Ephesians 6:10-18 PHILLIPS. In conclusion be strong—not in yourselves but in the Lord, in the power of his boundless resource. Put on God’s complete armour so that you can successfully resist all the devil’s methods of attack. For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organisations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil. Therefore, you must wear the whole armour of God that you may be able to resist evil in its day of power, and that even when you have fought to a standstill you may still stand your ground. Take your stand then with truth as your belt, righteousness your breastplate, the Gospel of peace firmly on your feet, salvation as your helmet and in your hand the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Above all be sure you take faith as your shield, for it can quench every burning missile the enemy hurls at you. Pray at all times with every kind of spiritual prayer, keeping alert and persistent as you pray for all Christ’s men and women.
Ephesians 6:10-18 MSG. 10-12 And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. 13-18 Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”
Observation
Webster’s defines armor as a (1) defensive covering for the body; (2) a quality or circumstance that affords protection; (3) a protective outer layer; or (4) armored forces and vehicles (as tanks). It defines weapon as (1) something (as a club, knife, or gun) used to injure, defeat, or destroy or (2) a means of contending against another (using a special/unique talent or skill). We may think of medieval knights, bulletproof vests or Ironman’s indestructible suit when we see the word “armor”. Weapon may conjure up mind pictures of swords, guns, laser beams, light sabers, missiles or battle vehicles. All of these are only effective against tangible, visible enemies in the only warfare we humans understand.
Paul is telling us that our conventional armor, weapons and methods of warfare won’t cut it on the spiritual battlefield. God’s adversary and our invisible Enemy:
- is too wily and strong for us to defeat on our own,
- fights by different rules/methods than our physical battles,
- uses entirely different weapons, such as fear, hate, resentment, doubt et al. (that have historically been highly effective in defeating us), and
- battles on an entirely different (spiritual & internal) battlefield.
We are up against and the target of “the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil.” BUT, God has provided us not only with protective armor, not only His “well-made weapons of the best materials”, but also His presence which commands victory (“In conclusion be strong—not in yourselves but in the Lord, in the power of his boundless resource.”). All we must do is follow Him while putting on the armor and using the weapons He has provided – “Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare.”
These seem strange “weapons” to us because they are not destructive in the normal physical sense; they are protective/defensive for us because they provide an impenetrable armor against the weapons of our Enemy – deception, temptation, sin, chaos, fear, greed, doubt/unbelief, corruption, and every other evil work. How can the Enemy overcome or defeat or destroy us if we stand firm on truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation? What defense does he have against the Word of God and prayer? How can we even fathom the devastating damage to evil we do by allowing the exercise in and through us of such weapons of warfare as love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, meekness, faithfulness and self-control? Paul is asking us to exchange the natural – what we touch, what we can see, what we can do in our own strength, and our limited understanding of what really matters – for the supernatural – God’s eternal and indomitable power, insight, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding made available to us in Christ.
Impact on Me
Early on in my Christian walk as I was praying down the list of what I had determined were my needs and how – in my vast and perfect wisdom – God should fix the world, it occurred to me to ask if I had missed anything that should be on the list. I did not hear an audible voice, but the response was as clear and loud as if it had been. “The only thing you really need is to learn what I really did for you on the cross and apply it in your life.” I began to read the Word looking for what was already mine in Christ and pray for the courage and faith to live in a way that reflects Whose I am and Whom I serve.
Not too long after this incident, I read an excerpt from a prayer warrior’s journal that truly arrested my attention by its simple powerful truth in the light of Jesus’ victory on the Cross – “We do not have to hold out against the Devil; he has to hold out against us.” So, this passage in 2 Corinthians is key for me. It is one of the truly strategic instructions in spiritual warfare.
- First, submit to and be strong in the One Who has already secured the victory.
- Second, wear the protective armor He provides – truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, His Word and prayer.
- Lastly, use often and liberally the weapons against which the Enemy has no defense – love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and all the other graces provided through the Holy Spirit Who lives in us.
Prayer
Lord, Eternal, Invisible, All-Powerful, Wise God, may I always seek to find my place in Your plan and be faithful to stand therefore in it regardless of the cost to me. May I be simple, courageous, bold and obedient enough to faithfully submit, put on Your armor and use only Your weapons as I learn to live the victorious life in Christ.
Pressing On In His Footsteps 