Passage: Ephesians 6:10-18 Cross-references: 1 Th. 5:8, 2 Cor. 10:4-5

For the last few week we’ve been talking about our having a the qualities and character that will see us through. All of us are going to face different battles, there is no avoiding that, but we don’t have to be overcome while going through these battles. In fact, we can actually have victory while going through the different tests, trials, and tribulations that we all experience. When the children of Israel entered into the Canaan land, it was the Promised Land, but there were battles along the way.

Exegetical Idea:

Paul was a prisoner at the time he wrote this letter Scholars differ on whether Paul wrote this letter while he was imprisoned in Caesarea or in Rome All things considered, the Roman imprisonment seems more likely. Along with Ephesians, the Books of Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are thought to have been written during the same time period and hence are called the “Prison Epistles.” The detailed description of the armor (given in Eph. 6:14-17) may stem from Paul’s being tied to a Roman soldier while in prison awaiting trial. [1]

The apostle Paul was writing to the church at Ephesus about the spiritual struggles and battles they would face. He uses the armor of a Roman soldier to give them examples and illustrations of the spiritual armor they needed to put on so that they can continue to stand against the attacks of Satan.

Pedagogical Idea:

What Paul was writing to the Christian Church nearly 2000 years ago is just important for us today. We too face spiritual battles every day and we can be overcome by these attacks where we would fall. However, with the proper armor and with the right weapons, we can stand against the enemy’s attacks and even march into victory.

Lessons AIM:

Cognitive (Head):

Each person should learn the principles found in Ephesians 6:10-20, which will make them stronger Christians and give them the tools needed to live a victorious life in Christ.

Affective (Heart):

Each person should begin to realize that many things do not just happen by coincidence. Satan is very real and the Bible teaches us that we should not be ignorant of his devices 2 Cor 2:11. Learning about these principles will then able us to live a life that is much more productive, producing fruit, and victorious in Christ.

Behavioral (Hands):

Each person will be able to take the principles laid out in this teaching and begin to apply these things to their lives; in turn, they will live a life with victory over sin and victory over the Devil. When we put on the armor of God, we are becoming strong in the Lord.

Turn to Passage: Ephesians 6:10-20 Cross-references: 1 Th. 5:8, 2 Cor. 10:4-5

I.        Turn back to Eph 6:10. The Amplified says, “In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].”

A.  In our own strength we are no match for the devil. So the first preparatory command is that we should be continually strengthened in the Lord and in the boundless resources of His might. God’s best soldiers are those who are conscious of their own weakness and ineffectiveness, and who rely solely on Him. “God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” (1 Cor. 1:27b).

1.    Now you’re a soldier for God, able to put a stop to the enemy, but if we’re going to do battle you better have on the ARMOR OF GOD.

B.  Look at EPH 6:11

1.    The word “WILES” literally means “Cunning arts, deceit, craft, trickery.”

a)    The NIV says, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

2.     According to the Greek, this is a command that we put on the Armor of God, not just a request, with a sense of urgency.

3.    It is necessary to be completely armed; one or two pieces will not do. Otherwise, we’ll be vulnerable. The devil has various stratagems—discouragement, frustration, confusion, moral failure, and doctrinal error. He knows our weakest point and aims for it. If he cannot disable us by one method, he will try for another. [2]

C.  Why are we to put on the ARMOR OF GOD?

1.    “So that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

a)    The word “ABLE” here means 2 different things that the NKJV does not bring out.

b)   1st it means able to stand CONTINUOUSLY.

(1)   We can’t take off our Armor. We have to be ready for battle at all times.

c)    The 2nd meaning for the word “ABLE” is that it also means “POWER.”

d)   It’s root word comes from the Greek word “dunamis”

e)     “Dunamis” is God’s miracle working power.

f)     The Greek word that we have here means that “We might be able or have the strength and Power to stand against the enemy.”

2.    (James 4:7) tells us to “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” NKJV

II.      Eph 6:12

A.  Why are we to put on the Armor of God?

1.    Because we wrestle against the principalities and power of the world, namely Satan and his demonic forces.

B.  Paul mentions here in this V that WE DO NOT WRESTLE (or do combat) against FLESH and BLOOD.

1.    We don’t fight against 1 another, and we should not. Fighting against 1 another just makes things worse.

a)    But Paul is saying the we do battle against Satan and his demonic forces.

(1)  Many times these demon forces are the force behind men or women that are causing us problems.

2.    We don’t fight against them, but we need to do battle in the spirit against the spirits that are motivating them or working in the situation.

3.    2 Cor. 10:3-4 says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” [3]

C.  Eph 6:13

1.    The word “WITHSTAND.” Means “RESIST, OPPOSE and HOLD YOUR GROUND.”

a)    Now Paul says that we need to “Put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to withstand “IN THE EVIL DAY.”

D.  The last part of (Ephesians 6:13) Says, “And having done all, to stand.”

1.    We need to stand against the work of the enemy, And we need to do all we can NATURALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

a)    BUT 1 thing that we need to remember is that we can not do it in our own selves.

b)   We need to power of the HOLY GHOST which is in us.

c)     (1 John 4:4) “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” KJV

2.    We need the Holy Ghost, We also need the WORD OF GOD, and we need TO PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD.

3.    The very last word in (EPH 6:13) is “STAND”

a)    That is in reference to STANDING With YOUR ARMOR ON.

III.     Eph 6:14

A.   1st there is the GIRDLE OF TRUTH, (NIV “belt of truth buckled around your waist), which represents a clear understanding of God's Word.

1.    Like the soldier's belt, it holds the rest of the armor in place.

2.    2nd is the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. This has a twofold application: Jesus is our righteousness, & we put Him on 1st. It also shows our obedience to the Word of God. Living right, holy life before Him.

IV.    Eph 6:15

A.  3rd, our FEET are SHOD with the PREPARATION of the GOSPEL OF PEACE. This is FAITHFULNESS in proclaiming the Word of God. At different times the Good News, or the Gospel is called the Gospel of peace.

V.     Eph 6:16

A.  4th is the SHIELD OF FAITH. A shield is a covering for the entire body. This represents our complete safety under the blood of Christ, where no power of the enemy can penetrate.

VI.    Eph 6:17

A.  5th is the HELMET OF SALVATION, (1TH 5:8) Put on for a helmet, the hope of salvation. (KJV)  The HOPE OF SALVATION is the only helmet able to protect the head in these days from turning from the Truth.

1.    There is so much going on, The days are like that of Sodom & Gomorrah, people are getting off the Truth into error, big named ministers are falling.

2.    We need the HOPE OF SALVATION.

3.    It's interesting that Paul used the HELMET here, The word `salvation' comes from the Greek word `sozo' which one of it's meanings is soundness of mind.

4.    It's the HOPE OF SALVATION that will keep your mind sound.

B.  6th is the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the WORD OF GOD.

1.    This shows that the WORD OF GOD is to be used offensively, just like a sword is an offensive weapon, so is the Word of God.

VII.  Eph 6:18

A.  Do you see why the prayer fight doesn't work many times?

1.    It's because we don't have on the armor.

2.    We are ready for the prayer fight when we have the armor on.

a)    Praying in the spirit gets the job done.

b)   That's why he goes on in the next few Vs to tell us to put on the armor of God.

3.    Look at JER 1:10  

a)    This is our work, this is what we are to do.

(1)  There's a lot of works of the enemy that we have to root out. That phrase "root out", means "Pluck up by the roots."

(a)  There's many times that we try to deal with the surface of the problem, we have to get to the root of the problem. The spirit that is behind the problem.

(b)  We have to Pluck it up by roots, deal with the spirit & get rid of it. (individual, city, church, whereever).

b)   Then he says that we have been set over the nations, or in our city to pull down.

4.    Once again (2 Cor 10:3-4) Says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.”[4]

a)    If our weapons are not carnal weapons or flesh weapons, what are they? Spiritual weapons.

b)   Our spiritual weapons are to pull down spiritual strong holds.

5.    Then in (JER 1:10) it says that we are to "destroy."

a)    (1JOHN 1:10) Says "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

b)   In the Greek & Hebrew the word "destroy" means about the same thing.

c)    It means "break, destroy fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, be undone, be void of, have no way to flee."

(1)  That's what our goal & our job. To make void all the works of the devil.

B.  ROM 12:21

1.    We hardly ever talk about this, but the Bible says that we can over come evil & the forces behind it with good. (good deeds)

C.  REV 12:11

1.    The Word of God is a weapon.

2.    In (EPH 6:17) it calls the Word of God the sword of the spirit.

D.  Praise is another area. When we begin to praise, we are using our spiritual authority.

1.    In (2CHRON 20:20) Jehoshaphat put the praisers in front of the battle & the enemy was destroyed.

2.    In (ACTS 16:25) Paul & Silas sang praises unto God & the Lord set them free from the bondage of the enemy.

a)    Praise gets God on the seen.

b)   (PSA 22:3) Says that "God inhabits the praise of His people."

c)    In (ROM 8:31) it says, "If God be for us who can be against us."

VIII.Where do we have authority?

A.  We've already been talking about us having authority over the Devil & that goes for all his works.

B.  We have authority over Sin.

1.    (ROM 6:14) says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

C.  We have authority over Sickness.

1.    (1PET 2:24) Says, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

D.  We have authority over Fear.

1.    (2TIM 1:7) says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

E.  We have authority over confusion.

1.    (1COR 14:33) Says, "For God is not {the author} of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."

F.   We also have authority over our thought life.

1.    (2COR 10:5) Says, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

G.  We even have authority over the flesh.

1.    (1COR 9:27) Says, "But I keep under my body, and bring {it} into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

IX.   We have authority Satan & all of his works, over our mind, & over our flesh; It's time for us to rise up & take that authority & have the victory.  

3/17/91 SUN AM T.F.C. &WOLCC &/14/91 SUN AM & 3/30/03 & WOLCC Sunday, February 15, 2004Memorial

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[1]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[2]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (electronic ed.) (Eph 6:11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[3]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (2 Co 10:3). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[4]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (2 Co 10:3). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.