Equipped for Battle: An Exegesis of Ephesians 6:10-20

      by Rolaant L. McKenzie

      Ephesians 6:10-20 (NASB)

      1. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

      2. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

      3. 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.

      4. 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.

      5. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,

      6. and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;

      7. 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.

      8. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

      9. 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,

      10. and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

      11. for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.


      Introduction
      Christians, as long as they live in this world, will always be at war with the dark forces of the god of this world, Satan. (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4) The Apostle Paul revealed in his letter to the Ephesian church the nature of this spiritual warfare that each believer personally faces, and the tools God provides to effectively defend against the "schemes of the devil."

      1. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

      The command to "be strong" comes from the word "endynamoo", and in the context of this passage it simply means that the believer is to find his strength in the Lord. To be strong in the Lord, in the strength of His might, is to believe that He is our strength and that we can rely on His promises. Followers of Christ are engaged in a fierce struggle (Ephesians 6:12), but they are not left alone in their feeble power to face the world, the flesh, and the devil. They have the assurance that the power of the Lord is with them to provide the strength they need to persevere through the hour of temptation and live a life that is pleasing to God.

      1. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

      Paul exhorts believers to put on full armor of God. Believers are to make use of the full range of tools God has made available for spiritual warfare. The different parts of the armor of God each have their function and are essential to successfully resisting the "methodeias" (i.e. devices, schemes, evil stratagems) of the devil.

      Satan does not openly appear. He does not approach believers in an unpleasing form, but comes presenting to them a plausible-sounding teaching or doctrine, or some temptation that is not repulsive. He makes the temptation appear alluring and harmless, seeking to lead the believer into indulgence until he has gone too far to turn back.

      1. 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.

      The believer must always remember that the struggle against evil is ultimately not physical, but spiritual in nature. Paul here does not intend to convey the idea that believers do not have human enemies who actively oppose them, or that they do not have their own sinful flesh with which to contend. He points out that the real battle is with the invisible spirits of wickedness that seek the destruction of the believer.

      These evil spirits, fallen angels, are organized into ranks and orders of power. In Ephesians 1:21, the same terms are applied to the different ranks of holy angels. Under their leader, Satan, they exert a pall of darkness over the world that keeps men ignorant, wretched, and dead in sin.

      1. 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.

      Believers are to put on the battle gear the Lord has provided so that, in the day of temptation, they will be able to resist the violent assaults of the evil one. Equipped with the armor of God, they are to resist unto victory, and after the enemy has been defeated, to stand firm.

      1. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH [Isaiah 11:5], and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS [Isaiah 59:17],

      Truth, or sincerity, is the girdle. It is the point of conjunction for all the other pieces of the armor. Without truth the other essential characteristics of the armor cannot remain in place and be effective. Truth can be defined as the agreement of the believer's convictions with God's revelation.

      The function of the breastplate was to provide protection for the vital organs of the body, especially the heart. The righteousness of Christ, imputed to us by faith, is a breastplate against the fiery arrows hurled by Satan at the saints.

      1. and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE [Isaiah 52:7];

      Acceptance of the gospel brings believers into a state peace with God. This peace experienced by the believer provides firm footing in the fight against the enemy.

      1. 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.

      The shield was an essential piece of equipment in that it protected the body from blows and arrows. The soldier was secure as long as he had his shield to protect him. Likewise, the believer is safe as long as he has faith. It comes to his aid in every attack of the enemy. The "flaming arrows" of the evil one include temptations to do wrong, unbelief, sinful thoughts, etc. They often come unexpectedly and furiously. They torment the soul if they find their mark. The only defense against these Satanic attacks is the "shield of faith", which is having confidence in God and His gracious promises and aid. It is depending on His power (not one's own). With this faith in God the believer is defenseless against attack.

      1. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION [Isaiah 59:17], and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

      The assurance of salvation is a valuable defense against the sharp blows of doubt of the enemy. This "helmet" protects the believer's mind and thoughts.

      Jesus met the temptations of the devil in the wilderness with the word of God. It is only by being armed with the truth that Satan's lies can be effectively countered. How can the believer be armed with the sword of the word of God? 1) He must study the Bible to know what the truth is, 2) he should memorize Scripture so that he may recall them when various forms of temptation come, and 3) he should never depend on his own reason or wisdom. A single passage of Scripture is better to meet a temptation than all the philosophy or reason in the world. Satan can bring to bear very persuasive reasons for giving in to his temptations, but he cannot resist the word of God. Temptation often assails the believer without warning and quite suddenly, but a text of Scripture is sufficient to drive the devil away.

      1. 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,

      Paul brings his letter to a conclusion with an exhortation to prayer. Prayer is the capstone of the believer's armor. Prayer should be said on all occasions by the Holy Spirit's power; it should be the unceasing activity of the believer since all followers of Christ are targets of the devil's attacks.

      1. and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

      2. for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

      Paul sought the prayers of the saints at Ephesus. But though he was languishing in a Roman prison and enduring fiery trials, he did not desire prayers in behalf of his life or comfort, but for the gospel's sake, that though a prisoner he may still speak boldly and effectively "the mystery of the gospel."

      Conclusion
      Though the Christian is up against strong, dark spiritual forces that seek his defeat, God in His love has provided the necessary equipment to successfully defend against them. With the armor of God in place, there is no need for the believer to experience continual defeat at the hands of the enemy, but freedom, victory, and a more intimate walk with God.

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