Paul ends his letter with a powerful call to battle that draws together themes and ideas important to the letter as a whole. He begins by announcing the overarching theme of the conclusion, offered in the tone of a commander’s battle cry: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10, ESV). The rest of the passage, Ephesians 6:11-20, illustrates and unpacks this large theme.

Read again Ephesians 6:10-20. How do you see the reality of the great controversy, which involves literal supernatural powers, as central to Paul’s point? Why is keeping this crucial truth before us so important in our own daily walk with God?

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Paul identifies Christ as the Source of believers’ strength with his phrase, “in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10, NKJV) since “Lord” refers to Christ, as is consistently the case in Ephesians (Ephesians 2:21; Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 4:17; Ephesians 5:8; Ephesians 6:1, Ephesians 6:21). “The Church’s strength lies in the almightiness of her risen Lord, the Captain of her warfare.” — G. G. Findlay, The Epistle to the Ephesians (New York: Ray Long & Richard R. Smith, 1931), p. 398.

Paul uses repetition in Ephesians 6:10, employing the synonyms power and might to underline his point: the power to be exhibited by the church is not inherent in believers but is derived. It comes from the Lord, from Christ. Paul summarizes here an important theme of the letter, God’s power shared with believers (Ephesians 1:19-22; Ephesians 2:4-6; Ephesians 3:16-17). Strength for every current and future conflict is to be found in believers’ solidarity with the resurrected and exalted Christ.

While the initial command announces Christ as active in providing strength to believers (Ephesians 6:10), all three members of the Godhead are engaged in strengthening them for spiritual combat against evil. God (the Father) makes His own weapons available as the “armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:13; compare Isaiah 59:17). Earlier, Paul has identified the Spirit as active in strengthening believers. Paul prayed that God may grant you “to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Ephesians 3:16, ESV). Here, it is the Spirit who issues the sword, “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). Also, believers are to pray “at all times in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18, ESV). Paul wishes his hearers to understand that the triune God is fully engaged in equipping them to battle against these evil powers.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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Study Paul’s ringing conclusion to his letter, Ephesians 6:10-20. What does Paul’s battle cry mean to us today, as combatants in the great controversy?

Paul concludes Ephesians with a call to battle, urging believers to take their stand in the church’s war against evil (Ephesians 6:10-20). He begins with an overarching exhortation to “be strong in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:10), which he repeats as a call to “put on the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11).

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He supports this call by specifying a purpose (to be able to stand against the devil’s schemes, Ephesians 6:11), and by offering a rationale: the battle is against powerful, spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). In a detailed way, Paul then reissues the call to arms. Believers are to “take up the whole armor of God” in order to stand firm in battle (Ephesians 6:13, ESV), donning belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet, and sword (Ephesians 6:14-17). Paul invites believers, now fully armed and ready to enter the fray, to do what soldiers on the ancient battlefield might do — and that is, pray (Ephesians 6:18-20).

By echoing battle exhortations or eve-of-battle speeches in the Old Testament, Paul speaks of the church’s mission in terms of military conflict and weapons. Paul signals this in his first, overarching command: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10, NKJV).

Battle exhortations in the Old Testament (see, for instance, Deuteronomy 20:2-4; Judges 7:15-18; 2 Chronicles 20:13-20; 2 Chronicles 32:6-8; Nehemiah 4:14, Nehemiah 4:19-20) underline the idea that Israel’s success in battle does not depend on the superiority of its own weapons or an army that outnumbers its foes. Rather, victory results from depending on the presence and power of God. The key to success was not confidence in themselves but firm trust in God’s power and His provision for their success. Paul makes bold use of these themes to exhort believers to be: (1) active in pursuing the church’s mission; (2) attentive to the unseen dimensions that impact their lives and witness; (3) cognizant of the divine provision for their success; and (4) always alert to the importance of unity and collaboration among believers.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Join us for Lesson 11, Practicing Supreme Loyalty to Christ

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Sabbath Afternoon

Read  for This Week’s Study: Ephesians 6:10-20; Deuteronomy 20:2-4; Romans 13:11-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:23-24.

Memory Text: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10-11, ESV).

Bleary-eyed, the servant stumbles out of his lodgings and sees an alarming sight — a large, well-equipped and hostile army with “troops, horses, and chariots everywhere.” Speaking to the prophet Elisha, he stammers out the news, along with his harried question, “Oh, sir, what will we do now?”

Elisha responds, “Don’t be afraid! … For there are more on our side than on theirs!” a response that fails to register in the face of his servant. Elisha, pulling him close, prays for him: “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The prophet’s prayer is answered immediately. The servant steps to the ramparts again, but this time the veil between the seen and the unseen lifts. He now sees not one army, but two. “The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire” (2 Kings 6:15-17, NLT).

In composing Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul prays for an enhanced vision for believers so that they will be able to see the full reality of the great controversy and to draw hope from what it reveals to them.

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 16.

Sunday–>

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A Book and a Ride

By Andrew McChesney

Alexei Arushanian, a 33-year-old Ukrainian living in Poland, was running late. He had just finished his work, installing windows, and had to stop at the gas station as he raced to meet his wife for an evening shopping trip.

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At the gas pump, Alexei noticed a young man trying to start his scooter. He kept trying to start the scooter but to no avail. A large, insulated bag on the back of his scooter showed that he was making a food delivery. Alexei didn’t speak good Polish, but he didn’t want to pass up an opportunity to help. He thought about the young man as he filled up the tank and paid for it. Back in the car, he opened the window and called out, “What’s wrong?”

The young man was Polish. He said, “The scooter doesn’t want to start.”

Alexei belonged to a group of church members who distribute Ellen White’s The Great Controversy. It is a difficult task with few receptive people, and he saw an opportunity. He handed the young man a book.

“I have a gift for you,” he said. “It’s a Christian book that contains the history of Christianity from the first Christians who defended the truth after Christ returned to heaven to the events that will occur at the end of the world. I think that you will find it interesting.”

The young man accepted the book and thanked him. Alexei returned to his car. And sat. And thought. “I can’t leave. I haven’t done my duty as a Christian,” he thought. “I gave him a book, but I didn’t fill his need.” Opening the car door, he said, “I can take you to your delivery place.”

“Really?” the young man asked with surprise.

“Really,” Alexei said. “I understand how you feel. I’ll take you.”

The young man grabbed the bag of food, and Alexei drove him about 2 miles (3 km) to the address. “Will you wait for me?” the young man asked.

“Of course. I brought you.”

On the way back to the gas station, the young man marveled at Alexei’s kindness. “In Poland, very few Christians stop and offer help, but you are a Ukrainian Christian and offered help,” he said. He introduced himself as Kamil. Alexei spoke about the love of God, and Kamil listened intently. As they arrived at the gas station, a coworker from Kamil’s workplace pulled up to fix the scooter.

Alexei left. Kamil had help, and he could leave.

Alexei was late to his appointment to meet his wife. But it was worth it. He had been delayed by a divine appointment.

This quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will go to the Trans-European Division, which includes Poland. Thank you for planning a generous offering.

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