1. Who, under authority, are covered here, and how?

2. Who, in authority, are dealt with here, and how?

3. What was Paul's general theme leading into this?

C. Comment :

Paul continues bringing direction as to attitude and behaviour under the heading "submit to one another". First here, he considers children who have a duty to submit to their parents, because God has said that if they do they will receive His blessing.

On the other side of the coin, Paul picks up on fathers to ensure a right balance, and warns against over zealous behaviour that will exasperate the child. Instead a child is to be brought up under God's gentle and wise leading.

Next Paul moves to slaves, accepting that they existed in his day and that he was unlikely to change that, and so he counsels Christian slaves to serve with a good attitude, to see their service as serving Christ, not just to be seen to be good servants but to see it as fulfilling God's will (that way God will be able to move through them to their master), to receive God's reward which may be now or in eternity.

On the other side Paul warns Christian masters to be careful how they treat their servants because they will be answerable to God who doesn't see masters through more favourable eyes than He sees servants. In each case Paul ensures a right balance between the one in and the one under authority, for both are answerable to God.

D. Application?

1. We should submit to whoever is over us, as if we were to Christ.

2. We should honour those below us as from Christ.

Chapter: Ephesians 6

Passage: Ephesians 6:10-13

A. Find Out:

1. How are we to be strong? v.10

2. What are we to put on? v.11a

3. Why? v.11b

4. What do we NOT fight against? v.12a

5. Against whom do we struggle? v.12b

6. Having put on armour what are we to do? v.13

B. Think :

1. What, according to Paul, is the point of our struggle?

2. What, therefore, does that imply?

3. What also therefore, does the enemy try to do?

C. Comment :

When we come to this passage we need to be quite clear about one or two things, for it is a passage that has been used to justify many unjustifiable views.

First it is all about HOLDING THE POSITION THAT IS OURS ALREADY. Jesus has made us children of God with all of the associated privileges that go with that and Satan's activity is to try to get us to accept something less than that. "Stand" comes three times in these verses and it is an indication that we are to hold onto what is ours already!

Second, it is not OUR strength that will achieve this, but God's. We are to be strong "in the Lord". That means the relationship we have with Him is to be the means of strength, protection, comfort. His power flowing in us is to enable us to resist the temptations that come, not to go the way of the rest of the world and fall into godlessness and unrighteousness. We are not to allow all sorts of wrong things to fill our lives, making us less than the children of God that we are supposed to be, and even more a prey of Satan who is out to destroy our relationship with God, and our very lives. No, by the grace and strength and wisdom of God that is available to us, we are to resist these things and stand in the wonder of who God has made us.

D. Application?

1. Jesus has made me a child of God, free from sin, guilt etc.

2. By God's grace I can refuse them all!!

Chapter: Ephesians 6

Passage: Ephesians 6:14-17

A. Find Out:

1. What is to be our belt? v.14a

2. What is to be our breastplate? v.14b

3. What is to be on our feet? v.15

4. What is the shield and for what purpose? v.16

5. What is to be our helmet? v.17a

6. What is to be our sword? v.17b

B. Think :

1. What is the purpose of a belt? What does that signify here?

2. What here protects the heart?

3. What are used to parry the attacks of the enemy? How was that seen in

Jesus?

C. Comment :

In this passage people so often get caught up in the pieces of the armour and almost miss what they actually represent, so let's examine each of them.

First there is truth, which as a belt holds the other pieces of clothing or armour in place. Truth is to be a fundamental part of our lives and it is to be applied to all areas of our lives.

Next there is righteousness that God imputes and imparts to us. We are to remember that HE makes us righteous by what HE has done, and that will protect our hearts from the lies that come about us.

Then there is a readiness or availability that comes with the Gospel, that desire to let God's will be done through us and His love shared by us. When that is there it will keep us moving on with Him.

Then comes faith which is essential if we are to ward off the attacks of the enemy, words and thoughts that came like searing bolts out of the blue. Faith rejects these things and looks to God for grace and truth. Faith believes God and not feelings.

The facts of our Salvation are to protect our head (mind) and we are to keep God's word in our hand as a weapon to counter untruths from the enemy. Meditate on each of these which are essential for our wellbeing.

D. Application?

1. Use all the armour God provides for you.

2. These are God's provision for our safety.

Chapter: Ephesians 6

Passage: Ephesians 6:18-24

A. Find Out:

1. How and when are we to pray? v.18a

2. What are we to do and when to pray? v.18b

3. What did Paul ask them to pray? v.19,20

4. Who was Tychicus? v.21

5. Why was he coming? v.21,22

6. What did Paul desire for them at the end? v.23

B. Think :

1. What do we learn here as to how to pray?

2. What do we learn here as to when to pray?

3. What does this passage tell us about Paul's ministry?

C. Comment :

Concluding his words on how they are to hold the ground that is theirs and stand against the wiles of the enemy, Paul exhorts them to pray.

First the HOW: in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit. Prayer is to be first a thing that has its origins in heaven. When we allow Him to lead us we will have greater assurance about what we pray.

Second the WHEN: on all occasions and keeping on. In other words at all and any times, whenever it seems natural, not just at fixed times. Prayer is to be a natural expression of our lives that flows many times during the day. Not only that, we are to keep on with it, not being put off by the enemy, but letting it occur again and again in the day.

Third the WHO: Paul says we are to pray for all the saints, all the church. We may go on to pray for non-Christians but the family of God is to be our first focus.

Then comes the WHAT: we are to pray that fearlessly we will be the children of God that He has made us to be, sharing the love of God that He has called us to share. If we did that more and more the way would be opened up for more and more to hear and more and more turn to Him.

D. Application?

1. Prayer is inspired by God and flows back to God but is for our benefit.

2. As we pray so God moves in us and through us.

RECAP: "Hold Your Ground" Ephesians 6

SUMMARY :

In these final 4 studies we have seen:

- directions for children and fathers

- directions for slaves and masters

- a call to hold the ground that is ours

- to put on God's armour

- to stand against the devil

- Paul's request for prayer for himself

- final greetings

COMMENT :

This amazing letter draws to a close, first with very practical words to those who have authority over others and those who are under authority, and then to all of us with a final strong encouragement. This final section reminds us that it is a spiritual battle we are involved in and that the heart of the issue is that we HAVE received an inheritance from Christ and Satan would try to get us to let go of that by his deceptions. Our call is to resist him and to hold on to what Christ has earned for us.

LESSONS :

1.We should submit to whoever is over us in Christ

2. We should honour those below us in Christ

3. Christ has blessed me, Satan seeks to rob me

4. I am to resist him with God's provision

5. Prayer is best inspired-prayer!

PRAY :

Ask the Lord:

1. To help you realise the wonder of your inheritance

2. To help you recognise Satan's strategies to rob you of it

3. To help you overcome and resist those strategies so that you can fully

hold onto and enjoy all that is yours in Christ.

Thank the Lord for the wonder of what He has done for you that has become clear in these studies.

SUMMARY

In this letter we have seen:

1:1,2        Paul's Greeting

1:3-14     What God has done and who we are in Christ

  - chosen to be holy, adopted as sons

  - redeemed and forgiven

  - chosen according to plan, sealed with the Spirit

1:15-23   Paul's praying for the church (1)

  - thanks for what he has heard of them

  - request for wisdom & revelation for them

2:1-10     How we have been made alive

  - previously dead in sins

  - now made alive in Christ, now seated with

     Christ

2:11-22   How we have been made one, Jew and Gentile

  - once separated from God & His blessings

  - now brought near, made one with

    Jewish believers

  - now the temple of God

3:1-13      Paul's ministry

  - called of God, to reveal a mystery

  - the mystery is Gentiles are included

3:14-21   Paul's praying for the church (2)

  - request that they will be strengthened

  - praise to God

4:1-16     Paul's call for unity, maturity & growth

  - unity in the faith

  - matured by the ministry gifts for growth

4:17-32   Paul's call for holy living (1)

  - not living as Gentile unbelievers

  - living as light

5:1-20     Paul's call for holy living (2)

- avoiding unrighteousness

5:21-33   Paul's call for submission one to another

  - especially husbands and wives

6:1-4        Paul's directions to children and fathers

6:5-9        Paul's directions to slaves and masters

6:10-17    Paul's call to hold our ground

6:18-20   Paul's call for prayer

6:21-24    Final greetings

CONCLUSIONS

As we conclude these studies we should perhaps note:

1. The Wonder of God's Plan

- formulated before the world was made

- based upon the work of Christ

- based upon response to Christ

- to bring all things under Christ's rule

- providing one way for all people to come

- enabling sinners to become holy

- enabling sinners to become adopted sons of God

- providing a personal power source (Holy Spirit)

2. The Wonder of the Christian Life

- called to intimacy with God

- loved, redeemed, forgiven

- empowered

- equipped with ministries

- called to community

- secure in God's provision

3. The Warnings against Sin

- that is futile & separates from God

- that is darkness

- that comes out of sensuality

- that is deceitful & involves falsehood

- that gives the devil a foothold

- that can come in speech

- that can come in violence

- that can come in sexuality

- that incurs the wrath of God

4. The Warnings against Satan

- who seeks to rob us of our inheritance.

And Finally

This glorious letter lays down doctrine that makes clear the wonder of our life in Christ and should find a response in us of worship, praise and adoration. It also gives warnings about casual, sloppy and sinful living which should find a careful attentiveness in us. May these responses be ours.