DEALING WITH DEMONS

EPHESIANS 6:10-24

Far too long the church has been made up of sissies. This is the one group that it seems ok to push around, make-fun-of, and dismiss. This is not to be an army of weak, wimpy Christians.  

The command from verse 10 is to be “strong” in the Lord. The word “strong” literally means to be clothed in strength (dunamis). This word is the one from which we get our word dynamite. Does that give you a clue? 

This is written in the present tense which  means to be continually strengthened - ongoing. It is also written in the passive which means though you are to be continually strengthened, you cannot do it your self. It is the kind of strength you must rely on another to possess. Yet, you are commanded to have it.

The same verse then gives us the word “power.” This is the Greek word kratos. It denotes strength and might and control and power. Again, it is a power we do not possess in ourselves. It is a borrowed power or a transferred power.

Ok sissy Christians, get a feel for what Paul wants to say by grasping the three macho words in this one verse: strength, power, and might. These are battle words; they are Marine types of words. If you get the idea there is some kind of battle for which Christians are to be prepared, then you are correct. 

Did you hear about the WWII soldiers who were still bunkered down years after the war was over? They hadn’t heard they were no longer at war. Just the opposite is true for so many Christians, they haven’t heard there is a war in full rage. Here’s what you can mark down, if you do not know you are in the midst of an all out battle, then you are seriously getting your butt kicked and do not even know it. You are losing!

Let’s keep going with the passage. Verse 11 says to put on the whole Armor of God. This is the process of getting spiritually dressed. Just because you are a Christian does not mean you are automatically clothed with spiritual armor. The opposite is true. Also notice there are no pieces for the rear, only the front. Christians are not to be sissies who are running away. This is a full force ahead endeavor.

The reason for the armor is made very clear at the end of verse 11. It is the schemes of the devil. Did you know the devil has schemes? Did you know these schemes are designed specifically for you? Did you know that all of your weaknesses, either picked up or passed down from family, are considered in Satan’s schemes? Satan has designed schemes just for you and the end goal is to trip you in your Christian walk and cause you to fall and take others with you.

Verse 12 may be the most difficult to swallow of all. It clearly states that our battle is not with flesh and blood. Do you believe that? Stop it because you don’t. Neither do I most of the time. I’ll prove it to you. Then why do you get into arguments with your spouse or kids if your battle is not with flesh and blood?

Our true battle happens in the spiritual realm. Paul is very clear our everyday battle is with demons. Ok, don’t freak out. But neither do I want you to misunderstand me. I did not say we battle Satan. I said demons. Satan can be only one place at one time; Satan is not omnipresent. Most of us have never even come across Satan. If he, let’s say, in Iraq, then he is not here.

Consider these words in verse 12: rulers, authorities, powers, forces. What do you notice about each of these? It is that they are all plural. That can’t be Satan, he is not plural. He certainly is the general overseeing this war. But day-to-day encounters are carried out by his demonic forces. Specifically, these are references to a demonic hierarchy in the spiritual realm. This is where our battle takes place. No wonder so many live defeated lives, they do not even know who the enemy is. Imagine going out to battle and not have the enemy identified. What are your prospects of winning that? Slim.

“Therefore”, which is how verse 13 begins, “put on the whole armor of God.” That’s Paul’s answer. Based o the fact that we are in a spiritual battle with demonic forces, put on the armor.

Let me quickly identify the purpose of each piece of armor. The Helmet of Salvation protects your mind and thinking. The Breast Plate of Righteousness protects your heart which is the seat of your emotions. It is to protect you emotionally. The Belt of Truth is to remind us of the truth - who we are in Christ. The Scandals of Peace refer to walking in peace as peacemakers where ever we go. The Shield of Faith is our faith in Jesus and His faith which we stand behind to protect us from the fiery darts of the enemy. Finally, there is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. We use the Word of God in a defensive manner by throwing scripture back at temptation. Also, it is an offensive weapon which we use to lead others to Christ.

Here is our war. Here are the enemies. You can’t see them, but they are there. You do not have to succumb to their strategies. You are expected to live in victory. Your keys to success are clearly set before you in this marvelous passage.

Raising Children or Eating Them

Ephesians 6:1-9

In the animal kingdom, parents often eat their young. Have you ever felt that way? OK, maybe a little extreme, but sometimes you feel a little extreme when it comes to parenting.

The Part We Miss - We understand the part where children are told to obey their parents. But in that sentence there is an implication we miss. Do you see it? Look at it and think for a moment. Give up? OK, here it is.

This letter called Ephesians, like the other letters of the New Testament, were written under God’s supervision by people like Paul. They were then sent where? They were sent to the local churches of Asia Minor - the area around modern day Turkey. These letters were then read to the congregation by the local pastor. Figured out where we are going? What this mysterious implication might be? Let’s keep going then.

This was the method of distributing God’s Word because there were no printing presses and individuals did not have a copy of the letters in their homes. So the church would receive it, read it, sometimes copy it, then send it on to the next church in line. Almost there - neither could most people in this day read. It would have been useless to have individual copies as a result. Therefore, and that is a huge therefore, to hear God’s love letter called the New Testament, where did the people have to go? Yep, to church. One more step.

Ephesians 6:1 was a command give to whom? Children. Where were the butts of these children planted when the Bible was read? In the church. If Paul is speaking directly to children in 6:1, where were these children? In church! So, the implication is two-fold: One, have your kids in church to hear God’s Word. Do you see that underlying implication? There is no substitute for this. Second, there is a place in the actual “big” church for kids. Do you think there is something important about the entire family gathering together for the reading of God’s Word? That seems to be how it was done in the New Testament days. I am not suggesting we do away with nurseries and children’s programs, but maybe, just maybe, there are times the church should gather entire families from little Billy Bob to PaPa Joe for the reading of God’s message. Why not have special occasion when everyone filled the auditorium and heard the Bible read? For get the noise of little ones - or should I say over look it. This is one family experience I see implied in Ephesians 6.

Now The Bible Study - 

CHILDREN - What’s the age limit? When does a child come out from under this command to obey their parents? Is it when they are teens? Is it at 21? Perhaps when they move out of the house? Maybe when they get married and have a family of their own. Honestly, any answer would be supposition. But may I throw an opinion at you? As long as your child is depending on you, then this command applies. As soon as they are independent of you and your wallet, then they are on their own.

I think you can actually prove this by understanding the culture in which this passage was originally written. Off spring actually lived at home until they were grown and married. That doesn’t mean the older children did not make any of their own decisions, they did. That’s a part of training.

OBEY YOUR PARENTS - Big question for parents - This command for children to obey their parents is most difficult on whom, children or parents? The answer is parents. Why is that? Because it takes a lot of gumption and consistency to see to it that your child knows you are in charge. They may throw fits and cry and try to intimidate you, but you better be up for the challenge and win. If you do not, you will have hell on earth.

How about a Greek word lesson? The word for obey is hupakouo. It carries the idea of one who is obedient to another because they are inferior. In the home, Dad and Mom are the superior in case you were wondering. Children are required to obey their parents. This is what God says.

Children must be trained to obey and that’s the parents job. The little nerds do not always want to line up with their rules, but that doesn’t give them a pass. God requires obedience. It is necessary for their spiritual and psychological health.

Colossians 3:20 says children are to obey their parents “in all things.” That doesn’t mean if your parents want you to violate God’s word, but otherwise obey.

HONOT YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER - This is more about ATTITUDE where obey is more about ACTION.  

Three motives for obedience:

1. Fear - if I don’t I’ll get a spanking.
2. Want - If I do this then I will get that.
3. Respect - this includes love and honor. This is real obedience. This is what all parents are after.

“Why did you do that son?” SOn says, “Because I just love you dad.” 

The word for honor in the original language is timao. It means to value, esteem highly, respect and regard. So the action is to obey. But the attitude that counts is respect and honor.

How big is this to God? So big that He attaches a promise of a long life to those who follow. Whenever I hear of a person living to their 80s and 90s and 100s I think they must have obeyed their parents.

Submit Woman. Please

Ephesians 5:21-22

I googled the phrase “submit woman” and it pulled up all kinds of articles on domestic violence. It is funny to me that this word connotes those kind of images. Can you see why this subject is difficult when those views and definitions are on the mind. I am quite sure domestic violence is not what the Bible endorses in these verses on submission.

KEEP IT FLOWING - Paul is talking about being filled with with the Spirit. What he is about to say must be viewed in that context. 

QUESTION: Why do you think the subject of being filled with the Spirit came before the instructions on marriage, parenting, and work? Simple: can’t do it right unless you are under the Spirit’s control. Not going to happen. That’s why Spirit filled comes first. If you are not under the Spirit’s control, you will do what you do for you - selfish.

OK, we have finally gotten to the subject of submission. Such a scary word for some. Such a fun word for others. This is for sure, nothing could be more opposed to the philosophy of the world. Society says to stand up for your rights. And everyone has their rights these days, even our pets. I spoke with a guy today who said he was not putting up a Christmas because he had cats. I said “so what.” He said they climb in it and have it everywhere. I said, “ use the cats as ornaments and tie them to the tree.” OK, not really, but I thought it. If you think your rights have been violated then get an attorney. Then the Bible comes along and talks about submitting to each other. Hang on!

MUTUAL SUBMISSION - Verse 21 - This is the verse we always skip in this discussion. The same God who inspired verse 22 also inspired verse 21. Submit yourselves to each other. That’s what God says. There is a sense in which we lay aside our rights and humbly serve one another in love. 

This is for everyone. Jesus was in authority over His disciples, but He laid aside His rights and washed their feet. Phil 2:3 describes submitting to each other as self sacrifice. It is the willingness to put the other person’s needs and desires above your own wants. This will never happen if we are in the flesh and not walking under the control of the Spirit.

DIFFERENT ROLES - Verse 22 - OK, let’s step in lightly. Verse 21 does not do away with verse 22. The home is made up of equal people with different roles (Galatians 3:28). Why different roles. Two heads make a freak. The home cannot have two heads. Every area of society must have leadership if there is to be effectiveness and cohesiveness. Without leadership there is a home filled with confusion. God’s design is for the husband to give loving and sacrificial leadership to his wife and children, not authoritarian dominance.

Here is my experience, most women would love to follow the leadership of a husband who has her best interest in mind; a man who sacrifices for her and overwhelms her with love. He willingly gives his life for her. That’s what this passage is talking about. Not a man who has his feet up in the recliner with his empty coffee cup in the air. That may be a stupid man’s ideal, but not God’s.

Why does God’s design often falter? Is it because the woman can’t get it right? Is she always trying to rule her man and push him around? No! It’s the opposite. This passage about submission falls apart mostly because men are not godly leaders rather than wives refusing to follow. I do not know that I have ever spoken to a woman who did not want her man to get off his lazy butt and do something. She would melt if he took her by the hand and prayed for her and the family. She would fall over dead if he relieved her from bill paying or kid watching or whatever. What if his actions were selfless and with her best interest and sacrificial? Do you think she would have any trouble loving that? Probably not.

Notice she loving follows her husbands leadership, but no where does this say she is to follow other men. There used to be this feeling that women were to be subject to all men. Wrong! The Bible does not say that. She has a man in her life and that’s her husband. They are equal partners with different roles. 

OK wives, you do not have to submit to a husband who dishonors God and wants to lead you in that direction. There is an overriding command for all of us to honor God before men. In the Old Testament the king came to his wife Vashti and told her to dance a sexual dance for the drunk men. She rightly refused. She was not obligated to submit to that idiot.

Also, this does not mean a wife is to lose herself or personality or characteristics that make her unique. Be you, that’s how God put you together. How boring if a man and a woman were just alike. Who’d want to live with someone just like himself or her self? No thanks.

Submission does not mean a wife is a slave. Neither does sacrificial leadership make a husband a slave. And wife, you have just as much, and my opinion more influence than he does. He has his role and you have yours - both equally important, just different.

God institutes authority for 4 reasons:

One, to accomplish His purposes.

Two, to bless and protect those under authority.

Three, to develop godly character in those who submit.

Four, to help us receive wisdom for life’s decisions.

God has ordained authority in 6 areas:

One, submission to God.

Two, submission to government leaders.

Three, submission to church leaders.

Four, submission of wives to husbands and children to parents.

Five, submission of workers to employers.

Six, there is mutual submission to each other.

How do you know you are really submitting to God-ordained authority? Because you can do it joyfully. Grudging submission is not really submission.

HOW TO HAVE A LIFE FILLED WITH MUSIC

EPHESIANS 5:15-21

Want to have direction, purpose, gladness, and a life filled with music? This is your lucky day because you are about to see what the Creator of this universe, the One who designed it, has to say about it. This has always been one of my favorite passages. It’s instructions are so practical. Here you go - here’s how to get the most out of your numbered days.


Here is a simple outline of these verses: Know what the rules are for life - what God has laid out, know there is a limited time to get the most out of this life, and know how to get the most out of this life.

Verses 15-16 kicks this off by instructing us to walk wisely. Quite simply, there are two ways to live: wise and unwise. Another way to say it is to “be careful how you live.” Paul’s warning is to consider how you live and not to skid by.  

“Wise” means skillful and discerning. That’s how we are to live, skillfully. There are no excuses for a lack of this wisdom or skill. This is not that wisdom that only comes from grey hair and the passing of time. Yes, we do grow in wisdom with each year that goes by, but there is enough wisdom imparted already that we are both responsible and capable of living wisely.

To live wisely, you need to know the rules for life that God has given.  Remember, God does not give us requirements without also giving us the means and knowledge to accomplishing it.

Verse 16 helps define wise living. I love the phrase “redeeming the time.”  It means wise living involves applying wisdom to make the most of every opportunity. Opportunity, or time, is the Greek word kairos. It does not mean time only, as in a clock ticking. It refers to your time, you as an individual. You have a certain amount of time that God has given you. That time is numbered. That’s why 1 Peter 1:17 says to pass “your” time with a deep consciousness of God. Paul is saying you have a time that has been assigned by God, numbered by God, so live it wisely; make the most of it.

So you can’t just flip flop around in life. This is all you get on this side of heaven, so live it wisely, make it count, and leave something behind.  Do you see it? Right now is your opportunity. You do not have yesterday and you may not have tomorrow. Today is your day!

One last word about time, implied by this passage, is that one of your greatest acts of foolishness is wasting the time you have been giving. 

Verse 17 begins with the word “therefore.” This conjunction means based on what was previously said, here’s how you do it, here’s how you live wisely.

First, understand God’s will and conduct your life by it. This is not impulsive actions, but reflective - based on the discerned will of God. Is it intimidating to hear Paul say you are to know God’s will? God’s will is so often confusing it seems. How can we know for sure God’s will?

It has been said that His will has been summed up in Ephesians 1:9-10. There you see the overall will of God - which is a continual unity of all believers. One day this will reach its fulfillment.

Verse 18 will help us.  Verse 17 says to know what God’s will is. So verse 18 adds to this by saying to know God’s will, you must be filled with the spirit.  Let’s unpack this.

Paul provides an explanation by giving us a cause and effect picture: drunk with wine leads to debauchery. What the heck is debauchery? It means to cheapen your life and to ruin your life. The cause is getting drunk. The effect is turning over control to alchohol. 

OK, I know this is one of those touchy subjects with Christians - drinking alcohol. I’ll not take on that subject here. But what I will say is that getting drunk is wrong. It is a sin in the bible. God does not approve. Follow Paul’s train of thought....

“Instead, be filled with the spirit.” When too much wine fills you, it also controls you and leads to disorder and moral compromise. When the Spirit fills you, it leads to gladness and joy, as seen in verses 19-20. The contrast between drunk with wine and filled with the Spirit is the idea of control. You will be controlled by something, everyone is. We are commanded to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. And when you are, He will direct in line with God’s will.

Now verses 19-20 expand on being filled with the Spirit. Where being drunk leads to disorder and out of control, Spirit led opens up the heart and life to joy and gladness and music and meaning. Isn’t that what everyone says they want? What they are looking for? So many have fallen for substitutes.  The problem with subs is that they are always temporary. You’ll have to find another one eventually. But this is the real thing. When controlled by the Holy Spirit, it leads to lasting and genuine joy.

When you tap into the real thing, guess what happens next? Singing! That’s right,   crazy, joyful, uninhibited singing. Read it verses 19-20. It’s the kind of singing that makes you not care what the car next to you is thinking. 

By the way, music plays a huge role in our walk with Christ. This verse uses words like psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. I know, sounds boring. I must admit that I like Psalms and hymns to an extent, but I prefer spiritual songs. I define spiritual songs as those not in the categories of Psalms and hymns, but still have a spiritual meaning. 

Isn’t it true that music can set just about any mood? There have been numerous studies done to prove this. That’s why department stores play “buying” music/ That’s right, music that puts you in the mood to buy. There is also music that puts you in the mood to rebel or drink, or jump off a building (haha). Spiritual songs put you in a mood to praise God and give Him thanks. It promotes a joyful, soulful kind of gladness.

So, live wisely during your numbered days, by knowing God’s will, being filled with the spirit, and living a life that makes you want to sing and laugh and live!