Jesus told His disciples that they would indeed face persecution because people had persecuted Him (John 15:20-21). Many people would view this as a battle and some would assert that this is really the only type of adversity and persecution that Christians will face, but the Apostle Paul goes to great lengths to explain to the Ephesian church that the Christian life is not only a battle between forces that can be seen, but it is more importantly a spiritual battle. In the conclusion of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul urges them to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” and to “put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:10, NIV).” It is here that the reason for Paul’s advice can be seen. The strength Paul talks about in this section is not one of human capabilities, but rather one that is derived from God. As a Christian, strength to live the Christian life cannot be found within oneself. If a Christian is depending upon their own strength, they are sure to fall, but one who is relying upon God for their strength will be able to stand even in the harshest of circumstances. Not only does Paul speak of the strength of God, but also the armor of God in this passage. His reasoning for this advice is so that they will not fall for the schemes of Satan. But exactly to what kind of schemes is Paul referring in this section?
It is here that the essence of the battle to which Paul is referring is illustrated and described. This battle is not one of physical or military strength that is so often portrayed in the present-day world, but rather one that is of spiritual proportions. As a Christian, the Devil is the ultimate foe, whom the Bible describes as “a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44, NIV).” John Phillips notes that Satan is our adversary and “the one who opposes God and constantly seeks to prevent us from entering into our birthright as children of God (see Exploring Ephesians and Philippians, p. 186).” In Ephesians, Paul recognizes the power and the craftiness of the devil.
In addition to the devil as the adversary, Paul points out that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12, NIV).” This statement by Paul gives insight into the fact that human beings cannot see all of the forces that are at work in the universe. It is easy to think of life only being made up of things that can be seen, but throughout Scripture, it is evident that there is something more at work. The prophet Daniel experienced a spiritual battle of sorts when the answer to his prayers was delayed by “the prince of the Persian kingdom (Daniel 10:14, NIV).” Although on the surface, this does not appear to be referring to anything more than another human being, it seems as though this was some sort of demonic force at work.
Paul counters the idea of the Christian standing in the strength of God with the explanation of the four different demonic forces at work in everyday life. He speaks of (1) rulers, (2) authorities, (3) the powers of this dark world, and (4) spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. It is a common misconception that the devil is the only adversary that Christians face from day to day. Numerous passages throughout the Bible—including this passage in Ephesians—make mention of different evil forces at work along with the devil. Paul’s differentiation between the types of forces that are at work show that the devil and his fellow demons participate in different aspects of the spiritual battle that affects Christians everywhere. Paul’s portrayal of the Christian life at this point may seem quite bleak and discouraging if the description of the battle and the enemies were where it all ended, but the church at Ephesus was not left without hope, because Paul introduces a turning point.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
The Christian Life: The Background of Ephesians
The Book of Ephesians is a letter written by the Apostle Paul. Paul was a man who was well known in the Jewish society as well as by Christians in the first century. The Book of Acts, which shows the humble beginnings of Christianity and its rapid spread throughout the Roman Empire, portrays Paul—then known as Saul—as an enemy of Christianity who sought to take captive any Christian possible. A radical transformation took place in the life of Saul when he was stopped in his tracks on the Road to Damascus to take more Christians captive when he came into contact with Jesus Christ, the risen Son of God. From that point on, Saul was then known as Paul and became a tough proponent of the Christian faith and one of the greatest missionaries known in Christian history (see Acts 6:8-8:3; 9:1-31)
The Book of Ephesians is a letter that was written to the church in the city of Ephesus. This was a city of great importance during the early beginnings of the Church when Paul was writing. Ephesus “was situated on the west coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) at the mouth of the Cayster River. This thriving harbor city ranked with Rome, Alexandria and Syrian Antioch as one of the greatest cities of the Roman Empire (see Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, p. 249). As can be seen by the writings of many scholars, Ephesus was indeed a place of great importance, however, Phillips makes note of the fact that it “rivaled Corinth as the ‘filth capital’ of the Roman world (see Exploring Ephesians and Philippians, p. 23).” This was a place of repulsive immorality that was completely unavoidable. It is no wonder that one of Paul’s main messages to the church in Ephesus dealt with the importance of truly grasping the idea of living the new life in Christ.
The Ephesian church was not only a very important place geographically and politically, but also held a special place in the Apostle Paul’s heart as can be seen in the extensive amount of time that he spent with them and the final farewell which can be found in Acts 20:17-38 (see An Introduction to the New Testament, p.488). In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul wrote to them of their new life in Christ (2:1-10), the fact that all believers make up one Body of Christ (2:11-22), and practical advice for living the Christian life in a pagan world (4:17-5:21). After speaking of the relationship between husbands, wives, and families, Paul turns his attention back to the Christian life with a final bit of advice.
The Book of Ephesians is a letter that was written to the church in the city of Ephesus. This was a city of great importance during the early beginnings of the Church when Paul was writing. Ephesus “was situated on the west coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) at the mouth of the Cayster River. This thriving harbor city ranked with Rome, Alexandria and Syrian Antioch as one of the greatest cities of the Roman Empire (see Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, p. 249). As can be seen by the writings of many scholars, Ephesus was indeed a place of great importance, however, Phillips makes note of the fact that it “rivaled Corinth as the ‘filth capital’ of the Roman world (see Exploring Ephesians and Philippians, p. 23).” This was a place of repulsive immorality that was completely unavoidable. It is no wonder that one of Paul’s main messages to the church in Ephesus dealt with the importance of truly grasping the idea of living the new life in Christ.
The Ephesian church was not only a very important place geographically and politically, but also held a special place in the Apostle Paul’s heart as can be seen in the extensive amount of time that he spent with them and the final farewell which can be found in Acts 20:17-38 (see An Introduction to the New Testament, p.488). In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul wrote to them of their new life in Christ (2:1-10), the fact that all believers make up one Body of Christ (2:11-22), and practical advice for living the Christian life in a pagan world (4:17-5:21). After speaking of the relationship between husbands, wives, and families, Paul turns his attention back to the Christian life with a final bit of advice.
The Christian Life: Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of God
The Christian life is viewed in many different ways. There are individuals who put forth the idea that Christianity is a religion of ease or a “bed of roses”, so to speak. However, all throughout the pages of Scripture, the Christian life is described in a completely different manner. The Book of Ephesians is no different as it portrays the Christian life as a constant spiritual battle against foes that we may not necessarily be able to visualize. Although the foes that are faced in the midst of spiritual warfare are not seen with the human eyes, spiritual warfare is no doubt a reality and Christians must not only recognize this reality, but also seek to be better equipped to face this battle. In Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, he outlines the battle that Christians face on a daily basis against the unseen foes as well as the “armor of God,” which is the equipment supplied by God to Christians in order to withstand the attacks of the devil.
Over the next several posts, I would like to discuss the views of Paul concerning the spiritual warfare that each Christian faces on a daily basis and how those views apply to our lives today. We will see through the Book of Ephesians that Paul has a solid understanding of the reality of spiritual warfare and the fact that God gives each of us the equipment needed to face the enemy and come out victorious in the battles of life.
Over the next several posts, I would like to discuss the views of Paul concerning the spiritual warfare that each Christian faces on a daily basis and how those views apply to our lives today. We will see through the Book of Ephesians that Paul has a solid understanding of the reality of spiritual warfare and the fact that God gives each of us the equipment needed to face the enemy and come out victorious in the battles of life.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Sold Out
“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”
Philippians 3:7-10 (NASB)
Why do we look for hope in the world that surrounds us? Why is it that we look for peace in this tumultuous place? Why do we seek to fit in with this ever-changing world? When faced with troubles, why do we search for strength in our own human abilities and for the friends who so often let us down? Why do we do all these things when everything we need is standing before us with outstretched arms and nail-scarred hands? All we need, we can find in Christ. He is our hope when life seems hopeless. Peace in the midst of the storms of life. The rock to which we can cling in a world of shifting sand. Our strength when the weight of our troubles is too heavy to bear. Our friend who has never once let us down or left our side. He is our everything and without Him, life just doesn't make sense.
I stand amazed at the attitude of people in our society, especially those who call themselves Christians. The gap that once separated Christians from non-Christians is slowly disappearing and the actions of Christians are beginning to resemble those of the world and the sad thing is that we seem so unconcerned. We have gotten caught up in the "desire to acquire"-- the more possessions we can gain, the better. We are more concerned with the desire to please ourselves and everyone else around us rather than pleasing our Savior.
The Apostle Paul was a man who knew what it was like to have plenty. He was very close to the top of Jewish society and was a Pharisee, yet he says that all the things he once held so dear (i.e. his title, reputation, possessions, etc.), when compared to his relationship with Christ, were worth nothing more than trash. Would we be able to say that about our relationship with God? Are we so consumed with our relationship with God that everything else pales in comparison? Or are we so focused on gaining wealth, possessions, and notoriety that God is only a fleeting thought in our minds? Those things that we seek in this life are only temporary. We try to keep them in our tight grip afraid to let them go, yet they slowly slip through our clenched fists only to leave us in despair and always wanting more.
The problem is, when we are focused on gaining those possessions and the approval of everyone else, we are never fulfilled, but a personal relationship with God is the most fulfilling experience known to man. My prayer is that our relationship with God would take center stage in our lives and that we would stop being so self-centered. As Christians, it is time to step up and fulfill the call of God in our lives: to reach the world with the Gospel of hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Searching
“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
Psalms 63:1 (NIV)
There has to be more to life than this. I’m sure you have thought that before. I know I have. Deep down, I believe that we all have a desire for something more than the normal, everyday life. We are seeking something more out of life than just the “same ole, same ole.” Sometimes life seems so pointless and we feel insignificant. We wonder why we are even here on this lonely planet called Earth. Do we even have a purpose? We see other people whose dreams are constantly coming true and we wonder, “Why can’t that be me?” There are times when it seems no one even cares about what is going on in our lives. We are searching for meaning and significance. We are searching for someone to love us for who we truly are and not the façade we put on when we go out of the house. We seek to be ourselves, in private and public, but we are afraid that people would never accept us if they saw the real person behind the mask.
We have all felt this way at some point or another. Some feel it more than others. There are people who try to downplay the emotions and feelings going on behind the scenes when someone is searching for their place in this world, but the fact remains that sometimes it hurts. We were all born with a “God-shaped hole” in our lives. Nothing and no one but God can fill that hole, but there are many times when we try to fill it with so many things such as, friends, family, church activities, drugs, alcohol, popularity, sports, and the list goes on. But no matter how hard we try to fit these things into that hole in our lives, they just will not fit, because that hole is not meant for them, it is meant only for God. When we constantly try to fill this hole with other things, we may feel a temporary relief, but that will soon be overtaken by emptiness.
Can there be any hope in this emptiness? The answer is an adamant YES! As we see in Matthew 7:7- “Seek and you will find.” If you are searching for something more out of life, then I can assure you that, if you look to God, you will not be disappointed. When you seek Him, you will find Him. It does not say that you may find Him, but that you will find Him. When you meet this God we read about in the Bible, your life will never be the same. There is no way that you can have an encounter with the living God, and come away the same person. You will have a new perspective on everything. Your life will be different. You may be saying, “Well, I like my life the way it is. Why would I want to change?” Do you honestly like the way you feel? Do you like the emptiness you feel once the temporary pleasure is gone? Are you willing to suffer eternally because you would rather enjoy temporary pleasure? There will definitely be a change in your life, but isn’t that really what you want? When Isaiah had an encounter with God in Isaiah 6, we see that he stood in awe of God’s majesty and once Isaiah saw God for who He truly was, Isaiah found his purpose in life. God called Isaiah to be a prophet to the children of
If you are searching for significance and your purpose in life, I will suggest this to you: seek the God who created you. He knows you better than anyone else. He knows you better than you know yourself. Psalms 139:13 says, “You made my whole being; you formed me in my mother’s body.” God made us just the way we are for a reason. When He was forming us in our mother’s body, He instilled within us the talents and interests we have for a reason. Many times, the talents and desires you have inside are things that God will use as part of your ministry and purpose in life. There are people who have a talent and love of singing. Some love speaking in front of large groups of people. Some love sports. All these things can be used by God to reach other people for His glory. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I say this because I know what I am planning for you’ says the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.” God has a reason for you to be here. He did not create you just to take up space. He wants to use you to reach others and to make an impact on everyone with whom you come in contact. You can make a difference in someone else’s life. You will never find true significance and purpose in anything or anyone else, but God! Jesus said, “I am come that they may have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10, KJV).” God has big plans for your life. He does not want you to just get by. He wants you to experience a life full of joy and excitement. God wants your life to be fulfilling. Why not seek Him out, because you have the promise that if you search, you will indeed find Him. God will complete your life like you could never imagine.
Not only are there people throughout the world who are searching for something more out of life. There are people who have the hope the searchers are looking for. As Christians, we have the hope of Jesus Christ living within our hearts. Yet we hide that light. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV).” There are people around us everyday at work and school who are searching for the hope we have inside of us, but we are keeping it hidden. When you go to school or work each day, are you conscious of people around you who are hurting? Do you look for people you may be able to reach out to? Or are you too caught up in what’s going on in your life that you can’t see anyone else? There are people you see every single day that are lost and on their way to spend eternity without God and you have never once told them about God, much less just shown them the love of God by doing something for them. Sometimes I feel that we are more concerned about what it may look like if we associate ourselves with someone who may not be as “good” as we are than showing them love. It is high time that we, as Christians, wake up and realize that we have been put here for a purpose. That purpose is not just to take up space, but to spread the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. There is hope in Christ, but we’re not telling people about it.
I believe the Casting Crowns’ song “Does Anybody Hear Her” depicts this idea in a magnificent way. When listening to this song, I believe that we should identify who we are in the story. Are we the person who is searching for something more out of life? Or are we the Christians who are turning these people away left and right because they may not fit into our idea of who is or isn’t good enough? There are people searching for something more and we have that for which they are searching. Why are we constantly hiding the good news of Jesus Christ?
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=5a2e075a1a4a6e1b9770
Surrender
Life can be so frustrating at times and sometimes all I want to do is scream.
When the pressure is coming in all around me and it feels like I am being surrounded by everyone and everything that seeks to destroy me, I want to throw up my hands and quit.
Life seems to be falling apart at the seams and chaos rules the day.
I try to hold onto my life and keep it in my tight grasp, not wanting to relinquish the control I think I have.
Pride fills my heart and tells me to keep holding on. “I’ve got it under control,” I keep telling myself. But it is now evident that my life is slowly slipping through my weakening hands and I can’t hold on any longer.
I hand over the pieces of my shattered life that remain to you, O God, and give you full control.
I surrender to you the pen and ask you to write the adventure that is the life you want for me.Unbelief
Unbelief has wrapped itself around my spirit and taken it captive like a python captures its prey.
It has a stranglehold on my soul and I am slowly being suffocated by its grip.
Oh God I cry out to you with hopes that you can help and there comes a frightening silence!
Where are you? Do you not care about me anymore?
There was a time when my faith was so strong, but that faith has been reduced to mere rubble in the aftermath of trials.
I was once a strong soldier, but I am left lying on the battlefield. My faith is weak and wounded.
Then there comes the resounding testimony of David who said he had never seen God’s children forsaken or having to beg to have their needs fulfilled.
And from you, O God, I hear the assurance, “my grace is enough” and it gives me strength to stand and fight another day.
Not knowing all the answers, yet trusting in your grace.
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