In Ephesians 6: 1-9 Paul tells us about "the domestic life of Spirit filled believers as children and servants."
In 6: 1 Paul tells us to obey our parents because this is right, in this case our parent is God, as believers in Christ, God the Father is above all and is all.
In 6: 2-3 Paul states the first commandment, Honor your father and mother that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.
Just as when we were small children our parents gave us all we needed to grow, love, home, food, and discipline, God dose the same. When we stray, in our busy lives from God, He allows things to happen to bring our attention back to Him.
Always try to remember God loved us so much He allowed His only Son to be crucified that we might come before Him blameless and cleansed of our sins, in supplication and praising His name.
MAY GODS LOVE BRING YOU THE JOY HE WANTS FOR YOU.
Your sister in Christ Sharon Rose

In Ephesians 6:4 Paul states fathers don't provoke your your children to anger, but bring them up in discipline and instruction in the Lord.
In this instance Paul is telling the church body how to treat, not only one another , but I believe he is also telling them how to treat new new christens.
If you can remember how it was after the first utopia of accepting Christ, gradually wore off we slipped back into old habits, slowly we stopped morning prayer ,we were in to much of a hurry , getting the children ready for school, getting ready for work, or hurrying to an appointment. then we either forgot to go to bible study or we were to busy, we tell ourselves we will go next week. One Sunday we don't feel to well and miss church, the next time we are invited somewhere. In the meantime our church friends seem to melt away because we are to busy, involved in our own lives we don't have time for them.
As a church body we need to make a effort to keep these people included in our church life, we need to go out of our way to keep them involved. If they are to busy, offer to help, if they can't get a baby sitter offer to help, if to help, if they can't afford a sitter, offer to help. Do not offer money offer your time and friendship, money willingly insult them and hurt there feelings. I know I've been there! If money is a problem, for gas to get there LOAN them the money to be paid back at their leisure . Most people will pay it back $1.00 at a time if they have to. Do not expect it back, if you don't expect it back you will never be disappointed, always remember the money is not yours it belongs to God.
In keeping them close to their church family we keep them close to God until it becomes a new habit and life.
Old habits must be replaced with new, Old friends must be replaced with new. We can't change if we don't replace the old with the new. It's like changing dirty cloths for clean after a shower.
MAY GOD GRANT YOU ALL HIS BLESSINGS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT BRING YOU PEACE
Your loving sister in Christ Sharon Rose

In Ephesians 6:5-8 Paul tells us how to behave toward our employers and those we have made contracts with.
In 6:5 he says " Slaves be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh," in this case he is talking about Christians, "rendering unto Caesar that which is Caesars," giving a days work for a days pay, honoring our debts, paying our taxes, being honest with each other in all things. Even if we don't respect the man we should respect the office, weather it be your boss, a police officer, or the President of the United States.
None of us is perfect, if we were God would not have had to send Jesus Christ to us, and Christ would not have allowed Himself to be sacrificed on the cross for our sins. All sin is black, there is not a small sin, lying is as great a sin as murder. all sin leaves a black stain, that is the reason we ask for forgiveness each day, we sin unknowingly. Some times we hurt other people without knowing it , sometimes we lie to keep from hurting someone else.
In 6:5 Paul also states "with fear and trembling, with sincerity of your heart as to Christ;" We need to be as sincere in our dealings as we possibly can be and willing to give those things to our debtors as we our to give our love and reverence to Christ, and our willingness to follow Gods plan for us.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU IN ALL THINGS AND FLOOD YOUR LIFE WITH HIS LOVE
Your sister in Christ Sharon Rose

Ephesians 6:6-8

In Ephesians 6:6 Paul tells us not to give lip service to those above us, but to give obedience to them as we would to Christ, "doing the will of God from the heart"
Since we are children of God, that doesn't mean doing something contrary to God's law or something we know is against civil law.
In 6:7 Paul states " with good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men,"
In 6:8 "knowing that whatever good thing each one does; this he will reserve back from the Lord,"
As we know God is very faithful in His promises and always returns 10 fold what ever we give, be it love or service.
God wants us to deal with all people as we would with Him, not being doormat but with respect and caring. It's alright to say no but with a reason not out of malice.

This is a prayer that all Alanon participants get.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, and the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
this prayer has every thing to do with discernment.

GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVE YOU DISCERNMENT
Your sister in Christ Sharon Rose

In Ephesians 6:9 Paul tells us "Masters to do the same to them " meaning our employers, police officers, and all people that are over us , "knowing that both their Master and yours is in Heaven", none of us is perfect but each day we must strive to do our best to be faithful to God, and His words of encouragement to us in our walk with Christ, as brothers and sisters of Christ our Lord, we want to follow His example of love and generosity to each other and to the people we want to lead to Christ .
"and there is no partiality with Him". God doesn't see a difference between bosses, or even the president of the USA and employees, all christens are equal in His sight.
Tomorrow I will start on Paul's statements on "The warfare of the Spirit-filled believers"
MAY GOD BE WITH YOU AND THAT YOU WILL BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Your loving sister in Christ Sharon Rose

I told you last time I posted that we would go through Paul's statements on The warfare of the Spirit-filled believers.

(a) The Warriors power
In Ephesians 6:10Paul said "Finally be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might," Prayer is the strongest weapon Christ has given us, Through Him to God the Father, we will be protected by the Holy Spirit if we ask for that protection.

(b) The warriors armor
Ephe 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil."
One of the things satin dose is to take scripture out of context, another is to misquote scripture. That is one of the reasons it is so important to know your Bible, Gods word is one of the very important weapons we have.
It's wonderful if you can memorize scripture, but if you know God's word you will have some idea of where to look it up, ask where they found it if they can't or won't tell you look it up or ask your pastor. DON'T TAKE ANYONE'S WORD FOR GRANTED VERIFY IT.

MAY GOD BE WITH YOU IN ALL THINGS AND BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY
Your loving sister in Christ Sharon Rose

( c) The warrior's foes
In Ephesians 6: 12 Paul tells us " Our struggle isn't against flesh and blood" in these words I feel he is speaking about the devils "minions" people that would twist Gods word for their own profit or power, because he goes on to say "against the world forces of this darkness, against the forces of wickedness in heavenly places." I believe he is telling us to be watchful, even in our own churches and leaders of us.
I have watched preachers on TV and followed them in my Bible, take things out of context to make a point of theirs.
In Ephe. 6:13 he tells us to "take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day." We know that many places in the Bible God has warned us about false profits, if you look up false profits in your index you find there are many references, especially in these later days, when we know Gods plan is coming to its end.
In Ephe. 6:14 Paul tells us to stand firm with truth and to put on the breast plate of righteousness." and in Ephe.6:15 he says "shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace". All through Ephesians Paul tells us to read your Bible, IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WEAPON WE HAVE AGAINST THE DEVIL.
In Ephe. 6:16 Paul tells us to take up the shield of faith with it we can extinguish all the missiles of the evil one and in 6:17 he says to "take up the Helmet of Salvation ,and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."
There is nothing I can say on these 2 paragraphs as I believe there as plain as you can get.
Our Salvation, Prayers, and the knowledge of the Word of God can bring us through anything that the devil can throw at us.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH YOU
Your sister in Christ Sharon Rose

(d) The warrior's resource
In Ephesians 6:18-20, Paul tells us in 6:18 to pray at all times in the Spirit and to "be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints".
Saint is a wonderful word, yet none of us are saints, we are all flawed and undeserving of Gods love, how wonderful that we can come before God through Jesus Christ cleansed by His Blood and become saints in Gods eyes.
In 6:19 Paul asks for prayer on his behalf that he would speak out with boldness the Mystery of the Gospel.
Like us Paul asks for prayer that he would speak, out with boldness, about our Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. and Gods wonderful words of love and obedience, to God.
In 6:20 Paul says he is an ambassador in chains.
Remember that at this time Paul was in prison for preaching Christ's birth, death and resurrection to the right hand of God, and the salvation of all through the Blood of Christ, the Son of God.
Paul asks for prayer that he would speak out boldly as he should, about the love of Christ and God, and the sacrifice of Father and Son for us, that we would be able to go before God cleansed of all sin.

MAY GOD BLESS AND COMFORT YOU IN ALL THINGS
Your loving sister in Christ Sharon Rose

Conclusion, of Paul's letter to the Ephesians.
Ephe. 6:21-24
In Ephe 6:21-22 Paul tells the Ephesians, all the Saints of Ephesioa, that he is sending Tychicus to them to let know what is happening to him in Rome.
In 6:22 Paul tells us that Tychicus is also there to comfort their hearts.
I feel that to get the most from Paul's words you need to read the last 2 paragraphs for your self. Those are 6:23-24.
I hope and pray that in reading this wonderful Book of Ephesians, you have studied it along with me, Christ is reaching out to us, through Gods word, and we all need to read and study it in the Spirit to get the most out of it.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU, THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH YOU, AND YOUR LOVE OF CHRIST GROW EACH DAY.
Your loving sister in Christ Sharon Rose