Ephesians 6

1. Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.

Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. 1 Samuel 15:23

Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. Proverbs 13:24

Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Colossians 3:20

2 – 3

The first commandment with a promise is: honor your father and mother so that it may go well with you and you may live a long time on the earth.

Even if your parents are not perfect, your life will be easier if you respect them and pray for them.

He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp will go out in time of darkness. Proverbs 20:20

See Exodus 20:12

4. Fathers do not overcorrect your children and make them angry, but bring them up in the training and teaching of the Lord.

History is full of stories of people who hated their parents and became leaders of evil in the world.  If a father is too hard on his children, they will grow up thinking that their heavenly Father is an angry god.

People who disagree will say that we are spoiling the children.  It is better to show more love than to be too hard.  We are given children so that we can train them to follow Christ.  How would you expect to lead someone in the world to Christ, if you speak to them in anger?

Keep a balance by showing more love after discipline.  If you cannot receive these words you are storing up anger inside of the child which will explode when they are older.

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6

5 – 8

Servants, serve your masters with respect and responsibility as if you were serving Christ.

Not only when someone is watching but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God with all your heart.

Serving cheerfully as for the Lord and not for a man. You should know that whatever good things you do this is what you will receive back from the Lord, whether you are a servant or a free man.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Ecclesiastes 9:10

Servants, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not only when someone is watching, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Colossians 3:22

9. As for you masters, treat them with the same respect. Do not threaten because their master and your master is in heaven, and He sees no difference between men.

What is wanted from a man is his kindness. Proverbs 19:22

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

10. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His power.

In quietness and confidence is your strength. Isaiah 30:15

11. Put on God's armor so that you may be able to stand against the lies of the devil.

David tried to put on Saul's armor, but it did not fit him.  We say things like, "I can take care of myself"  but we need to see that God is standing next to us, handing each piece of His armor to us, helping us to get dressed. 1 Samuel 17:38 – 39

12. We do not wrestle against people, but against the rulers and the powers of darkness, against demonic spirits in the heavenly places.

The Crusaders were an example of wrestling against flesh and blood.  They thought that the way to stop their enemies was to kill them, and they were defeated.  We will also be defeated if we do not give our battles to the Lord. 

When someone is a challenge for us to get along with, we need to remind ourselves that our fight is not against people, but against our demonic enemies.

This means that even though it seems like another person is making trouble for you -it is really the enemy who is speaking to them and stirring up this trouble. If you focus on people the problem will only get bigger. Stop and pray that God will rebuke the enemy and send him away and avoid the temptation to make the situation worse by fighting with people.

13. So put on God's armor so that you can stand against the attack of evil spirits and having done everything you can -stand your ground.

God works for us after we stop doing everything our own way.  You cannot save a drowning man until he stops working against you.

If you have not been kneeling before God, you will not be able to stand before the enemy.

For the one who has entered His rest has stopped from doing his own work. Hebrews 4:10

14. Hold your ground with the belt of truth around your waist and put on the breastplate of righteousness

Armies march, but we are not told to march, but to stand.  We are not marching to invade enemy territory, we stand our ground to hold onto the territory that is already ours.

In Bible days soldiers would tighten their belt before a fight.  The belt can also be used to hook on your equipment.  Make a list of Bible verses that God has shown you and hang them on your belt.  This way they will always be ready when you hear a lie and need to remind yourself of the truth. 

Righteousness means we are clear before God because our past is  covered by the blood of Jesus. When we wear God's breastplate it means that we know that we are NOT are walking in our own goodness.

He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head. Isaiah 59:17

15. For shoes, put on the preparation of the Gospel of peace.

The best way to share the Gospel is to show people how we have all broken God's laws. Next, we must tell them how He sent his Son to pay the penalty for this. Finally, we must explain how we need to confess our rebellion and believe that Jesus is the Son of God who rose from the dead.

A man needs to see that he is lost or else he will say that he does not need to be saved.  Preparing the Gospel means spending time in specific prayer for the ones we are speaking with and knowing what we are going to say.  A soldier puts on his shoes to get ready for the battle so that he will not slip and fall.

Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to explain the hope that is in you, with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7

16. And after all these, pick up the shield of faith, which you can use to stop all the fire-arrows of the evil one

Fire-arrows were sometimes used to get soldier's attention away from the fight. If a soldier stopped fighting, and took the time to put out the fire, he would leave himself open to the attack.

The Roman soldiers had shields that could be locked together.  It is a good idea for Christians to lock their shields and stand together in faith.

17. And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

The helmet protects our minds.  One of the devil's oldest tricks is to tell us that we are not saved.

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13

After we have put on all the armor, we are ready to go on the attack.  When Jesus spoke the words of Scripture, the devil left him.  If there is no Scripture in our minds, then we have no defense against the attacks of the enemy. Why do we not believe that the Scriptures will protect us?

Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

For the word of God is alive and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things [Scriptures] new and old.” Matthew 13:52

18. And use the weapon of all prayer and stay alert for this reason with endurance and requests for all the set-apart ones.

All-prayer is also one of our weapons. How many people can you find in Scripture who used prayer as a weapon?

See 2 Chronicles 20:12, 2 Kings 19:14 – 15, 2 Samuel 5:23

19 – 20

And pray also for me that I might be able to speak when I open my mouth and make known the mysteries of the Gospel with freedom. It is because of the Gospel that I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be free while living this way and speak as I should.

Ambassadors who are sent to other countries are not supposed to be put in chains.  The word “chain” here speaks about a type of chain that was used to chain a prisoner to his guard.

Instead of complaining about being in prison, Paul is asking for prayer that he can do a good job of sharing the Gospel.

Praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned. Colossians 4:3

21 – 22

I am sending Tychicus, my dear brother and servant of the Lord, to let you know how I am doing. The reason I am sending him is so that you may hear our news and so that he may encourage your hearts.

Paul trusted Tychicus to be a leader in Ephesus and in Crete.  He was one of Paul's closest helpers. Most of us would be thinking that it would be better to have a close friend to stay with us and encourage us.  Paul is putting other people ahead of his own needs.

23 – 24

Peace and love, with faith, to all the brothers from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus with a love that never changes.

Even a big flood of water cannot stop love. Song 8:7

Real love never stops. 1 Corinthians 13:8