Be Strong and Stand Firm in the Lord (Part 1) – Eph. 6:10-17
By Chip Zachary for Christ The Redeemer Church, Manhattan, KS 7 April 2024
Last fall, I preached a two-part sermon from Colossians 3 which closely parallels chapter 4 & 5 of Ephesians. In that series we discussed what I like to call the replacement principle where we are instructed to put off the old self or man and put on the new self or man. The Greek word for put on, enduo, literally means to sink into a garment, or to clothe oneself. In the last sermon, I mentioned that this word is also used in reference to the armor of God and that there might be another sermon on this on another day, so here it comes. As I began looking at today’s passage from Ephesians 6:10-20, I realized there is a link to this concept of putting off the old self and putting on the new self which Paul also talks about in Eph 4:17-24. This putting off/putting on has to do more with dealing with the evil within us; the battle with the flesh, the old man or self. We learned that we are to seek and set our minds on things that are above, to slay the old self, and to suit up with the new self. We also learned 4 practical steps of how to do this. In today’s passage, we’ll see Paul talking about putting on the armor of God so that we can fight against the evil from outside us, that which comes from Satan and his world system. We’ll use S’s again to help us see that we can be strong and stand firm in the Lord, we can suit up with the whole armor of God, and we can be empowered to do so by prayer and supplication.
To better understand this passage, it’s important to understand it’s context, so I’m going to give a brief, fly over, view of the letter to the Ephesian church, before we dig into the passage. As Paul does in most of his epistles, he starts with doctrinal truth (chapters 1-3) and ends with practical application (chapters 4-6). In chapter 1, Paul begins with an extended doxology of praise for God’s love in which he predestined us for adoption as sons through Christ; for his revealed word of truth, the gospel of our salvation; and for our guaranteed inheritance of every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies sealed by the Holy Spirit. (1:3-14). He talks about the greatness and power of our risen Christ who is above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and name in this age and the one to come. (1:19-21) Remember that, as this is important to today’s passage we are studying.
In chapter 2, Paul reminds us of our former status as dead in our sins, children of wrath, following the prince of the power of the air. That by grace through faith in Christ we have been made alive and raised up and seated with Him in the heavenly places and created to do good works. (2:1-10) We are told Jesus has made peace with us and is making peace among His people; and that He is building a household of God, a holy temple of the Lord, a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (2:11-22)
In chapter 3, Paul talks about his commission to spread the gospel to the Gentiles, a mystery previously hidden for the ages, but now revealed even to the Ephesians and to us in which we can be partakers of the promises of God in Christ Jesus. Through this, the manifold wisdom of God is made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (3:1-13). He closes the doctrinal section of the letter with a prayer for the Ephesian believers and all the saints that they would be strengthened in their inner being by the Holy Spirit, rooted and grounded in love so that they may comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ and be filled with the fullness of God. He also gives another brief doxology giving praise to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. (3:14-21) This is another important concept to remember in relation to what we will look at today.
In light of these doctrinal truths, in chapter 4, Paul admonishes us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called. God has given us apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers to equip us for ministry and to build us up in unity and maturity, so that we would not be tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (4:1-16) Paul has this goal in mind as he finishes his letter with today’s passage.
In the remainder of chapter 4, chapter 5, and the first part of chapter 6 (which closely parallels Col 3 and first part of Col 4), Paul gives instructions on walking in manner worthy of our calling in Christ by putting off the old self, which belongs to our former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires; and to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (4:22-24). Paul tells us to imitate Christ and walk in love submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (5:1-2, 21) and he specifically applies this to husband/wife, parent/child, and master/servant relationships. (5:22-6:9) He warns us to give no opportunity to the devil (4:27), to let no one deceive us with empty words (5:6), and to make the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (5:16) Which leads us to today’s passage:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
By further introduction, I want to point out that this passage is not about spiritual warfare as sometimes preached and often popularized in movies. It’s not about exorcism of demons in believers, or for that matter, unbelievers. Demon possession of a believer, biblically speaking, is not possible. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Co 6:19). Christ is God and Satan is a created being, who is powerful, but is under Christ’s sovereign control and Satan has been defeated by Him by his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (1Jn 3:8) Satan’s doom is sure, his head has been bruised (Gen 3:15), he has fallen from heaven taking with him unholy angels in rebellion (Luk 10:18, Rev 12:9) and he will be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 20:10). Although we were once dead in our trespasses, sons of disobedience, following the prince of the power of the air; we have been made alive in in Christ. (2:1-5) This letter was written to the saints who were faithful in Christ Jesus (1:1) and by extension to all who are faithful in Christ Jesus. Paul tells us in chapter 1, that in Christ, we are chosen (1:4), adopted (1:5), and redeemed (1:7); we have obtained an inheritance (1:11) and we are sealed in the Holy Spirit (1:13). So we belong to Him and there is nothing that Satan can do to us that is not under God’s control.
In God’s providence He did not immediately glorify us. So, although all believers possess this privileged status and are to walk in a manner worthy of this calling, the reality is we still wrestle with our flesh, the old self, and we have to put to death what is earthly in us as we discussed in Colossians 3. That is the battle within. The passage we are studying today addresses the battle we have from without, from Satan and his world system influenced by his demonic hordes.
For God’s sovereign purpose he has allowed Satan and his minions to rule the world (Jhn 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). He is a thief who comes only to kill and destroy. (Jhn 10:10). He is a liar and a murderer (Jhn 8:44) who prowls like a roaring lion, seeking to devour (1Pe 5:8). Satan wants to try to thwart God’s plan and the sanctification of believers any way he can. So, we also must fight against his temptations and his world system. This is the spiritual warfare Paul is describing in this passage. Bob Cochran, whom some of you know and has spoken at CTR in the past, once used this illustration in a sermon that I remember and that might be helpful. In WWII, when victory in Europe, VE day, was declared on May 8, 1945; it became clear that the Allied forces had won and were going to win over the Axis powers. Yet, there was an ongoing struggle and difficult battles ahead until final victory in WWII came on August 14, 1945, VJ day. Similarly, Christ conquered Satan on the cross and through his resurrection at his first coming, yet there is an ongoing battle against a formidable, but defeated foe. When Christ comes again, Satan will finally and thoroughly be defeated, and all evil will be eliminated. Lord, we pray that you would even come quickly; but as Nate preached recently from 2Pe 3, God is patient, not willing that any of his chosen ones would perish, but that they would come to repentance. So, for now we wait and we battle against our flesh, the devil, and the world. (1Jn 2:15-16)
A couple of more introductory thoughts. We often think of this passage in our own personal battle, but this passage is written to the Ephesian church and some translations include brothers, or my brethern (KJV), in v10. So, there is also a corporate aspect to this battle, and we can help one another by encouraging and admonishing one another as we wrestle together. I am thankful for a church that takes this seriously. Paul, concludes his letter to the Ephesian church, starting this section with, finally. Of all the important things he has said in this letter, he puts emphasis on this passage. This is something he really wants his readers to remember. In this passage, he gives the Ephesians, and us, final instructions to be Strong so that we can Stand firm, by Suiting up with the armor of God empowered by prayer or Supplication.
Let’s first look at the command to be Strong, v 10. Paul knows that we cannot win the battle against our flesh, the devil, and the world in our own strength. When Joshua was preparing to conquer the promised Land, God encouraged him with these words, “. . . Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Jos 1:9) Similarly, Paul encourages us to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Paul is about to introduce to us the goal of standing firm against the devil and his demonic world system. If we remember what Paul said in Eph 1:19-23 (cf 1Pe 3:22), we have
“the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” And in 3:16-20 Paul prays that we would be strengthened with power through God’s Spirit, and through that power He can do far more abundantly than all we ask or think. Now that’s some power. We have access, in Christ, to the same power that raised Him from the dead and placed him above all authorities including Satan and his demons. In that strength, power, and might; in Christ, we can Stand firm.
In v11-14, Paul uses the verb stand twice and the closely related verb withstand once. histēmi (stand) means to fix, stand firm, abide, continue, establish, or hold up. anthistēmi (withstand) means to stand against, oppose or, resist. This latter verb is also used by James (4:7) where he tells us to resist the devil and he will flee and by Peter (1Pe 5:9) where he tells us to resist the devil firm in our faith. So, this is an important concept Paul, James, and Peter want us to remember. In this passage, Paul uses the metaphor or imagery of a battle or wrestling. Most of you are probably unaware that I wrestled for two years in high school. I was not a very good wrestler, and I should have listened to Paul’s advice. In wrestling the two opponents start off standing, but the goal is to knock or take down your opponent and pin them on their back to the ground. Unfortunately, I spent a lot of time on the ground on my back and thus I ended my wrestling career after two years. Paul doesn’t want that to happen to us. So, he warns us that we have an opponent who is trying to knock us down and he wants us to be able to stand firm against him.
When you’re in a battle or wrestling match it’s good to know something about your opponent and some of their strategies or schemes. So, first let’s look at our opponent. In John 18:36, Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Scripture, in general, and Paul, in particular, often uses contrast in his writings. He tells us that unlike the Greek Olympic wrestling matches or the Roman gladiator fights that he was familiar with in his culture, our opponent is not of flesh and blood, not human. That’s not to say that sometimes we don’t wrestle against our fleshly desires, that’s what Romans 7 and Galatians 5 are about. We do have to put to death and put off the old self and put on the new self as we discussed in the sermons on Colossians 3 and Paul discusses in Ephesians 4. It’s also true that we are sometimes hindered in our walk with Christ by other humans we associate with, remember 1Co 15:33 “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” And there are humans who will oppose us and try to deceive us, that’s why Paul and the other apostles warn us about being on guard against false teachers as we just learned in the sermons on 2 Peter.
But what Paul is particularly addressing in this passage is the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (v12) that are influencing these people and the world system they follow. He mentions specifically the devil (v11) - diabolos , where we get our word diabolical. It means a traducer; specifically Satan, a false accuser and slanderer. When Satan fell, he took a third of the angels with him in rebellion (Rev 12:4). There is apparently some kind of hierarchy among them, and Paul mentions rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, and spiritual forces. They reside in the heavenly places and Paul uses the imagery of this present darkness and evil day where Satan and his demonic hordes are at war with God’s holy angels and the saints, doing all they can to oppose Him and us. Perhaps, Paul’s emphasis on these demonic forces to the church in Ephesus was because many of them previously were into magic arts. In Act 19:19 we are told “And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.” However, I don’t want to speculate too much about this, because Scripture just does not say a lot about the fallen angels.
Although Satan is a defeated foe, in God’s providence he has allowed him and the other fallen angels to have power and rule in this present darkness and evil day. Cosmic power, kosmokratōr, could be translated world ruler. Jesus referred to Satan as the ruler of this world (Jhn 14:30, 16:11) and he and his minions, through his world system; deceive, blind (2Co 4:4), lie, kill, and destroy (Jhn 10:10). And even though Satan knows his doom is sure, he wants to try to knock us down to defeat us in battle, even though the outcome of the war is certain.
In v11-12 against is used 6 times. The Greek pros, used here, is a preposition of direction, and Paul wants us to know whom we face. When you’re in a battle or wrestling match, you want to keep your opponent in view, face to face. If your opponent comes up behind you, he will be much more successful at overtaking you and knocking you down. The pieces of armor we are about to study largely are forward facing. If we turn our backs to our opponent, we are exposed. So, we must be vigilant, remembering who we are fighting; opposing him and resisting him that we might Stand.
Having described our opponent, Paul also tells us that our opponent has certain schemes or wiles (KJV) that he uses (v11). The Greek is methodeia where we get our word methods. Paul does not elaborate exactly what these methods are, but we do know that Satan is a liar (Jhn 8:44), he twists the truth and disguises himself as an angel of light. (2Co 11:14) Paul uses this same word in Eph 4:14 “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” As we’ve been learning in Nate’s sermons series on 2 Peter, a common scheme Satan uses is to bring in false teachers into the church. Peter warns in 2Pe 3:17 . . . “take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.”
In 2Co 2:11 Paul warns us “so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” This is in the context of forgiving a repentant sinner. So, another method he tempts us with is unforgiveness and bitterness. In Eph 4:27 Paul tells us, “and give no opportunity to the devil” in the context of anger. Also discussed in the verses following is stealing, corrupting talk, and slander. Is it no wonder that the one who’s name means slanderer would use slander as one of his schemes? And in 2Co 10:5 we are told that Satan raises up “arguments and lofty opionions . . . against the knowledge of God.” The humanistic philosophies of this world, some of which Nate addressed last week in his sermon, entice and draw many away from the true knowledge of God.
In Eph 5 and 6, Paul describes God glorifying/Spirit filled relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and servants. Throughout history, one of Satan’s big schemes has been to attack these relationships, and in our day there is definitely an all-out assault on these relationships. This is where some of the most intense battles are in the church today and in our lives. Paul wants us to stand firm against these attacks and in fact he wants us to attack and destroy these Satanic strongholds. Listen to 2Co 10:3-5:
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
Much more could be said about this. Thomas Brooks has written much about this in Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices. If you’re interested in this ask Libby about it.
So, in v10-13, Paul reminds us that an important thing to remember is that we are in a battle, we are wrestling against a crafty opponent. Paul wants us to be Strong in the Lord and to Stand firm against him. He has in mind Psa 16:8 “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” And Paul says in 1Co 16:13 “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
In v13 of Eph 6, Paul says, and having done all, to Stand firm.” What does he mean by having done all? I’m glad you asked, and he anticipated that question. He goes on to tell us what that means in the rest of this passage.
To be Strong in the Lord and to Stand firm against the schemes of the devil, we are to put on or Suit up with the whole armor of God. (v11, 13) In v 20 Paul describes himself as an ambassador in chains. Having lived in the dominant Roman culture of his day and having been chained to a Roman soldier for many years, Paul would have been familiar with the Roman soldier’s armor and some of their tactics in battle. But again, we are not wrestling with or in a battle with flesh and blood, we are in a spiritual battle and so Paul instructs us to put on or Suit up with the whole armor of God.
Paul, “as a Hebrew of Hebrews, as to the law, a Pharisee;” (Php 3:5) would have been familiar with OT passages such as Psa 35:1-3:
Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! 2 Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! 3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!” and:
Isa 59:17 “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.”
The latter verse describes Christ as one who brings judgement on Satan and all who follow him, but righteousness and salvation to those who follow Christ. This is probably why in Rom 13:12-14 Paul describes the armor as putting on the light of Christ:
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
This also relates to the replacement principle we discussed in the Colossians 3 sermons. So, this is what Paul has in mind when he is talking about the armor of God, OT passages referring to Christ our Savior and being conformed to the image and the light of Christ.
Michael or Zac would be able to address this better than I, but when a soldier is in a battle, there are certain clothes or pieces of equipment that he puts on or Suits up with; so that he is always ready to engage with the enemy or opponent. Paul introduces us to three pieces of the armor of God in v14-15 using the present participle having. Then, when there is active engagement, in the heat of battle, certain weapons are taken up to fight the opponent. Paul outlines this equipping for battle with three more pieces of the armor of God in v 16-17 with the verb take. We’ll address those next time.
Although all, but the sword of the Spirit, (v17) are often thought of as defensive, the fact that we are in a battle against the cosmic powers over this present darkness and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places; there is a sense in which all parts of the armor are used offensively against these enemies of our souls. And remember that “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us,” (Rom 8:37) “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds,” (2 Cor 10:4) and “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it [the church].” (Mat 16:18)
In v 14, Paul again reminds us of the goal to Stand and we do this by fastening on the belt of truth or as KJV says, having your loins girt about with truth. In Paul’s day, most people wore a tunic that covered most of their bodies including the legs. This would have made it difficult to run in battle. So, a soldier would shorten up his tunic by tucking it into a belt about the waist so he could move more quickly and freely. So, you might think of this being the foundation of the armor, the thing that holds everything together and allows us to be agile and effective in our battle. And Paul tells us at the center is truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (Jhn 14:6), and He prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (Jhn 17:17) And to Pilate he said, “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (Jhn 18:37) But Satan “does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (Jhn 8:44) For us to be effective in spiritual battle, we must know God’s word, the truth. Girding our loins with or fastening on the belt of truth is essential for us to be able to stand. If we don’t know God’s word or don’t believe it to be true, it’s like having our legs restricted by a long tunic and we will be more easily knocked down by the assault of Satan’s lies and the lies of his world system. So, brothers, develop the discipline of reading, studying, meditating, memorizing God’s truth; so that when we are attacked, we can stand firm in the truth. If we know the truth and if we love the truth, we will be able to defend against the attacks of false teachers and destroy the false philosophies of this world.
There is another sense to truth, that can apply to this belt as well. John Piper uses the illustration of an arrow. If an arrow is straight, when it is shot it will be “true” to its aim. However, if it is bent, it will veer off course and miss the target. In the same way if we are not true to God’s word, if we do not believe His word is the truth; if we believe truth is subjective and that we can determine what is true, then we will veer off course and not be effective in our fight against Satan, or even leave the battlefield. So, another scheme of the devil is to not only twist the truth, but to get us to bend the truth to fit our own evil desires. This leads us to the next piece of armor.
Paul, next mentions having put on the breastplate of righteousness. (v14). The breastplate, Greek thorax, covered the vital organs, the heart and the lungs. A blow or piercing in this area could be fatal, so again, a very important part of the armor. Unlike the breastplates made of thick leather or metal, Paul tells us to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Knowing that we are secure in Christ’s righteousness, often called an alien righteousness because it’s not of our doing (2Co 5:21); we are protected from eternal death, and there is nothing Satan and his world system can do that can snatch us out of the Father’s hand (Jhn 10:28-29) or separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:39). In 1Th 5:8, Paul calls it the breastplate of faith and love. We receive the righteousness of Christ by faith and because of God’s great love for us. But we are also called to live out that faith and love towards Him and others.
In Eph 4:1-5, Paul urges us:
to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
He goes on later in that chapter to urge us to put off the old self and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (4:24) In 2Co 6:6-7 Paul writes, “by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left.
So, I also think Paul is referring in this breastplate to the righteousness of the holy life that we are called to live out.
One of Satan’s methods is to constantly bombard us with temptation to go back and put on our old clothes, the previous sinful desires of the old man that were so comfortable to us. Then, when we sometimes give in, he accuses us (Rev 12:10) and says things like, “How can you be a child of God and do that?” This is what Paul is talking about in Rom 7 when he says,
Rom 7:19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Although we are no longer condemned, we must be careful not to take God’s grace for granted. Satan can render us ineffective for the advance of the gospel when we go on living in unrepentant sin.
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? . . . 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
On the other hand, we must be careful, that in our pride, we think that our own righteousness saves us or that we would never succumb to Satan’s schemes. In 1Ti 3:6-7 Paul, writing instructions for elders warns,
“He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Heed Paul’s warning in1Co 10:12
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” But, be comforted by the promise, “13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”
So it is with appropriate humility, and reliance on the Lord’s strength, that we are to die to our old sinful desires and idols and look to His righteousness to allow us to stand firm when Satan assails us.
That command to stand firm, brings us to the next piece of the armor, the shoes of readiness given by the gospel of peace. I have read that a common tactic in battle at the time of Paul’s writing was to put sharp rocks and sticks in the ground to pierce the opponent’s feet and make them ineffective in battle. So, the soldier would wear thick leather shoes to protect them. Additionally, they often drove nails through the leather to dig into the ground and help them get traction in battle, not unlike modern day cleats in sporting events. So having proper shoes was an important to a soldier’s success in battle. We too, need to have a solid foundation to be ready for standing against our enemy, the devil.
This part of the armor is often related to Isa 52:7 and Rom 10:15, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” It is true that it is a beautiful thing when the gospel is preached, people respond with saving faith, and the kingdom of darkness is overcome by the kingdom of the light of Christ. But, thinking of the command to be Strong in the Lord and to Stand firm against the schemes of the devil and the description of the shoes as putting on or binding the feet with the readiness given by the gospel of peace, I think there is another meaning. Listen to John Calvin:
“But what is the meaning of the word preparation? Some explain it as an injunction to be prepared for the gospel; but it is the effect of the gospel which I consider to be likewise expressed by this term. We are enjoined to lay aside every hinderance, and to be prepared both for journey and for war. By nature we dislike exertion, and want agility. A rough road and many other obstacles retard our progress, and we are discouraged by the smallest annoyance. On these accounts, Paul holds out the gospel as the fittest means for undertaking and performing the expedition.”
Heb 12:1 says, “. . . let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The freedom that we have in Christ from being a slave to our sin, allows us to run the race and advance against the kingdom of darkness.
Also, the gospel is described as the gospel of peace. Because through Christ we have peace with God we can stand firm in peace while the battle is raging around us. There is no doubt that there is abundant evil in this world and by many accounts, it can appear that Satan is winning the battle. Psa 37:1 and Pro 24:19 instruct us to, “Fret not yourself because of evildoers.” Jesus said in Jhn 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” And in Jhn 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” If we stand on the firm rock of Jesus (Mat 7:24-25, Luk 6:48), when life’s storms assail us, we will not fall (Psa 37:23-24). Isa 26:3-4 says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”
I think one of Satan’s schemes today, at least in the American church, is the false teaching that if you come to Jesus all your problems will go away and you’ll have an easy and prosperous life. When people have problems, they then walk away and give up on Him because, “He just didn’t work for me.” Another common Satanic scheme is to get us to think that our salvation will come if we just get the right people into political office. When an election doesn’t go the way we think it should have gone, or another law is passed we don’t like; we become anxious and fret over the future of our country. We need to remember the kingdom we are fighting for and the kingdom we are fighting against are spiritual. Knowing the peace of Christ, the peace that is not as the world gives and has overcome the world, will not only allow us to stand but advance against Satan and his kingdom of darkness. And here’s a verse that should give us great confidence:
Rom 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
So, there are 3 pieces of armor we should Suit up with so that we are always ready to stand firm in for the spiritual battle: 1) The belt of truth, surrounding and girding ourselves in God’s truth so Satan can’t strip us with his lies. 2) The breastplate of righteousness that protects us from Satan’s accusations that we are not children of God and that keeps us from being ineffective in the battle. And 3) the shoes of the readiness of the gospel of peace that allow us to stand firm in life’s storms and against Satan’s attacks. When we do this, we shine the light of Christ in this present darkness. (Mat 5:16)
Next time, we’re going to look at the next 3 pieces of the armor that Paul describes that we are to take up in the heat of the battle and the prayer and supplication that gives us the real power and strength to fight and stand firm. For now, I want to close with some application questions and suggestions.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas where you may be vulnerable to Satan’s schemes. And apply Php 4:13 properly, asking Christ to give you strength to stand firm against them.
Am I believing Satan’s lies? Are you taking thoughts captive and making them obedient to Christ? (2Co 10:5) Are there teachers I listen to, books I read, people I hang out with, forms of media and recreation that draw me away from God’s truth? Ask God to show you what things you could replace them with such as Bible study and memorization, spending time with friends who encourage and challenge you with God’s words, doing prayer walks in nature, etc.
Maybe some here today are following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. If so, I beg you to cry out to God who is rich in mercy and great in love. (Eph 2:2, 4) If you do, you will be delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:13-14)
If you have been transferred to the kingdom of light, are you seeking to live a righteous life doing good deeds so that others may see and give glory to our Father in heaven? (Mat 5:16). Are you seeking to put to death the works of the flesh and to bear the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:19-25)? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you old clothes, or idols in your heart, that just seem so comfortable and that you love so much, that you don’t want to give them up. Ask Him to show you the sin that weighs you down and clings so closely, so that you can put them aside and run with endurance the race set before us. (Heb 12:2)
Do you have beautiful feet? Are you bold in sharing the gospel? More importantly from today’s passage, do you preach the gospel of peace to yourself? When you slip and sin, confess it knowing that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1Jn 1:9). Do you trust God’s sovereignty? Do you really believe that God works all things together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose – to conform us to the image of His Son? (Rom 8:28-29) Do you believe that you can cast your anxieties on Him because He cares for you? (1Pe 5:7). In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Php 4:6-7)