STUDIES IN EPHESIANS Put on the Whole Armor

STUDIES IN EPHESIANS Put on the Whole Armor of God (1) Ephesians 6: 10 -13

Be strong in the Lord (6: 10) ■ Strong – to be enabled, able to accomplish what is intended. Romans 4: 20 – Abraham was strengthened Philippians 4: 13 – I can do all things 2 Timothy 4: 17 – Paul not alone, strengthened by the Lord ■ We have what we need to accomplish EVERYTHING Paul has addressed in this letter!

Be strong in the Lord (6: 10) ■ Strong IN HIM– not in any other source, but in Christ. Cf. Ephesians 1: 7, 10, 11, etc. ■ And in the power of His might cf. Ephesians 1: 18 – power – ability to demonstrate one’s strength might – to function effectively, with force and vigor

Put on the Whole Armor (6: 11) ■ Put on the whole armor – take measures to protect ourselves. NOT physical armor! It is qualities we develop and use in our battle! ■ πανοπλία, (panoplia) – means our whole armament, both offensive and defensive ■ NOTE: These qualities do not just appear, they are developed

Put on the Whole Armor (6: 11) ■ That you may be able to stand– with the armor, we can endure the attacks of the enemy ■ Against the wiles of the devil – wiles – schemes. Ephesians 4: 14 – deceitful plotting 2 Corinthians 2: 11 - do not be ignorant of his devices 2 Cor. 4: 4 – the god of this age, 2 Cor. 11: 3 – with craftiness, 2 Cor. 11: 13 -15 – transforms himself

Put on the Whole Armor (6: 11) ■ Against the wiles of the devil – 2 Thessalonians 2: 9 -11 John 8: 44 – the father of lies 1 Peter 5: 8 – like a roaring lion Revelation 2: 24 – “the depths of Satan” Revelation 12: 9 – the great dragon, deceives the world; (1 John 5: 19) ■ DO NOT underestimate the power of the devil! He is very good at what he does!

The nature of our battle (6: 12) ■ We do not wrestle against flesh and blood – we will not win with guns and knives and tanks, etc. ■ Wrestle – implies close up combat ■ It is a spiritual battle 2 Corinthians 10: 3 -6 ■ Our fight is not really with man, but with Satan and his forces. This is a battle for the heart!

The nature of our battle (6: 12) ■ Against principalities – those in places of preeminence (primarily spiritual – cf. Romans 8: 38 -39, Ephesians 1: 21, 3: 10, etc. ) ■ Could this be “the devil and his angels”? Matthew 25: 41, Revelation 12: 9, Jude 6

The nature of our battle (6: 12) ■ Against powers – demonstrating the potential to accomplish a task, one with authority – cf. Ephesians 2: 2 – “the prince of the power of the air” ■ Temptation is real! Our struggles are real! These are Satan at work against us! Don’t

The nature of our battle (6: 12) ■ Against the rulers of darkness of this age – Satan is the ruler of this world – Ephesians 2: 2, John 12: 31, 14: 30, 2 Corinthians 4: 4 – “the god of this age” ■ BUT he only has rule because men gives it to him!

The nature of our battle (6: 12) ■ Against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places – summarizing who we are battling ■ Our fight is with the devil! 1 Peter 5: 8, James 4: 7 – we must resist him!

The nature of our battle (6: 12) ■ Does this mean we don’t engage men? ■ NO! Man is influenced by Satan and his minions. They have abandoned God – Romans 1: 20 -32, 2 Timothy 3: 17, etc. ■ We can and should stand up for what is right and resist evil. BUT, do not make it about destroying them. ■ Engage with godly qualities, with our example, with the truth of God’s word, with the light of Jesus! Cf. John 17: 11, 15 -17

Take up the whole armor (6: 13) ■ Repeated a second time! ■ Every piece of our armament has a purpose! If we set any of it aside, we are vulnerable! ■ Our spiritual armor and battle described in other places! Romans 13: 12; 2 Cor. 6: 6 -7, 10: 4; 1 Thessalonians 5: 8; 1 Timothy 6: 12 2 Timothy 2: 3, 4: 7

Take up the whole armor (6: 13) ■ That you may be able to withstand in the evil day ■ Resist! You are well prepared and equipped so that no matter what the enemy first at you, it does not penetrate! ■ The evil day – our day of troubles ■ Survival in war depends upon our defensive preparedness! God has given us everything we need! Cf. James 1: 2 -4, Romans 5: 3 -5

Take up the whole armor (6: 13) ■ And having done all, to stand ■ Our final goal – to win the battle and the war. When we stand before God we want to remain standing! ■ Cf. 2 Timothy 4: 8

Am I prepared to fight the good fight of faith?