Victorious in Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6: 10-18

Here is a general exhortation to constancy in our Christian course, and to encourage in our Christian warfare. Is not our life a warfare? It is so; for we struggle with the common calamities of human life. Is not our religion much more a warfare? It is so; for we struggle with the opposition of the powers of darkness, and with many enemies who would keep us from God and heaven. We have enemies to fight against, a captain to fight for, a banner to fight under, and certain rules of war by which we are to govern ourselves. “Finally, my brethren (v. 10), it yet remains that you apply yourselves to your work and duty as Christian soldiers.” Now it is requisite that a soldier be both courageous and well armed. If we are Christians soldiers of Jesus Christ we must be courageous and well armed.

I. The world, must see that we Christians are determined. This is whats’ prescribed here: Be strong in the Lord, etc. Those who have so many battles to fight, and who, in their way to heaven, must dispute every pass, with the driving force of the sword, we have need of a great deal of courage. Be strong therefore, strong for service, strong for suffering, strong for fighting. Let a soldier be ever so well armed without, if he have not within a good heart, his armour will stand him in little stead (it’s of no use to him). Note, spiritual strength and courage are very necessary for our spiritual warfare. Be strong in the Lord, either in his cause and for his sake or rather in his strength. We have no sufficient strength of our own. Our natural courage is as perfect cowardice, and our natural strength as perfect weakness; but all our sufficiency is of God. In his strength we must go forth and go on. By the actings of faith, we must fetch in grace and help from heaven to enable us to do that which of ourselves we cannot do, in our Christian work and warfare. We should stir up ourselves to resist temptations in a reliance upon God’s all-sufficiency and the omnipotence of his might.

2. II. We must be well armed: “Put on the whole armour of God (v. 11), make use of all the proper defensiveness and weapons for repelling the temptations and stratagems of Satan—let our exercise as Christian be graced with the whole armour, that no part be naked and exposed to the enemy.”

God is the one who both prepares and bestows this armor of grace upon his children.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume Ephesians 6:10–18

We have no armour of our own that will be armour of proof in a trying time. Nothing will stand us in stead but the armour of God. This armour is prepared for us, but we must put it on; that is, we must pray for grace, we must use the grace given us, and draw it out into act and exercise as there is occasion

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Ephesians 6:10–18)

The reason why this armor is assigned to the Christian too be completely armed is that he may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil—that he may be able to hold out, and to overcome, notwithstanding all the devil’s assaults, both of force and fraud, all the deceits he puts upon us, all the snares he lays for us, and all his plot or scheme against us.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Ephesians 6:10–18)

What’s our danger, and why do we need to put on this whole armour, considering what sort of enemies we have to deal with—the devil and all the powers of darkness: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, etc., v. 12. The combat for which we are to be prepared is not against ordinary human enemies, not barely against men compounded of flesh and blood, nor against our own corrupt natures, but against the several ranks of devils, who have a government which they exercise in this world

We are dealing with an enemy who is devious, cunning, manipulating, and persuading.

he is an old serpent, experienced in the art and trade of tempting.

he is a powerful enemy: Principalities, and powers. and rulers.

They are numerous, they are vigorous; and rule in those heathen nations which are yet in darkness.

The devil is a spirit, a wicked spirit.

Satan’s kingdom is one of darkness; whereas Christ’s kingdom is one of light.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Ephesians 6:10–18)

2. Our duty as children of God is: to take and put on the whole armour of God, and then to stand our ground, and withstand our enemies. (V.13)

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 6

6:14 girding your waist with truth The belt around a soldier’s waist held the breastplate in place and provided an attachment for the sword.

Stand here is one of urgency. As Christians God has placed an urgency upon each and everyone of us to be prepared with His armor because we are in a battle with an unseen enemy, Satan. (V.14)

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 6:14b

6:14b. Before a Roman soldier put on his armor, he put a belt around his waist. This held his garments together and served as a place on which to hang his armor. The belt of truth refers not to the facts of the gospel but to subjective truth, a believer’s integrity and faithfulness. As a soldier’s belt or sash gave ease and freedom of movement, so truth gives freedom with self, others, and God.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 6:14c

The breastplate of righteousness refers not to justification, obtained at conversion (Rom. 3:24; 4:5), but to the sanctifying righteousness of Christ (1 Cor. 1:30) practiced in a believer’s life. As a soldier’s breastplate protected his chest from an enemy’s attacks, so sanctifying, righteous living (Rom. 6:13; 14:17) guards a believer’s heart against the assaults of the devil (cf. Isa. 59:17; James 4:7).

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 6:15

6:15. This verse does not speak of the spreading of the gospel, for Christians are pictured in vv. 10–16 as standing, not advancing. Instead this refers to a believer’s stability or surefootedness from the gospel which gives him peace so he can stand in the battle.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 6:16

6:16. The shield in a Roman soldier’s attire, made of wood, was about 2 1/2’ wide and 4’ long. It was overlaid with linen and leather, to absorb fiery arrows. Thus it also protected the other pieces of the armor; hence Paul used the phrase, in addition to all this. Of faith is a genitive of content; the shield consists of faith. The idea, then, is that a Christian’s resolute faith in the Lord can stop and extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one aimed at him. (Cf. “evil one” [Satan] in John 17:15; 1 John 5:19.)

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 6:17

The helmet and sword are the last two pieces a soldier takes up. A helmet, being hot and uncomfortable, would be put on by a soldier only when he faced impending danger. Having one’s head guarded by a helmet gives a sense of safety, so the helmet of salvation refers either to present safety from the devil’s attacks or to a future deliverance, “the hope of salvation as a helmet” (1 Thes. 5:8).

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 6:17

Finally, a Roman soldier would take in hand his sword, his only offensive weapon. Of the Spirit refers to the source or origin of the sword; hence it is “the sword given by the Spirit.” “The sword of the Spirit” is specified as the Word of God. “Word” (rhēma; cf. Eph. 5:26; Rom. 10:8, 17; 1 Peter 1:25) refers to the preached Word or an utterance of God occasioned by the Holy Spirit in the heart. Believers need this “sword” to combat the enemy’s assault, much as Christ did three times when tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:1–11).

Words of Encouragement:

As we head into 2024 let us keep in mind that Satan and his demons are real. That he has tried on many occasions to destroy you, to destroy us, and will continue to do so because it’s his job. Satan always approaches the child f God in these three areas: The lost of the eyes; The lost of the flesh; & The pride of life.

But as true believers of God in Jesus Christ He has equipped every one of his children with weapons for warfare against Satan and his demons. Let us not forget to keep our self clothed with God’s armor, and every once in a while may we run a diagnostic check on our armor, making sure that it’s ready for battle. In the armor of Jesus Christ we are Victorious.