Church Series-Ephesians 6.10-18-Spiritual Warfare
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday December 7, 2016
The Church Series: Ephesians 6:10-18-Spiritual Warfare
Lesson # 24
In Ephesians 6:10-17, the apostle Paul teaches the Ephesian believers how to deal with their invisible enemy by commanding them to put on the full armor of God and he describes it for them.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. (NASB95)
“Be strong” is the verb endunamoo, which means, “to be empowered” and refers to the dynamic spiritual power that is available to every believer who is obedient to the Word of God, which is alive and powerful.
“In the Lord” contains a figure of speech called the metonymy of the cause where the cause is put for the effect meaning that we have the person of the Lord put here for His doctrine or word.
The prepositional phrase “in the Lord” should be translated “by means of the (Word of) Lord” since the context is not emphasizing the “sphere” in which the believer is to be empowered but rather the “means by which” the Ephesian believers were to empower themselves against the enemy.
The application of the Word of the Lord is “the means” by which the believer is to empower themselves in order to achieve victory in spiritual combat with their invisible enemy.
“Strength” is the noun kratos, which means, “manifested power” and refers to the inherent omnipotence of God that has been “manifested” through the resurrection and session of the unique theanthropic person of the cosmos, the Lord Jesus Christ who achieved at the cross of Calvary the decisive victory in the angelic conflict.
“Might” is the noun ischus which refers to “the possession of power to overcome.”
It is used in the context of a military analogy and denotes “the possession of Christ’s power to overcome” in spiritual combat with Satan and the kingdom of darkness.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. (NASB95)
Putting on the full armor of God refers to appropriating by faith your union with Christ, which is equivalent to putting on the nature of Christ.
This is accomplished when we appropriate (meaning take possession of) by faith this union meaning we agree with what the Word of God says about us, namely, that we have been crucified, died, buried, raised and seated with Christ at the Father’s right hand, far above all angelic power and authority.
We are to appropriate for ourselves by faith in the Word of God, the victory that is ours through our identification and union with Christ in His death, burial, resurrection and session.
“Schemes” is the noun methodeia which refers Satan’s “strategies, schemes and tactics” that he employs to make war against believers and destroy them.
The principle stratagem of the devil is lies and deception (Genesis 3).
Satan deceives and is the father of lies (Jn. 8:44).
Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (NASB95)
“Rulers” is the noun arche and refers to the highest rank of angels in the Satanic order of battle and hold positions of authority (“thrones”) in the Satanic kingdom and are subordinate to only Satan himself.
The Lord Jesus Christ created these “rulers” (Colossians 1:16) and He has defeated them through His death (Colossians 2:15).
“Powers” is the Greek noun exousia, which refers to the rank of fallen angels who have been given by Satan “dominions” and are subordinate only to the arche, “rulers” and Satan himself.
“World-forces” is the noun kosmokrator, “world-ruler” and expresses the power or authority, which the fallen angels exercise over the cosmic system.
These angels are subordinate directly to the exousia, “authorities” and carry out their orders and are more than likely behind the miracles and other satanic demonstrations of power (cf. Revelation 13:13).
“Spiritual forces” refers to the rank and file angels in Satan’s military and are also known in Scripture by a variety of names such as: (1) “Demons” (Leviticus 17:7; Matthew 9:34). (2) “Evil spirits” (Lk. 7:21; Acts 19:13). (3) “Unclean spirits” (Matthew 10:1; Mk. 1:27). (4) “Devils” (Jn. 6:70).
Ephesians 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (NASB95)
The evil day is not a particular point in history or judgment in history, nor is it referring to the Tribulation period.
But rather from the divine perspective it is an extended period of time in human history, which began with the Fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden and extends to the Second Advent of Christ when Satan will be imprisoned for a thousand years (cf. Eph. 5:15).
Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. (NASB95)
“Having girded” is the verb perizonnumi, which means, “to fasten a belt around yourself and buckle it.”
“Truth” is the noun aletheia, which is used in the objective sense for the Scriptures.
“Having put on the breastplate of righteousness” refers to appropriating by faith the imputed, positional righteousness you received at the moment of justification.
Ephesians 6:15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. (NASB95)
“Having shod” is the verb hupodesamenoi, which is used in the middle voice and in a figurative sense meaning, “to strap on your combat boots.”
“Preparation” is the noun hetoimasia, which refers to the fact that the Gospel of peace provides a “firm foundation” for the soul of the Christian soldier.
The noun eirene, “peace” is a genitive of product meaning peace for the believer is “produced” by the acceptance of the Gospel message to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal salvation.
In Ephesians 6:15, the foundation in the soul that the gospel of peace provides the Christian soldier is analogous to the combat boots worn by the Roman military in combat.
Ephesians 6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (NASB95)
“The shield of faith” refers to a heavy shield approximately 30 inches wide and 48 inches high, large enough for a soldier to crouch behind it.
It is this large, protective door-shield that the apostle Paul had in mind when he told the Ephesian believers to take up for themselves the shield of faith, which would enable them to extinguish the fiery missiles of the kingdom of darkness.
“Faith” is the noun pistis, which is used in the active sense meaning “to trust, to have total and absolute confidence in God” and refers to the Christian soldier’s faith or total and absolute confidence in God’s faithfulness to His promises.
Ephesians 6:17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (NASB95)
“The sword” is the noun machaira, which refers to a “small sword” such as a dagger and is used in a figurative sense for the Word of God.
“The Word” is the noun rhema, which refers to a specific passage of Scripture, which applies to a particular situation.
Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. (NASB95)
Prayer is an invisible weapon that God the Father has provided for the soldier of Christ Jesus, which when utilized in accordance with the will of God as revealed by the Spirit in the Word of God, enables the believer to experience spiritual victory over the kingdom of darkness in spiritual combat (Ephesians 6:18).
“Prayer” refers to reverential prayer in the presence of the Father meaning we are to worship the Father in prayer, which is adoring contemplation of God as He has been revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Person of Christ and in the Scriptures.
“Petition” refers to making a petition or prayer for a specific need, whether spiritual or material and which is in accordance with the will of the Father.
“At all times” means that the Ephesian believers were to make it their habit to pray “at each and every opportunity.”
“In the Spirit” denotes that the Ephesian believers were to pray while in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, which is accomplished by being obedient to the voice of the Spirit, which is heard through the communication of the Word of God.
“With this in view” indicates the “goal” or “purpose” or “why” the Ephesian believers were to pray.
“Be on the alert” is the verb agrupneo, which means “to keep alert” and thus denotes the concept of watchfulness in prayer for oneself and your fellow Christian soldier.
“With all perseverance and petition” indicates that the Ephesian believers were to stay alert in prayer by persevering in making their specific detailed requests to the Father.
“For all the saints” indicates the Ephesian believers were to make it a habit to stay alert in prayer with regards to all believers since all believers are fellow soldiers and who fight for the same Sovereign, the Lord Jesus, and have the same common enemy, namely, Satan.