Matt Reynolds :: Binding the Strong Man and Plundering his House :: 08.15.10
I’ve heard from many of you that last week’s message was incredibly timely as we unpacted Ephesians chapter 6. Now that we understand that we are fighting a spiritual battle, how do we make sure we are victorious? How can our names not only be written in heaven, but feared in hell? Mark chapter 5 verses 22-27 gives us Jesus strategy for bringing down the Kingdom of darkness which allows us to never live in fear again. What’s more than that, once the “strong man is bound, we are able to plunder his house” and lead many to freedom! We want to learn to live lives of plunder. This week will serve as a part 2 in many ways, so catch up on last week if you missed.
Matt Reynolds :: Ephesians Ch 6 Pt 1 What Have I Gotten Myself Into? :: 08.08.10
As our study in Ephesians is coming to a close, I can’t help but to compare the end of this letter with how other stories often finish. Some movies, for example, come together slowly and neatly, with everyone knowing exactly how the story will end. My favorite movies however, are those that having a massive finish. They end with a bang, a twist, or a complete reorientation of what everyone was expecting, and that’s just the way the letter to Ephesus ends! After Paul has described what our practical relationships should look like in the Kingdom of God, the letter could have wrapped up nicely with a few parting good-byes and a prayer. Instead, we are left with an intense command to “wake up” to the spiritual battle that we all find ourselves in because the forces of darkness will not go down without a fight. This Sunday we will talk about what spiritual warfare is all about and how we are to respond when under attack.