LGC - Rooted & Fruitful Part 26

Rooted & Fruitful (Part 26)

Speaker: Serene Lim

INTRODUCTION

How do we remain victorious in a spiritual battle? In Rooted & Fruitful Part 25, we look at the beginning of Paul’s exhortation for believers to put on the full armour of God, which is crucial for our daily walk.

Let us go on the journey of understanding this armour, starting with the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness.

DISCUSSION

Spend some time reading Ephesians 6:10-12 together to get familiar with the context.

a. Do you consider yourself someone who attributes most circumstances to logic, coincidence or scientific reasoning, or do you feel that everything has a spiritual cause? As believers, how can we have the right view of the unseen realm and the part we play in it?

b. Think of the last time you set out to do something God asked you to do, or obey God’s Word, only to encounter many roadblocks and obstacles. (Examples: getting sick when on a mission trip, wanting to preach the gospel but facing many physical interruptions) What was your response when you encountered these obstacles?
Read Ephesians 6:13.

a. After putting on the armour of God, we are called to “stand firm”. From a military viewpoint, this might seem strange or counterintuitive. Yet, many instances in the Old Testament reveal that this was the strategy given by God to His people. (Read Exodus 14 and 2 Chronicles 20:1-30.)

(i) Why would God call His people to take on such a posture, stead of initiating the battle?

(ii) Which part of this spiritual battle is,
• God’s responsibility, and
• Our responsibility?

b. Read Ephesians 14.

(i) “… having fastened on the belt of truth” The belt that Paul describes is one that soldiers put on before the rest of the armour. Before a soldier puts on his armour, he must first gird up his loins by pulling up his tunic and tucking it into the inner belt so that his legs can move freely and easily. Then he would put on his breastplate and outer belt. Followed by his shoes and helmet, and finally, he picks up his shield and sword.

In short, truth must be the first thing every believer has if they want to be effective in spiritual warfare. Paul emphasises the importance of being prepared for spiritual warfare by grounding ourselves in absolute truth. This truth, wrapped around our core, strengthens our faith and keeps us steadfast, preventing us from being swayed by the ever-changing trends of culture and society.

• Read John 14:6. How does believing in Jesus as “the truth” strengthen your faith when you face doubts or challenges?

• How can you lovingly share Jesus as the truth with those who may believe in relative truths or conflicting worldviews?

(ii) “… having put on the breastplate of righteousness”

• How does righteousness cause us to be shielded from the schemes of the enemy?

• Read 2 Cor 5:21. How can you live out your identity as the righteousness of God in your relationships, work, and daily decisions?

• In what ways does disregarding God’s righteousness make you more vulnerable to sin and worldly influences?

WHAT WILL YOU DO

Truth and righteousness are not virtues we can stir or conjure up on our own; the Word tells us both are found in Jesus.

Let us recognise that the enemy will do all he can to derail or hinder us from advancing the Kingdom of God, but we do not need to live in fear because of the promise that Jesus has disarmed and triumphed over the powers of darkness at the cross (Colossians 2:15).

By putting on the armour of God, we are putting on Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), and He is also our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). Let us put our full trust in Him.

MEMORY VERSE

“Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,…” – ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭

An Each 1 Reach 1 Reflection

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” – 2 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Christ’s resurrection is the great hope of all who believe in Him. Because He died and rose again, we can rest assured in the promise that one day, we too will receive eternal life and resurrected bodies. Death will not have a hold on us, and sin, pain, and brokenness will be removed when He returns and restores all things.

Not only should we live with this hope in our hearts, let us also share the gift of the gospel with those who currently “have no hope”. Who knows? They, too, might believe, and be recipients of the glorious inheritance that comes with putting our trust in Jesus.

Let us pray.