Ephesians 6:10-20

We’ve come to the end of Ephesians, and you probably recall that we are seeing the organization of this letter in three sections using the mnemonic of Sit, Walk, and Stand, based on the book of the same name from Watchman Nee.

In the first three chapters, Paul gives us an understanding of who God is and what he has done and tells us to rest, or sit in these truths. We were far from God because of our sins, God intervened in history by sending his Son Jesus as a substitute for us, gave Jesus the punishment we deserved and gave us eternal life which we did not deserve. All of this was by God’s love and grace, a free gift.

In chapters 4-5 Paul tells us how this basis of spiritual truth should affect our daily lives. Knowing these things to be true, this is how we should walk.

Now in this 6th chapter, Paul tells us how we fight against the inevitable opposition we can expect, a conflict that is part of a larger conflict between God and Satan, as Lisa explained to us last week. Paul tells us how we are armored, and how we stand against this assault.

Ephesians 6:10–12 ESV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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.

What is armor for? You might say, “protecting all the soft places”, and you would be right. We have no natural armor, and so therefore are pretty much made up of soft places. The next question is, “where do you use armor?” The obvious answer is, “when you’re in a battle!” In Sit, Walk, Stand, Nee makes an observation that is important:

“No Christian can hope to enter the warfare of the ages without learning first to rest in Christ and what he has done, and then, through the strength of the Holy Spirit within, to follow him in a practical, holy life here on earth. If he is deficient in either of these he will find that all the talk about spiritual warfare remains only talk; he will never know its reality. Satan can afford to ignore him for he does not count for anything.” (Nee, SWS, 40)

That’s a very strong statement, but Nee is making a point: If you’re not in the battle you’re probably already a casualty. It’s very important then to define what “in the battle” means.