EPHESIANS 6 STUDY & BREAKDOWN
CHILDREN AND PARENTS
EPHESIANS 6:1-4
6:1-4: Children are expected to OBEY and respect their parents: The meaning of the Greek word for OBEY-(hupakouo) begins with the idea of listening attentively: The caution regarding the fathers puts a restraint and a requirement of godly instruction on the parent:
SLAVES AND MASTERS
EPHESIANS 6:5-9
6:5-8: As with marriage, Paul does not seek to alter the existing social structure: But he does insist that both marriage and the master-slave relationship- (nowadays, employer-employee) are different when Christians are involved: The expectations for the slave are similar to those for a wife and for children: sincere obedience: Paul, however, unlike the culture around him, insists that, in God's eyes, the good done by a slave is the same as that done by a free man: Before Christ all are equal!!!
6:9: Masters are curtly warned against intimidation: They must remember their own MASTER, who is not biased in their favor just because they are earthly masters...
SPIRITUAL WARFARE- (Soldier in Christ)
EPHESIANS 6:10-20
6:10-17: All of us who stand for good must and will at sometime in our lives wage a constant battle with the forces of evil: The demons still have power in this world- (v. 12) until Christ comes again in glory to judge both the living in the dead and His Kingdom will have no end- (Nicene Creed): This is clearly acknowledged in the prayers at the conclusion of Orthodox baptism: Christians fight back using God's arms, that is, His uncreated divine energy, given to us- (Ephesians 1:19-23; Ephesians 3:16-21) and actively used by us: The Christian has "put on" -(Ephesians 4:24) at baptism all the qualities listed as armor in (vv. 14-17): These qualities must be exercised in the conflict of growth: no struggle, no deification:
6:18-20: Yes spiritual armor is extremely vital as part as Christian readiness, alertness and preparedness: diligent prayer and watchfulness in submission to the Holy Spirit- (see also- Ephesians 1:16; Ephesians 3:14-21; and Ephesians 5:20): Those on the "FRONT LINES"- The real frontlines, apostles and evangelists in this case, require the backup power of a praying Church...
COMMENDATION AND BENEDICTION
EPHESIANS 6:21-24
6:21-22: TYCHICUS presumably was the bearer of the letter
6:23-24: This final benediction parallels the greeting- (Ephesians 1:3-14):
PSALM 38 (39) STUDY & BREAKDOWN
PSALM 38 (39)- Reminds the Church of its pilgrim status in the present world- (A SOJOURNER and A STRANGER, v. 13; see also 1 Peter 1:1): For God's people are "to look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come"- (Nicene Creed): For Christ is THE END- (v. 1): Meanwhile, (1): THE TONGUE is to be kept from sinning- (vv. 2, 3); (2): THE HEART is to be on fire with MEDITATION on the things of God- (v. 4); (3): MAN, MADE BY GOD- (v. 10), is to grow in divine knowledge, so as not to LACK- (v. 5) or be DEADENED- (v. 3) by TRANSGRESSIONS- (vv. 9, 12): Rather, he is to REVIVE before he DEPARTS in death- (NO LONGER HERE, v. 14): A HANDBREADTH- (v. 6) is ancient until of measure of about 4 1/2 inches, here used to show the brief span of our lives:
INTRODUCTION TO PHILIPPIANS
AUTHOR: Paul wrote Philippians, and Paul also founded the Church of Philippi, which was the first church in Europe, that was on his second missionary journey, AD 50-51- (Acts 16:11-40): On his third missionary journey he made tow brief visits to Philippi, about AD 57-58- (Acts 20:1, 6):
DATE: Paul most likely had written Philippians while he was under house arrest in Rome in about AD 61-63- (Acts 28:16-31): At that time he was free to receive visitors and to correspond by letter:
MAJOR THEME: The dynamic of our life in Christ: Salvation is a dynamic, ongoing experience that is not merely personal, but shared among believers: St. Paul urges the believers in Philippi toward continued unity, humility, selfless generosity, and joy in Christ: Subthemes include alerting of the Philippian church to:
(1): INTERFERENCE FROM SELF-SERVING EVANGELISTS- (Philippians 1:12-18)
(2): PERSECUTION FROM THE WORLD- (Philippians 1:27-30; and Philippians 2:14-18)
(3): ANTAGONISM FROM HERETICS, PARTICULARY THE LEGALISTIC JUDAIZERS- (Philippians 3:1-11):
RIGHTEOUSNESS: Being good, just, and blameless...All are called to a life of humble obedience to God: Righteousness is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and the way in which Christians respond with living faith to God's gift of Salvation: (see- Wsol 5:6, 18; Isaiah 11:5; and Isaiah 46:13; Matthew 5:6, 20; and Romans 4:3; Galatians 5:22; and James 2:14-26):
SALVATION: Is the Forgiveness of sin and reunion with God and His Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord- (John 3; Romans 6 and see also 2 Peter 1- talking about deification):
CHURCH: (Greek ekklesia, the called out, the assembly) The faithful are called out of the world to be the Church: The Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, the New Israel, the ark of Salvation, the assembly of believers: Through the Church, Christians are united to Christ and each other: In this community we receive Grace of God through the sacraments and hears the truth of the gospel: This mystical transformation of people into one body in Christ takes place in the Eucharist: Christ is Head of the Church, the Church is a reflection of His Incarnation, with both human and divine qualities- (see also Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 16-17; Galatians 6;16; Ephesians 4:12; and Ephesians 5:22-32): "THE CHURCH ISN'T JUST A BUILDLING OR A DEMONOTION OF RELIGION INSTEAD IT'S LIVING BY EXAMPLE AND IMITATING CHRIST IN ALL WE DO WITH EXTREME LOVE!!!
2 TIMOTHY 4:3-5
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
I'm fulfilling my mission and ministry it's not about me, and it's not about likes or even saying something the itchy ears just want to hear...It's about the Lord and His Will, His purpose for us all, normal in this world leads to temptations...Many Christians fall into this verse for many reasons because they fail to seek the truth for themselves instead they seek the lies from the ruler of this world, they are blinded by Rockstar preachers that are more like motivator speakers than genuine spiritual counselors...Here is the truth Yahweh- (God- is Spirit)- Yeshua (Jesus) The Son of God is our savior and through Him leads us to the heart of the Father.. The Holy Spirit once we accept it becomes our teacher, wisdom and protector...We must live in daily communion with God, we must live by His Will- We must be teachers of truth and righteousness, shun evil and do good, it's our hearts a radical change and shift from the darkness by coming into the Light!!! Lastly the real truth is never accepted, the world rejected Christ first the Prince of Peace, meaning our time is soon coming- He is separating the wheat from the tares what side are you on???
REVELATION 1:7-9:
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,[a]the Beginning and the End,” says the [b]Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” I, John, [c]both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
END WITH THE LORD'S PRAYER
WE DEPART IN PEACE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
JPCE SPIRITUAL TALK
NEVER HOLD BACK
PEACE BE WITH YOU ALL!!!