Friday: Further Thought ~ The Call to Stand
Further Thought:
“Our work is an aggressive one, and as faithful soldiers of Jesus, we must bear the blood-stained banner into the very strongholds of the enemy. ‘We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’ If we will consent to lay down our arms, to lower the blood-stained banner, to become the captives and servants of Satan, we may be released from the conflict and the suffering.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
But this peace will be gained only at the loss of Christ and heaven. We cannot accept peace on such conditions. Let it be war, war, to the end of earth’s history, rather than peace through apostasy and sin.” — Ellen G. White, The Review and Herald, May 8, 1888.
How does Ephesians 6:10-20 relate to the book of Revelation? The passage exhibits the same basic view of last-day events, or eschatology, as the battle motif in the book of Revelation (see Revelation 12:1-17, Revelation 16:12-16, Revelation 19:17-21, Revelation 20:7-10). In both, the people of God are under attack by the enemy who is “in heavenly places” and “is active and powerful in the present aeon” (or age). In both, the people of God are encouraged by “the picture of the future aeon.” Further, “both scenarios explicitly point to the final battle when the enemy will be conquered completely after which the new aeon will be established forever,” a new age in which “the final glorious state of the people of God” and “the eternal doom of the enemy” will be evident. (See Yordan Kalev Zhekov, Eschatology of Ephesians (Osijek, Croatia: Evangelical Theological Seminary, 2005), Pages 217, 233-235.)
Discussion Questions:
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I am back home again - safe and sound. I am pretty tired tonight after driving about 7 hours but I did take the time to do a paraphrase of the main passage of scripture this week.
Onward - to the battle.
We must remain strong in the Lord and savior. 24/7.
Welcome back Maurice.
Love the modern imagery! Thanks Maurice, glad you're back!
But this peace will be gained only at the loss of Christ and heaven. We cannot accept peace on such conditions. Let it be war, war, to the end of earth's history, rather than peace through apostasy and sin." — EGW, The Review and Herald, May 8, 1888.
Wow! We've been constantly talking about love and peace, and suddenly, we see ourselves facing this phrase. "Let it be war!" The message here is for me and you: may we do all we can to fight evil; let's not give up hope, let's be filled with the "guns of the Spirit," and get up and fight the good fight! The message here is for all tired because our final destination seems to linger! It isn't! Our final goal is today, together with the powers we cannot see, to be channels of a firing love, with the strength from above, to stand out against this degrading world path.
Thank you JC, as I read that passage earlier today, it assured me that the more I am at war with the world, the more I am at peace with God.
Thank you! Glad you are back safe and sound.
I always enjoy reading Teacher Comments on Friday. If you would like to read them each week, here is where to find them.
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Teacher comments
I am left pondering last week's lesson, as I travelled through the UK and parts of Europe, this past month. Oh to be a slave/a servant of the true and living God (Romans 6:16)! Oh to be totally dependent on Him; yet, to be freely and hopelessly devoted to my master, in these tumultuous times!
Hence, this week's comment: Let us persevere (stand strong Ephesians 6:10); let us pray without ceasing; and, let us claim the peace promised in Isaiah, as a result of being, "Taught of the Lord," dear friends of God.
"Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue," says a well-known hymn. "Look ever to Jesus. He'll carry you through. "
Says the refrain,
"Ask the Saviour to help you,
Comfort, strengthen, and keep you.
He's willing to aid you.
He'll carry you through."
What a blessing to be kept and served by the Living God, with whom we can walk free into eternity!
I appreciate greatly the study of Paul’s encouraging words from Eph.6:10-18, learning that each individual is called upon to be strong in the Lord and in His might. This clearly points out that we stand or fall depending on if we are found in Christ, resting in the assurance that the war has been won by our Lord and Savior already as He wore the same armor which we are admonished to put on.
When applying the implements/aspects of this spiritual armor, we continue the Lord's battle which He fought whiles He was with us in the body. He showed us how to use the Father’s armor which will manifest and establish the spiritual supremacy of His Father’s Word to guide the life of man.
By taking up, using the spiritual armor, it becomes the testimony to our faith. This by heaven designed spiritual armor is so unique and powerful that while we employ it, it will defeat the enemy’s attacks every time.
It is most important to me to understand that my personal battle is about ‘not letting down my guard’ - maintaining my faithfulness, my commitment to remain living in Christ. Only then will I have access to the armor – the weapons of the Holy Spirit - to strengthen me.
Placing ‘loving/knowing God and glorifying Him with/through/by our life’ at the highest point of importance in our Christian Faith, prepares us spiritually, mentally, and emotionally for this lifelong battle. Though our bodies are engaged, it is the power vested in God's armor which shields us against the weapons used by dark forces in the unseen world.
Our personal battle is about deciding to wear God's spiritual armor continuously and so remain standing in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We want to make sure at all times that it is complete. Neglecting this will leave an opening which the enemy of our Lord and Savior uses to his advantage.