Ephesians Part 17 - The Final Week
Wow, we’ve come to the end of our series on Ephesians, and also our last worship companion while we take a break from the blog for the summer. We’re ending this week with Paul’s closing challenge to the church - get out there on the the battlefield fully prepared and ready for action. The world is a dark place, and the enemy, Satan is ready to accuse, misuse, and abuse every moment. The armour of God that we are invited to put on is to protect us as we shine the light of New Creation into a world that is not yet made new.
Man in Armour
The painting above originally came to be famous because it is a fake Rembrandt painting. The the search for its true author became a centuries-long discussion. The name of the painting (if there ever was any) and who the subject is, is unknown. I think that adds to the power of connecting it to the “armour of God” passage in Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. The person who puts on God’s armour can be anyone. From a young girl to and old man, anyone who follows Jesus is dressed in armour and called to follow Jesus into the battle, no matter how much or how little time is left in their life.
Anchor Passages:
Questions to Ponder:
What does it mean to be “strong in the Lord”? How does this look different that human strength?
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but what are we supposed to do when we witness real violence or evil committed by a person? How does this verse affect our ideas of justice for criminals or against unjust laws?
The heavenly realm includes evil, have you through of this before? Discuss your understanding of what goes on in the “heavenly realms'“.
Which peice of armour do you find most significant in your life right now - can you explain why?
Why does Paul call himself an ambassador in chains? Why is that important for understanding what he says beforehand?
The Theme in Song:
This song begins with the call to put our armour on and goes on to describe all the ways that we can live, praying constantly in the Spirit, and in service to our King in the evil age.