Battle Dressed

Eph 6:10-20 - 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

THE CONTEXT:

Understanding Ephesians 6:10-20 requires a familiarity with what went before. Paul had called these Christians to “walk worthily of the calling with which you were called” (4:1)—the key verse for chapters 4-6. Everything in these three chapters spells out what is involved in Christians walking worthily of their calling. Paul called these Christians:

• Not to be “alienated from the life of God,” but to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth” (4:18-24).

• To put away falsehood and to speak truth with their neighbors (4:25).

• To deal with their anger—not allowing it to cause them to sin—not letting the sun go down on unresolved anger (4:26). “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you” (4:31-32).

• Not to be foolish or drunken, but to be filled with the Spirit (5:17).

• Paul called wives to be subject to their husbands—and husbands to love their wives even as Christ loved the church—and children to obey their parents—and slaves to obey their masters—and masters to treat their servants kindly and respectfully, “knowing that (God) is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and (that) there is no partiality with him” (5:22-33; 6:1-9).

Paul knew that obeying the counsel that he was giving in 4:1 – 6:9 would not be easy, so he adds this “whole armor of God” passage (verses 10-20) to give the Ephesian Christians (and us) the spiritual resources to do what is needed.

THE ADVERSARY: THE DEVIL, SATAN, RULERS OF DARKNESS:

The New Testament uses various names or titles for our spiritual adversary—such as the devil, Satan, rulers of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness.

The Greek word diabolos (devil) is the equivalent of the Hebrew word satan. In the Old Testament, Satan is an accuser in the heavenly court. In the New Testament, the devil takes on the character of a tempter here on Earth (Mark 1:13).

EPHESIANS 6:10-12. BE STRONG IN THE LORD

10Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might” (v. 10). The word “finally” connects the following verses to what went before. See “The Context” above.

“be strong.” The verb is passive, so a better translation is “be strengthened.”

“in the strength of his might.” The emphasis here is the vastness of the Lord’s strength. When we go to the Lord for empowerment, we tap into a vast reservoir of power that far exceeds anything that we will require—or even imagine.

Consider this: In the beginning, God spoke the world into being. He said, “Let there be light,” and light appeared to dispel the darkness (Genesis 1:3-4). A few more Godly words brought into being “an expanse in the middle of the waters”—and dry land—and vegetation—and “lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night”—and “swarms of living creatures”—and a person created in God’s image, “male and female” (Genesis 1:5-31). If a few Godly words could accomplish all that, just imagine what God can do to empower us for the work that he calls us to do.

“Put on the whole armor of God” (v. 11a). Partial armor would leave us dangerously vulnerable. If a Roman soldier were to leave behind his breastplate or his boots or his shield or his helmet or his sword, his enemies would immediately target the place where he had failed to protect himself.

The same is true of Godly armor: Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God (vv. 14-17). Which one could we ignore without leaving ourselves fatally flawed? Take truth as an example. If we were known for all the virtues except truth, what kind of reputation would we have? What kind of witness could we bear? If the world knows us as liars, it will not trust us, and our witness will be fatally compromised. So it is with each piece of spiritual armor. Each piece (truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God) serves an important function, and each piece is essential.

So don’t leave yourself vulnerable. “Put on the WHOLE armor of God”—truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God.

“that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (v. 11b). Paul will repeat the emphasis on standing firmly in verses 13-14. We can expect REPEATED attacks by the tempter, so we need to GET READY and STAY READY—feet planted, knees flexed, eyes scanning, head planning, arms ready to ward off blows.

“the wiles (methodeia) of the devil.” What are the wiles of the devil?

• In C.S. Lewis’ novel, The Screwtape Letters, an experienced devil (Screwtape) is advising a young nephew (Wormwood), who has been tasked with preventing a young man from becoming a Christian. Screwtape says: “Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”

• A former Army Chief of Chaplains, MG Kermit Johnson, warned against SAM—sex, alcohol, and money—three tempters that ruin clergy and ministries.

• Billy Graham said, “We cannot be dedicated to Christ without giving Him our bodies. The devil gets at the soul through the body.”

• Thomas a Kempis warns, “The devil is continually tempting thee to seek high things, to go after honors.”

• Samuel Taylor Coleridge warns, “We shut our eyes to the beginnings of evil because they are small, and in this weakness is contained the germ of our defeat.”

• Shakespeare speaks of “saint-seducing gold.”

• Martin Luther warns, “By all means flee solitude, for the devil watches and lies in wait for you most of all when you are alone.”

EPHESIANS 6:13-17. PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

13Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; 16above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

“Therefore, put on the whole armor of God” (v. 13a). Partial armor would leave us dangerously vulnerable.

EPHESIANS 6:18-20. PRAYING AT ALL TIMES IN THE SPIRIT

18Pray at all times in the Spirit with all prayer (proseuche) and request (deesis), and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession (deesis) for all the saints.

19Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery (mysterion) of the Gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador (presbeuo) in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Both Old and New Testaments are full of prayers of four kinds (general prayers, petitions, intercessions, and thanksgiving)—and calls to prayer, such as the one in these verses from Ephesians.