以弗所书［第六章］
Book of Ephesians 6
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以弗所书 第六章 |Book of Ephesians 6【得胜争战尽本分】
15/08/2024
一、亲子主仆关系之战（v1-9）
以弗所书今天第6章是接续昨天，继续讲论在家庭生活中的亲子关系。作为父母、儿女，有当尽的本分与如何建立有爱有信任的和谐关系。
1.父母儿女（v1-4）
V1，‘听从’ 是由‘hear’ 和 ‘under’ 两个英文字组成，意思是儿女是在父母的权柄之下，所以要听从父母。
保罗特别强调，信了主的儿女们要听从父母。‘听从’并非毫无限制盲目的听从。前提是‘要在主里’听从。就是没有违反圣经的的原则的，我们就要听。如父母要年轻人多花时间陪伴他们，这没有违背圣经真理。
若父母命令你去做违返圣经原则，不“在主里”的事，我们当然就可以不听。但要用十分谦虚、恭敬的态度，向父母解释不能听从的原因。尽量取得父母的谅解，用温柔而坚定的态度持守真理，活出荣耀神的见证。
其实，在个人主义盛行的今天，时下的年轻人常会以：“代沟”为理由来作为不听从父母的原因。即使是不完美的父母、也是被神允许用来管教、塑造儿女的器皿。因此 ‘代沟’是神用来让做儿女的学习顺服父母媒介。
儿女孝敬父母是当今的本分。这是第一条带有应许的诫命。神对孝敬父母者的应许是今生活在世上得福、长寿。不管我们的寿命是长是短，没有父母，就没有我们。我们要感恩父母的养育之恩，更是要在父母还在世时爱与孝敬、并尊荣他们。
做父亲当尽的本分是要以温和的态度对待儿女，不要惹儿女的气。苛刻和严厉的态度，不是挫折儿女的锐气，就是挑动他们的肉体起来对抗父母。
父亲们，你是否也故意或无意的忽视你对子女当尽的责任，常常成为家中的缺席爸爸？
保罗说只要照着主的教训，以行动管教、鼓励、警戒、责备来养育他们。使儿女在真理里扎稳根，活出敬畏神、蒙神祝福的一生。
2.主人仆人（v5-9）
v5-9是主仆之间的关系，仆人就是家里的奴隶。保罗教导这些信了主的奴隶，要存敬畏基督的心，像听从基督一样的，从内心诚实的听从他们肉身的主人。无论人前人后，都要遵行神的旨意，甘心服事主人像是在服事主一样。
在职场上的弟兄姐妹，职场是你我们事奉神的地方，也是属灵生命操练的场所。 你是把上司、权柄当作服事主一样的听从，还是在背后批评论断他？又或许心里对老板不满？
使徒保罗并没有要求作主人的信徒释放奴隶，而是提醒他们与仆人在天上同有一位不偏待人主，所以不要威吓他们。今天我们在职场、甚至家中有帮佣的弟兄姐妹，我们有否常常用威吓的话来对待下属或帮用呢？
避免生活中许多不必要的争战和伤害是基督徒当尽的本分。让我们因对准神，活出生命树气息而得福、长寿。职场弟兄姐妹有对的关系，也必要得主的赏赐。
二、穿戴军装百战百胜（v10-24）
1. 认清对象（v10-13）
V10-11保罗提醒信徒，在属灵争战中不能靠自己的力量，而是要依靠主的大能大力，在祂里面刚强。要得胜争战，很重要的一点是，我们一定要认清作战的对象是谁。正所谓知己知彼，百战百胜。我们作战的对像不是人乃是魔鬼。
今日教会中，弟兄姐妹自己攻打基督的肢体，夫妻从相爱到相害。我们若没有属灵的洞见，认不清敌友，不但在争战中徒劳无功，还绊跌弟兄，使神的名受辱，自己也受亏损。
2. 穿戴军装（v14-19）
当我们细看每一件军装时，就会发现到，其实都是神自己的属性，是耶稣基督的全貌。所以穿戴军装所讲的是，我们要按神的属性去行事为人，要效法神自己的性情。
a) 真理的带子束腰
腰带把盔甲的各个部分连接在一起，而真理也是我们生活的基础。也是我们得胜生活中的整合力量。当我们按真理信实为人时，就可以无畏地面对敌人，争战就必得胜。
b) 公义护心镜遮胸
要保守自己有公义的心胸，保持内心清洁不被罪恶侵蚀。活出光明来光照亮别人。
c) 脚穿平安福音鞋
随时做好准备分享信仰。更重要的是在挑战和逆境中保持内心又从主基督来的平安。
d) 手握信心的藤牌
信心的藤牌是抵挡试探和攻击的防护。信心能让神迹奇事不断成就。无论面对何种挑战，都要相信神的应许，坚定相信神是好神，并依靠祂抵御怀疑和恐惧与灭尽敌人的一切火箭。
e) 头戴救恩的头盔
有属基督的思想就是得胜的关键。因此要常常以救恩的头盔保护思想不受负面思想和错误教导的影响，不断的心意更新而变化，活出救恩的样子。
f) 手握圣灵的宝剑
圣灵作战的宝剑是什么呢？就是神的话，圣经。神的道是对抗属灵攻击的有力武器。
g) 在灵里儆醒祷告
祷告使我们在属灵争战中保持警醒，依靠神的力量而不是自己的力量。方言祷告在属灵争战中起着不可忽视的力量。因为这是圣灵透过我们的祷告，将神的旨意祷告出来。
当我们认清仇敌不是身边所爱的人，不是主内的肢体，不是有神形象的人，而是那天空属灵气的黑暗权势、魔鬼撒旦。加上又有神所赐的全副军装来保护和抵挡仇敌的诡计，在属灵的争战中必能知己知彼，百战百胜。
总结：以爱连接尽本分（v20-24）
Ephesians 6: Do Your Part in Victory and Battle
GK611 Morning Devotion
14/08/2024
Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Deborah Tan
Introduction: Life is full of battles
I. The Battle for the Parent-Child Master-Servant Relationship (v1-9)
Ephesians 6 today picks up where we left off yesterday and continues to talk about the parent-child relationship in family life. As parents and children, there are duties to be performed and how to build a harmonious relationship of love and trust.
1. Parents and Children (v1-4)
The word 'obey' is made up of the words 'hear' and 'under', which means that children are under the authority of their parents, so they should obey their parents.
Paul specifically emphasises that converted children are to obey their parents. 'Obedience' is not blind obedience without limitations. The prerequisite is to obey 'in the Lord'. That is, we are to listen to what is not contrary to the principles of the Bible. For example, if a parent wants a young person to spend more time with them, this is not against biblical truth.
If your parents command you to do something that is against biblical principles and is not 'in the Lord', then of course we can disobey them. However, we must explain to our parents, in a very humble and respectful manner, why we cannot obey them. We should try to gain the understanding of our parents, and hold on to the truth with gentleness and firmness, and live as witnesses to the glory of God.
In fact, in today's world where individualism is prevalent, young people often use the "generation gap" as a reason for not obeying their parents. Even imperfect parents are allowed by God to be used as vessels of discipline and moulding for their children. Therefore, the 'generation gap' is the medium God uses for children to learn to obey their parents.
It is the duty of children to honour their parents today. This is the first commandment with promise. God's promise to those who honour their parents is that they will be blessed and live long in this world. Whether our life span is long or short, without our parents, there would be no us. We are to be thankful for our parents' upbringing, and even more so, we are to love and honour and respect them while they are still alive.
The duty of a father is to treat his children with gentleness and not to provoke them to anger. A harsh and severe attitude either frustrates the children or provokes their flesh to rise up against their parents.
Fathers, have you, either intentionally or unintentionally, neglected your responsibilities to your children, often becoming the absentee father in your home?
Paul says that if you raise them according to the Lord's teachings, with actions of discipline, encouragement, warning, and reproof, you will be able to keep your children firmly planted in the truth. So that your children will be firmly rooted in the truth, and live a life that is God-fearing and blessed by God.
2. Master-servant (v5-9)
v5-9 is the relationship between the master and the servant, the servant being the slave of the household. Paul teaches these believing slaves to obey their incarnate masters with the fear of Christ, as they obey Christ, honestly from the heart. They were to do the will of God, both before and after, and to serve their masters willingly as if they were serving the Lord.
Brothers and sisters in the workplace, the workplace is the place where you and I serve God, and it is also the place where spiritual life is practiced. Do you listen to your boss and authority as if you were serving the Lord, or do you criticise and judge him behind his back? Or perhaps resent your boss in your heart?
The Apostle Paul did not ask believers who were masters to free their slaves, but reminded them that they share with their servants an unbiased Lord in heaven, so do not intimidate them. Today, if we have domestic helper at home, or subordinate, do we often use intimidating words to threaten our subordinates or helpers?
It is the duty of Christians to avoid many unnecessary battles and injuries in life. Let us be blessed and live long by being right with God and living out the breath of the tree of life. Brothers and sisters in the workplace have the right relationship and need to be rewarded by the Lord.
II. Putting on the Armour to Win a Hundred Battles (v10-24)
1. Identify the Object (v10-13)
V10-11 Paul reminds believers that they must not rely on their own strength in spiritual warfare, but rely on the Lord's power and might to be strong in Him. To win the battle, it is important that we must recognise who we are fighting against. As the saying goes, if we know our enemy and know ourselves, we can win a hundred battles. The object of our battle is not man but the devil.
In today's churches, brothers and sisters are attacking the body of Christ themselves, and couples are going from loving each other to harming each other. If we don't have spiritual insight and can't recognise our enemies and friends, we will not only be futile in our battles, but we will also stumble over our brothers, bring dishonour to God's name, and suffer loss to ourselves.
2. Putting on the Armour (v14-19)
When we look closely at each piece of armour, we realise that it is in fact an attribute of God Himself, the fullness of Jesus Christ. So what putting on the armour says is that we are to act and behave according to God's attributes, to imitate God's own nature.
a) The belt of truth girds the waist
The girdle holds the parts of the armour together, and truth is the foundation of our lives. It is also the integrating force in our victorious lives. When we are faithful according to the truth, we can face the enemy without fear and the battle will be won.
b) The Mirror of Righteousness Covers the Chest
Keep yourself righteous and keep your heart clean from sin. Live a life of light to illuminate others.
c) Wear the Gospel of Peace on your feet
Always be ready to share your faith. More importantly, to maintain an inner peace from Christ in the midst of challenges and adversity.
d) Hold the Shield of Faith
The shield of faith is a defence against temptation and attack. Faith enables signs and wonders to be accomplished. No matter what the challenge, trust in God’s promises, believe firmly that God is a good God, and rely on Him to withstand doubt and fear and to destroy all the flaming arrows of the enemy.
e) Put on the helmet of salvation
Having a Christlike mind is the key to victory. Therefore, always protect your mind from negative thoughts and false teachings with the helmet of salvation, and live out your salvation with a renewed and changed mind.
f) Holding the Sword of the Spirit
What is the sword of the Spirit? It is the Word of God, the Bible. The Word of God is a powerful weapon against spiritual attacks.
g) Watch and Pray in the Spirit
Prayer keeps us alert in spiritual warfare, relying on God's strength rather than our own. Praying in tongues plays an important role in spiritual warfare. For it is the Holy Spirit praying out the will of God through our prayers.
When we recognise that the enemy is not the beloved ones around us, not the body of Christ, not those in the image of God, but the powers of darkness, the devil and satan, who are in the evil spirit in the spiritual realm, together with the armour of God to protect and resist the tricks of the enemy, we will be victorious in all battles.
Conclusion: Do your part by connecting in love (v20-24)
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