Whole Armor of God: The Command (6:10-13)

Introduction:

As we wrap up the book of Ephesians, with four sermons left, I wanted to give a quick review on where we’ve come from.

In chapter one, we were shown the summary statement of the immeasurable blessings of God’s miraculous covenant of redemption given to us his saints. We saw that this covenant of redemption was a combined trinitarian cooperation between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father chose us in Christ before the foundation of the earth were laid. We saw how Jesus, the Son, redeemed us by his blood, providing forgiveness from sin, adoption as sons, and an inheritance waiting for us in heaven. Finally, we saw how the Holy Spirit seals us at salvation with the indelible mark of ownership which no one can remove, and is given to us as a guarantee, or down payment, that our inheritance awaits us in heaven.

In chapter two, we took a step backward and learned that this great salvation was given to us who were dead in trespasses and sins, and are now made alive with Christ and as a result are seated with him positionally in heavenly places. We also learned that the ultimate purpose of us being left here on earth is to show forth God’s immeasurable mercy, grace, and love in every age where his people reside; a sort of show-in-tell for the glory of God!

In chapter three, we saw how the eternal God who in ages past covenanted together, as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit determined by decree to redeem a people from every tribe, nation and tongue from those they would create, and that this people would be called his prized possession, the church, through whom he would declare his glory to all his creation including the rulers and authorities in heavenly places.

We learned that chapters one through three were filled indicative statements that declared to us what we have, who we are, and where we’re heading in Christ Jesus. And how, the remaining chapters in Ephesians, four through six, command us to live now according to all we’ve been declared to be. In other words, live out who you are.

In chapter four, we are called to unity, as the scripture teaches us that we are all one body, but that body is made up of individual parts. Each part has a function, or different gifts given by the Holy Spirit, and contributes to the overall unity of the body.

In chapter five, we began with an exhortation to imitate God, which means to walk, or engage in a life style that is marked and defined by love, and were made to understand that a life contrary to one of walking in love is a life of someone who is not a part of God’s kingdom. We saw that Holy living is one that is constantly filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit, and the evidence of this is submission to one another. We then learned what this submission entailed in the roles of wives, to their husbands, and husbands to their wives. Both seeking to fulfill their God ordained roles in the home.

Finally, in chapter six, we began where we left off in chapter five, and continued in the submission roles of children to parents, fathers to children, and then last week we ended our sessions on submission by showing how the bondservant and master are to submit to one another.

As we leave are instructions on submission, and all the many instructions we have been given on how we are to live as those who are God’s precious procession, Paul wants us to realistically look at our situation, because, whether we know it or not, we have a problem. The Christian duty of unity and purity is complicated by the presence of hostile spiritual powers. Christ’s cross was the devil’s undoing, and in His resurrection Christ was exalted over every created being, visible and invisible, heavenly and earthly. At Christ’s second coming, Satan’s defeat will be completed. But the peace of the cross is experienced in the meantime in the midst of spiritual struggle. The forces of darkness are defeated, but not yet harmless. So, in the next three sermons (including this morning), we will look at what has been made available to us in our battle against this vicious enemy; God has given us the Whole Armor of God, and particularly this morning, we will look at The Command given to us from God in its use, from Ephesians 6:10-13.

Text: Ephesians 6:10-13

Ephesians 6:10–13 ESV

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.

Main Idea: Because God has called us to a world system that is diabolically opposed to him and his people, he has also equipped us for such a calling and commands us to stand with it.

Ironically, the apostle Paul is writing this epistle chained to a Roman guard. There right next to him was the perfect illustration of what God had called us to do as a citizen of heaven that is standing our post against the enemy. Like the Roman guard, we are called to…

I. Properly Equip for Battle (10-11)

(10) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Finally, - here is what remains to be said…

[be strong] (endynamoo [pre, pas, imp] - to be rendered capable) in (en [preposition of location]) the Lord - this strength comes from the Lord not from within you, and is a summary statement that is broken down into two components…

and in the strength (kratos [noun] - power to take by storm; dominion) of his might (ischys [noun] - the abilities and qualities necessary to get something done; capability) - where strength is the dominion of God’s rule, might is his capability to actively rule that domain. In other words, God is sovereign over everything and his abilities to use all things for his purpose and plan are irrefutable.

Paul is starting us off with the understanding of who is equipping us, and shows us the limitless resource available to us.

(11) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Put on (endyo [aor, mid, imp] - dress oneself as a snapshot frozen in time) the whole armor (panoplia [noun] - complete equipment of a fully armed soldier) of God - this armor is not just any armor, it is the armor of God. The God whose resources are limitless, who rules all, and capable of accomplishing all, in other words, it is a supernatural armor. But why do we need such an armor?

that (pros [preposition of purpose]) you may be able (dynamai [pre, mid or pas, inf] - having all that’s necessary to meet the task) to stand (histemi [aor, act, inf] - having the courage to withstand) - thus the purpose for the supernatural armor of God is to provide you with standing power (not retreating power)…

against (pros [preposition of comparison]) the schemes (methodeia [noun] - a way of doing something deceptive in a orderly, logical way; crafty; devious) of the devil (diabolos [adjective] - diabolical one) - with this armor of God, we will be able to stand against all the diabolical methods of Satan.

So, who is the devil and where did he come from? The scripture gives us two passages in which we can piece together his origin:

Isaiah 14:12–15 KJV 1900

12 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! 13 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: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Ezekiel 28:12–15 ESV

12 “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God: “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. 14 You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.

So we need the whole armor God to stand against a diabolical enemy. So what is this diabolical enemy really like? Paul explains next that we are to…

II. Perceptively Know Our Enemy (12)

It is a known fact in warfare that before one army engages in war with another, they must know their enemy. This is also true with sports as well.

(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.

For - explains Paul…

we do not wrestle (pale [noun] - engage in hand-to-hand combat) against flesh and blood - your enemy is not human with flesh and blood. You cannot fight him as you would fight another human being.

but against - but in contrast, you are in battle against…

the rulers (arche [noun] - (archaic) rulers of antiquity; rulers from the beginning, not novices) against the authorities (exousia [noun] - those who exercise administrative control over others, and do it enthusiastically) - experienced, enthusiastic controllers of what?…

the cosmic powers (kosmokrator [noun] - world rulers, those who rule the inhabited world) over this present darkness - rulers of darkness.

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

the spiritual forces (pneumatikos [noun] - spiritual rulers) of evil in the heavenly places - rulers over demonic immortal beings.

Ephesians 2:1–2 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

To sum it up, our enemy is not human but supernatural, and rules over the physical, natural world that is in darkness, and the supernatural world of evil. He has been doing it for a very long time, and is diabolically efficient, meticulous, and extremely dangerous and deadly. Yet, in spite of this, Paul calls us to…

III. Persistently Stand Our Ground (13)

(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.

Therefore - with the command to put on the armor of God, and the intense review of how powerful our enemy is, this is what we are to do…

take up (analambono [aor, act, imp] - with a snapshot frozen in time, to take up, or take along, as something that is essential for the task at hand) the whole armor of God - the same armor which Paul mentions in verse 11, but now, knowing our enemy, we cannot proceed with out this armor. For Paul again gives us the reason why…

that (hina [conjunction of purpose] - so as a result) you may be able (dynamai [aor, pas, sub] - you are now possibly able) to withstand (anthistemi [aor, act, inf] - to stand against) - with the armor of God, you now have all that is necessary to stand against…

in the evil day - another way of saying this present evil day…

Ephesians 5:16 ESV

16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Paul identifies this whole age as “evil days,” yet the outbreak of the Satanic onslaught against Christ’s people ebbs and flows throughout this era until the final day when the Lord of Hosts will return in power and great glory (Luke 21:27) to rend the heavens and rescue his people forever.

Luke 21:27 ESV

27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

and having done all to stand firm - The assumption is that standing will be able to be accomplished through the armor given us by God. Resisting the devil, standing up against him, has this comforting result that, at least for the moment, the devil will flee.

James 4:7 ESV

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Matthew 10:22 ESV

22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

So What?

Do we realize, that our commission to be filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit, and walk in love, submitting to one another will be opposed at every step of the way?

Do we understanding that though this is the case, we have available to us the whole armor of God that will enable us to stand against that opposition?

Are we well aware of who are enemy is and as a result of that knowledge, seek to stand not in our own power which is destined for failure, but in the power of God himself?

Do we realize that our enemy is relentless and standing against him is our constant task until we die or Christ returns to destroy Satan forever?

Revelation 20:7–10 ESV

7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.