The instructions of the Lord
Ephesians 6:10
Here is my commentary on Ephesians 6:10. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au
Ephesians 6:10
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the might of his power.”
Paul is now getting ready to conclude his letter. He has covered the topics of the glory of Christ, the cosmic importance of the church and each member of it, the implications of this for our morality and our relationships at home and at work. He now finishes it all with a remainder of the battle in which we are engaged and the source of our strength.
In this verse, Paul uses three different words for the same idea: strength, might, and power. He wants to emphasise this idea that we need strength, and that it comes from the Lord.
Nobody can live the Christian life out of their own resources. Not only is this impossible, the idea of self sufficiency apart from God is the definition of sin. We cannot live for God from this underlying position of sinful pride.
Our strength for spiritual battle does not come from ourselves. Tto think that I can take on satan, or sin, or evil, by myself is a recipe for defeat. The devil is bigger and stronger than any human being .
Our strength must come from the Lord. When Paul tells us to be strong in the Lord, he is telling us that the Lord is where we go to gain our strength.
We strengthen ourselves in the Lord when we seek to know him more. Our delight should be in God’s word, the Bible. It is in the word that we discover the nature of God, His personality, and His desires for our lives in relationship with Him.
The word by itself is not enough. We need to read scripture prayerfully, constantly asking the Holy Spirit to make the written word come alive to us. The Bible must never be read merely for information. When we read it this way, we lose the power of the word.
We become strong in the Lord as we learn to pray. Prayer is not just my words to God, but a two-way conversation. The process of listening prayer in which we both speak and listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit is the way to grow to maturity and strength in the Lord.
Power and strength in the Lord come as we learn to obey Him. Paul has given us instructions about how we are to live as Christians in Ephesians and in his other writings. But we must not reduce Christian living to a moral code or series of regulations
To obey the Lord also means being sensitive to the Holy Spirit in other ways. We need to grow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in 1 Corinthians 12, allowing the Holy Spirit to manifest Himself through us in words of knowledge, wisdom, faith, miracles, and so on.
Our relationship with the Holy Spirit will result in the grace of character in such areas as love, joy, peace, patience, and so on (Galatians 5:22-23)so that we grow to be more like Christ.
To be strong in the Lord and in the might of his power means that we pursue a relationship with God by every means possible.
Key points in this verse:
- We must become strong in the Lord’s power
- This means that we read God’s word, pray, listen, and obey
- As we seek the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit, we will grow in maturity and strength
Reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Scripture
I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me: Christ died for our sins as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the scriptures said.
Observation
The Good News saves us if we continue to believe in the message. Paul passed on the most important truth that Christ died for our sins.
After He died, Christ rose again, and was seen by more than 500 people, and finally by Paul himself.
Whatever Paul is now, it is all God’s special favour. It doesn’t matter who brings the gospel, for it is the same message.
Application
The heart of the gospel, of everything that christians believe, is this: Christ died for our sins.
Jesus paid the price of forgiveness when He died on the cross.
This is awesome news indeed! We were destined for punishment because of all the things we had done wrong. But Jesus, the Son of God, turned it all around. Instead of punishment, we are receiving joy and eternal life.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord for the simplicity of the gospel. Thank you for your great love for me and that you took the punishment for my sins. I am free! Hallelujah!
God Heals You
Quote for the Day
Truth transcends all shifting social mores. It rises above the changing cultural norms. No matter where people are on the globe, they need to hear and heed the unalterable truth of God. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). Steven Lawson
I will put my hope in the Lord
Reflection on 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
Scripture
So, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done decently and in order.
Observation
In a meeting, various people will bring various gifts – singing, teaching, prophecy, tongues, interpretation. Everything must be done with the goal of strengthening all people.
No more than two or three should speak in tongues, and not all at once. Someone must interpret the message, otherwise the tongues speakers should remain silent.
Two or three people should prophesy, and the others should evaluate the message. The gift of prophecy is in the control of the speaker. People must take turns.
Women should remain quiet during the meeting. If they have questions, they should ask their husbands at home.
Be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
Application
Paul makes it clear that he wants the Corinthians to exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But it must be done in an orderly way.
We should all be eager to prophesy. This means actively listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, whether through a mental impression, or a vision, or some other means. It means being prepared to share what we have received from the Lord.
Many people hear all sorts of things from the Lord all the time, but they don’t think to share it. They don’t think that they are spiritual enough to prophesy. They don’t think that they have a particularly impressive message to share.
The church should find ways of encouraging these people to speak out what they think God is saying. People who are just starting to gain confidence in hearing the Lord can be nurtured to grow in their gifts.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Please speak to the church through me. Help me to hear your voice and to know that it is you. Amen
Ephesians 6:9
Here is my commentary on Ephesians 6:9. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au
Ephesians 6:9
“And masters do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.”
Paul now turns his attention to slave owners. In all of these admonitions, he always balances out his demands so that both parties are clear of the Lord’s expectations of them. His instructions to slave owners are perhaps the most radical of all.
He has just told slaves that they are to obey their masters with fear and trembling, and to serve enthusiastically as to the Lord.
He now tells masters that the same also applies to them. Masters are to direct their slaves as though they are doing it for the Lord.
Slavery was a fact of life in the ancient world. Rather than demanding that masters free their slaves, which might condemn some of them to poverty and even re-enslavement, Paul tells the owners to treat their slaves well. They are to represent Christ in their relationship with their slaves.
He specifically tells them to stop threatening their slaves. This is not the way of Christ. Jesus laid down his life without resisting his captors in anyway. Masters must lay down their rights to make threats of death or violence against their slaves. They must, in fact, become like servants in their attitudes.
Both slaves and masters have the same Master in heaven. The word for master is kurios, the same word as Lord. So Paul says,” Lords you also have the same Lord in heaven.” The one who is lord in his own household is subject to the Lord in heaven, as are his slaves.
This reasoning is very similar to the centurion who tells Jesus, “I am a man under authority. I say to this one go and he goes.” ( Matthew 8:9) All authority comes from our relationship to the ultimate authority of God in heaven.
Because christian masters are subject to the lordship of Christ, they must love their neighbours, even their slaves, as they love themselves.
With God there is no partiality. The word used here means a “respecter of persons.” Paul is saying that the Lord does not distinguish between slave and master; both are held to the same requirements, even though their social standing is different, and one certainly wields more power than the other.
Masters are subject to the same judgement by God as their slaves are. Social position will not determine the outcome, but faithfulness to Christ will .
In our economy, where we no longer have slaves, this suggests that directors and managers should show the same deference to their workers that they expect to receive. Impersonal emails and texts delivered from “on high” may get the job done. Concern and compassion for those doing the work “at the coal face” are more important from God’s perspective.
Key points in this verse:
- Paul presents an radical redefinition of the relationship between slaves and their masters
- Slave owners are to treat their slaves as people for whom Christ died
- Masters must always remember that they also are accountable to the Lord
- Employers and managers have a responsibility before God to care for their workers beyond the requirement of the law.
His love Endures Forever
Today’s Bike Ride
The iconic Narrabri Lake is just up the road from my place and a part of this morning’s ride.
