On 2-22-15, Ephesians 6:10-20 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Clothed and Ready

Clothed and Ready

Ephesians 6:10-20

International Sunday School Lesson

February 22, 2015

 

 

 

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

 

 

This week's passage is a great one for someone like me who wants to impress upon others that they need to be prepared.

I am continuously trying to drive home to Christians to not be taken in by the stories they are told by some who teach that they are going to get a free pass to the front of the line at "the Great Buffet". To accept this notion would be to accept that God or His word is not consistent.

When you read this week that you are to put on the full armor of God the words do a great job in helping us to visualize all the different pieces that will protect us such as swords and shields. This gives us the clue that we cannot go unprepared.

In fact clue isn’t the right word as it is much more than a clue when the fact is clearly being demonstrated. A clue might be to just say, "Take the shield of faith" but this in many and multiple ways says you will need "the FULL armor of God". Not a little, not some, but all and not man's armor of this world but God's. You can't rely on yourself nor your abilities but you WILL need God to be prepared.

God wants you to be prepared, if this weren't the case he wouldn't want you to train or equip yourself as the scriptures clearly show. As I write this what comes to my mind is someone who enters the military service today. They expect to go to somewhere nasty because they know they are no better than others who have gone before.

But then what if the unthinkable happened and no one is training them. Their basic training is just a big party. When they ask if they should be learning weapons or strategy or how to operate their equipment they are told, "Aw, you'll never see action. You signed up that's enough." Pretty scary scenario if you ask me!

As scary as that seems in a worldly fight this scripture wants you to know this fight you might have to endure is far more than that. This is the battle that many don't seem to give the gravity that it is due. This is not "flesh and blood"!

Do you have that? It makes me want to say like Dr. Charles Stanley says in his sermons at key points, "Listen!" This is about rulers, powers, and authorities of the DARK WORLD.

Did you get that? This battle is going to go on with "spiritual forces of EVIL in the heavenly realms"! How about that did you get that?

Do you remember Daniel 10 and the angel who was speaking to him there? Do you remember what this angel said he had been doing and what the angel Michael had to say?

How about this from 2 Kings 6:15-17, “When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

One of the signs of the end of the age is to just be weighed down with life (Luke 21:34). I could see that being easier to happen if you think you are getting a free pass and you just think about you and this world.

One day the heavens will roll back like a scroll and all will see.

For Discussion:

1. Discuss scriptures that show God wants you to build yourself up.
2.  Share other scriptures that talk about the spiritual struggles that are going on.
3. Discuss other scriptures that show this other realm.
4.  Discuss why this realm exists.
5. Discuss how to be prepared or how to put on the full armor of God.
6.  Discuss parts of God's armor.
   
   
   

Upcoming Lessons

3-1-15 The Lamb of God John 1:29-34
3-8-15 Jesus Promises an Advocate or Another Comforter/Advocate John 14:15-26

 

 

 

 

 

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved