June 16 2024

Frankie / General

Ephesians / Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6:10-20

1. Today is Father's Day, a time to celebrate the love and dedication our fathers have shown to their families. How do you envision a father? Is he strong, gentle, kind, or strict? My father was gentle with me and my sister, yet strong when dealing with others. Many fathers strive to be strong to protect their families, acting as a shield throughout their lives. I bring this up because today's theme is about being a shield and promoting peace, reminding me of a father's strong love. Today’s message also serves as guidance and encouragement for the graduates as they embark on their new journeys. Let's read Ephesians 6:10-20.

Ephesians 6:10–20 (NRSV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. 

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 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. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

2. Today's reading primarily addresses the theme of spiritual warfare. Most commentaries discuss how we can prepare for this spiritual battle. Indeed, the world has long been a battleground between God and Satan. However, when I read Paul's letters, I see that while he emphasizes the armor of God for the battle, he also reveals what we should do to advance God's kingdom. 

3. Although there are various approaches to achieving peace, countries primarily rely on two methods: offense and defense. Some believe that the best way to maintain peace is through a strong offense, while others argue that establishing an effective defense system is crucial to protect against attacks from other nations. Both approaches, however, rely on human efforts to maintain peace. People strive to create effective systems for either defense or offense. If asked for my opinion, I would prefer defense over offense as a means to achieve peace. 

4. When I read the word for peace in Korean and Chinese, it is composed of two characters: one meaning "to make flat or spread out" and the other meaning "comfortable." Thus, in Korean and Chinese understanding, peace signifies a state where comfort is evenly distributed across a level plane. Interestingly, the Chinese character for "flat" is rooted in the symbol of a shield. This suggests that, in both Korean and Chinese cultures, peace is achieved not through offense but through defense. Additionally, peace is seen as a communal rather than an individual concept. While comfort can be experienced by an individual, it cannot constitute true peace unless it extends to the entire community. True peace is established when comfort is spread throughout the community. This aligns with Paul's message in Ephesians 4:1-3.

Ephesians 4:1–3 NASB 2020

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

5. Paul does not instruct individual Christians to create peace but rather to maintain the peace that God has given to the community of believers. This implies that peace is not something we achieve through offensive actions. Instead, we are called to defend the peace bestowed upon us by God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:1–4 NIV

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

6. According to this interpretation, we can view the armor of God as a means of preserving the peace given to us by God through Jesus Christ. In movies, we often see Roman soldiers wearing identical armor in battle. If a soldier did not wear the same armor, he would be easily identified as an enemy. This illustrates why we, as Christians, wear the armor of God. It signifies our unity and allegiance, making it clear that we are on the same side, defending the peace granted to us. 

7. In our generation, sports uniforms serve as a modern-day form of armor. When we play a sport, we wear matching outfits to differentiate between teams. These uniforms symbolize our shared goals, unified mindset, and common opponents on the field. This implies that if Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we should wear the same spiritual armor, reflecting our unity in Him. There is one Lord, one baptism, and one faith, underscoring our shared commitment and belief in Christ.

Ephesians 4:4–6 NKJV

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

8. In Ephesians 6:10-20, the elements described symbolize our faith and a righteous life in the Lord. Faith is not merely a product of our thoughts; it is something we "wear" as a garment, originating from Jesus Christ. Similarly, righteousness is not achieved through our moral actions alone; it is something we "put on," which is Jesus Christ Himself. Therefore, we are justified by faith, meaning that God clothes us in His righteousness through our faith.

Galatians 3:26–27 ESV

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

9. When we put on Jesus Christ, we become part of the same team, united on the same side. God is our coach, and Jesus is the head of our team. This unity enables us to stand against our enemy in Christ. Living our lives under God's guidance is possible because Jesus is our garment, and we are in Him. When we wear the armor of God, it reveals who we are to those around us. The elements of this armor include the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, and the shield of faith. By putting on this armor, we showcase God's work in our lives, particularly His work of salvation through Christ. When we wear the armor of God, others will see the manifestation of His salvation in us.

Philippians 2:12 MSG

What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God.

10. English translations often render this part as "work out" or "do something." However, the Greek word more accurately means "show your work" or "show your life." Therefore, we can translate it as "show your salvation which God has given you to the world." The Message Bible captures this idea with the phrase "be energetic." This is indeed fitting because once we are saved by Christ, we become energized to live our lives through His saving work. Before, we lacked the energy or will to do God's work, but through Christ, we can start recognizing the help of the Spirit. This enables us to live energetically, manifesting the salvation that God has granted us through Christ.

11. Today, we celebrated our Father's love and honor the graduates of 2024. Our fathers have shown us kindness and love, caring for their families with goodness and dedication. They have lived out their values, setting an example for their children. Now, five graduates are embarking on a new chapter in their lives. They will encounter both good and challenging times, as this is the nature of life. However, they can navigate their journeys by living out the salvation God has given them. To do this, they need the armor of God to stay energized and resilient. By wearing this armor, they can display God's love and grace to the world and draw strength from the Spirit. Remember this important truth: we are God's children, and He is the source of our energy and life. He is also our Lord and Savior.