MOTIVATE

Today is known as Star Wars Day with the phrase “May the 4^th be with you,” or otherwise known as “May the force be with you.” The latter phrase comes from the triple trilogy of the Star Wars movies.

Disclaimer: Christianity’s view of God is not a passive force but a personal being. The Spirit indwells every believer not a select few jedi disciples.

These 9 films revolve around several different battles and wars, and typically in space or other planets, hence the name. The good guys are The Republic (aka: “Rebel Alliance”) are known for jedi like Yoda, Obi Wan, and Luke Skywalker, along with others like Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca, or not to be overlooked R2D2 & C3PO. They champion freedom, justice, and well-being of the galaxy. The opposing evil side is the Trade  Federation who want to dominate by destruction and death. They are known for villains such as Supreme Leader Snoke, Emperor Palpatine, Count Dooku, and Darth Vader to name a few.

These films have generational appeal as they describe the corrupting influence of power, the tragedy of evil triumphing, yet the enduring beauty of hope through life lessons of everyday heroes, and the confidence in a force or presence that is working to accomplish a redemptive good in all things.  

But, let’s be honest: what makes Star Wars exciting are those light saber battle scenes!

Well, today I’m not here to demystify or endorse Star Wars. Yet, I do believe we are in a conflict of good vs evil. Each individual and every family is in a war. Some struggles are visible and other battles are unseen to the human eyes. 

EXAMINE           Ephesians 6 Love Song for the Family

Love Song (Song of Solomon)

• Eph 3:14-21 helps understand the foundation for God’s love is humble prayer.
• Eph 5:22-6:4 is the prevailing passage for marriage and family. The standard for husbands is to love their bride as Christ loves the church.[1]
  
  
  • The ancient approach to marriage was primarily functional. Marriage kept economic stability with property and prospects between those families. Children were viewed as assets for future care and prosperity. You loved who you married more than married who you loved (admitted generalization and overstatement).
  • Modern approach to marriage is primarily fulfillment. People marry bc they see the person to meet their needs. Children are viewed as accessories to enhance their social appearance. You love the person based on romance, but when the externals change (age, weight, wrinkles, adversity) then so does the internal love, and marriage becomes a contract that can easily be broken.
  • Yet, the biblical approach to marriage is primarily faith. People marry to make disciples. They view the person as one who will make them holy and happy in God. Marriage and parenting are cherished relationships because they cultivate the character of Jesus Christ. Marriage is a covenant relationship that is sustained by the love and faithfulness of God. 

In Eph5, Paul quotes Genesis 2:24, the essential verse defining marriage in the Bible. It is quoted 4 times: Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-8; 1Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 5:31) and is alluded to indirectly numerous other times. From this passage flows a working definition of marriage.

• Marriage is a foundational stewardship for creation (Genesis 1:27-28). It provides the safe environment for pro-creation and nurture of individuals in society. It is personal, relational and communal. It’s a foundational institution pointing to a greater reality of Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:22-32).
• Marriage is heterosexual (Lev 18:22-23/20:13; Ro 1:26-27; 1Cor 6:9-11; 1Tim 1:9-10; Jude 1:6-7). It is for “a man and his wife.”  The natural sense of relationships and pro-creation validate heterosexuality. Marriage is not reduced merely to sexual intimacy.
• Marriage is exclusive. “A man will leave father and mother and be united to wife.”
  – Marriage is exclusive in that of leaving parents. This is not so much location (geography) as it refers to loyalty in a new relationship.
  – Marriage is also exclusive in terms of monogamous (not polygamous/polyamorous) partners for life (Dt 17:17; Lev 18:18). God expects faithfulness in His worshipers, not adulterous idolaters.
• Marriage is covenantal and life-long (Dt 24:1-4; Mal 2:14-16; Mt 19:6; 1Cor 7:10-16). Its union is “bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh…shall hold fast… one flesh.” The permanence of marriage provides the security and hopefulness of relationships. It is more than a human contract but a divine covenant. Likewise, God is faithful in His covenant.
• Marriage is complementarian. Man and woman are interdependent with equal value but independent with different roles assigned in the family. The biblical ideas of “headship” and “helper” are significant. Further, families are to reflect the love, sacrifice, service and submission that Jesus had unto the Lord God, thereby modeling the gospel unto the world.

This is a series all on its own… lots of info to digest, and I’ll try to sprinkle it in on our Love Song series.

• Eph 6:10-20 awakens us that God’s design for marriage and family are attacked at every angle by God’s adversary. In Eph 1-3, Paul writes about the believer’s wealth – the riches of Christ’s grace / the believer’s walk in Eph 4-5 with unity in membership and urgency in mission in holiness and love / then the last ch Eph6 is the believer’s warfare. Every believer is at war, whether visible or unseen, because Satan opposes you. So, as you follow Jesus, know you have an adversary and spiritual warfare occurs, which means you need to prepare yourself for battle. Too many Christians are unprepared for daily battles and they succumb to temptation and get wounded in the process.
  *As a pastor, my senses are heightened as every time I’m doing premarital/marital counseling, I see spiritual warfare not only in the couple but around our church and in my own life and family. That’s NOT me seeing Satan behind every struggle or situation,
  – some give too much credit: devil could be busy or you could be lazy!
  – some discount and are spiritually naïve
  – For me, it’s simply believing the Bible and knowing that if Jesus faced spiritual warfare, we will too.
  
  Spiritual warfare surrounds us and seeks to change the tune from Love Song to heartbreak ballad.

Ephesians 6:10-20
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
¹⁵  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Winning our battle requires power beyond ourselves (6:10).

• Paul concludes letter with exhortation for them to “be strong in the Lord” (Eph 6:10) and later “pray at all times in the Spirit (6:18). Strength comes from the Lord and His Spirit (Zech 4:6; 2Cor 4:7).
  This command is passive
  “be strengthened”[2] implying that we cannot strengthen ourselves but you  can avail of opportunities to gain strength.
  • Physically strong requires: eating habits, exercise, weight lifting
  • Spiritual strength requires: bible reading, prayer, biblical community, and stretching muscles to serve. 

• Martin Luther, “God created the world out of nothing and so long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.” In other words, God’s strength starts in us by acknowledging our need and admitting our weakness apart from God.

When stressful circumstances or overwhelming trials occur, we are tempted to push through on our own, or feel like we’re all alone. Sometimes we feel like curling in fetal position and wishing life to go away. God will frequently give us more than we can handle that we might learn to prioritize prayer and pursue His purposes. God wants us to be strong in the LORD and not ourselves.

Further, Paul provides a purpose for being strong in the Lord – that of Satan’s power. Scripture describes Satan as a ruler of this world with “authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” He is called prince of this world and power of the air (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 2Co 4:4; Ep 2:2).
Satan has schemes (6:11 μεθοδεία – methods, deliberate plan). The devil is deliberate and as believers we must be spiritually disciplined; an undisciplined believer is a defeated believer.

In sport season, training camp and preseason is practice against other teams to discern qualities and skills of players. However, in regular season the teams actually game-plan against the other team’s players by watching tape of other players to know their skills and tendencies. Further, in every game during half time, good teams and coaches course correct their strategies based on the opposing teams strategy.

Likewise, Satan has a deliberate game plan for your life. Satan has watched the tape of your life, and he knows every flaw and fault. As believers we must counter strategy by being strong in the Lord.

à Strength in salvation. If you are not saved in the Lord then you are not strong. Today is another God-opportunity for you to receive salvation through Jesus Christ.

à Power in prayer partners (cf. James 5:16 confess & pray for one another).

—> As we kickoff family groups, these are opportunities to give and receive prayer support. Families cannot function well without biblical community. Thriving families with faithful marriages and flourishing parenting are those who benefit from and bless others.

Winning our battle requires perseverance each day (6:11-18).

Paul gives several commands for being strong in the Lord: put on (6:11); “take up” (6:13); “stand” (6:14); “take” (6:17). Each of these verbs rally the believer to recall the same power that resurrected Jesus from the grave to be at work in their life. There are at least 3 characteristics of the strength and armor of God:

• The armor of God and His power is supplied at salvation.
  Eph 1:3 “God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”
  Eph 1:19-21 “the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come”
  Eph 3:7 “Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.”
  Eph 3:16 “that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being”
  Eph 3:20 “according to the power at work within us”
  Eph 6:10 “strong/empowered in the Lord in the strength of his might”

• The armor of God is necessary.

Each believer faces a spiritual battle from a real devil (Eph 2:2-3; 6:12). Satan is not just a symbolic evil or allegorical adversary. He’s real. Jesus encountered Satan and spoke of his existence. And just like the principle that God has a wonderful purpose for your life, the devil has plan for your life too, which is why the armor of God that Paul describes is necessary. It is necessary for daily struggles and regular battles the Christian will face – in marriage, in parenting, at school, in workplaces, and wherever you go.          

• The armor of God is sufficient.

Each believer is given the promise of standing in victory as they put their hope in Christ. Victory is not based on feelings but facts. Each day we need to rehearse the facts of our faith for what Jesus has done:
Satan is disarmed by Jesus’ death and a defeated foe, with the resurrection bringing all things under Christ’s feet (Col 2:15; Ep 1:22)

So, what is the armor of God?
When Paul was in prison, chained to a Roman guard, he applied his circumstances to the Christian life. So, the attire we are to wear is God’s protection from head to foot.

The first item starts in the middle of your body:

• Eph 6:14 having fastened on the belt of truth or literally “having girded your loins with truth.” Soldiers would wear a belt for tucking in garments, and hold all items of a person’s attire together. The belt of truth holds the believer together. It’s rehearsing the realities that God is in control; God’s ways are wise; God’s plans are for my good; and God will not fail. If we do not rehearse these daily truths then everything in our life begins to fall down or become undone.
  Because… Conspiracy and counterfeit surround us with the deceiving devil.  

• Eph 6:14 breastplate of righteousness shows the breastplate covering the vital body organs such as the heart. Satan would enjoy nothing more than to attack your purity and character. The breastplate of Christ’s righteousness protects us from fatal strikes.

• Eph 6:15 shoes of the gospel of peace are the boots soldiers used for firm footing and advancement against the enemy. The gospel grounds the believer to stand against attacks or run to advance peace through sharing the gospel.

• Eph 6:16 shield of faith was a large shield, like a door, used against incoming objects for protection. The shields were likely leather with hard metal or wood to protect against flaming arrows. They were outward barriers to fend of attacks. Our faith gives us a reasonable and reliable defense.

• Eph 6:17 helmet of salvation helmets were equipped with cheek pieces and to protect the head and face. A helmet of salvation equips understanding and empowers action during challenges or conflict.

• Eph 6:17 sword of the Spirit is a short (not long) sword used for close range battles. The sword of Spirit is the Word of God and is sharper than any two-edged sword able to penetrate hearts (Heb 4:12) and can be used both offensively and defensively (Mt 4:4).

This armor doesn’t jump on our body;  we must put on each day. That means “In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus”

Winning our battle requires proclaiming the gospel in challenging circumstances (6:19-20).

Often times in Paul’s letters he is praying for churches and believers. In fact, Ephesians has several prayers for the believer to model in their devotional life (1:3-14; 1:15-22; 3:14-21). Yet here, Paul is requesting prayer for himself to fearlessly make known the gospel, even amid undesirable circumstances
[Paul is chained in jail].

• This is a reminder that we all need prayer. Not asking for prayer is not a sign of strength but of stupidity. It shows you have underestimated the influence of the world, the devil, and your own flesh. Further, you are undervaluing the power of prayer in the Christian life.
• Paul also reminds us to pray for believers who struggling in pain, undesirable circumstances, and of course our brothers/sisters persecuted for Christian faith.

God’s armor is not for exhibition but engagement.

APPLY/THINK

Last night my daughter attended prom. Going to prom for my daughter involved

• Manicure / Pedicure
• Hair
• Makeup
• Dress
• Shoes
• Pictures
• Flowers
• Friends

No one goes to prom without preparations.

Likewise, the preparation we make in life is to trust that God fights our battles. We are not worriers but warriors with God.

For what do you need to do battle in prayer for your family?

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[1] To unpack Ephesians 5-6, see my series “Cherish Family.” https://growinggodlygenerations.com/2019/03/04/cherish-family-series-ephesians-5-6/

[2] Peter T. O’Brien, Pillar NT Commentary, Ephesians 6:10.