Ephesians 6:10-24; Lesson, Week Six

Ephesians 6:10 – 24 – Please read these verses before you continue (the final chapter)

Is it any surprise then, if our faith is built from within and our journey is most profitable when lead by the Holy Spirit, that the battle for our souls would be raged there as well?

Strength to persevere comes from God through the Holy Spirit. Jesus, himself, modeled it first in the flesh and now continues to teach and guide through the Spirit within us. Everything we need to face the internal enemy, we have. Please read that again. The weapons for spiritual warfare have already been distributed to us. But we must learn how to wield them. Like the soldier on the field, we must practice.

Are you still in boot camp?

It’s a lovely story that David, while still a shepherd, was able to defeat Goliath with five smooth stones and a slingshot, but this is not the norm for the everyday follower of Christ. That story is intended to show that faith in God is so powerful that it is possible to defeat the challengers with a single weapon, but the practice of trust and dependence on God must be in place first. This is the purpose of the description of the armor of God: a metaphor for the tools we are given to sustain our inner lives.

Who is this spiritual enemy? It’s an interesting list (and apparently, there is a hierarchy):

• Devil  [In Greek, diabolos, means diabolical and slanderous. The term Satan is used when translated from the Hebrew and also means adversary.]
• Tyrants (rulers) or principalities [some believe these are “geographical”]
• Authorities and supernatural powers [of the dark world] (from the Greek, exousia, meaning the right to control. The term is used for both good and bad authority.)
• Spiritual forces [armies] of evil

These are not human enemies. We must be clear on this point. Despite the fact that we see human abuse and terror in the human realm, these people and actions are a physical expression of the evil within given full reign, running rampant, exercising dominion. Defeating a human enemy will not release us from an expansion of spiritual darkness.

A study of the enemy, beginning with Satan, the “ruler” of this darkness is more than I can tackle in this study. For those who are interested, please be sure your internal armor is on and you are in top form before beginning such a study of the adversary. It is the proverbial “pandora’s box.”

Here are some additional resources:

• http://www.battleinchrist.com/principalities_powers_world_rulers_of_darkness_spiritual_wickedness_in_spiritual_warfare.htm
• http://www.lifetv.org/Web_HTML/html/Commentary%20folder/Principalities_and_Powers.htm
• http://www.thywordistruth.com/questions/Question-222.html#.UfUZ723Bz5M

Another consideration in verse twelve are the references to this “dark world” [ruled, in essence, by the enemy] and the heavenly realms (or heaven) which still has some evil forces operating as well. In the Voice translation, it reads: “. . . this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places.”

Bible scholars argue over the meanings and interpretations and implications of dark forces being present in both spheres or perhaps explaining them away as an accepted norm of the day. Charles Hodge [December 27, 1797 – June 19, 1878], in his original commentary on Ephesians, writes this way:

“The whole context, however, shows that the design of the apostle is to present the formidable character of our adversaries in the most impressive point of view. Others suppose that Paul means to refer to the former, and not to the present residence of these exalted beings. They are fallen angels, who once dwelt in heave. But his is obviously inconsistent with the nature meaning of his words. He speaks of them as in heaven. It is better to take the word heaven in a wised sense. It is very often used antithetically to the word earth. “Heaven and earth,” include the whole universe. All intelligent beings are terrestrial or celestial. Of the latter class some are good and some are bad, as of the angels some are holy and some are unholy. These principalities and potentates, these rulers and spirits of wickedness, are no earthly magnates, they belong to the order of celestial intelligences, and therefore are the more to be dreaded, and something more than human strength and earthly armour is required for the conflict to which the apostle refers.” [Crossway Classic Commentaries]

And so we face the enemy in many forms and throughout the universe of our existence. How do we prevail: the proffered armor of God. In May, 2013, Pastor Jess Bousa did a series on this armor and can be reviewed on Live Stream here [Shooting Blanks]: https://new.livestream.com/accounts/1301484

But a review of this armor here would be appropriate as well. In general, the armor is defensive in nature. This armor provides enough protection to allow the defender to stand and face anything that comes along. Standing is important, for no battle can be waged from a position of defeat, prone, thrown or otherwise. It also means “holding one’s ground.” We must remember too that the “armor” is intended to resist from the front, not while we are in retreat. And sometimes, just enduring (just standing) is enough.

Let us review this armor briefly.

Belt of Truth (vs. 6:14a): Or simply, truth. For it is truth that holds us together the best. The wider the belt on armor, the more it protected. So, it does more than just “hold up” our spiritual pants. But if we remember that our adversary is also known as the “father of lies,” is there any doubt that truth must surround us always? In some ways, we can see that truth has been watered down in our culture where a type of relativism has taken root. As followers of Christ, we have agreed to hold to the Bible as our measuring rod for truth. But we cannot, at the same time, turn it into a hammer. Truth is not that kind of weapon.

Breastplate of Righteousness (vs 6:14b): This piece of armor covers the torso, the heart and lungs. Because of “bad press,” the word righteousness has started to ring as “self-righteous” to the general public. But really, it means virtuous and genuine and moral. In order for this breastplate to have value in our lives, we must live inside it. And because we continue to make mistakes and even, in a fit of anger, cast off the breastplate in order to indulge ourselves, Christ is prepared to be our page and armor bearer, putting it all back on again. When we are deeply in relationship with the Holy Spirit, the breastplate is securely fixed to us.

Shoes that Fit the Situation (vs 6:15): These are not just any shoes; this is footgear that molds itself to the situation at hand. The insert of these shoes is always Peace, the part that makes every shoe fit perfectly. We can keep changing shoes as long as we move the inserts from one pair to another. Peace is not a hippie term. It is instead a confidence and trust in the strength of God to mold the circumstances for my good. It is anxiety that breeds fear and distrust.

Shield of Faith (vs 6:16): In the early days when shields were made of leather, soldiers would soak them in creeks. Although this made the shield heavier, it was even more impervious to flaming arrows. The shield is a moving defense strategy and can be used to cover all parts of the body as well as loved ones. My imagination often goes to St. George who slew the dragon but before he could strike, he had to resist the flames from the dragon’s mouth. We must be active with the shield and continue to keep it in shape through use.

Helmet of Salvation (vs 6:17a): Worn on the head, a helmet protects the brain. We wear them in many walks of life already: bicycling, working on construction, sports, and more. If the head and brain are the physical “symbol” for the mind, then it makes even more sense that it is critical to protect this part of us. All of our choices begin here, every decision, whether good or evil. The mind is field where more battles take place than anywhere else. It is the reason that we have been asked to follow Christ in the first place and to embrace the Holy Spirit because of this battlefield. It is our life preserver.

Sword of the Spirit (vs 6:17b): And finally, the only offensive weapon in the pile. A sword can defend too, of course, but it is there to parry and if needed, to strike. Now, it is unfortunate, in my mind, that some have taken the interpretation that this “sword,” also called the word of God, is the words from the Bible which can be used in an argument. I cannot think of anything worse. I would not make the words of the Bible an attack. In fact, the word of God is more than that to me: it is the essence of the message. It is the dual command above all else: love the Lord your God and love your neighbor. This is the sword that will deflect the enemy faster than anything else. It is the Sword of love that will disengage the attack. It is the paradox of love that has the greatest power of all. That is not to say that the Bible is not critical. It is where we are taught about the character of God through Christ and the prophets. We achieve knowledge there but it is only when this knowledge is married to the Holy Spirit that wisdom is born.

Scratchboard by Leo Hartshorn

And lastly, in verses 18-20, Paul reiterates the importance of prayer. It is a joint activity with the Spirit within us. Prayer is most powerful when spoken from within, grounded in an understanding of God’s ways. We waste our breath when we ask or pray for God to do something totally counter to God’s character. It is prayer that brings us into greater unity with God. And it is prayer that is the cocoon of the heart.

Again, I encourage you to read Richard Foster’s book, Prayer: the Heart’s True Home. Learn about the different kinds of prayer. Practice the communion of prayer with the Holy Spirit. As our prayer life grows, our understanding grows, our armor becomes secure, our sword more useful.

May peace and love with faith be yours from God the Father and the Lord Jesus the Anointed. May His grace surround all who love our Lord Jesus the Anointed with a never-ending love.