12 that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” In light of Acts 19:11-20, and the temple of Artemis, I have no doubt that the disciples at Ephesus needed no elaboration from PaulContinue reading “Spiritual Warfare: Identifying The Enemy (1)”

Living Under The Influence

The church is not man made, it is God given!  There is a church of God because of the grace of God.  It is His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). And where does the Spirit fit into all of this?  The body without the Spirit is dead!  This community of grace known as church is a Spirit-created community (John 3:3-5; Titus 3:3-5).  Its members are saidContinue reading “Living Under The Influence”

God At Work

Whatever else it might be, Paul’s little letter to the Ephesians is filled with fundamentally rich truths about church that should transform the way we think about the community God has created.  Written to a first-century congregation comprised of people from starkly different backgrounds (Jewish and Gentile), the topic of community would be an area where they understandably needed some pointed instruction.  YetContinue reading “God At Work”