Ephesians: Christ’s Pattern for Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians:Ephesians:Christ’s Christ’s PatternPattern for Spiritual for Spiritual

WarfareWarfareSitting Sitting

with Christ (1—3)with Christ (1—3)

Striding Striding with Christ (4—6:9)with Christ (4—6:9)

StandingStanding

with Christ with Christ

against Satan-against Satan-Demons (6:10-20)Demons (6:10-20)

Ephesians & Spiritual Ephesians & Spiritual WarfareWarfare

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ,

Who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings Who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings

in the heavenlies in Christ (Ephesians 1:3) in the heavenlies in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)

In Christ

Sitting > Striding > Standing

The Christian's Present Position

Where is Where is the the

ChristianChristian??

2:4-6:2:4-6:

The Christian's The Christian's Realization Realization of their Position in Christ:of their Position in Christ:

Holy Spirit IlluminationHoly Spirit Illumination

Sealing and IlluminationSealing and Illumination

We are sealed We are sealed the moment we the moment we

believe believe in Christ, in Christ,

but but Holy Spirit Illumination Holy Spirit Illumination

is an on-going, life is an on-going, life long long

process!process!

StridingStriding with Christ with Christ The Concept of "Walk" in the Ephesian

Letter

The Greek word translated as “walk” (peripateo,) is used in the Bible

(especially in Ephesians) in a figurative sense " . . . signifying the

whole round of the activities of the individual

life . . ."(A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament,

654-55; Vine's Expository Dictionary of the New Testament, 1218).

“Stride-Walk” with Christ

Is a visual metaphor for how we live in Christ

and live for Christ in this

demonically ruled, fallen

world.

The “Walks” in Ephesians 4:1-6:9

2:10 Walk in

4:1 Walk in

4:17 Walk in

5:2 Walk in

5:8 Walk in

5:15 Walk in

Warning: The “Achilles Heal”

of Mistaken Christian LivingWe cannot

“walk” or “live”

for Christ in our

own power

All of the “Walks” depend on being “Filled with The Holy

Spirit”The Main Verb in

5:18 is a Command

Be filled (plerousthe)

We are commanded or

instructed to allow the

Holy Spirit to fill us.

Results of being filled with the Results of being filled with the Spirit:Spirit:

Paul in this context lists Paul in this context lists “results” “results”

or “evidences” in or “evidences” in participle formparticiple form

or words ending in or words ending in ““ing”5:19: 5:19: speaking speaking . . . . . . 5:19: 5:19: singing and hymningsinging and hymning 5:20: 5:20: thanking . . . thanking . . . 5:21: 5:21: submitting submitting to one to one

another . . . another . . .

How I think Eph. 5:18-21 How I think Eph. 5:18-21 should be diagrammedshould be diagrammed..

Main verb of command:Main verb of command: (Eph. 5:18)

Be filledBe filled 5:19: 5:19: speaking . . .speaking . . . 5:19: 5:19: singing and hymning . . .singing and hymning . . . 5:20: 5:20: thanking . . . thanking . . . 5:21: 5:21: submitting to one another . . .submitting to one another . . . The Participles take their direction from The Participles take their direction from the main verb and describe what the main verb and describe what happens happens because of being filled because of being filled with the Spiritwith the Spirit

How Being Filled relates to “Walking” How Being Filled relates to “Walking” with Christ:with Christ:

Being Filled leads to “Walking with Being Filled leads to “Walking with Christ”Christ”

2:10 Walk in “Good Works”

4:1 Walk “Worthy”

4:17 Walk in “Renewed Mind”

5:2 Walk in “Agape Love”

5:8 Walk in “Light”

5:15 Walk in “Wisdom” “Wisdom”

ConclusionsConclusionsSittingSitting leads to leads to

Striding Striding

only when we allow only when we allow the the

Holy Spirit Holy Spirit

(whom we already (whom we already have) have)

to fill us or control to fill us or control us.us.

Sitting, Striding and Sitting, Striding and StandingStanding

If we understand what it If we understand what it means to bemeans to be

““Sitting”Sitting” with Christ,

and we then and we then

““Stride”Stride” with Christ in this in this world,world,

then and only then we will be then and only then we will be able able

to to “Stand”“Stand” with Christ

against Satan and demons.against Satan and demons.

Questions?Questions?