- These last few verses of the Book of Ephesians inform us of the energy we must have, the enemy we must face and the equipment we must put on in order to stand.
ENERGY
Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."
Strong = 1743. endunamoo, en-doo-nam-o'-o; from G1722 and G1412; to empower:--enable, (increase in) strength (-en), be (make) strong.
Our power to defeat the enemy comes from Jesus Christ, not ourselves. We must take upon ourselves the strength of His ability. We often times grow weak when facing the enemy, example: Heb.12: 3 "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin."
13 "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
To resist the evil day (to withstand #436), we must take our stand (unmoveable, 1Cor.15: 58), to do this effectively must understand the enemy and use the equipment (strength of his ability).
ENEMY
Ephesians 3:11 "Put on the whole armour 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."
Wiles (3180 - cunning arts, deceit, craft, trickery) When we meet temptation & evil to us it appears the physical is attacking. This is why we fail to defend and are over taken. We try to fight in the physical also. It is not the physical we wrestle against, but the spiritual that rule in the hearts of men. Jesus realized this when he advised his disciples not to fight in:
John 18: 36 "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."
Jesus also recognized this when speaking to the Jews in:
John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (see also: Jn. 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Cor. 4:4)
EQUIPMENT
Ephesians 6:14 "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all 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 with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"
Paul gives a description of the equipment that we are to prepare ourselves with.
Being equipped with these tools we can make our stand against the devil and his devices.
1. Loins girt about with truth (Eph. 6:14)
Put your belt on! A belt is gritted (fastened) around the loins (hips).
The belt is important to the soldier. It helps to hold other parts of equipment in place
and allows freedom of the hands for other equipment (one who has no belt must keep
pulling his pants up!)
2 Breastplate of righteousness (Eph.6: 14)
Protect the vital organs! A holy life, a life regulated according to the testimonies of
God, As the breastplate defends the heart and lungs, so does righteousness. The life
of God in man defends everything on which man's spiritual existence depends (the
heart).
3 Feet shod with preparation of Gospel (Eph. 6:15)
Tie your shoes! Since a Christian is to stand, a sure footing is required.
The feet are parts of the body that are very tender. Without shoes one may find it
hard to walk. The smallest pebble or thorn can cause the biggest warrior to sit down
and stop fighting.
4. Take up shield of Faith (Eph. 6:16)
Walk behind your shield! A shield it used to deflect incoming arrows before it reaches
the soldier. If we will hold up our faith in front of us many of the devils arrows will be
deflected and we will be able to stand longer.
5. Helmet of Salvation (Eph. 6:17)
Wear your helmet! A helmet protects the head where decisions are made and knowledge
is stored. One cannot make sound decisions if he is injured. I believe the helmet of
salvation is best described in: I Thess. 5:8 "But let us, who are of the day, be sober,
putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."
The "HOPE" of salvation is the earnest expectation of heaven!
When one doubts his salvation, he will not make the right decisions for his service.
6. Sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17)
Are you pack'n heat? The soldier is of no use without his sword. The sword is the
precision tool used to affect the work. Without the word of God the Christian soldier
is useless in his cause. The word of God makes the Christian soldier a soldier.
Heb.4: 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Ephesians 6: "18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
Paul asks earnest prayers and requests for all the saints, their perseverance and that he would speak boldly the gospel of which he is suffering bondage.
Ephesians 6:21 "But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: 22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen."
Tychicus = Trusted Brother in Christ by Paul. Paul used Tychicus the same way to the Colossians: Col. 4:7 "All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: 8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;"
Paul also considers sending Thymus to Crete (Titus 3:12).