How lovely God is Pt 21: The armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-18 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Our struggle is against spiritual forces
When we face opposition in our daily lives there are often questions as how to respond. Maybe a superior in our workplace is throwing up barricades, or a friend or acquaintance is being difficult. Theses things are difficult enough, but when we are fighting against unseen opponents the difficulty is raised exponentially. Eventually, every believer asks a variant of this question, “Why does everything have to be so hard?”
Such difficulties were no less common in the 1st Century as in the 21st, so it is not at all surprising to see Paul address this question. When Paul urges believers to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Eph 6:10), he does not send them into the world naïve or unarmed. Instead, he gives them a picture—a Roman soldier fully equipped for battle—to help them understand what faithful Christian living looks like in a hostile spiritual environment. The armor of God is not about dramatic spiritual warfare techniques; it is about daily dependence on what God has already provided in Christ.
Paul’s language is deliberately unsettling. He reminds believers that the real opposition they face is not human opponents, difficult circumstances, or cultural pressure, but an unseen spiritual reality. This does not mean people are never responsible for evil actions, but it does mean believers must resist the temptation to reduce every conflict to human terms alone. When we forget this, we fight the wrong battles with the wrong weapons.
This perspective echoes Paul’s wider teaching. In 2 Corinthians 10:3–4, he explains that although we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. Our weapons are not worldly but have divine power. Similarly, Peter warns believers that the devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Pet 5:8). Scripture consistently portrays the believing life as lived within a larger spiritual conflict.
Recognizing this reality is not meant to frighten believers but to sober them. Spiritual warfare language reminds us that neutrality is not an option. To follow Christ is to be transferred “from the dominion of darkness” into the kingdom of God’s Son (Col 1:13). The good news is that Christ has already secured victory at the cross (Col 2:15), yet believers are still called to stand firm until that victory is fully revealed.
When believers struggle against opposition they may slide into demonizing people or despairing over circumstances. When anxiety rises or relationships strain, this passage invites believers to pause and ask: “Am I responding as though flesh and blood are the enemy, or am I trusting God in the midst of unseen opposition?” Practically, this means cultivating humility, patience, and prayer rather than suspicion or retaliation. Churches that grasp this truth become places of grace, not battlegrounds for human pride.
So stand against Satan’s schemes
Believers must remember that although Satan is said to “prowl like a lion (1 Peter 5:8), he mostly doesn’t actually devour like a lion. The enemy’s power lies not in brute force but in deception. Jesus himself called Satan “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). His schemes often involve distortion of truth, subtle compromise, and quiet erosion of trust in God. Standing firm, then, is not aggressive conquest but faithful resistance. Paul repeats the phrase “stand” several times (Eph 6:11, 13–14), emphasizing endurance rather than advancement. This posture matters. Believers do not fight for victory but from victory already won in Christ. Their task is to remain grounded in that reality.
The command to put on the full armor is also significant. Partial obedience leaves believers vulnerable. Each element of God’s provision works together, reinforcing the others. Just as a Roman soldier would never enter battle without complete protection, so Christians are called to live fully clothed in what God supplies.
Paul’s tone here is pastoral rather than dramatic. He does not instruct believers to rebuke spirits or obsess over the enemy. Instead, he focuses on preparedness. Faithfulness in ordinary disciplines—truth, righteousness, faith, prayer—is what enables believers to withstand extraordinary pressure.
Standing firm against the devil’s schemes rarely looks dramatic. More often, it takes shape in ordinary obedience—choosing truth over convenience, integrity over compromise, and faith over fear. When Christians feel spiritually weary, this passage reminds them that perseverance itself is evidence of God’s sustaining grace. Encouraging regular engagement with Scripture, participation in Christian community, and honest confession and repentance helps believers remain clothed in the full armor God provides.
Depend on God’s truth and righteousness
Truth holds everything together. In Roman armor, the belt secured the soldier’s tunic and provided support for weapons. Spiritually, God’s truth stabilizes believers. This truth is not merely sincerity or honesty, but the revealed truth of God in Christ (John 14:6). When believers are grounded in what God has said, they are less susceptible to the enemy’s lies.
The breastplate of righteousness protects the vital organs. Paul likely has in mind both the righteousness given through faith in Christ and the righteous living that flows from it. Elsewhere he reminds believers that they are justified freely by God’s grace (Rom 3:24), yet also called to live transformed lives (Rom 6:13). This righteousness guards the heart against accusation and despair. When Satan accuses, believers can point not to their own performance but to Christ’s finished work (Rom 8:1).
Paul continues with footwear: “with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (Eph 6:15). The gospel provides stability and mobility. Peace with God through Christ (Rom 5:1) allows believers to stand firm, while readiness enables them to move forward when called. Even in spiritual conflict, the message believers carry is not hostility but reconciliation.
The shield of faith follows: “Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Eph 6:16). Faith here is active trust in God’s character and promises. Flaming arrows—doubts, fears, temptations—are inevitable, but faith intercepts them. This faith is not self-generated optimism; it is reliance on God’s faithfulness, even when circumstances suggest otherwise.
Dependence on God’s truth and righteousness has deeply personal implications. Many believers struggle not with blatant temptation but with quiet discouragement, guilt, or self-doubt. Most believers are not murderers, but do harbor vengeful anger in their hearts. People tend to forget that their actions should reflect the love of Jesus and for Jesus so the world begins to recognize a better way. Righteousness is received, not achieved. When believers stumble, they are not disarmed; they are invited back into reliance on Christ. Teaching believers to rehearse gospel truth—especially in moments of failure—helps protect their hearts from accusation and despair.
And trust in God’s salvation
The helmet protects the mind. Assurance of salvation guards believers against discouragement and confusion. Knowing that one belongs to Christ provides clarity and confidence. Paul frequently connects salvation with hope, especially the future completion of God’s work (1 Thess 5:8). This hope sustains believers in ongoing struggle.
The sword of the Spirit stands out as the only offensive weapon, yet even this is defensive in nature. God’s word enables believers to respond rightly to temptation and deception. Jesus himself modeled this when he resisted Satan in the wilderness by quoting Scripture (Matt 4:1–11). The effectiveness of the sword depends not on dramatic use but on faithful familiarity.
Finally, Paul emphasizes prayer: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Eph 6:18). Prayer is not an extra piece of armor but the means by which believers remain dependent on God. It keeps them alert, humble, and connected to the source of their strength. Spiritual warfare, in Paul’s view, is sustained by persistent prayer rather than isolated acts of heroism.
Trusting in God’s salvation reshapes how believers pray. Prayer is not a last resort when spiritual pressure increases; it is the ongoing posture of dependence that sustains faith. Prayer is participation in God’s work rather than a performance to be perfected. Praying “on all occasions” includes prayers of weakness, confusion, gratitude, and hope. A praying church is not necessarily one free from struggle, but one continually anchored in God’s presence and promises.
What about me?
The armor of God reminds believers that the Christian life is lived between victory accomplished and victory revealed. The struggle is real, but also God’s provision is complete. Each piece of armor points back to what God has done in Christ and how believers are called to live in light of that reality.
Rather than fostering fear, this passage invites confidence. Believers are not left exposed or unprepared. They are clothed in God’s truth, protected by Christ’s righteousness, steadied by the gospel of peace, shielded by faith, assured by salvation, equipped with God’s word, and sustained through prayer. Standing firm, then, is not about personal strength but about daily dependence on the Lord who already reigns victorious.