Ephesians 6:10-18 study

Ephesians 6:10-18 (KJV)

(10) "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."

(11) "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL."

(12) "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities , against powers, against the rulers OF THE DARKNESS of this world. Against spiritual wickedness in high places." 

(13) "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that able to withstand IN THE EVIL DAY, and having done all to stand."

(14) "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;"

(15) "And your feet shod with the Gospel of peace;"

(16) "Above all, taking the shield of faith, ye shall quench THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED."

(17) "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God:"

(18) "Praying always will all prayer and suplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverence and supplication with all the saints."  

My comments:  This passage clearly tells us that the devil will try to use fiery darts (verse 16) and wiles (meaning devious and cunning strategies, [verse 11]) against us.  But it also tells us how to be READY and to STAND against Satan when he comes at us.  It tells us that we can be STRONG in the Lord, and it tells us in detail what are weapons are.   

First it says we must be knowledgeable about the truth. Truth is a very powerful weapon.  John 8:32, " And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Our second weapon is the breastplate of righteousness.  Colossians 2:11 (NLT) tells us, "When you came to Christ, you were 'circumcised,' but not by a physical procedure.  Christ performed a spiritual circumcision--the cutting away of your sinful nature." So we have been redeemed from our sinful nature and IN CHRIST we have been made righteous and holy as it tells us in Colossians 1:22 “Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body.  As a result, he has brought you into his presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before God without a single fault.”  I believe having this knowlege about our righteous position in Christ is also a powerful weapon against Satan's lies that we are worthless and undeserving, Jesus paid the price for our sin, so we could share in Christ's inheritance.  Colossians 1:12-14, "always thanking the Father.  He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.  (13) For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his dear Son, (14) Who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins."

Third is the knowledge of the Gospel of peace.  The Gospel is the message about Christ dying for our sins on the cross, and taking our punishment for us, and that God's wrath for our sin was satisfied through Jesus sacrifice.  1 John 2:2 “He himself is the sacrifice that atones for sins—and not only our sins but the sins of the whole world.”  

Fourth it says that our faith is a weapon that can quench Satan's fiery darts. Faith is called our shield.  Faith is basically trusting in God for His protection, for His provision, and that He will take care of all of our needs.  I highly encourage you to read Psalm chapter 91 that tells us more specifically what we have protection from.

Fifth is the weapon of Salvation, that is called our helment.  I believe Satan tries to convince us that we have sinned too much, so we are destined for Hell, but John 3:16 tells, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

Sixth is the weapon of the Word of God, which is called our sword of the Spirit.  In Matthew chapter 4 Jesus demonstrated  how to  use the Sword.  Jesus quoted Scripture every time Satan temped Him.  Jesus always replied with, "it is written..."  We need to know Scripture well enough that we can also quote it and use it as our sword.  

Seventh is our weapon of prayer in the Spirit.  Romans 8:27 tells us that the Holy Spirit will help us in our weakness when we don't know what to pray for, the verse says, "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." So praying in the Spirit is an important weapon.  

So clearly Ephesians tells us that we have a spiritual war to fight against the dark forces, but God in His mercy gives us very powerful weapons to use so we can stand in the evil day.  

2 Corinthians 10:4 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"

So we can pull down strong holds with the weapons God gave us, but we are expected to fight, and not be passive.