12,17 Enjoying God's Gifts (2) Eph 6,13-18
Notes
Transcript
The Belt is referring to having a Mind that is Disciplined
The Belt is referring to having a Mind that is Disciplined
The Belt is referring to having a Mind that is Disciplined
The Breastplate is referring to Practicing my Position.
The Breastplate is referring to Practicing my Position.
Shoes-
Shoes-
“your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace”. Paul is not referring directly to believers footwear in this passage—Rather, he is speaking of “having their feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel”. He probably has in mind the image of the “caliga” or half-boot with the legionnaire wore while on duty. It was an open-toed leather boot with a heavily nail-studded sole which was tied to the ankle and shins with straps. The cagila was not for running, fleeing or pursuing an enemy.
Rather, they were used for marching, especially in battle. Their function was much like todays cleated football shoe. They gave the foot traction and prevented sliding.
“your feet”-
Your feet are to the body what the Will is to the soul.
Your feet are to the body what the Will is to the soul.
The feet carry the body from place to place and the will is that which directs the activities of the soul. What the will decides is what we do!
So the will is to be regulated by the peace of the Gospel. The Gospel requires us to deny ourselves, take up the cross daily and follow Christ. Having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel signifies that we must respond to God’s revealed will.
Just as the feet are members which convey the body place to place, so the will directs the soul!
Just as the feet must be adequately shod if we are to walk properly and comfortably, so the will must be brought into subjection to the revealed will of God.
To Shod our Feet means complete surrender!
To Shod our Feet means complete surrender!
Shod- tie, bind beneath, —
Preparation—to be prepared, be ready to plunge into the fifth.
Gospel— good news, good tidings.
Preparation of the Gospel of Peace —the peace that comes to us through the Gospel that makes us immovable in battle. We believe in a Gospel purposed by God from all eternity, designed with wisdom, provided with an enormous price, costing nothing less than the blood of Jesus. From this Gospel, the choicest essence is taken, Peace, and from this Peace those sandals are prepared!
What does “Peace” refer to?
What does “Peace” refer to?
Peace With God
Peace With God
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
- Life apart from Christ has no real peace. Without Christ, we feel alienated. Sometimes it is noted by the awareness that ones life is not right. Yet, when one finds peace with God, it becomes a life of wonder—-knowing that our sins are forgiven and forgotten though Jesus Christ!When our feet are shod and planted in peace, we can stand firm against the assaults of the enemy. Peace of God—READ ; . “Peace” he is “eirene”- harmony, peace in time of war.
Life apart from Christ has no real peace. Without Christ, we feel alienated. Sometimes it is noted by the awareness that ones life is not right. Yet, when one finds peace with God, it becomes a life of wonder—-knowing that our sins are forgiven and forgotten though Jesus Christ!When our feet are shod and planted in peace, we can stand firm against the assaults of the enemy.
Whenever peace does not come, tarry till it does or find out why it doesn’t. Whenever you obey God, His seal is always that of Peace.
Peace of God
Peace of God
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
; . “Peace” he is “eirene”- harmony, peace in time of war.
“Peace” here is “eirene”- harmony, peace in time of war.
“Peace” he is “eirene”- harmony, peace in time of war.
. “Peace” he is “eirene”- harmony, peace in time of war.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace;
That bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation;
That saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
In its original context of , the picture is painted of a lone messenger who beautiful feet are moving across the mountain tops with the swiftness as a gazelle (; ) bringing good news to Jerusalem.
In its original context of , the picture is painted of a lone messenger who beautiful feet are moving across the mountain tops with the swiftness as a gazelle (; ) bringing good news to Jerusalem.
This can be traced back to the OT communications system, with respect to battle line communications. When armies went to battle, those who remained at home waited to hear of the outcome, because their destiny was tied to the success or failure of the armies. They were not able to receive news as we are today.
As each city posted outlooks to watch for the approaching armies, the lookout could determine whether the messenger was bring good news or bad news, just by his FEET. If the messenger was bring good news of victory, his feet would be flying and kicking up the dust.
TRY THEM ON
TRY THEM ON
They fit perfectly—I think you will see that they fit perfectly and are comfortable. The Gospel of Peace helps all of our infirmities, heals wounds of old sins, whatever weakness you have, peace relieves it. Provide a Firm foothold -- when persons are on slippery rocks, where a fall would be fatal, it is well to have on shoes that can get grip and hold.
Great for marching-a soul at perfect peace with God is in a fit state for the severest marching orders. No longer on a road leading to hell, a heart at perfect peace with God is great preparation for progress.
Great for marching-a soul at perfect peace with God is in a fit state for the severest marching orders. No longer on a road leading to hell, a heart at perfect peace with God is great preparation for progress. Good for Climbing-Do you ever climb Mt Tabor to be transfigured with your Master? Have you seen his conflict and victory ? Do you ever climb your Pisgah and anticipate His glory to be revealed? Could it be that only those who delight themselves in the Lord shall ascend the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place?
Good for Climbing-Do you ever climb Mt Tabor to be transfigured with your Master? Have you seen his conflict and victory ? Do you ever climb your Pisgah and anticipate His glory to be revealed? Could it be that only those who delight themselves in the Lord shall ascend the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place?
How many of you came in this morning without shoes? Yet, you are to travel to eternity, and have no shoes? Is your will submitted to God’s will?
SHIELD OF FAITH
SHIELD OF FAITH
Have you noticed anything about the “Spiritual Equipment” that we have been given? For the most part, it mirrors the attire of the “high priest” in the OT. He had a robe, outer garment, a breastplate, coat or undergarment, turban and girdle. He was the mediator between Yahweh and the people of Israel, and in addition to performing sacrifices and rituals like other priests, he acted to expiate the sins of the nation on the annual Day of Atonement.
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
- Jesus is our High Priest—He became kapparah, propitiation, on the cross, He was displayed as our sacrifice, appeasing an angry God.
- Jesus is our High Priest—He became kapparah, propitiation, on the cross, He was displayed as our sacrifice, appeasing an angry God.
So, our Spiritual Armor is important as we live a life in Submission to God.
You will take notice when we come to the fourth piece of armor that the “and” is lacking. The first three were joined together, for that which is denoted by those figurative terms is inseparably linked together—the mind, the heart, the will: there you have the complete inner man.
“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (verse 16).
ITS IMPORTANCE
ITS IMPORTANCE
“above all”
“above all”
have a double force.
First, literally, understanding them as a preposition of place, meaning over all, shielding as a canopy, protecting the mind, the heart and the will. There must be faith in exercise if those three parts of our inner being are to be guarded.
Second, “above all” may be taken adverbially, signifying chiefly, pre-eminently, supremely.
It is an essential thing that you should take the shield of faith, for , tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Yes, even if there were sincerity, love, and a pliable will, yet without faith we could not please Him.
IT’S AVAILABILITY-“taking the shield of faith”
Faith is available only by God—we don’t earn it or buy it—
Faith is given to us to be used and it increases with practice and use.
IT’S POWER
Faith is all in all in resisting temptation. The whole victory is here ascribed to faith “above all”; it is not by the breastplate, helmet or sword, but by the shield of faith that we are enabled to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. It seems to be a general principle in the Spirit’s arrangement of things in Scripture to put the most vital one in the center; we have seven pieces of armor, and the shield of faith is the fourth.
“able to quench”- READ
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Faith is the life of all the graces. If faith be not in exercise, love, hope, patience cannot be. Here we find faith intended for the defence of the whole man. The shield of the soldier is something he grips, and raises or lowers as it is needed. It is for the protection of his entire person.
Faith is the life of all the graces. If faith be not in exercise, love, hope, patience cannot be. Here we find faith intended for the defence of the whole man. The shield of the soldier is something he grips, and raises or lowers as it is needed. It is for the protection of his entire person.
IT’S EXTENT
Now the figure which the Holy Spirit uses here in connection with Satan’s attacks is taken from one of the devices of the ancients in their warfare, namely the use of darts which had been dipped in tar and set on fire, in order to blind their foes: that is what lies behind the metaphor of “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked”; it has in view Satan’s efforts to prevent our looking upward! When these darts were in the air the soldiers had to bow their heads to avoid them, holding their shields above. And Satan is constantly seeking to prevent our looking upward.
There is intense hatred in Satan against the child of God. Again, the very essence of his temptations is to inflame the passions and distress the conscience. Our enemy launches blazing “fiery darts”—temptations, strategies, deceptions—to inflame us and bring our demise.
-We all have lusts within us which are easy to ignite—just needs a little fire.
-He aims to kindle covetousness, to excite worldly ambition, to ignite our lusts. In , we read, “the tongue is set on fire of hell”—that means the Devil’s “fiery darts” have affected it.
-The figure of “darts” denotes that his temptations are swift, noiseless, dangerous.
-Fiery TRIALS await us in all of life—illness, tragedies, even persecution. In the midst of TRIALS, our enemy launches DARTS of doubt of God’s goodness, the truth of God’s Word, even God’s existence.
-Some of the most lethal darts come from within our own camp—darts of rejection, criticism and hypocrisy.
Now taking the shield of faith means
Take the Word and act on it
Take the Word and act on it
The shield is to protect the whole person, wherever the attack be made, whether on spirit, or soul, or body; and faith must lay hold of the Word of God and employ it.
Pink, A. W. (2005). Practical Christianity (pp. 127–128). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
General Sherman—redwood tree located in Sequoia National Park in California. It stands 275 ft tall, over 36 ft diameter at the base—17 men stretching their arms could just about reach around it. That single tree contains enough wood to construct 100 homes.
Scientist have researched the redwoods and have not found even one that has died of old age, sickness or insect attacks. Interesting facts/parallel of the Redwoods
:they grow in groups linking their networking their roots for protection- so must the church.
:their “thick bark”—which protects them against fire, insects and plague. This could be their “shield of faith” protecting them from the enemy.
The Belt—the Mind
The Belt—the Mind
The Breastplate—the heart
The Breastplate—the heart
The Shoes—our will submitted to the Will of God
The Shoes—our will submitted to the Will of God
The Shield—taking the Word of God, depending on the God of the Bible and acting in accord.
The Shield—taking the Word of God, depending on the God of the Bible and acting in accord.
Is your Mind, Heart and Will protected today?
Are you living out God’s Word?
Until you do, you are really not experiencing the Joy of the Gifts of God.