May 13, 2014
THE ARMOR OF GOD: A VERY IMPORTANT PART TO A VERY REAL BATTLE
Ephesians 6:10-24
Chase Chandler
Central Truth
There is a raging battle of spiritual warfare constantly going on all around us that manifests itself in different ways. But be strong in the Lord! He has provided us with many tools useful for fighting back.
Key Verse | Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)
Ephesians 6:10-24
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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 firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Final Greetings
21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brothers, 1 6:23 Or brothers and sisters and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
Dive Deeper | Ephesians 6:10-24
As I said in my bio, I love to play soccer. I am the goalie for the team, and when I play, I always have to put on the necessary gear to protect myself and help me play to the best of my ability. My gloves protect my fingers, my cleats help me kick better, and my shin guards keep my shins from getting bruised. All of this gear impacts how well I play in my team's battle against our opponents. If I do not wear even one of these pieces of gear, my quality of play goes down drastically.
Just like every soccer player needs the right gear to play his/her position well, every Christian needs to put on spiritual "gear" in order to successfully fight the spiritual war that surrounds each of us.
Paul uses warrior imagery -- "belt of truth", "breastplate of righteousness" (verse 14), "helmet of salvation", and "sword of the Spirit" (verse 17) -- to underscore the importance of putting on this gear daily to protect ourselves from the Evil One.
After thoroughly studying this passage, I realized this scary truth: spiritual warfare is very real! In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter calls us to: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." But take heart: This is exactly why God has given us the armor of God, so that we may fight back against the Evil One and further God's kingdom.
Discussion Questions
1. Are you putting on each of the different pieces of the armor of God?
2. How can you better use the armor pieces that you are not using?
3. In what ways, if any, do you fight spiritual warfare?