Ephesians 4-6

These chapters focus on spiritual application, and are really broken into two sections, where Ephesians 4:1-6:9 speak of various applications that lead us to spiritual maturity in Christ, and then the rest of chapter 6 highlights the spiritual warfare that we are engaged in, and the weapons we’ve been given for that conflict with the enemy of our souls.

Jesus gave gifts to His church in the form of leaders, who minister in bringing each of us to spiritual maturity, and help in the process of our sanctification, which is forming us into the same image as Christ, through the power of His Spirit in us.  We are encouraged to live in this life with all humility and gentleness, encouraging each other in love, and ministering the grace of God towards all who need it.  We are instructed to make every effort to imitate Christ, and to walk in this life with His love, which was completely “others” focused - first on God, and then towards other people.

Our battle in this life is not against unbelieving people, but rather against the devil, who is working all manner of deception and hatred to take people with him in fighting against God.  The warfare is spiritual, and the tools we’ve been given are also spiritual - the truth of the gospel, the righteousness of Christ, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith in Him, the salvation of Jesus that guards our minds and hearts, and the sword of the spirit, which is God’s Word.  These weapons are largely defensive, which protect us from the enemy who seeks to make us ineffective as servants of Christ, and against his plans to try and destroy us.  Do not stop in praying, even when it seems that God is not listening!