Ephesians 6:10-18

Why follow spiritual pursuits?

• I Peter 2:11; Romans 7:22-25

Matthew 17:5; Hebrews 1:1-2; Acts 3:22-23

II Peter 1:3

II Corinthians 11:3

Genesis 3:6

I John 2:15-17

II Corinthians 11:14-15

Romans 8:6-9, 13-14

Romans 13:14

I John 3:8

Romans 6:16-18

Philippians 2:25; Philemon 1:2

II Timothy 2:3

Ephesians 6:10-18

This is heaven’s armor, but it is for us.

• Revelation 2:10; I timothy 6:12

• II Corinthians 10:3-5

• Matthew 4:1-11

• Hebrews 2:14

• I Peter 5:8

We must put on all the armor of God.

• Ephesians 6:13

• I Timothy 4:16

• James 1:21

• Ephesians 4:14

• Colossians 2:8

• Jude 1:3

• I John 3:7

• Psalms 119:172

• Romans 10:17

• Psalms 119:105

• Colossians 3:16

Ephesians 6:15 – preparation of the gospel

• I Peter 3:15

• I Peter 2:2

• Hebrews 6:1

• I Timothy 4:13, 16

• Hebrews 5:12-14

• Jeremiah 6:10

• Hosea 4:6

• I Timothy 3:15

• Matthew 7:13-15

• Philippians 2:15

• Psalms 1:1-2; 119:15-16

• II Timothy 3:16-17

• II Timothy 1:3

• Titus 2:1

• I Peter 3:15

Ephesians 6:16 – the shield of faith

• Galatians 3:26

• Hebrews 11:1

• Romans 10:17

• John 20:30-31

• Hebrews 2:10

• Matthew 28:18

• Proverbs 3:5-7

• John 10:27-28

Ephesians 6:17 – helmet of salvation

• Ephesians 1:3

• Matthew 5:45

• II Timothy 2:1, 10

• Ephesians 1:7

• Romans 6:4

• Galatians 3:27

• Colossians 3:1-3

• Philippians 4:8

Ephesians 6:17 – sword of the spirit

• This it he only offensive spiritual weapon we have, but it is the most powerful weapon known to man.

• II Corinthians 10:3-5

• Hebrews 4:12

• II Peter 1:5-10

Ephesians 6:18 – prayer is how we communicate with the Commander in this warfare

• I Thessalonians 5:17

• Luke 18:1

• Hebrews 12:1

• Philippians 3:13-14

• Revelation 2:10

• I Peter 1:22-23

John 1:1, 14

“In the beginning was the Word”

• John 1:1-3, 14-15

• Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2

• Genesis 3:15

• Galatians 4:4

• Hebrews 2:14

• I John 3:8

• Deuteronomy 18:15

• Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7

• Matthew 1:20-23

• I Corinthians 2:6-9 – God’s plan came before creation!

• Ephesians 1:4

• II Timothy 1:9-10

“And the word became flesh.”

• John 1:14

• Micah 5:2

• Luke 2:4-7, 10-20, 24 – Jesus was humble from the beginning.

• Mark 6:1-4

• John 1:46

• Philippians 2:5-8

• Hebrews 4:15

“John testified about Him”

• John 1:15, 23

• Matthew 3:7-12

• Jesus grew up to say …

  • Matthew 5:44; 6:24; 7:21; 10:34; 20:27

  • Mark 8:38

Ephesians 4:25

Ad hominem (Latin for “to the man”)

• What is it?

  • Attacking an opponent’s character or his motives for believing something instead of disproving his argument.

  • Ad hominem arguments fail because they avoid the issue.

  • Daniel 2:47 – Nebuchadnezzar was not a good person, but here he made a true statement.

• Spiritual importance

  • If one advocates some point, but also has a character problem, that reflects poorly on their character but does not necessarily mean their point was invalid. This is certainly not to say that character doesn’t matter – it does. Romans 2:1-3, 17-24; I Timothy 4:12, 16; Matthew 23:2-3

  • It’s easy to resort to ad hominem attacks. If we don’t know how to answer some else’s line of reasoning, we may get emotional and strike back at the other person themselves, which is irrelevant and immature. Acts 6:8-14

    • Let’s be good thinkers and choose to slow down and be rational instead of calling names or making other such attacks.

  • In past decades, when brethren were debating the issue of whether orphan homes ought to be supported by individuals or by church treasuries (James 1:27), many personal attacks were launched.

    • “If an orphan was left on your doorstep, you’d let him starve!”

  • One could listen to those kinds of accusations all day and still not know what the Bible said about the issue.

  • “Christianity isn’t true. You just believe in Christianity because you were brought up in a Christian home.” This avoids the question of whether or not Christianity is true.

  • “Those people are just saying that because they’re religious.”

  • “Why should we believe Solomon when he tells us to be satisfied with ‘the wife of your youth’ (Proverbs 5:18)? He wasn’t.”

  • Attacks against Jesus:

    • Matthew 11:18-19

    • Mark 6:3

    • Compare John 1:46 – but at least Nathanael was willing to investigate.

Philippians 1:15-26

Philippians 1:19

• Paul did not shy away from requesting prayers on his own behalf. Romans 15:30-32; Ephesians 6:19-20; Colossians 4:3-4; I Thessalonians 5:25; II Thessalonians 3:1-2; Philemon 1:22

• “Spirit” here is the spiritual mindset and should not be capitalized. Ephesians 3:14; II Timothy 2:7

Philippians 1:20 – See II Corinthians 4:9; I Corinthians 6:20

Philippians 1:22 – God approves of fruitful labor. II Timothy 2:15

Self-control: restraint or discipline of self.

• “Holding the passions and desires in hand.” – Vincent

Acts 24:25

Galatians 5:23, 25-26 – Self-control is one of the fruits of the spirit.

Matthew 4:3-7

I John 2:15-16

Self-control is more than abstinence.

• It is moderation in things that are right.
  • Sleeping, eating, recreation, time with family, and many other things must all be enjoyed in moderation.
• It is abstinence in things that are wrong.
  • I Corinthians 6:9-10 – Self-control means complete abstinence from sin.
• It is strict obedience in things that are commanded.
  • John 8:24; Acts 17:30; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 22:16; I John 4:20; 5:1; I Corinthians 15:58; I John 1:7; Philippians 3:14

Self-control

• It is necessary for any worthwhile accomplishment.

  • I Corinthians 9:24-27; Galatians 5:17

  • I Corinthians 10:13

• Lack of self-control will cause many to be lost.

• Proverbs 15:2

• Is that great quality that enables to walk IN the world and yet keep self unspotted FROM the world.

  • John 17:15; James 1:27

• A Christian will give diligence to exercise self-control.