The Most Annoying Question!

What is the most annoying question to be asked as a parent; or for that matter just the most annoying question to be asked anytime in any situation?

WHY?

When confronted with this question, often the final and only answers is: “Because I said so” or “Just because!”  That is basically the answer God gave Job, when he questioned God.  Sometimes that is the only answer we get when we ask God, “why?”

However, many times we are given the answers in the Word; but we have never spent the time or energy to search it out, or we don’t like the answer and just keep asking ”why?” hoping for an answer more to our liking.  This is often the case when it comes to spiritual warfare.  Why do we HAVE to fight?  Why do we HAVE to wage battle with the satanic realm?  Well, we are given the answer in Ephesians 3.  It is helpful to look at the entire book of Ephesians in light of the final chapter, chapter 6. 

Paul is explaining “the mystery” to the church at Ephesus.  This mystery had been hidden by God until he revealed it to the apostles.   SO, it was new news!  But, the church today is probably still no more knowledgeable than were the early Christians.  God, through the prophet Hosea tells Israel the “⁶My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”.  The same can be said today.

Paul tells the Ephesians that he is in jail because he taken up the cause to explain this mystery.

“This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called.

²I take it that you’re familiar with the part I was given in God’s plan for including everybody. ³I got the inside story on this from God himself.”  Ephesians 3:1-3, The Message

He goes on to say:

^“4As you read over what I have written to you, you’ll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ.” Ephesians 3:4, The Message

And explain:

“None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God’s Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order.” Ephesians 3:5 The Message

What is the “mystery”?

⁶The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I’ve been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board.” Ephesians 3:6 The Message

But, what was the “Cause” that he was in jail for?

^“9My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. ¹⁰Through Christians like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!” Ephesians 3:9-12,  The Message

Think of it!   The angels are talking about this mystery!  But even more, the “Messsage” paraphrase falls short in making the full truth known.  Most translation say “made known now to the principalities and the authorities in the heavenly places”.  That includes the satanic realm. 

Through the CHURCH, God wants to show forth his power to both the angels and the demons.  Spiritual warfare is not for our benefit, even though we do benefit.  It is to bring glory to our Father!  Think of it!  It is one thing for Satan to be in subjection to God’s Son; it is the ultimate humiliation for satan to be subject to another one of God’s created beings, fallen men, all be it redeemed fallen men.

Truth #5 - Why has God given us this "spiritual warfare" responsibility?  God wants you to manifest His power to the satanic realm