Epistles of Paul 99

Well, good evening, brethren. Tonight we hope to complete the Epistle to the Ephesians, and in this epistle, Paul concludes this Epistle to the Ephesians as he describes enormous, enormous spiritual blessings to the Church. He re-emphasizes as a conclusion that we are in a spiritual warfare, in a spiritual battle, which is led by Satan, and that we all need to take every possible spiritual protection to withstand Satan's wiles, as he describes, or his tricks, to divide, conquer, and destroy us. So, once again, this epistle is an encouraging epistle, because it's encouraging us to be united, to be one with God, whether we are Jews or Gentiles.

We all have a great calling to be in God's kingdom, and specifically for us today, we have a great calling to be the leaders in God's soon-coming government, under Christ as being him being the King of kings and Lord of lords. So, Paul in this epistle, he begs us to walk worthy of this great calling, with all humility and meekness, being patient, and bearing one another, so that we achieve that end goal of unity, unity of the Spirit, of being one and having peace. And we read that in Ephesians chapter 4 verses 1 to 3. Now, one of Satan's greatest tricks or ways of deceiving is to start by creating the vision, identifying an area where there's a potential crack. Somebody said something just a little bit incorrect, and he magnifies it and gets stories going to one to another without people addressing and talking privately to one another and addressing these problems. And so, he builds this vision and this lack of you know lack of peace in the Church. Now, in Ephesians chapter 6 verse 10, and that's where we start from today, we read, finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. So he has a question, where does our strength come from? Our strength to overcome.

It comes from the Lord, but and it says, and in the power of His might of God's Holy Spirit. But yeah, it's interesting. Let's start right at the beginning of verse 1. Finally, this word, Loi-pon, Greek word 3063, could also be translated as henceforth. And maybe henceforth would be a more appropriate translation, yeah, because he has been talking about the need for us to imitate God. He's talking about the need for us to walk as Christ walked, and He's talking about the need for us to be one, to be united, to have a unity of faith, as he reads in chapter 4 verse 13, so that we can reach the stature of the fullness of Christ. But he says there, so that, in verse 14, we're not tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. But in verse 15, he says that we are speaking the truth in love. Now, speaking the truth is also interesting because the word speaking the truth is only one word in Greek, a leitouo. It's just one word, speaking the truth, which is translated in English as speaking the truth. Interesting enough, in Portuguese, it's translated as following the truth. But when I looked at the concordance, it says to be true in doctrine and profession. In other words, it's actually being faithful to the truth. In other words, to faithful to our doctrine, to our teachings, to holding on to the faith once delivered to the saints, as we read in Jude 1.3. And so we could read verse 15 of chapter 4 of Ephesians. Let's hold on to the pure doctrine that has been given to us. And we got to do that in love. And so speaking in truth, yes, we need to speak the truth, but it has very probably a deeper meaning than just speaking the truth, but it has been following, living, loving the truth. It's very important that we love the truth, God's truth. But loving it and applying it in a kind, gentle way. And I believe that's where we all fall short. I fall short, we all fall short. We got to be more gentle and kind, how we address whatever deviations from the truth, maybe from us or from somebody else. So that we may grow in all things unto Christ to be like He is. That is the goal.

And so in Ephesians 6, verse 10, it says, finally, my brethren, as I was mentioning, maybe a better translation there, henceforth it was because of what all that has been stated before, my brethren, let's be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. And again, it's strong, not in our own strength, but strong in the strength that God gives us.

And only God, through Jesus Christ, can provide the strength to us by the power of His might. In other words, His Holy Spirit. So really, it's talking right down here in verse 10. And only I'm verse 10 is narrowing very specifically that we need to be strong because of all that is mentioned before, spiritually speaking. And that's what it says. We've got to be strong in the power of His might. In other words, using God's Holy Spirit to overcome. In Ephesians chapter 1 verse 19, so a little bit earlier in the same epistle in verse 19, we read, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power towards us who believe according to the working of His mighty power. You see, that's the strength that we receive from God. That's the help. That's the power. That's through His Holy Spirit that helps us to overcome, but it also helps us to fight these spiritual battles. That's why then it goes on in verse 11, put on the all armor of God that you may be able to stand against the walls of the devil. In other words, we like a soldier.

We need to be in a constant state of readiness for battle. Maybe it's more than a soldier. Think about it. An alertness in the country against any potential missile strike. For instance, think about Israel. They got that dome that whenever the strike of missiles suddenly comes, they defend themselves. They're ready. And this is what we need to be to put on the whole armor, not just a part or a portion, the whole armor to be prepared. Prepared for any struggle, because it's a spiritual warfare and our main enemy, as it says, is the devil, is Satan.

And therefore, the war is not physical, but it is a spiritual armor. It's a full suit of armor and weapons, spiritual weapons, that you and I need to put on, both defensive. And as we will see, they all are defensive, or one, which is the sword, which is offensive. And then it says to stand that you may be able to stand. In other words, that implies that we are permanently standing, that we are abiding, that we are awake, that we are standing permanently. And then it also says against the walls of the devil. The walls are his schemes, his cleverness, his plans to deceive.

To deceive. That is his main weapon, his deception. We read in Revelation 12 verse 9, he deceives the whole world. So I sometimes say it in a little bit of a jest way. He's got a master's degree in deception. And that's satanic. That's his his his specialty, a deceiver. He deceives the whole world. And so, but he deceives to entrap us, to enslave us, and ultimately to destroy our lives and our relationships that we may have with one another, particularly his desire is to destroy relationships in the church. So we must be alert all the time. We must be alert all the time.

Let's go on reading now verse 12. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of weakness in heavenly places. So we're not confronting, or we're not being attacked by human beings. Quite often you and I think when somebody says something that you and I get hurt or offended, it's easy to say, oh well, this person or this or that. But we got to understand that Satan is stirring the pot behind all these things, and the real enemy is Satan, and he is behind all these things sometimes, encouraging and we're enticing some words to come out. So these attacks, spiritual attacks, come by surprise. It's like when we see on TV these attacks of missiles, they suddenly come by surprise. Sometimes it is without sound or without warning, and maybe by the time we hear it, it's too late.

And so these are the different sinister influences that Satan has that affect our human spirit, the spirit of man in man. And so these attacks, they attack our will and they attack our conscience. That's why we're going to be so careful with keeping our conscience clear, and therefore it is at a level of thoughts, injecting thoughts or ideas. Like normally, or quite often, doubts, doubts, fears and doubts, uncertainty. It's like clouds that cover the sky of our minds, and like fierce storms that attack our minds. So these attacks are into heavenly places.

In other words, these satanic philosophies pervert the pure doctrines of Christ and the pure teachings that we have. Or they are false deceptions which cloud our vision for instance of God, of Christ, of His glory, of His power. And through this we see God in societies rejected, through godly worship, He's abandoned. And the truth, which is in a sense a wonderful heavenly treasure that we receive, is declared by society as absolutely meaningless and imaginary. Now this is, let's call it, the subject matter of these attacks or these great conflicts that Satan raises with the help of his demons. And again, please understand that God does allow this to happen because God is allowing our hearts to be tested. So in verse 12 it says, we're not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against these powers and spiritual hosts of wickedness. And they're attacking us in these areas of understanding about godly things and are trying to break us down, to break our faith. And so it goes on in verse 13. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand. So He has the word stand in the evil day and having done all to stand. And verse 14, stand therefore. So we can see this word of standing, which as I mentioned earlier on implies permanency, implies to abide, implies to endure, implies to stay firm and faithful in our doctrine, in our teaching, in our hope, and really having no doubts. Because Satan and his demons try to pervert, try to corrupt, and and our responsibility is to put on the whole armor of God to withstand Him, to resist Him, these corrupt ideas and thoughts that he tries to inject into us or doubts, so that we stand firm.

And it says, yeah, to stand, to withstand in the evil day, the day of Satan's special attacks to us individually. We all have a day when these attacks get very intense to us because we are in a perpetual war and we have to be aware of that all the time. And then it says, and having done all to stand it's necessary to do all to fight continuously non-stop till the end and be a Christian soldier, a good Christian soldier, all the way till the end. Now verse 14, stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness. Truth, that truth, you know, the truth is so important. We got to love the truth.

You read in Thessalonians today, they did not love the truth and they got carried away. We got to love the truth and hold on to it. The truth, we got to speak the truth, we got to live the truth, we got to hold on to the teachings we received till the end. And that says, therefore, you have been girded your waist with truth. Now, a waist in the olden days, they would have a robe, like flowing robes, and when you girded your waist, you tightened that robe.

So, you'll be able to move unencumbered, in other words, unburdened, without having obstacles. You could move, not being tripping with your robe being on the way or whatever it is. So, the robe, in a sense, there which is girded, that girding, that belt, is there in a sense to help us, to protect us. And then it says, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness. And speaking about truth, thy word is truth. God's word is truth. But look at it.

Righteousness, in this case, is joined with truth. You see, it says here, your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness. So, Iyanda is a connection between truth and righteousness. In Ephesians 5 verse 9, we see that connection again. It says, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth.

You see that connection of righteousness with truth. So, righteousness, in a way, is in works, in deeds. Truth, in a way, is speaking, is words, but it's also the way of life. So, there is a connection. And so, that ties into the point that we are not to accept and follow every idea that comes along. We're not to be taken, as we read in Ephesians 4 verse 14, we're not going to be tossed to and throw and carried about with every window of doctrine by the trickery of man in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.

We are not to be deceived because we love the truth, we hold on the truth, we have that truth binding us around the waist. So, it's really close to us. And at the same time, we have the breastplate of righteousness. Now, righteousness needs to be imputed by God. I mean, we're reading in Romans chapter 4 verse 3, Romans chapter 4 verse 3, talking about Abraham. And it says, for what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

So, he's absolute trust and believing that what God said was true, and therefore he acted on that belief and that obeyed. That was accounted for him as righteousness. And then a little bit later in verse 5 and 6 says, but to him who does not work but believes on him who justifies them godly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. And so, that absolute trust, that trust which shows that we are committed to do, that is accounted as righteousness. Even though we may have not done it, but we trust, and therefore we have that commitment to do it.

And just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness. And so, this righteousness is not our self-righteousness. Oh, I'm such a good person because I've done this, I've done that, I've done the other. No, but it's righteousness which is imputed apart from works. Because we believe God, we trust God, and therefore we have that commitment that we will do what he says because we believe him and trust him.

Also, that ties in with Romans, also in the book of Romans chapter 10, in verse 3, when he talks about the Israelites, and he says that Paul is saying that they have great zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. And in verse 3, he says, for they, being ignorant of God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. You see, we gotta submit to the righteousness of God. That is an important point for us to remember. It's not my self-righteousness, but I submit to what God wants me to do because I trust him, I believe him, and that imputes to us God's righteousness. And so also, if we look at first Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 8, first Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 8, we read, but let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love.

So Yah is saying the breastplate of faith and love, and as an element, the hope of salvation, which I'll make a reference to a little later. So, let us talk about the breastplate of faith and love. Now, it's talking in Ephesians chapter 6 verse 14, it's talking about the breastplate of righteousness. And so, Christ's righteousness in us by God's early Spirit, which is imputed in us, and therefore we want to do what is right. It is an act of faith, of faith and love. And so, this faith, working righteousness by love, becomes a breastplate. And therefore, that faith and love that becomes this breastplate of God's righteousness, with that Satan cannot get at you and me.

But, when we begin to compromise, when we begin to let go of God's law, then Satan influences us, you and I, as we compromise more and more. Oh, well, it's just this. And sometimes we justify it, even with structures. We justify it. And then Satan has found a weakness in you, and then he's gonna leverage that. So, we gotta have this breastplate of faith and love, which is a breastplate of righteousness. That's absolutely trusting God, and having a love of God. And because we trust him, we do what he says for us to do, that faith, faith is accounted for righteousness. So, it's a breastplate of faith and love, and that faith is accounted for righteousness. So, it's a breastplate of righteousness. Now, continue in verse 15. And having shot your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. As I mentioned just now, I made reference to 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 8 about the hope. But yeah, we're talking about the gospel of peace. Now, let's look at this carefully. First, talking about, in verse 15, verse 15, your feet. That's how we walk. So, we gotta walk, we gotta live.

We've read in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 1, it says, walk. Ephesians 4 verse 1 says, walk worthy of the calling. Look at Ephesians 5 verse 2. It says, and walk in love as Christ also loved us. And then, 5 verse 8, it says, for you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. And look at verse 15, see then that you walk so conspicuously, not as fools, but as wise. And so, we gotta walk. And that is part of the job of the feet to walk. But again, it's talking about YAH in Ephesians chapter 6 verse 15. It's saying, your feet, having your, your, your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

Preparation, that means we are prepared to do the will of God. We are prepared to walk the way of God. And so, we are, have that preparation to walk that way, as it says, having your feet shot of the preparation of the gospel of peace, of the good news of peace.

Now, the gospel is basically what we are going to live. It's basically the good news. It's the plan of God. And that plan of God is ultimately a plan that is designed to bring us peace. Peace for one another, peace with each other, not in contentions, not in strife, not in quarrels, not in any type of war. Because all those things, contentions, strife, quarrels, wars, are alien, are opposed to the gospel. You see, it's the gospel of peace. That is the goal of the kingdom of God. And we have to walk that way. And so, we gotta be prepared to do that. Now, continue in verse 16.

Verse 16, above all, taking the shield of faith with which you were able, by your pardon, with which you will be able to quench all fiery darts of the wicked one.

And so, we are to take the helmet. To take means it's to receive, to accept that helmet of salvation offered to us by God. God is giving us the salvation. He's offering us. And this is a helmet of salvation. Well, as I made reference a little while ago to 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 8, right at the end there in 1 Thessalonians, and it says, as a helmet, the hope of salvation. And so, this helmet, as it says here in 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 8, is the helmet of the hope of salvation. And in Ephesians 6, 17, he's talking about the helmet of salvation. So, he's actually talking about the hope, the hope that God has given to us. You see, our mind is to be filled with thoughts about this hope, about what we are to receive, which is a sure hope. And so, we need to have that and take the helmet of salvation and hope.

That's in verse 17. And then he says, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. So, not only do we have that hope in our mind, but also we take the God's Word, which is the Bible, and that's a sword that needs to be in our minds as well. And that is the only offensive weapon that we have. And this is because all others are defensive. But God's truth is a two-edged sword and separates the bone from the marrow. It's a sword we can use. And the Bible, which is God's Word, is a convicting agent, just like God's Holy Spirit is a convicting agent. So, we gotta take that the sword of God. And then, as Paul builds up towards his conclusion, he says, praying always. And so, he's mentioned all these weapons of the whole armor of God, but he adds one extra one, which is also a weapon, which is praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. And so, what we have here is we gotta pray always. That is, in every season, at every opportunity, and at every need that you and I may have, pray always. And then he says, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.

What do you mean by all prayer? With every kind of prayers.

Whether it's private, whether it's walking, whether we are in a crisis, pray, prayer and supplication and and plead and implore. You know, sometimes I have come across many times, particularly when I'm teaching to people and they come across a very difficult question that maybe I've never considered. And at that moment, I pray.

In other words, it's and that's a different kind of prayer. It's not going in private, in a corner, going to my knees. No, the person is talking to me. In that split moment, I am praying for the right words to answer that person. That's with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. That means that God's Spirit enables us to pray. God's Spirit helps us. Look at Romans 8 verse 26. Romans 8 verse 26.

Romans 8 verse 26.

Likewise, we read, likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit helps us make intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. How many times we've come to a situation that we just don't have the words, the proper words, as it says here, the words that are correct as we ought to have. Sometimes we don't have the words. I mean, sometimes some people have words that I hear them, they're saying and their prayers. I say, wow, I wish I could have said that and I could have prayed that way. And sometimes we don't have the words, but the Spirit helps us. The Spirit makes intercession for us with feelings and ways of expressing it in private and when we need, which cannot be uttered. It's just God can make us pray in every kind of prayer and God's Spirit can make that connection when we actually don't even have the correct words. Another example is in Galatians chapter 4 verse 6.

Galatians chapter 4 verse 6.

Galatians chapter 4 verse 6. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his son into our hearts, crying out, Abba, Father. It's God's Spirit in us that helps us to really link and connect to God and say, he's our dad, he's our heavenly Father.

And that is because of God's Holy Spirit, because we're begotten again. And he makes that intercession for us and helps us. And so, continuing in Ephesians chapter 6 verse 18, it says, praying always with all prayer and supplications in the Spirit, being watchful to the sand.

In other words, we need to be alert. We need to watch and pray, not being sleepy. Look at Matthew 26 verse 41. Matthew 26 verse 41. Matthew 26 verse 41. 41. All right. Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. We're going to watch and pray. We're going to be alert, so that we don't fall into temptation. And so, when we read the eye in Ephesians 6 verse 18, being watchful to the sand with, in other words, praying always with all prayer and supplication.

And that's what we're going to do, not sleeping, being alert all the time. And then it says, and then it says, with all perseverance and supplication. In other words, persevere in prayers and supplication again. In other words, don't lose sight of the danger or need that we need to be alert. We need to be persevering all the time, because there's danger around the corner. And what danger is that? It's Satan's danger. He's ready to pass on us with whatever doubts, problems, deception, whatever it may be, fears and certainties. That's his master's degree.

And so we, you and I, need to be aware, alert for that. And then he goes on, with all perseverance and supplication, for all the saints, we need to pray for one another, for all the saints. Why? Because we all need help. We all need prayers. And so we need to pray for one another. Verse 19 through 20. And for me, that the utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel. And for me, Paul's saying, please pray for me, for the ministry. Why? So that the mystery of the gospel, that's what it says, the mystery of the gospel. It's not just a part of the gospel, it's this deep mystery that Paul has been explaining in the C. Priscilla to the Ephesians, that salvation is to all Jews and Gentiles, obviously in their own time. That was not known before. And so that is an amazing good news that we all need to understand. And so Paul asked for prayers that he may speak boldly.

And he did speak boldly about God's plan, about these good news. And that's equally true for us today. God, as I mentioned earlier on, God gives us the right words at the right time.

I remember many times that that happened to me in Brazil in Angola. God gives the right words at the right time. Now, we can see that this epistle of Paul to the Ephesians is a very encouraging one.

One to encourage the Ephesians and encourages us to be united, to be one with God, regardless of whatever nationality or group or entity we are. And we've got a great calling to be leaders in all tomorrow in God's government, under Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And so, as he concludes, he says, yeah, in verse 21, he says, but that you may also know my affairs and I'm doing, and so that you know what I've been doing, what I've been preaching, what is this mystery, and you may be encouraged with it as well. So I'm sending this letter to you and I'm sending it through Tychicus and he says, yeah, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord. He was a minister. We'll make all things known to you. He will convey to you what's been happening to me and how the gospel is being preached and this wonderful mystery that I'm describing to you in this epistle. Verse 22, whom I have sent to you for this very purpose. So I sent this minister and Tychicus, beloved brother and faithful minister, for this very purpose to encourage you and to give you this information that you may know of our affairs, how the work is being done, and that he may comfort your hearts. This brother, Tychicus, may comfort your hearts. Verse 23, peace to the brethren and love with faith.

In other words, he finishes saying that peace and love with faith. In other words, grow.

Grow in this grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ in peace that you may grow in this from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. And he concludes in verse 24, Amen.