ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS UNIT 2: Letter To The Ephesians LESSON 13: MARCH 26 2023

Memory Verse: Ephesians 6:11 – Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (KJV).

Lesson Bible Text:

Ephesians 6:10-24.

Lesson Central Truth:

God provides the resources we need for spiritual victories.

Every Christian is involved in spiritual warfare, whether we recognise it or not. Each day, we contend for our faith in both public and private arenas. It may be in the home, where family members face temptation from Satan. It may be in the workplace or the political arena. Regardless of the nature of the battle, God provides the defensive and offensive resources needed to find victory. God has given us all that we need to be victorious in our spiritual warfare. We are duty-bound to recognise Him as the only source of our victory. Note that the spiritual warfare is nonstop battle as long as we live on this earth. So, to be victorious is to be battle ready at all time by equipping ourselves daily as soldiers with all the full armour as recorded in Ephesians 6. By the end of this week’s lesson, we will get to understand the Biblical view of spiritual warfare and then, act accordingly.

1. PREPARE FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE

A. Stand Firm – Ephesians 6:10-11

B. Resist The Enemy – Ephesians 6:12.

2. PUT ON SPIRITUAL ARMOUR

A. Clothed For Battle – Ephesians 6:13-15

B. Equipped For Battle – Ephesians 6:16-17.

3. PRAY AND PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL

A. Called To Pray – Ephesians 6:18-20

B. Called To Peace – Ephesians 6:21-24.

LESSON NUGGETS

1. PREPARE FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Ephesians 6:10-12

Paul uses a Roman Soldier as a metaphor picturing the Christian Soldier. As a Christian you are a soldier in the Lord’s army. At the point of salvation, you were taken out of the army of Satan and placed in the Lord’s army. As we think in terms of a war and in terms of being soldiers, Paul shows how important it is to be ready for battle. Note that a good soldier always abide by the rules. As believers, we are to be strong and stand firm in the Lord – this means we can’t win spiritual battles by our own strength. Our total dependent on God’s capability and supremacy is the great foundation to victory. We can fight a spiritual battle and win if we are using the Lord’s strength not ours. 1 Corinthians 16:13 – Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong (NIV).

Our true enemy is Satan and not people he uses to accomplish his deceptive, evil purposes. Christians must always remember that the true enemy is the evil spirit behind the evil actions. The spiritual war cannot be fought in the physical realm. Spiritual warfare is different; it must be fought with spiritual weapons. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 – For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;). So, spiritual warfare requires spiritual weapons to resist the real enemy – the evil spirit. We must put on the whole armour of God in order to be able to stand against the devil. These evil forces are very much present around us. Note that Paul was in no way saying that demonic forces coexist with God in heaven. He was using the word “heaven” in the sense of the unseen spiritual realm around us.

Ephesians 6:13-17

To fight spiritual battles successfully, we need God’s strength and the spiritual weapons. As believers, God has provided all the armour we needed for the spiritual warfare. We must dress and kitted very well as soldiers ready for battle at any given time. We are living in evil days characterised with a lot of devil’s strategies to bring us down, but it is vital for us to stand firm and unmovable knowing fully that victory is assured at the end. The spiritual weapons that we are to cloth ourselves as soldiers of Christ on a daily basis:

● belt of truth – gospel truth of Jesus Christ forms the foundation of all that we are and believe as Christians. The truth in Christ will always counter the falsehood of the devil. Those who cling to the truth of Jesus Christ, as proclaimed in the Scripture, will not be defeated by the evil world of Satan and his armies.

● breastplate of righteousness – Christians must seek to live the righteous life that has been made possible through the righteousness of Christ and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. If we are to battle successfully, we must have a life characterized by holiness.

● spiritual shoes – this means gospel readiness to always share the gospel of peace about Christ. Evil may test us, but in the gospel we find a sure foothold for the conflict.

● shield of faith – What Paul has in mind here is that we should be living in the realm of faith. Christians should always walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Note that one’s trust and confidence in Christ permits the Christian to be victorious in any spiritual battle.

● helmet of salvation – As the enemy of our souls seeks to render us defeated and useless, we must understand that we have the assurance of our salvation. Psalms 140:7 – O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. Glory!

● sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God – the sword of the Spirit is an offensive weapon designed by God for attacking His enemies. As believers, we take the battle to the enemy’s camp through effective use of the Word. The devil’s lies are dismantled by the sword of the Spirit. How much of His Word is active in you? God’s Word is an indispensable weapon we must use as believers in our spiritual warfare.

3. PRAY AND PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL

Ephesians 6:18-24

Prayer is the fundamental way in which believers prepare for battle. Prayer is essential in our ongoing warfare. We are called to pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to stay alert and be persistent in our prayers for ourselves and to other Christians everywhere. Prayer is communication between us and God. We connect to His source of strength when we pray always. Prayer is not an intermittent movement. Prayer should be carried out all times ie without ceasing. Paul directs us as the Christian soldiers to maintain a steady communication connection with God. When we stop praying we become a prey in the hands of the enemies. Paul reminds us to pray in the Spirit – this is to pray in union with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given to us as a helper in prayer. He helps us when we pray according to God’s will. Prayer is seeing God’s will accomplished on earth. Paul boldly asks the Ephesians to pray for him specifically while he was in prison. As soldiers of Christ, we depend on each other to survive in the warfare and praying for each other should be our focus on daily basis. I pray for you today: may hunger to pray always captivate you now!

As was Paul’s custom, he concluded his letter with a formal greeting to individuals who had been important to the success of his ministry. In this case, He has sent Tychicus to the church to give a first-hand account of Paul’s condition and provide encouragement. Paul’s strong endorsement of Tychicus shows how reliable, trustworthy, dependable and faithful he had been with Paul’s ministry.

As a believer, can you be trusted as a good soldier of Christ? We should strive to be people who are like Tychicus, faithful helpers in the Lord’s work. Whatever role God has given you to play, you should play it faithfully.

Paul’s wish is for the Ephesian believers to experience God’s peace, love and grace. Note that courage in spiritual warfare is powered and motivated by love. So spiritual warfare is motivated by love first of all because in love we are invincible. Therefore in love we can be courageous because we cannot lose.

Lesson Action Word

God is strong in battle and He wants you to be strong as well. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials, then put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.

Lessons Prayer

Father, help us to stand firm for You even as we experience spiritual battles in Jesus Matchless Name. Amen!

Remain blessed as you join us in our Sunday school both online and at any Assemblies Of God Church close to you as we study together under the Feet of the Master.

Share your contribution and as well ask your question from the lesson

Shalom!