The Armor of God

These teachings come at the culmination of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. A letter in which follows a similar pattern to other of his letters.

In the first 3 chapters, Paul’s teaching is primarily doctrinal - things to believe.

He covers the plan of God in salvation, the way of salvation, the purpose of salvation, the believer’s position in Christ, and many of the benefits and joys of being a follower of Christ.

In chapter 4, Paul gets to the “therefore.” In other words, because of everything i have just said, this is how it should play out in your life.

He speaks of walking in a worthy manner according to our calling.

He speaks of the unity of the body of Christ, and the goal of everyone growing in Christ to maturity.

He speaks of the new life, the way of obedience, being kind to one another, forgiving, even as God in Christ forgave you.

He speaks, in chapter 5, of being imitators of God, which looks like walking in love.

He speaks of the Christian household, laying out the pattern for Christian marriage, family, and how we interact with those who are over us in authority, and those under us in authority.

In other words, Paul gets down to the brass tacks. The nitty gritty of life. The details, and says that what Christ has done for us in salvation has effect on all of those things.

But when we reach our portion of Ephesians, this section in which he introduces the Armor of God, he reminds his readers once again that this is more than just a visible, physical battle with things that meet our eye and things we can touch.

He reminds us that the war we wage, the struggles that ensue, and the difficulties that we all face in life are in many ways spiritual realities.

And not just a spiritual reality, but a spiritual war.

All the realities and the ideals of Ephesians 4-6 are things that our enemy is dead-set against. Even the realities of our relationships, such as husband and wife, parents to children, worker to employee, will not be lived out without this battle raging on within them. For our enemy detests what God says is good, and puts forth as good what God says is evil.

Ephesians 6:10–11 KJV 1900

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:12 KJV 1900

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:13 KJV 1900

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

What’s the Big Idea?

Because of the power and schemes of the Devil, we must have strength, endurance, and armor that are greater than his attacks.

What to Know

We must know our battle.

Looking at these verses before us, what are some defining characteristics of the battle that we face?

schemes of the devil

we wrestle against spiritual powers

Who is involved in this battle?

We must know our enemy.

1 Peter 5:8 KJV 1900

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Isaiah 14:12–14 KJV 1900

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

What has been the Devil’s goal since the first human beings existed?

Deception

In the book of revelation, we still find his goal as being to deceive the nations.

What are some of the schemes that satan uses?

Deception

Lust

Fear

Discouragement

We must know our weakness.

Matthew 26:40–41 KJV 1900

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

The battle of Peter was the battle of all of us. We may have good and renewed desires, but our flesh is weak.

Later on, Paul will describe what we need as a shield of faith, because the evil one furls fiery darts at us.

The flesh is a soft target for the fiery darts of the evil one.

Our weakness comes in various ways, and our weakness comes at inopportune times.

The Devil is not afraid to kick us when we are down.

Being alert to these things is half the battle, because too often we walk around as if none of this exists, and none of it is relevant.

But understanding that spiritual warfare is pervasive and affects every part of life, it makes Paul’s clarion call to be ready and stand all the more important.

What to Believe

We must believe in Christ.

Ephesians 1:4–7 KJV 1900

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

The beauty of the plan of redemption, from eternity past.

Every person is involved in this spiritual war, but in Christ we have a champion and deliverer.

We must believe in the strength of Christ.

Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.

Ephesians 1:19–20 KJV 1900

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

What is the extent of the power of God’s might?

the resurrection

creation

sustaining

upholding all things

Psalm 93:4–5 KJV 1900

The Lord on high is mightier Than the noise of many waters, Yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. Thy testimonies are very sure: Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.

Christ is strong and mighty, but he is also good and righteous.

We must believe in the sufficiency of God’s armor.

Putting on God’s armor is fighting with the resources that God provides.

We can think of these things in a couple of ways.

God’s armor, as in, the armor that God himself wears.

Not entirely out of order, because all of these things are descriptive of God’s attributes.

God is Truth, God is Righteous, God is Peace, God is Faithful, God is Salvation, and God has elevated his word, the Sword of the Spirit, above his very name.

God, being all these things, supplies all these things.

What is the stated purpose of putting on the armor of God?

That we might be able to stand. So what is the opposite conclusion?

We cannot stand apart from the resources that God provides.

2 Peter 1:3 KJV 1900

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Psalm 23:1 KJV 1900

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

What to Do

“Faith in Action”

This is the “So What.”

Because we know our battle, we know our enemy, we know our weakness

Because we believe in Christ, in the Strength of Christ, and the sufficiency of God’s armor, therefore...

We must be strong in the Lord and fight.

Joshua 1:9 KJV 1900

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

What is the encouragement that is given to Joshua in this verse?

The presence of Christ with us is the constant supply for our battle.

Psalm 139:7–10 KJV 1900

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.

With God leading us, what can we fear? What can discourage us?

Of course, sometimes God leads us through dark seasons.

What are some reasons that we can trust our Savior and be strong in him even when he leads us in dark seasons?

He is good

He is wise

He is faithful

Because we are in the Lord, and strong in Him. we stand.

Verse 11, twice in 13, again in verse 14.

So we stand strong in the Lord, but there is another aspect. In the verse, it is almost assumed. But we should take notice.

“We wrestle...”

We do fight. With the resources that God provides, we fight. We hold his ground.

What are ways that we might be tempted to back away from the fight, rather than battling?

We must get dressed.

God has supplied his armor, but we must get dressed. We must utilize his resources.

This is where faith comes to action.

We can say, til we’re blue in the face, that we believe that Christ is all powerful, that we believe his truth is secure, that we believe his righteousness is a shield, that we believe the Word of God is a twoedged sword. But saying we believe all this and acting on that belief are two different things.

What are some ways that we might show that we really do not rely on God’s resources?

Ephesians 2:8–10 KJV 1900

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

salvation is more than just an initial act, and even more than an eternal hope. It is a present reality, and God has a plan.

What is involved in this plan?

Good works

What is the purpose of our good works?

not salvation, as the scripture makes so clear. But to glorify God and advance His cause.

Ephesians 4:14–15 KJV 1900

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Getting dressed is largely being prepared. As we walk and grow in the Lord, we grow in his wisdom when we put on his armor.

God has given everything we need, do we put it on?

What are some very practical and simple ways that the devil may seek to attack you this week?

Anything really specific that you would like prayer for?

What are some encouragements and takeaways from this overview that can help us in our battle?