The Armor of God

TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-18

TOPIC: The Armor of God

Pastor Bobby Earls, Northgate Baptist Church, Florence, SC

Sunday morning, October 31, 2021

Ephesians 6:10-20

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness 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.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Last Sunday, we looked at Ephesians 6:10-13 and I preached about the spiritual warfare every believer is certain to experience if he or she desires to live the true Christian life, dedicated to walking with God and living the spirit-controlled life. I called that message “The Christian Conflict.” Spiritual warfare is an ongoing battle every child of God will face.

Now Paul closes this letter with both a warning about that war and also instructions on how to win the battles we face in spiritual warfare. The Lord provides His saints with sufficient armor to combat and thwart the adversary. In vv. 14–17, he specifies the 6 most necessary pieces of spiritual armor with which God equips His children to resist and overcome Satan’s assaults.

6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV), I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

6:11 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

“Put on” conveys the idea of permanence, indicating that armor should be the Christian’s sustained, life-long attire. Paul uses the common armor worn by Roman soldiers as the analogy for the believer’s spiritual defense and affirms its necessity if one is to hold his position while under attack. And keep in mind, these words are stated in the imperative mode. We are commanded to put on and keep on God’s spiritual armor!

I think it is important to remember that at the moment when the Apostle Paul wrote these inspired words about the armor of God that he was consigned to a Roman jail cell. Likely Paul was often chained to Roman soldiers who were fully clothed in the Roman soldier’s battle attire. So, he has a first-hand view and familiarity with the armor worn by a soldier of that time.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against (1) principalities, against (2) powers, against (3) the rulers of the darkness of this age, against (4) spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

6:12 wrestle. A term used of hand-to-hand combat. The 4 designations describe the different levels or rankings of demons and the evil supernatural empire in which they operate. Satan’s forces of darkness are well organized and highly structured for the most destructive purposes.

2 Corinthians 10:3–4 (NKJV), 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

6:13 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.

Paul’s conclusion then is for the Christian to take up or to put on God’s full spiritual armor.

(Review the first slide of the Roman soldier’s armor he might wear into battle)

The first 3 pieces of armor (girdle, breastplate, and shoes/boots, vv. 14, 15) were worn continually on the battlefield; the last 3 (shield, helmet, and sword, vv. 16, 17) were kept ready for use when actual fighting began.

1 Peter 5:8–9 (NKJV), 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

1. THE BELT OF TRUTH, Ephesians 6:14

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,

girded … with truth. The soldier wore a tunic of loose-fitting cloth likely of wool. Since ancient combat was largely hand-to-hand, a loose tunic was a potential hindrance and danger. A belt was necessary to cinch up the loosely hanging material.

A.W. Tozer preached a message from 1 Peter 1:13 which refers to girding up your minds.

1 Peter 1:13 (NKJV), Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Girding up was a matter of pulling in the loose ends as preparation for battle. The belt that pulls all the spiritual loose ends in is “truth” or better, “truthfulness.” The idea is of sincere commitment to fight and win without hypocrisy—self-discipline in devotion to victory. Everything that hinders is tucked away.

2 Timothy 2:4 (NKJV), No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV), Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2. THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, Ephesians 6:14

having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

The breastplate was usually a tough, sleeveless piece of leather or heavy material with animal horn or hoof pieces sewn on, covering the soldier’s full torso, protecting his heart and other vital organs.

Because righteousness, or holiness, is such a distinctive characteristic of God Himself, it is not hard to understand why that is the Christian’s chief protection against Satan and his schemes.

As we faithfully live in obedience to Christ, His own righteousness produces in us the practical, daily righteousness that becomes our spiritual breastplate. Lack of holiness, on the other hand, leaves us vulnerable to our greatest enemy.

3. THE BOOTS OF PEACE, Ephesians 6:15

and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Roman soldiers wore boots with nails in them to grip the ground in combat.

We are to put on the Gospel Shoes! The gospel of peace pertains to the good news that, through Christ, believers are at peace with God and He is on their side. With the boots of peace, we stand in confidence of His divine support which allows us to stand firm, knowing that we are at peace with God.

4. THE BUCKLER(SHIELD) OF FAITH, Ephesians 6:16

above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

This Greek word for shield usually refers to the large shield (2.5 x 4.5 ft.) that protected the entire body.

The faith to which Paul refers is not the body of Christian doctrine (as the term is used in 4:13) but basic trust in God. It is our continual trust in God’s word and that is “above all” absolutely necessary to protect us from temptations to every kind of sin. All sin comes when the victim falls to Satan’s lies and promises of pleasure, rejecting the better choice of obedience and blessing.

5. THE BONNET (HELMET) OF SALVATION, Ephesians 6:17

And take the helmet of salvation,

The helmet protected the head, always a major target in battle.

Paul is speaking to those who are already saved and is therefore not speaking here about attaining salvation. Rather, Satan seeks to destroy a believer’s assurance of salvation with his weapons of doubt and discouragement. This is clear from Paul’s reference to “the helmet of the hope of salvation”(Is. 59:17; see note on 1 Thess. 5:8).

While it is possible that our feelings about our salvation may be seriously damaged by Satan-inspired doubt, our salvation itself is eternally protected and we need not fear its loss. Satan wants to curse us with doubts, but we can be strong in God’s promises of eternal salvation in Scripture [[ >> (see John 6:37–39; 10:28, 29; Rom. 5:10; 8:31–39; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:3–5).]] Security is a fact; assurance is a feeling that comes to the obedient Christian [[ >> (1 Pet. 1:3–10).]]

6. THE BLADE(SWORD) OF THE SPIRIT, Ephesians 6:17

and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

As the sword was the soldier’s only weapon, so God’s Word is the only needed weapon, infinitely more powerful than any of Satan’s weapons. The Greek term refers to a small weapon (6–18 in. long). It was used both defensively to fend off Satan’s attacks, and offensively to help destroy the enemy’s strategies. It is the truth of Scripture. [[ >> 2 Cor. 10:3–5; Heb. 4:12.]] [1]

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

6:18 This verse tells us how we are to put on the armor of God. Each piece of the spiritual armor is to be put on with prayer! All the individual pieces of the armor of God are useless without installing each piece in a bath of prayer.

Prayer then becomes of secret weapon we must use as we robe ourselves in God’s spiritual armor. If we want to be successful to overcome the wiles of the devil, (v. 11), then we must daily arm ourselves in God’s armor with each piece secured through a life of prayer.

[1]MacArthur, J. J. (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Eph 6:10–19). Nashville: Word Pub.