Ephesians 6 |
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Verse 1 ToDo Items
F Know that children have accountability to the Lord and are not at liberty to do whatever they want.
T Children, obey your parents as the Lord commands, for this is right and well pleasing in His eyes. [See Colossians 3:20]
F Know that a child should not obey parents if they ask the child to do something that does not accord with God’s standards.
F Know that obedience to parents is the fundamental role of the child.
F Know that disobedience to parents is a characteristic of the last days. [See 2 Timothy 3:1-2]
Verse 1 ToDo Items
2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Verse 2 ToDo Items
T Honour your father and mother. [See Exodus 20:12]
F Know that it is the responsibility of children to respect and hold their parents in high regard.
F Know that keeping God’s commandment to honour your father and mother brings the promise of reward. [See Deuteronomy 5:16]
Verse 2 ToDo Items
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Verse 3 ToDo Items
P Know that God will prosper and grant long life on the Earth to those who honour their father and mother. [v2-3]
Verse 3 ToDo Items
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Verse 4 ToDo Items
T Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger. [See Colossians 3:21]
T Fathers, train and discipline your children in the ways of the Lord.
F Know that parents are mediators of God’s values to their children.
F Know that fathers are responsible for governing the family.
Verse 4 ToDo Items
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
Verse 5 ToDo Items
T Be obedient to the people in authority over you.
T Give those in authority over you the same respect (with fear and trembling) and whole-hearted loyalty that you would give to Jesus.
T Humbly submit to those in authority over you.
F Know that God’s plan revolves around authority and submission.
Verse 5 ToDo Items
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Verse 6 ToDo Items
T Don’t labour merely to court the favour of men.
C Know that the unseen Master expects faithful service from His personal servants even when people are not watching them.
T Work hard and with integrity to do the best job regardless of who is watching you.
T Don’t limit your obedience to those in authority over you to only when they are watching you in order to please them. [v5-6]
T Obey those in authority over you as a servant of Christ, doing the will of God with complete sincerity and commitment. [v5-6]
Verse 6 ToDo Items
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Verse 7 ToDo Items
T Serve those in authority over you willingly with kindness, serving the Lord and not men.
I Know that our ultimate service and allegiance is to Christ. [v5-7]
I Know that God is the audience for everything we do. [v5-7]
I Know that our motivation is to serve and please God. [v5-7]
T Whether you are in authority or under authority, seek to serve and please God, not men. [v5-7]
Verse 7 ToDo Items
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
Verse 8 ToDo Items
P Know that whatsoever good thing any man does, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he is under authority or not. [v5-8]
C Know that the Lord sees and rewards all good works, even when earthly masters do not.
Verse 8 ToDo Items
9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Verse 9 ToDo Items
T When in authority, reward all those who do good work impartially, just as the Lord does. [v8-9]
T When in authority, do not abuse your position to threaten others knowing that you too also have a Master who is in heaven. [See Colossians 4:1]
C Know that God is no respecter of persons and is impartial and good to all. [v8-9]
Verse 9 ToDo Items
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Verse 10 ToDo Items
T Do not trust yourself or rely on your own strength.
T Be strong through Christ and empowered by His mighty power.
I Know that our true strength and abilities come from the Lord. [See Psalms 18:1-3]
I Remember that the Holy Spirit is at work within us, enabling us to do more than we could ever imagine through His power and might. [See Ephesians 3:20]
T Live to demonstrate the mighty works of the Lord.
Verse 10 ToDo Items
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Verse 11 ToDo Items
F Know that the Christian life is not a passive life.
T Put on the full armour of God so that you may be able to stand against the sly trickery and traps of the devil. [See 2 Corinthians 2:11]
I Know that the devil is a defeated foe so we don’t have to fight him.
I Know that part of our warfare is to understand that the devil is already defeated.
W Watch out and leave no opening where the devil can attack you.
W Know that the devil will try to harm, trap, tempt and deceive you in subtle ways. [See 2 Corinthians 11:14-15]
I Be thankful to God that He provides us with protection against the devil. [See 2 Corinthians 10:4]
Verse 11 ToDo Items
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Verse 12 ToDo Items
I Know that our battle is against the principalities, authorities and rulers of the darkness of this world and those who perform spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.
I Know that it is imperative that we know what our weapons are in this spiritual warfare. [See Ephesians 6:14-16]
F Know that the spiritual warfare going on in the heavenly places hinders us from possessing all of our blood-bought blessings.
F Know that the Christian life is a spiritual battlefield and not a physical playground. [v11-12]
F Know that the Christian life is not one of retreat or surrender but rather of prevailing over the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. [v11-12]
I Know that our fight is a fight of faith (believing).
I Know that we don’t fight for victory, we fight from the victory that Jesus has already won for us at the cross.
T Wrestle against the principalities, authorities and rulers of the darkness of this world.
T Wrestle against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.
Verse 12 ToDo Items
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Verse 13 ToDo Items
T Take up and use the full armour that God has provided without delay so that you may be able to resist and oppose when evil attacks each day.
W Know that without putting on the full armour of God you will not be able to stand against the devil. [v11-13]
W Beware and do not underestimate your enemy the devil. [v11-13] [See 1 Peter 5:8]
T Stand firm and do everything to hold your position against the assaults of the devil to both resist and subdue him. [See James 4:7]
F Know that we cannot battle the devil in our own strength. [v10-13]
F Know that supernatural battle requires God’s supernatural resources. [v10-13]
F Know that because we war against supernatural forces, we need God to fight the battle for us. [v10-13]
F Know that the Lord’s mighty power is sufficient for any spiritual battle. [v10-13]
Verse 13 ToDo Items
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Verse 14 ToDo Items
T Take your stand against the devil wearing truth as a belt, knowing that it is God’s truth that supports and holds everything together in your life. [v11-14]
T Wear the breastplate of His righteousness close to your heart knowing that it cannot be taken from you.
Verse 14 ToDo Items
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Verse 15 ToDo Items
T Stand sure-footed and ready in the certainty and full assurance of the good news and peace of Jesus Christ. [See Romans 10:15]
Verse 15 ToDo Items
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Verse 16 ToDo Items
F Know that faith is of the greatest importance in the Christian life as it protects the Christian in a fundamental way.
I Know that exercising faith is a major part of our Christian life and is what we do to depend on God rather than ourselves.
T Take hold of your faith and put it to work.
I Know that the devil knows that the moment we walk in faith, he has lost.
P Take the shield of faith, your most important protection, that will enable you to overcome everything that the devil throws at you. [See 1 John 5:4]
W Know that you will come under multiple evil attacks of the devil every day.
Verse 16 ToDo Items
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Verse 17 ToDo Items
F Know that one of the devil’s most effective attacks against a believer is to make them doubt their salvation and God’s promises.
T Receive the helmet of salvation and keep the certain hope of it firmly in your mind. [See 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11]
T Receive the sword of the Spirit (the timely spoken Word of God from the Holy Spirit) as both a weapon and a defence in combat situations.
T Remember that Jesus used the Word of God in response when He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. [See Matthew 4:1-11]
Verse 17 ToDo Items
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Verse 18 ToDo Items
F Know that prayer is an important part of spiritual warfare.
T Pray without ceasing. [See 1 Thessalonians 5:17]
F Know that praying in the Spirit assists us with our prayers. [See Romans 8:26-27]
T Pray vigilantly and continually in conversation with the Holy Spirit. [See 1 Peter 5:8]
T Pray earnestly, bringing your petitions to God for both yourself and your brethren in Christ.
Verse 18 ToDo Items
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Verse 19 ToDo Items
T Know that the mystery of the gospel has been revealed. [See Ephesians 3:5-9]
T Pray for those who minister to you, that they might be given the right words to speak boldly to make the mystery of the gospel known.
F Know that we need others to intercede for us in spiritual warfare.
F Know that we need boldness to advance the gospel.
F Know that intercessory prayer (prayer on behalf of others) is necessary for making the gospel known.
Verse 19 ToDo Items
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Verse 20 ToDo Items
F Know that Paul was imprisoned for the sake of the gospel. [See Acts 28:16]
T Take note how Paul remained an ambassador of the gospel even when imprisoned.
T Take note how Paul put the needs of the church at Ephesus ahead of his own needs even when imprisoned.
F Know that mature love puts others first.
T Pray for those who minister, that they might speak the gospel boldly and fearlessly as they ought to speak.
Verse 20 ToDo Items
21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
Verse 21 ToDo Items
T Don’t minister in isolation, work with your brethren in the Lord and share your experiences openly with others.
T Take note how Paul chose and trusted Tychicus to deliver the epistle to the Ephesians in person.
C Know that God expects us to love those with whom we serve in ministry. [See John 13:34-35]
C Know that God wants us to be faithful in our ministry and to those we serve with. [See 1 Corinthinans 4:1-2]
Verse 21 ToDo Items
22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
Verse 22 ToDo Items
T Share your ministry experiences and be a comfort and an encouragement to others. [v21-22]
C Know that God wants us to comfort others as He does through the Holy Spirit and the Word.
Verse 22 ToDo Items
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 23 ToDo Items
C Know that love and faith come from both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
F Know that genuine faith shows itself by loving others.
Verse 23 ToDo Items
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Verse 24 ToDo Items
I Know that as Christians, the Lord Jesus Christ is the supreme object of our love.
T Take note that Paul ends his letter to the Ephesians the same way that he started it, again using the full title of "Lord Jesus Christ" and again wishing more grace and peace be imparted to the saints from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, together with love and faith to those who truly love the Lord Jesus Christ. [v23-24]
Verse 24 ToDo Items