Dispersed For His Glory (1 Peter 1:1)

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,” (1 Peter 1:1, ESV)

Yesterday we looked at 1 Peter 1:1 in the New American Standard translation of the Bible. Today we are looking at the English Standard Version. It is not that they say different things, but that the translators chose to use different words. In fact, in the ESV they chose to translate one particular word with a capital letter in order to indicate it as a particular event in history and not a statement of where the believers might be located. The word is “the Dispersion” as opposed to “scattered,” and the Greek word which was translated in these two ways is “diasporia.”

The idea here is that rather than a gradual spreading of the faith as people heard the good news of salvation in Christ, there was a forced movement of those believers as they fled persecution because of that same faith. In the simplest form my mind is drawn back to the early days of Robin and me being married and living in an apartment in Reseda, California. No matter how hard we tried to fight the problem, we were regularly infested with roaches. They just wouldn’t go away. The property owner might spray our apartment and kill a great number, but they would just come back again from the apartment next door. The only way we had of ridding ourselves of them ultimately as to move away from where they were. That is one side of the picture. But there is another, more dramatic side, as well. Whenever we would come into the kitchen (or any room) at night and turn on the light we would instantly see them fleeing in all directions into whatever safe from being seen hiding place they could find. The light signaled a danger, and they fled its presence. I must admit that this is one thing that I really enjoy not having to experience any more. There is a simple principle here, and that is persecution leads to the responses of either fight or flight, and fight in some instances is the best answer.

For a significant period of time the people of God—the Jews—did not have a home. They had disobeyed God’s ordinances and God brought judgment upon them, and the most common form of this judgment was allowing them to be invaded and/or taken captive by other nations who represented outside forces of evil. Even though the people would again come together and have a nation as was true in the time of Christ, we also know from Scripture that many Jews either did not or were not able to return. We see this in passages such as John 7:35 and James 1:1 where we read,

“The Jews therefore said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we shall not find Him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He?” (John 7:35, NASB)

“James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad, greetings.” (James 1:1, NASB)

These two passages clearly refer to Jew who were outside of their homeland. In both of these passages we read “the Dispersion” which is found as “ho diaspora” in the Greek. Notice that the word “ho” precedes the word “diaspora.” “Ho” is a definite article which is commonly translated as “the” indicating a specific event as opposed to a general pattern. This seems to indicate that John is referring to a historical event that moved the Jews from where they once lived, and in this case it is a series of event which over time moved the Jews away, not to return. There were many who were living abroad or outside their homeland.

Moving back to 1 Peter we find that the article “ho” is not present, and reading through the letter, we find that these people who are scattered are not specifically they Jews, but those who have believed in Jesus Christ and were saved being both Jew and Gentile. The point of question here is whether these believers were scattered broadly because the word had spread to their land or they were scattered because they had fled persecution. The best answer is probably both.

Beginning at Pentecost we know that large numbers of Jews had traveled to Jerusalem for this annual celebration, and when the Spirit came we read that all of those present heard the words in their own tongue. “Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because they were each one hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and marveled, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?“ Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”” (Acts 2:5–11, NASB)

We then go on to read that after Peter spoke to them that they were cut to their hearts, resulting in what we read in verse 41. “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41, NASB) Eventually many who were saved would return home, and the word would spread. But beyond that we also know that the apostles, including Paul and others were sent out specifically to spread this Good News and to help these new believers grow. The book of Acts and the various letters of Paul give us much of this record.

These events speak to that positive form of spreading. But we also know from Scripture and from history that there was another form of spreading of these early believers, and that was persecution. Early on this was largely among the Jews as the Jewish leadership was seeking to drag believers out of their homes and bring them to trial. Saul (Paul) was one of those engaged in this practice until Jesus stopped him in his tracks and opened his eyes to the truth. But over time this animosity increased as these believers also became the enemy of the Roman government leading to them even being blamed for the burning of Rome and many suffering as martyrs as a result.

The reality of the issue is that regardless of the reason that believers have become scattered, the incredible truth is that with them the news of salvation in Jesus Christ has spread as well. Every single person who has or who ever will trust in Jesus Christ for salvation is chosen by God and knit together as one into His eternal family. We are one body in Christ. We are His church, His glorious bride, and He chose us. Knowing this we have the incredible privilege and responsibility to spread this great truth about this most incredible relationship with all who will hear regardless of where God may have us scattered or placed.

Jesus, Himself, said, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:18–20, NASB) Then in Acts He added, “but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”” (Acts 1:8, NASB) 

Chosen—Peter, Them, and Us (1 Peter 1:1)

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen” (1 Peter 1:1, NASB95)

The gospel of Mark records for us following Jesus’ baptism and temptation in the wilderness, that He began the selection of His disciples. We read in Mark 1:16-20, “As He [Jesus] was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.” (Mark 1:16–20, NASB95) The first four were Simon (who would later be named “Peter” by Jesus), his brother Andrew, and the brothers James and John. All four of them were fishermen who were chosen by God called away by Jesus to become “fishers of men.” And, as we progress through the gospels when we find the disciples mentioned as a group, it was Peter whose name was most prominent among them. Peter lived His life for Christ in a very visible way, and when he stumbled he stumbled visibly as well.

It was Peter that told Jesus He would stick with Him to the last person, to which Jesus told him that he would instead deny Him three times before the rooster crowed in the morning (Matthew 26:30-35). And of course, Peter did exactly as Jesus had said (Matthew 26:69-75). “Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:74–75, NASB95)

Then after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, when the disciples were awaiting Him in Galilee where they were told to go, it was Peter who led a group of others to go fishing. But that night not a single fish was caught, or at least not until Jesus (being unrecognized) spoke to them from the shore instructing them to cast their nets to the other side. Then the catch was so great that they could not haul it in. John immediately recognized who it was that had spoken to them, and hearing this Peter leaped from the boat to rush to Jesus on the shore leaving the rest to drag in the net. After they had had breakfast Jesus then spoke to Peter and asked him if he loved Him. Peter replied that of course he did, and Jesus charged Peter to feed His lambs. Three times Jesus would ask Peter, and three times Peter would affirm that he did indeed love Jesus. Each time Jesus charged Peter with the task of taking care of His sheep. “He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.” (John 21:17, NASB95)

Reading through the book of Acts we see that Peter was indeed faithful to this charge. And, as we come closer to the end of his life we find that we have these two letters of 1 and 2 Peter recorded for us. 1 Peter was most likely written in the mid-60’s A.D. when persecution of Christians had dramatically increased, and believers had been dispersed throughout various regions, even as we see listed in this verse. The exact location of where Peter was at the writing of this letter is only speculated upon with some believing that he may have obscured the location of those he was with referring to it only as the church in Babylon (1 Peter 5:13).

Clearly times were tough for believers. Persecution was on the upswing, and Peter was writing to encourage them. And, just as Peter was chosen personally by Christ, his first words to these believers was to remind them that they were chosen as well. They were not unhappy accidents. They were not neglected people who had got caught up on the wrong side of a movement, and were now scattered in lieu of being swallowed up. They were chosen by God with the fullness of His infinite and eternal knowledge according to His perfect and unlimited wisdom. He chose them, and He chooses us with His eyes full open and He never makes a mistake. And just as He chooses us, He does so with the full awareness of absolutely everything we will encounter regardless of where we might be.

Thinking about this, last week I was a work and a customer came up and asked me if I had a Proverb for her. I did not recognize her and do not know what she knows about me or if she even knows me. But she asked, and I asked her in return “Why?” Was there something going on that she needed some encouragement? She told me that she was being attacked by someone else, and she wanted a word of encouragement for her defense. I briefly told her that I did not know if anything would change the person’s feelings or actions toward her, but that there is a God who would bring her through. I walked her through Psalm 139 and the truth that God encloses us before and behind, that He has His hand on our shoulder. He knows when we rise up and sit down. He has evaluated our thoughts and He knows every work on our tongue before we every speak it. God is with us when we are at the heights of joy and He is equally with us in the deepest depths of darkness. And He has promised to be our help. At this point I was amazed that no other customers had come along, and I proceeded to encourage her to look to Him and rely on His strong hand regardless of what anyone else might do. He will not let go.

We live in difficult times in this country. We have an election coming where there is no good choice for President, and regardless of the outcome things may get much more difficult for believers. Sure, there might be one who is more favorable toward Christians, but even then there is a legal and social environment that is not quite so kind. As I think about the times in Rome that prompted Peter to write this letter when the emperor Nero was either blaming or soon to blame Christians and turned the people against them, I am reminded that our God holds us wherever we might be. As I think about David who had countless enemies and who had spent so many years fleeing the then King, Saul, I am reminded that our God is our unfailing help. And, as I think about our Lord who was crucified on our behalf, I am reminded that Jesus understands exactly what is going on and the plight we are experiencing. What to us might seem like a world out of control and without hope, really is an opportunity for us to put our trust in our God who has absolute and total control and will work His plan perfectly until its completion.

In Christ, God chooses and we are secure. For those of us responded to Christ, who have believed that He was sent by the Father just as He had promised, and that He died, was buried, and rose again, we are indeed chosen and no one will snatch us out of His hand.

“… I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.” (1 Peter 5:12–14, NASB95) 

First Hand Encourager (Ephesians 6:21-24)

“But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.” (Ephesians 6:21–24, NASB95)

Paul had just asked the audience of his letter to be praying for him in a more general sense. In these final words Paul informs them that his desire in sending Tychicus with the letter was that they also might hear in more detail first hand from someone who was there with him. Paul was sending Tychicus as a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord to them. Their relationship with him was important, and just as it was important to hear how they are doing so was it important for them to hear how he was doing.

Paul had just told them to pray and petition at all times for all things, and here he follows it up by giving them more specifics for how to pray which reinforced the oneness that they had in Christ despite the physical distance they shared. In Christ they were one regardless of their location. In the same Spirit they could pray for one another. As people who had shared in his ministry, Paul desired to give them appropriate updates on just how that ministry was going and how he as the minister was doing.

Hearing how he and those with him were standing strong even in prison and persecution was to be an encouragement for them to stand also. This is the instruction of Ephesians 6:10-18—to stand firm. Hearing how Paul was standing firm was similarly to bring comfort to their hearts and encourage them to stand firm also.

As I reflected on these words I thought about the email updates that I get from friends on the mission field or in service to God in some other area. These letters are more than just updates. They are sent so that we might continually enter into the work with them as our hearts are knit together and we remember them before our God. Knowing how they are doing and what they are facing encourages us to pray for them, but it also encourages us as we are reminded that we are not alone in service to our Lord. It is because of this same relationship that we share with our God that we also can encourage one anther knowing that He is firmly in control of each of our lives. Just as He was working in Paul and Tychicus, so was he working in the believers in Ephesus and us today.

These last words are used to remind them of not only their oneness, but also to let them know of his continued prayers for them. The benediction, “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love” are read in churches regularly as one of many benedictions from the Word as churches send their people out for the week. They are a hope for the days ahead as we separate from one another. They are not well-wishing, but they are firmly founded in truth.

Paul prayed for peace to be with them. Looking back to the salvation we have in Christ, we are reminded that we are at peace with God because our sins have been forgiven fully in Christ. There is no more charge of sin against us. We are also reminded that as we go into the world that we do so with the presence of God who holds us firmly in His hands. This means that we can find His peace even when there is turmoil all around us. And, as we walk and rub against each other we are reminded that we are to continually be mindful of the oneness we have in Christ as we are longsuffering and forgiving. We are to seek to be at peace with one other because we belong to the God who makes us at peace with Himself. In this prayer for peace is also the recognition that they are living in a world that knows no peace and that there will be various forms of trials, tribulation and suffering. There is the hope that things will go well, knowing that God always holds our welfare.

Paul prayed that they would know the love of God and that they would love for one another. Knowing that God loves us and that He is working His good will in us emboldens our faith to trust Him more even when things on their surface seem to say otherwise. We can choose to love even when others might be or act unloving. We can do this because we choose not to love with the feelings of our immediate response, but with the love that we know is right from Him. This is how we evidence our faith in Him as we respond in love toward others. We become vulnerable because we know that our God is totally in control.

The context of all of this is exactly what Paul wrote, “from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” We are in Christ because of Christ’s sacrifice for us. We have a relationship with God the Father because He sent His Son to bring us to Him. He is the one from who all things come, and it is Christ who holds all things together. Our God loves us and all that we have is from Him, even our ability to stand when things get tough. Our great joy is in knowing that we have a great hope from our God who will never disappoint.

The last words of Paul in this letter are, “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.” The love we have for God is a result of His love for us, and His love is unchanging and incorruptible. It is unable to be contaminated or diluted. His love is perfect and this is exactly how He has loved us, and now we love in return because we have known and are learning more and more of His perfect love. We love because He first loved us, and as we grow in Him we understand more and more just how perfect His love is. In Christ we are given the ability to love, and having graciously been given that ability we are called to put it into practice in our lives. And Paul is encouraging them and us in these last words that we would know daily God’s incredible favor toward us as we live and love in His love.

This was his prayer for them. It is his prayer for us. And as we pray for others, we are incredibly privileged to pray the same for them, even as we side-by-side are to put into practice the encouragement that God has given to us.

And Alertly Praying (Ephesians 6:18-20)

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:18–20, NASB95)

Frequently when people speak of the Christian armor of Ephesians chapter 6 they end with the Word of God being the final piece, and essentially it is. But looking to our passage we quickly observe that Paul immediately moves from this last piece to the subject of prayer. And, if you were to think of this in a military sense, especially understanding that the battle we are engaged in is not one of flesh and blood, but of the spirit, this transition makes perfect sense. What soldier would go out into battle on his own against an enemy that he could not see? This is a sure formula for defeat. But recognizing that our success in battle is totally dependent on our standing firm in Christ, then it makes sense that we need to be in close touch with Him as we engage the enemy.

The way we do this is through prayer, and prayer is nothing more that communicating with God. We are told in these verses, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times….” Twice we see here the word “all.” We see all in the subject of our prayer and we see all in the time of our prayer. We are told to pray about all things at all times. The converse of the is that there is nothing that we cannot bring to Him and there is no time that He is too busy to be bothered. There is nothing too big or too small. There is no waking Him up in the middle of the night and there is no excuse for us when we are woken up in the middle of the night. There is no situation too intense for Him, and there is no situation too rushed or intense for us when we also cannot look and pray to Him. We may not have an hour to run away to a closet, but we have that moment to look to Him and plead for His help and guidance. We truly can and we truly are intended to pray to Him at all times and in all things.

We see what might seem to be two forms or classifications of prayer here. We have the word “prayer” and the word “petition.” Prayer is the broader, all-inclusive, form of prayer. It includes absolutely everything. It includes our adoration of God, our worship of Him, our praises, our confession, and our thanksgiving. There is nothing which is to be excluded from our prayer. It even includes this second aspect—petition. Petition is when we bring specific requests to Him, and possibly mentioning it separately we are reminded that going to God is more than asking things of Him, but also going to Him means that we can ask things of Him. When we are engaged in battle we need to communicate with the commander, and this is God. When we are engaged in battle we have needs, and it is right and appropriate to lift those needs to Him. It is right for us to prayer for ourselves and to pray for others. This is part of prayer, and Paul tells us here to bring all of our prayers to God. There is nothing that He does not know and nothing that He cannot do, but He wants to hear from us. This is how He works. We look to Him and He answers. What an incredible gift He has given to us to have a relationship with Himself. He truly does care and He is powerful to answer.

We also read that we are to pray “in the Spirit.” This does not mean that we have to be in some special state in order to pray such that God hears and responds. We do not have to get right first. In fact, the very process of getting right involves our confessing our wrong, thanking Him for His forgiveness, and agreeing with Him on moving forward right. What praying in the Spirit does include is the understanding of with whom and to whom we pray. Our prayers are not empty wishes thrown up into space, but they are communication with the Living God with whom we have been brought into an eternal relationship through His Son and through whom we have been eternally sealed by the Spirit. This phrase reminds us of the respectful attitude that we are to have recognizing with whom we are communicating. We are talking through the Holy Spirit to the sovereign, all-powerful God, and in so remembering this we don’t come to him with a flip, indifferent or even haughty attitude. We have been privileged to be able to speak to God through the Spirit of God who unites us with God in the Son.

Praying in the Spirit also means that we come before God seeking and submitting to God’s will for our lives. Our prayers are to be laid before Him in such a way that we are seeking to align our wills for our desires with His will for His plans. We aren’t to come to Him asking Him to do things that are contrary to His will especially when we know from His Word that what we are asking is specifically prohibited by Him. And when we do come to Him asking things that we are not certain about, we do so with attitudes that are willingly submitted to Him responding according to His own counsel or will.

We also are told to “be on the alert” in regard to our prayer. In 1 Peter 5:8 we read, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NASB95) We have a very active enemy and he is an opportunist, looking for every opportunity to attack. Recognizing that our battle is largely an unseen one, we need to be on the alert to those signs that something might be going on and we need to be prayerful concerning those things. We need to be constantly mindful, recognizing that the battle is real and that we need to be continually in contact with the only One who can truly see what is going on and knows how to respond to it. Oftentimes, these attacks come in the form of an off look or a misplaced response. Maybe someone was a bit harsh, and we respond with angrily in some way. James 1:19 tells us to be quick to hear, slow to listen and slow to anger. Being alert in this situation means not taking the bait and biting back. It means stopping to look to God and seeking His right way to respond or even put aside. The battle might even be more extreme leading to us or someone close to us climbing into a dark hole or depression. We need to be alert to these things and bring them to God so that the path can be cut short and a new and stable stance be taken. Being alert is how we do this.

The way we do this alertly is with “perseverance and petition….” This is the second time that petition is mentioned, but it is also the second time, in a sense, that perseverance is mentioned. We read that we are to do this at all times. Praying at all times is persevering in prayer. It is not throwing something at God and them ignoring, it is being constantly aware of the situation and being constantly attuned to bringing it to the hands of God. The devil is persistent, and we are told to persevere and to persevere with specific requests (petitions) of God. As these things are on our minds, our continually being in prayer at all times for all things is bringing these continual things continually to God trusting Him to hear and respond. It is not begging or pestering, but it is the continual recognition of our need and the needs of others and His ability to meet those needs. Persevering and petitioning keeps us mindful that God is God and it is in Him that we are to trust and to stand.

Then we read that we are to do this for “all the saints.” Every single believer is united with one another in Christ. We are made one in Him and we all have the same enemy. We are not in this battle alone, and Paul reminds us that we are to be in prayer for all of those around us so that we might mutually support one another in Christ as we look to God to hear and meet their needs as well as ours. Not only do we have opportunities to speak truth and encouragement to others, but we have been given the incredible privilege and responsibility to bring one another before the God who draws us to Him and who holds us securely in His hands.

Praying for others takes our focus off of the hurt they may have caused us, and turns our hearts toward God tenderly caring for them remembering that He is the one that makes us righteous with the righteousness of His own Son. Just think about how relationships might be changed if rather than harboring hurts we turn to our God and pray His blessings and help instead. Praying for others also brings us on board with them as they are engaged in the work given to them by God. We may not be able to go on the mission field or to walk in the shoes of other believers, but we surely can join with them in prayer as we come before our God who works all things in all His people.

In the next couple of verses Paul gives his readers specifics concerning how they might prayer as he turns his attention to himself and how they might pray for him. “…and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Encouraging them to get specific in their prayers and petitions, Paul gave them specifics asking that they pray that he might not only have opportunities to speak, but that he might also have boldness in those opportunities to speak the truth with which we have all been entrusted, and that he might do so in just the right way.

“Prayer is definitely the final piece of the Christian's strategy in living a successful life amidst the spiritual attacks one faces in this world. Its importance should not be overlooked. This is the way to put on the full armor of God, for God is the one who teaches us the ways of war and fights the battle through our hands and feet. It is in communion with Christ that the armor is set and reset for battle. We must allow him to cinch up the belt of truth tightly and to lower over us His breastplate of righteousness and tie on His sandals of his peace with God and the peace of God, if we want to be victorious. Thus armed, through prayer and dependence upon the Lord, and the confidence we have through being in Christ, we can take our stand for Jesus Christ. The choice is ours.” [Spiritual Warfare, Calvary Crossroads Church]

Armed with Authority (Ephesians 6:17)

“And take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17, NASB95)

Historically, the soldier in Paul's day would have one of two types of swords which he would use in hand-to-hand combat. There was the broadsword which would have been about 3 to 4 feet long and was quite heavy. In the hands of a strong soldier who knew how to wield it, the broadsword could have a devastating impact on the enemy. And, there was also a much smaller sword, almost dagger-like, ranging from 6-18 inches long. This one was called the “makira.” This is the type of sword spoken of here in Ephesians 6. It was the smaller, more easily wielded, sharp double-edged sword used in hand-to-hand combat. It was the kind of sword which the soldier could quickly and easily maneuver to defend against the thrusts of his opponent, and in verse 17 Paul specifically refers to this sword as the “Word of God.”

I find it interesting that just as there are two types of swords; the huge and hefty broadsword and the smaller and more easily wielded one, so are there two words for the Word of God. And, just as Paul is not referring to the broadsword here, he also is not referring to the full and broad Word of God—the complete Bible. He is not figuratively speaking of picking up and swinging the entire Bible at our enemy. This would have been represented with the word “logos,” which is used in the opening verse of John's Gospel. “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.” (John 1:1) Instead, Paul used a second, less frequently used word, “rhema.”

Where “logos” is the total utterance of God, “rhema” is a specific saying, promise, truth or principle of God. Where we might look at “logos” in that sense as the whole Bible, “rhema” would refer to a specific verse or passage specially selected from the “logos” for the situation. “Rhema” refers to individual words of God such as a passage or a verse which has special application to an immediate situation. It does not refer to the whole Bible. Where the Bible or “logos” is the entirety of the Word of God or possibly the full armory, the “rhema” is just one of the weapons in the armory. It is specific to the situation or to that specific fight or parry of the sword.

It is these specific verses that you stand on when attacked that apply to the specific nature of the attack. It is these particular verses that seem to come alive and take on new meaning, even leaping off the page to direct or speak to you when maybe you’ve read them many times before without noticing just what they had to say. That’s a “rhema.” These “rhema's” are called the “sword of the spirit” because they originate with Spirit of God as the author of the Word of God, and because they are God's weapons for the believer to use when fighting off Satan's attacks or lies.

As a sword, the Word of God is useful both as a defensive and an offensive weapon. As a defensive weapon, John MacArthur states, “Unlike the shield, however, which gives broad and general protection, the sword can deflect an attack only if it is handled precisely and skillfully. It must parry the enemy weapon exactly where the thrust is made. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, His defense for each temptation was a passage of Scripture that precisely contradicted the devil's word. (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10.) ... Scripture is not a broadsword (rhomphaia) to be waved indiscriminately, but a dagger to be used with great precision.” [EPHESIANS, p.370, MacArthur.]

When we are tempted to do things that are wrong and we want to rationalize what we are about to do, it’s the specific passages of scripture that set us straight. When we find that we have failed and we’ve been defeated by Satan and we are in sin, it these “rhema” passages that come to our minds that then become the means of preventing any more painful reoccurrences of the same sin.

Jesus made it very clear that we cannot overcome Satan's deception by human reasoning. You can only do it by God's revelation. Jesus said in John 8:31-32, “If you abide in My word, [then] you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” On the night that he was betrayed, Jesus also prayed later in 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.” It is critical for us to use God's weapon of truth, the “rhema”, for it is our only valid weapon against the darkness of deception.

While we have been looking at these pieces of armor as defensive in nature, “rhema” is also an offensive weapon. We can use the “rhema” of God offensively to aid another individual who is being spiritually attacked by the wicked one by helping them be released from the grasp of his lie by showing them the truth. For instance: doubt often hits us when we are alone, and it gains a foothold in our lives, making us ineffective and sometimes unable to believe God for anything else. Then a brother or sister in Christ quotes a specific verse that erases the doubt and reminds us about something of God's character or maybe a promise or something we need. So we can definitely use “the rhema” as an offensive weapon.

This all points to what should be an obvious conclusion. And that is that the greater exposure there is to Scripture, the more we can use this mighty sword in our lives. And exposure comes from more than just sitting and listening to a sermon on Sunday. The battle we are engaged in is an everyday battle, and as such our time in the word really should be in line with the need. Imagine being attacked and being told, “The armory doesn’t open until Sunday. Hope you can hang on.” This is not how God works, but many Christians live as if He did. The psalmist asked and answered this important question in Psalm 119:9 and 11 where we read, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.” … “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:9, 11, NASB95)

Paul wrote to Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15, NASB95) The only way, as 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says that we can “destroy speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God,” that is, identifying and rejecting specific lies, then replacing them with the truth, is to know “the rhema,” the specific truths of God found in His word.

But even if you don’t know them, don’t fret! Use the concordance of your Bible or call a mature Christian friend. Yesterday, as I sat on the couch listening, my wife Robin was that friend on the other end of the phone for a young person in need. They talked. She spoke truth to the situation, and they prayed.

(Again, this post is adapted from the course on Spiritual Warfare prepared by Joe Burgess for Calvary Crossroads Church from a sermon series given by Bob Bonner)

Remembering Salvation is Settled (Ephesians 6:17a)

“And take the helmet of salvation….” (Ephesians 6:17, NASB95)

As I think about this fifth piece of armor I think of the words “certain hope.” How fitting it is to link salvation and the protection of the head of the soldier. Without the helmet it was much easier to defeat the soldier. I quick swing of the sword or an unguarded arrow could quickly reach home and end his life. Looking to many pictures of what is known of the typical helmet of Paul’s time we see that the helmet not only protected the head, but it usually extended down in the back to protect the neck as well.

As much as people might have been entranced with the ideas of a Frankenstein or even a Herman Munster being created with a head sewn onto a body, the reality we all know is that without the head there is no life. And as humorous as some might think it to be to watch Young Frankenstein and see them use a brain labeled “AB NORMAL,” thinking it a name rather than a condition, the reality is that our brains in whatever state they are and with whatever challenges we (or our loved ones) face, are essential to life. The soldier knew the essential nature of protecting his head and all that it contained and meant. It is for that reason that when he went into battle he took his helmet with him firmly placed where it belonged.

Spiritually speaking, the “helmet of salvation” can protect us from despair, depression, and confusion. It can keep us from giving in or giving up. And the reason that it does is because we know that all is not lost. In 1 Thessalonians 5:8 we read, “But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8, NASB95) The reality is that we live in evil times, and because of that we need to be realistic about that truth. But, we need to be realistic in the sense that this truth does not supersede the greater truth of hope that we have knowing that our salvation is a done deal.

In Christ we are secure, and we have an eternal hope that cannot be defeated. We may live at times as if it were not the case, but the helmet is to remind us that this kind of thinking is nothing more than a lie of the evil one or one of those fiery darts that we take up the shield to defend against. At that moment we are to stop taking hits to our heads (our minds) and we are to begin taking those thoughts captive to the truth that we know in Jesus Christ as we read in 2 Corinthians 10:5. “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NASB95) In Colossians 2:8 we read, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8, NASB95)

We really are engaged in the battle for the mind, and protecting our minds with the truth of God’s Word and the assurance of our salvation and security is an essential part to being able to stand firm in the midst of spiritual attack. And as the battles wage on we are to be mindful that every day is just one day closer to seeing this hope of salvation fully realized. Being alert and sober means that being lax or even dozing is not to be an option. “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.” (Romans 13:11, NASB95) Going back a few chapters in Romans, Paul wrote, “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” (Romans 8:24–25, NASB95) It is so much better to be prepared in advance by being constantly mindful of our great hope, but the encouragement of this verse is to remind us when the battle comes remember your hope and then eagerly wait for it. We may not see the answer to the problem right away, but we can know the hope of victory that is assured us in Christ. “For in hope we have been saved” and in hope we persevere. Standing firm dressed in Christ we will prevail.

We have a great hope. Because we are assured of salvation in Jesus Christ we live with the assurance to guard our minds that when we pass from these bodies we step into the perfect presence of our God. There is absolutely nothing any adversary can do to change this. The enemy cannot win. God wins and because of that we are to think soundly knowing that nothing can change this reality or shake our hope.

When attacked and we are tempted to doubt we rest behind the truth that God cannot lie. We trust what He has told us to be true. Just as the Roman soldier had his shield as his forward defense to extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one, so do we have the faith which God has given us in which to rest assured that we are truly His children, forgiven and fully accepted by Him and chosen by Him for His service. We are not a fluke.

We know this to be true because we have been made at peace with God by the blood of His Son. All of the sins against us have been forgiven and we have no remaining charges. Knowing that He is not after us to condemn us, but that He is for us we can go out into the world at peace knowing the peace that only comes from Him. His peace makes us to stand prepared when turmoil surrounds us, and it is only because we are at peace with Him that we truly do find quiet to rest in troubled times.

This is because it never depended on us. It depended on the righteousness of Christ put upon us because of God’s great love that sent His Son to pay for our sins and to cleanse us. This is the breastplate that guards our heart when we are tempted to question our worthiness, and it even humbles us when we become prideful. We are made righteous by God and there is nothing that can change God’s righteousness.

And we know all of this because God’s Word is true. His Son is the perfect embodiment of truth. He came into the world with truth and grace to be for us what we could not be. His Spirit spoke though men to convey that truth into writing so that even today we have it to firmly hold onto and to hide in our hearts. Everything we know hangs on God being truthful, and for that we can be extremely thankful.

The Lord is My Strength and My Shield (Ephesians 6:16)

“in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16, NASB95)

Moving into verses 16 and 17 we find the second division of the six pieces of armor. We read with the first three that these were to have already been put in place in order to remain in place as signified with the word “having.” With these next three we find the tense change to that of a present action— “taking.”

The fourth piece of armor, or the first of these last three, is the “shield of faith.” I think it safe to say that a shield is most obviously a defensive weapon intended to hold off an enemy’s attack whether it be close in by a dagger or sword or from a distance by a spear or arrow. In the comparison used by Paul we not only have arrows, but we have flaming arrows to enhance their deadliness. And, we read that these arrows, as we read a few verses earlier, do not come from the hands of man but are reflecting of the intensity of the spiritual battle in which we are engaged with evil and the evil one.

The evil one is intent on destruction, and he will not hold back anything. Therefore, being able to take up a shield when an attack occurs is an essential part of our defense and our standing firm, just as it was with the Roman soldier. But really, how effective was the soldier’s shield? What kind of shield did he have that would hold off an onslaught of arrows? There were basically two types of shields. One was a smaller one that a soldier might hold in hand-to-hand battle which was easily maneuvered and useful in close combat. It might have been rectangular, but was commonly round as you might have seen in pictures or gladiator type movies.

The other was much larger, and it is the one that Paul refers to here. It is the “Thureos,” which is the Greek word used here. It represents a shield that was approximately 4 1/2 feet tall by 2 1/2 feet wide, and it was sometimes referred to as a “door shield” because of its size. It was typically made out of wood and covered with leather that was treated with a substance that would put out flaming arrows. It could even have been covered with metal to better deflect the arrows. This shield was large enough that, if needed, the soldier could hide completely behind it, and it figured heavily in the battle strategy of the Roman army.

When the army was trying to advance upon their enemy, while under fire, they would form a phalanx, which was a long row of soldiers carrying these huge shields. And behind them the rest of the soldiers could return fire with arrows and spears. Moving steadily forward this this long row of shielded soldiers would work their way in until they came close enough to the enemy to engage in hand-to-hand combat.

This piece of armor, the “door shield” is unique in that it went in front of all the other armor and protected the other armor, almost like a second line of defense. The soldier was not only protected by his breastplate and his helmet, but he was secondarily protected by these large shields.

We are told to take up the shield of faith. There is no guessing as to what the shield is to represent. It is given to us again with the item. But what is meant by faith in this usage? The word faith has two primary usages in the New Testament. It can refer to the entire body of divine revelation or that which you believe in, like doctrine. Or, the term “faith” refers to the act of believing or trusting in someone or something. In Ephesians 6 Paul has this second meaning in mind—it is the action of believing, not the information upon which you believe. It is more than just believing something. It is choosing to stand behind it. It is making the commitment to choose to believe and stand behind what Jesus says to be true. Because we understand something that Jesus said to be true, we choose to respond in a manner appropriate to that understanding.

When we take up the shield of faith we are choosing to act on the basis of truth. Doing this we will find ourselves eventually repelling lies and doubts, or those “fiery missiles of the evil one.” These arrows might include temptations, fears, false guilt, and lusts or desires of all sorts, where doubt may very well be one of Satan’s most common fiery arrows. Doubts might be centered around our position in Christ and the security of our salvation, our acceptability to God, His forgiveness of us, or whether we might or might not be doing the right thing at any given time. Even seeking Him with all of our hearts and waiting on His direction, there may be a constant battle with believing that He indeed will direct our steps and answer our prayers. In my life there have been numerous passages that I return to in these times of waiting on direction and provision. This is particularly true when those seasons of waiting and searching endure longer than I might have ever desired or imagined. One of those key passages is Proverbs 3:5-5 where we read, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5–6, NASB95)

Disappointment may be another one of those common areas or attack. This might be especially true when job loss, prolonged illness and the death of a loved one come into the picture. We go through life with expectations and hopes, and these feelings are most naturally attached to those things and people closest to us. When this security is attacked we have to choose to believe that God is good and faithful, that nothing caught Him by surprise, and that He will never let us go. For me, Psalm 139 serves as one of many constant reminders of these truths in which I choose to believe and trust. And, when I find myself listening to the voices of doubt and disappointment it is critical for my standing firm to return to His truth and to take up the shield of faith that He has provided. I may have just taken a hit, but that hit is not fatal, and God is faithful to bring me to the other side.

We can stand behind this shield of faith because we know that our God cannot lie and He has promised to be our help. Consider the words of the psalmist in Psalm 121. “A SONG OF ASCENTS. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 121, ESV)

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” (Psalm 28:7, ESV)