Ephesians 6:10-17: Spiritual Warfare

As we draw close to the end of the letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul focuses our attention on the ultimate conflict that happens after we become children of God, the constant spiritual warfare waged on the body of Christ and each member of that holy body.

The call in this last chapter is for each member to remain. steadfast under the trials sure to come. There is a teaching in this passage that all must accept, which is that we alone within ourselves are not able to withstand this warfare but because we are His after conversion He provides spiritual gifts to each believer which allow us to stand against evil. We notice quickly in verse 10 that we are to be strong "in the Lord" which is our true strength. Here we are challenged to grasp that not only are we pilgrims on a spiritual journey, but we are also soldiers called to battle in the land of the enemy; Paul several times reminds us that this adversary is the prince of this world.

Paul uses heavy emphasis on power words to make his point in verses 10, 11, 13, and 16, and provides the actual category of the demon agents in verse 12. As we accept and begin the use of the spiritual gifts of defense, we are called to "resist" & "watch" & "pray" & "be alert", all tactics of war to be able to withstand the attacks of Satan.

Our first need is taught in verse 11 as we are warned to "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil". The armor is a figure of speech, a metaphor, and it denotes different armor parts which are spiritual graces to allow us to avoid the snares placed ahead ofus.

First, we are to gird our loins with truth, the first of seven pieces of armor given by the Lord to allow us to prevail in the battles that wait for us. The girding actually recalls the belt used to hike up the long cloak worn in ancient days that had to be raised up to allow the legs freedom of movement. The truth must be first because if it is lacking, all else is of no value. This truth is sincere faith that the Lord allows to defend His own. The belt of truth signals that the mind is ready for the battle, guarded by the truth of the Word, protected against Satan's temptations and guile.

Second, we are to put on the breastplate of righteousness which means to maintain the power of holiness over our affections and conscience. Paul further teaches of this item in Acts 24: 16 when he says his conscience is void of offense toward God. This breastplate stops the effort made by the devil to corrupt our affections or defile our conscience. Without it, we soon yield to his evil ways and fall in the battle as just another of his victims.

Third, we are taught to have "your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace". This portion of the armor may be the most difficult to understand. Here the Holy Spirit carries forward the first two parts of armor toward a more complete defense. Just as the belt of truth has to do with the mind, and the breastplate of righteousness has to do with the heart, the shoes for the feet have to do with the will. The feet are to the body what the will is to the soul. The feet carry the body from place to place, preparing for moving the body from battle to battle, and the will carries the activities of the soul, for what the will decides, we do.

The will is to be regulated by the peace of the gospel. The gospel is more than a message of good news. It is also a divine command of conduct. Our will must be bent toward God as we become sanctified and we gain peace by denying ourselves becoming more and more His, allowing us to walk not in disobedience.

Fourth, we are to "take the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all of the fiery darts of the wicked". Notice here we are taught to take this shield "above all" which tells us that is is to be overhead in figure of protection, shielding as a canopy the heart, mind, and will. Faith must be exercised if these three important parts are to be kept safe. In the days of Roman warfare, the shield of a Roman soldier was immersed in water and taken damp into battle so as to withstand the arrows of fire sent against the army by the enemy. If the fiery darts were withstood, close order combat could commence, which was the main strength of the Roman army. Without the shield we could not look up toward our Lord during temptations. The shield is of faith but is also of confidence in that faith that it will protect and deliver. The actual shield in the every day warfare is the Word of God, kept in our hearts to use at the moment of great tempting, just as Jesus taught when He was tempted and said three times "it is written".

Fifth, we are to take the helmet of salvation, connected to the shield by the word "and" which means it is linked with faith. Paul clarifies this part of our teaching in 1 st Thes 5:8.

" ... let us ... be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of salvation".

Here we see the final confidence that all believers keep close to our hearts, that hope that rests in our salvation. We should recall that Hebrews 11 partially defines faith as the substance of things hoped for.

1st John 3:3 teaches us:

"And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself ... " ‘

Hope of sure salvation, in which we rest, delivers us from discontent and despair, two of Satan's most powerful weapons. Often, Satan tries to cast gloom over our soul, or worry about our future to cause anxiety, dampening our spirits. He works hard to attack our "joy of the Lord, which is our strength" (Neh 8:10). To defend against these weapons, we take on the helmet of salvation, which is our final hope.

Sixth, we are to also take the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God".

Here the Lord provides an offensive weapon. This gift is an active and aggressive weapon given to counter attack evil. All the graces of gifts mentioned before must be exercised before we can use the Word profitably in the spiritual war. Even when the Christian has reached maturity in faith, he still needs the Word. After all the other pieces of the armor of God are fastened on the soldier still must pick up his sword to strike because without it he can only duck or dodge, but with it can cut and defeat the enemy.

This sword is called "of the Spirit" because the Holy Spirit is the author, and the teacher who gifts us understanding to use it wisely.

Seventh, we are granted the last grace needed to gain victory. Prayer is that which alone gives us the necessary strength to use the other pieces of the whole armor. After the Christian soldier has taken on himself the other six pieces· and is ready to stand against the enemy, he still needs the help of his commanding general. For this help, so much needed, the Apostle tells us to pray "always".

Paul's helpful explanation prepares us for what he himself experienced, perhaps more than any other man ever converted. He knew well the evil that attacks the believer.

Seven hundred years before Paul, Isaiah told us in 11 :5 that the Lord's redeemer would wear a belt of righteousness and faithfulness. He explained that Israel had failed miserably to follow God, and the Lord's patience grew thin. Abraham's seed had gone off course. How could the peace of the long held fellowship be restored? The chosen people suffered terribly for their sinful turning away. They were unwilling to admit their falling away and seemed to wonder where the Lord was when other nations invaded and took them captive. Through Isaiah the Lord answered all these questions. He would act to send messengers to announce His will (Is 52: 1-7). This prophecy is filled in the coming of the kingdom of God in the person of Jesus. While He defeated Satan, overcoming death, hell, and the grave, but He did not yet remove Satan from the world.

Trusting in God, lifting up His shield of faith given as as one of His gifts of grace, is to rest in Him as our protector, the one who provides armor for us to stand against this raging adversary who seeks to devour. He cannot overcome our salvation as once we are in the mighty hand of God, none can pluck us out. There is none greater to do so.

However, we must never forget the two main objectives Satan pursues. First he seeks to capture and keep the souls of the lost, and to diminish and harm the souls of the saved.

God knows these things, allows these things, permits these things to try and strengthen our faith. He also grants gifts to allow us to stand against the evil and inspired Paul to send us understanding to guide us in the warfare. Finally, we must remember that the only portion of our spiritual body not granted protection is the back. We are not to retreat from evil; but to meet and battle it forward. We are to STAND!