Recalling the context- the work of God's word has been spreading like wildfire -throughout all of Ephesus - the surrounding region of Asia Minor. As Paul made mention-when he wrote of it to the Corinthians saying, -For a great and effective door has opened to -me, and there are many adversaries.-1-One of which we'll see today-.-But Paul the apostle had been pouring the word of God into the disciples at Ephesus-4-5 hrs a day, some 6 days a week - he maintained that pace -to the best of our -knowledge- for 2 yrs. He poured thousands of hours of teaching into them - not only was -he eager - willing to teach, the believers were willing - eager to receive it - respond -appropriately to it

It's certainly not a comprehensive, all-inclusive course on discipleship. But we can-surely pick up a few essential details of discipleship in this section of scripture that's-before us today.

Paul - his team have been pioneering the gospel throughout Europe. - Though-they've enjoyed a certain amount of success, it hasn't exactly been the -welcome wagon--one might hope for. They've really only been in one major city since crossing the Aegean-Sea -Philippi- - already Paul - Silas have been falsely accused, brutally beaten - placed in-prison.

How many of you realize - spiritual warfare isn't some ideology, or myth of the-psyche- That it's not something fabricated to help us cope with tough times or otherwise-explainable things that seek to set us back, but that it's very real-