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Eph 6:10-20 Spiritual Warfare 10 Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.  11 Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! j 12 Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms.k For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. 13 Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious.  14 Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. 15 Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace.  16 In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the Evil One!c 17–18 Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God.  Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers. 19 And pray also that God’s revelation would be released through me every time I preach the wonderful mystery of the hope-filled gospel. 20 Yes, pray that I may preach the wonderful news of God’s kingdom with bold freedom at every opportunity. Even though I am chained as a prisoner, I am his ambassador.

MYSTERY—the calling of the Gentiles into the Christian Church, so designated (Eph. 1:9, 10; 3:8–11; Col. 1:25–27); a truth undiscoverable except by revelation, long hid, now made manifest. The resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:51), and other doctrines which need to be explained but which cannot be fully understood by finite intelligence (Matt. 13:11; Rom. 11:25; 1 Cor. 13:2); the union between Christ and his people symbolized by the marriage union (Eph. 5:31, 32; comp. 6:19); the seven stars and the seven candlesticks (Rev. 1:20); and the woman clothed in scarlet (17:7), are also in this sense mysteries. The anti-Christian power working in his day is called by the apostle (2 Thess. 2:7) the “mystery of iniquity.” Easton, M. G. (1893). In Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (p. 484). Harper & Brothers.

Spiritual warfare Because we are in the midst of this unseen battle all around us, the Bible calls us to engage in spiritual warfare. Some Christians turn this into binding and loosing all sorts of demons; but the Bible’s approach seems, perhaps surprisingly, to be much more ‘down to earth’. It tells us that spiritual warfare involves such things as: ❑ Praying and fasting as Daniel did for revelation (e.g. Daniel 10:1–19) ❑ Submitting to God and seeing the devil flee as we do (James 4:7) ❑ Being self-controlled and alert for the devil prowls around looking for prey to devour (1 Peter 5:8–9) ❑ Recalling Christ’s victory at the cross, where Jesus stripped Satan and all his hosts of their power (Colossians 2:13–15) ❑ Changing ways of thinking which become strongholds that need demolishing (2 Corinthians 10:3–5) ❑ Putting on ‘the armour of God’ (Ephesians 6:10–18)—not as a spiritual exercise for the moment of battle, but as a lifestyle that prepares us for such times (‘Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the evil day comes …’, verse 13). ❑ Getting back to God as the seven churches in the Book of Revelation were called to do (Revelation 2:1–3:22). It is very striking that churches that were facing such satanic opposition and persecution, were told to deal with this spiritual warfare, not by binding up demons in heavenly places, but by getting back to their first love (2:4–5), being faithful (2:10), repenting (2:16), holding on (2:25), waking up (3:2), taking advantage of open doors (3:8), and restoring their fervour (3:15–20). Fighting God’s way Having said all this, there may well be times when we need to confront demonic powers more directly, as Jesus himself did. If we are wise, however, we will not do so personally, but rather will call on the Lord to act on our behalf. The Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you!’ (Zechariah 3:2) But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ (Jude 9) A final prayer Holy Spirit, think through me till your ideas are my ideas. Amy Carmichael (1868–1951) Conclusion When God does not seem to answer our prayers, we should wait and trust, for in due time his reasons will become clear. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5–6)  Manser, M., & Beaumont, M. (2020). Handbook of Bible Prayers (pp. 381–383). Manser and Beaumont.

Prophetic Mentee's 2023 Home Work Study For February: Must be ready to Present Zoom Class In March: You study all these gifts and in class I will tell you which one to present to class .And you can't use what I gave you. IV. THE DESCRIPTION OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS A. Apostleship (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11) In a general sense the word means one who is sent (as used of Epaphroditus in Phil. 2:25). But the technical sense of apostleship refers to the Twelve and possibly a few others like Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:14). The gift was given for the founding of the church and was accredited by special signs (2 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 2:20). This is not a gift that God gives today. B. Prophecy (Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:10; 14:1–40; Eph. 4:11) Like apostleship, prophecy is also used in both a general sense and a technical sense. In the general sense it refers to proclaiming and thus to preaching. But technically a prophet was not only able to proclaim God’s message but he also was able to predict the future. All of his messages, whether proclaiming or predicting, came from God directly through special revelation. The gift must have been rather widely given in New Testament times, though only a few prophets are mentioned specifically (Agabus, Acts 11:27–28; prophets in the church at Antioch, 13:1; Philip’s four daughters, 21:9; and the prophets in the Corinthian church, 1 Cor. 14). This, too, was a gift for the founding of the church, unnecessary after that period and after Revelation was written in the New Testament. C. Miracles (1 Cor. 12:28) and Healings (vv. 9, 28, 30) This is the ability to perform special signs, including physical healing. Paul exercised this gift at Ephesus (Acts 19:11–12); yet he did not or could not use this gift in the cases of Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:27), Timothy (1 Tim. 5:23), or Trophimus (2 Tim. 4:20). The gift of healing might be viewed as a category within the larger gift of miracles. For example, Paul’s calling down blindness on Elymas the sorcerer (Acts 13:11) was the exercise of his gift of miracles, but it certainly was not a healing. We recognize that a miracle or healing may be done by God apart from anyone’s exercising a spiritual gift (as the physical sign that accompanied the filling of the Spirit in 4:31). If this is so, then it does not follow that if one considers the gifts of miracles and healings temporary, he is also saying that God does not perform miracles or healings today. He is simply saying that the gifts are no longer operative because the need for them has ceased; i.e., to authenticate the Gospel message. A believer today cannot necessarily expect to be healed. It is not God’s will to give everyone good health. Though Paul prayed earnestly and repeatedly, and though he himself possessed the gift of healing, it was not God’s will to heal Paul of his thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:8–9). If it were God’s will to heal every believer, then no believer would die, for even the last illness would be healed. Healers recognize their limitations, for they do not claim to heal decayed teeth or to instantaneously mend broken bones. To disregard human means available for healing and to simply pray for a miraculous cure is like praying for a harvest and then sitting in a rocking chair, refusing to plant or cultivate the ground. D. Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues (1 Cor. 12:10) Tongues is the God-given ability to speak in a language of earth that is unknown to the speaker. Interpretation of tongues is the ability to interpret that message in a language understood by the hearers. Unquestionably the first occurrence of tongues in Acts 2 was languages (note the word “language” in vv. 6 and 8). The presumption is that the tongues in Corinthians were no different. The purposes of interpreted tongues were two: to communicate truth from God and to authenticate the truth of the Christian message, especially to Jewish people (1 Cor. 14:5, 21–22). Because the Corinthians were abusing this gift, Paul laid down strict regulations for its use: Only two or three were to speak in any meeting; no one was to speak in tongues unless the message could be interpreted; prophecy was always preferred; and women were to keep silent (vv. 27–34). Uninterpreted tongues, especially a private prayer language, is unfruitful (v. 14) simply because even the one praying does not know what he or she is asking for. Therefore, it is better to pray with understanding, which means using a language that the person understands. Whether one believes the biblical gift of tongues is given today or not, the Pentecostal teaching that tongues are the necessary sign of having been baptized by the Spirit is wrong. Paul said that all the believers in Corinth were baptized (12:13) but not all spoke in tongues (v. 30). E. Evangelism (Eph. 4:11) This ability to proclaim the Gospel message with exceptional clarity also included the idea that the ministry of an evangelist was itinerant. He was sent out by the church, but his ministry was done outside it. It might also be done publicly or privately. Whether or not one has the gift of evangelism, all believers are to be witnesses. F. Pastor (Eph. 4:11) This is the ability to shepherd, provide for, care for, and protect God’s people. In verse 11 teaching is linked to pastoring, and in Acts 20:28 ruling is. G. Serving (Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:12) This is the ability to help or serve in the broadest sense of the word. H. Teaching (Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11) This is the ability to explain God’s truth to people. Apparently the gift is sometimes given alone and sometimes in connection with that of pastor. I. Faith (1 Cor. 12:9)This is the ability to believe God for the supply of specific needs. Every believer should walk by faith, and each has a measure of faith, but not all have the gift of faith. J. Exhortation (Rom. 12:8) This involves the ability to encourage, comfort, and admonish people. K. Distinguishing Spirits (1 Cor. 12:10) This was the ability to distinguish between true and false sources of supernatural revelation when it was being given in oral form before the completion of the canon. L. Showing Mercy (Rom. 12:8) Like the gift of serving, this involves succoring, particularly those who are sick and afflicted. M. Giving (Rom. 12:8) This seems to be the ability to be very generous with what means one has. It should be exercised with simplicity, that is, with no thought of return or self-gain. N. Administration (Rom. 12:8; 1 Cor. 12:28) This is the ability to rule in the church. O. Wisdom and Knowledge (1 Cor. 12:8) Like other early-church gifts, these involved the ability to understand and communicate God’s truth to people. The list numbers eighteen separate gifts (though I have linked several together). Is this all? Nowhere is there any suggestion that there are other gifts, and these that are listed would seem to be sufficient for the building of the body of Christ. Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (p. 432). Moody Press.