Spiritual Warfare - part 1
Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Dex Translation: Listen to your church leaders. Follow their guidance. Be accountable.
Eph 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Eph 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Dex Translation: Honor mom and dad and your other elders. This will bring blessing into your life. You'll be allowed to live a long full life.
Eph 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Dex Translation: Don't make your children bitter about life. Teach them Christian discipline and instruction.
Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
Dex Translation: Treat your leaders good in the work place. Obey them similarly as you would Christ.
Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Dex Translation: Don't just do the right thing when you are being watched. Do what you are supposed to all the time. Show yourselves to be God's children.
Eph 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Dex Translation: Do your jobs as if you were working for God instead of men.
Eph 6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
Dex Translation: Know that when you do the right things, the Lord will bless you.
Eph 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Dex Translation: Don't mistreat your workers. God in heaven is your boss. God sees everything you do. And, God sees you and your workers as if you were on the same level.
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Dex Translation: Get ahold and equip of everything that God has supplied for His children. If you do, you'll be able to make a stand against Satan and defeat him.
Eph 6:12 For 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.
The Message Bible: This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
The Message Bible: Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Dex Translation: Take your stand. Clothe yourself with the word of God. Know it. Use it. Apply it. Live right. Living right and doing right will be like armour for you.
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Dex Translation: Always be prepared to announce the Good News of Christ. Let this be the thing to move you. The thing that is your life motivation.
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Dex Translation: Most importantly, trust God and believe what you have read, seen, and heard. If you raise these things up to block every assault, you will be shield from all harm.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Dex Translation: Receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior keeps you from getting your head knocked off. When you know Him inwardly and have a mental knowledge of Him, you are even more protected. God's message adn His written word are like a sword you can equip which has multiple uses.
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Dex Translation: Pray as often as you are able. Pray from your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you pray. Stay alert. Pray for other Christians every chance you get.
Eph 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Dex Translation: Pray for me that I can hear God's direction. Pray that I am bold when I speak concerning the Good News of Christ.
Eph 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Contemporary English Version: I was sent to do this work, and that's the reason I am in jail. So pray that I will be brave and will speak as I should.
How can you walk victorious in spiritual warfare? How can I bounce back quicker after going through a trial? What am I doing wrong? What can I do?
These are all common questions. I have asked them. I still find myself asking them sometimes. I'm encouraged though that I have begun to bounce back quicker after going through a rough time. I don't get tore up as bad I used to with those who act contrary to what the scripture says. I used to just throw up my hands and just avoid them. But the last few years, I have learned to not become discouraged by those who reject the right. No I'm not talking politics. Right as in correct, good, or God's ways.
Just as Ephesians 6 displays, in the footsteps of ministers since the first century until today, we must listen to God if we wish to have a full and abundant life!
No I'm not talking about a works salvation. I'm talking about listening to God so that your life will turn around!
At the start of Ephesians 6, it says to treat your parents well, treat your kids well, listen to your leaders, treat your boss and workers well. How could this not bring blessings into your life as well as into the lives of the people around you?
There is fulfillment in store. As indicated in a former study, the outcome of our spiritual warfare is determined by the choices we make. You may have not chosen your circumstances. You may have not chosen to be where you are now. Joseph didn't. Nor did many of the other people. Yet, those who chose to listen to God and to submit to the will of God lived amazing fulfilled lives.
-Jeremy Brown (Dex)