E100 Ephesians 6 & Philippians 4

Eph 6

I. (Eph 6:1-9) The parent child relationship

A. The child’s responsibility TO GOD is to obey their parents

Notice the basis of their obedience is not in the parents but in God

This means obedience is not something a parent has to “earn” because as children obey parents, they are actually obeying God

There is no way to separate a child’s behavior toward their parent and a child’s devotion to God (a child’s spiritual relationship to God is directly linked to how they treat their parents)

The command to obey is accompanied with a promise

God is going to “reward” faithfulness to this command (unusual in Scripture)

Obedience - long life (proverbial not promise)

B. The parent’s responsibility is to not provoke children to anger

Parents provoke through inconsistency:

inconsistency of instruction

inconsistency of punishment

inconsistency with God

Parents provoke through harshness

Love should be primary in the relationship

Even discipline should be loving

Parents provoke through poor spiritual leadership

Parents must disciple their children (the primary discipler)

If you are allowing someone else to primarily spiritually disciple your kids, there will be times of frustration for your kids

C. *Similar principles of consistency, leadership, trust, spiritual discipleship, working as unto the Lord apply to other relationships as well = bondservant - master (employee/employer)

II. (Eph 6:10-20) Armor of God

A. (Eph 6:10-13) The need to prepare for spiritual “battle”

God has given spiritual weapons to us so that we can overcome attacks form the devil

It implies we will have difficulty if we do not engage this armor - being “strong” on its own is not enough

B. (Eph 6:14-20) The pieces of armor

Belt of truth

A reference to the belt under the armor holding everything together - not the belt outside the armor to hold the sword

At our base we must be committed to what is true or else everything else falls apart

We need not worry of collapse because we DO stand on truth!

Breastplate of righteousness

The priestly breastplate was used to identify who the people of God were (stones symbolized each tribe)

Form a military perspective, the breastplate was a protective layer form unseen attacks

“Righteousness” = personal holiness has a protective quality keeping you out of satan’s sin traps!

Shoes = readiness of the gospel of peace

Our mission is to share the gospel!

That is why we are going where we are going to do what we are doing!

Shield of faith

Main defense to block Satan’s primary attacks

The ancient shield was designed to be pieced together with other shields so as to provide top, bottom, and side to side protection of the entire army

Faith unites the church to protect each other!

Helmet of salvation

It is at the top, it identified which army you were a part of and identified who your commander was

Our commander is Jesus because he has saved us!

Sword of the Spirit = the Word of God

Our only offensive piece

This is our ability to attack Satan with

Prayer

Being alert

Prayer keeps you alert, atuned, and responsive

*irony of disciples falling asleep instead of praying

Philippians 4

I. (Phil 4:1-9) Finding Joy by Disciplining your Mind

(How to discipline your mind - easier said than done…) ***very practical section of Scripture

(Phil 4:6-7) Step 1: Pray ALOT

Give everything weighing down your mind to the Lord in prayer

The result is God guards and protects your mind form spiritual attack

Supernatural peace overwhelms “reason” = “surpasses understanding”

(Phil 4:8) Step 2: Control what you think about

Do not allow yourself to dwell on things that capture mind in worry

Proactively fill your mind with positive things in the Lord Your mind will fill with something

Your mind will fill with negative, if there is an absence of positive

(Phil 4:9) Step 3: Control what you do

What you do impacts what you think

Your mind will follow your actions

Consuming your life with being faithful to the Lord will discipline your mind with joy and leave no room for anxiety

II. (Phil 4:10, 14-20) Finding Joy by Trusting in God’s provision

(Phil 4:10, 14-16) Paul’s trust in God’s provision for himself

(Phil 4:10) Paul knew the Philippian Christians wanted to help him but they were not able to

“It’s the thought that counts”

Paul was encouraged by knowing they wanted to help, even though sometimes they couldn’t

(Phil 4:14-16) There were times they could and did help and Paul was appreciative because he recognized their help as God’s provision in his life

Often times, the church serves a vital ministry to one another as we help each other in times of need

We help each other in multiple ways:

Material needs

Emotional needs

Spiritual needs

(Phil 4:17-20) Paul’s trust in God’s provision for the Philippians

(Phil 4:17-18) The Philippians are spiritually blessed by giving to Paul

The Philippian gifts are “applied to their credit” (implies that God is pleased with their gifts of service)

Their gifts to Paul are like gifts to God himself

They are an “acceptable offering” to God

(Matt 25:45) “whatever you did unto the least of these, you did unto me”

(Acts 20:35) “More blessed to give than receive”

(Phil 4:19-20) The Philippians are materially blessed by giving to Paul

“according to” = he is making a comparison; “similarity of process”

When you look at how God provided you spiritually everything you need in Christ (forgiveness, love, regeneration, adoption, etc) you can be confident that you will receive everything you need in this life as well

Allow your confidence that God will take care of you to impact the way you care for others

We need not be consumed by the rat race of accumulating “stuff” that we WANT - we can be content in using our resources sacrificially knowing that God will give us what we NEED

Christians are the most generous people on the planet - and that’s how it should be!!!

III. (Phil 4:11-20) Finding Joy through Contentment

(Phil 4:11-12) Contentment means being satisfied regardless of circumstances

Is your attitude, emotions, and objectives dependent upon your circumstances?

God wants us to be content - regardless of our situation

ILLUS: When people ask my dad how he is doing, my dad always responds, “Pretty good over the circumstances” instead of “under the circumstances” because he wants his attitude to be undeterred by whatever else is going on

(Phil 4:13-20) What can you do?

*most taken out of context verse in the Bible

You can not allow your joy to be robbed because of difficulties and problems because you have different priorities

You can handle persecution and being wronged and offended without allowing it to bother you because you can forgive others and you are representing Jesus!

You have the spiritual ability to show people that Jesus is more important than everything else in this world!

This is EXACTLY why God has given you the Holy Spirit

IV. (Phil 4:21-23) Finding Joy in Seeing God Work

Paul is not worried about the mission of the church failing despite the persecution

He is encouraging the need to “meet and greet” Christians as the church grows and expands

When we see things in America fall apart, we need not worry about the church - the church will go on - our future is not in danger!

Paul subtly encourages the Philippians by pointing out a very special and drastic ministry success

“especially those of Caesar’s household”

household - not JUST blood relatives but all those in private service to Caesar himself living in his home

How have people in Caesar’s household become Christians??? = PAUL HAS LED THEM TO CHRIST WHILE IN PRISON!!!

This is the ultimate in ministry effectiveness - Paul’s long journey to Rome and imprisonment in order to preach the gospel in Rome to Caesar has resulted in the conversion of some in Caesar’s household!

Paul can “endure all things” and be “content” in any suffering (arrest, shipwreck, torture, imprisonment) because GOD IS GOING TO SUCCEED IN BUILDING THE CHURCH AND EXALTING THE GOSPEL and he is going to use you and your suffering to do it!

You only need to value the right things (eternal things)

And you need only be faithful to the calling of the gospel (use difficulties as opportunities)

Brings joy to know that no matter what we must endure - God is going to use it for good and will use it to bring about his ultimate victory over sin, death, and the grave!