God is the Creator and He is a builder. In the letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul is emphasizing the work of God in building His Church. The first three chapters focus on who Christ is and the reality of who we are in Him. The final three chapters call us to practice what is true as we walk in Christ. The theme of Ephesians is body-building.
The letter’s final chapter points our hearts and minds to the reality of that we are in the midst of a spiritual war. Satan should not be overestimated (as if he has the power of God) or underestimated (as if he is not real or formidable). The enemy of God is described as the adversary, a slanderer, the tempter, the ruler of demons, the father of lies, a murderer, a devouring lion, the accuser, and a deceiver. We must realize that if Satan will take on God, he will readily engage in battle with us. In the end, however, he will be cast into hell and tormented forever.
Ephesians 6:10-20 reveals that we can be made strong in the Lord. The strength to resist Satan is not ours but is the power of the Holy Spirit in us. Through the Spirit we have everything we need to endure this spiritual battle each moment of every day. The Apostle Paul uses the description of Roman armor to highlight what God provides:
The Belt- what holds everything together; Christ secures our faith and our hope.
The Breastplate- what protects the heart; Christ’s righteousness guards our heart as we walk in Him (see Proverbs 4:23).
The Shoes- what provides firm footing; Christ’s peace (shalom) casts out fear and empowers boldness in our faith.
The Shield- interlocks with others for protection; Christ’s Body (the Church) protects and cares for one another. We help each other resist temptation and walk in faith.
The Helmet- what protects the head; Satan tempts us with lies. We are commanded to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
The Sword- the weapon for offense; The Word of God transforms our lives and the name of Jesus causes Satan to flee.
1. Read again Ephesians 6:11-12. With whom do we wrestle against? Who is the real enemy?
2. What would it look like to put on the armor of God tomorrow morning? Is there any part of the “armor” that you are missing or has been damaged in battle?
3. How does memorizing Scripture empower us to to resist Satan? What can you do daily to memorize God’s Word?
