As a review, chapters 1 and 2 are mile markers on the road with God in relationship to Him; chapters 3-5 are mile markers on our journey with our fellow travelers; chapter 6 ends with the mile markers on the road with an enemy pursuit – someone is trying to knock us off the road and destroy us totally.
The apostle Paul, in a Roman prison at this time, was chained to a Roman guard. So while he’s there, he has an up close view of the Roman pieces of armor and thus, relates them here to the church at large. This letter of Ephesians, although written for the church there, actually was sent to other churches, as well.
Verse 10 starts with “Finally, my brethren”, it is Paul’s closing remarks and he ends with needing strength and power in the battle. The word “strong” is the Greek word “endunamoo”, meaning “to acquire strength by virtue”. One translation says “empowered”. The total meaning is this: become strong in religion and morality, since morals are the fabric of one’s life.
We cannot be morally weak and try to fight a spiritual battle, but God has given pieces of armor to protect us in the fight.
This verse includes the phrase “be strong IN THE LORD”. Our strength is only as vital as our relationship in the Lord, for it indicates the condition of the relationship within. The battle is internal, not external, so our strength must come from inside.
To be strong in the Lord and in the “power” of Hs might. The word “power” is another word for “strength” – “hischomos” – power and might (not only the strength to do something, but the ability in God). It is the same word as in Ephesians 1:19-20, where it is used with “dunamis’ (power), which has the same root as dynamite. The power of the Holy Spirit within is a dynamite that does like the walls of Jericho – they fall out and not on us.
Verse 11 starts with the protection of the armor itself. We need to be armed, for on the roadblocks of life we are vulnerable and feel exposed. We are told to “put on” some things. This is our responsibility. It’s like in the military, you do it down to the little details. The Greek word “enduo” mans “be clothed with’. The idea is of armor, clothing, protection. Question: what would a soldier do if his/her only protection was a helmet? We need the helmet of salvation to protect our thoughts, etc., but those darts fly everywhere.
Paul says to put on the “full” armor of God, the “panoplia” – it means the full armor of a heavily armed soldier. Thankfully we don’t need to put on someone else’s, like when David tried to put on Saul’s armor and take his weapon and he couldn’t, so he found the five smooth stones (I Samuel 17:38-40); We do not need to be like others, but only like Christ.
Here is the detailed pieces of the armor of God:
- The girdle – the belt of truth. It comes from the Greek word “zoma”, meaning “to bind around”. It is the belt that holds the entire armor in place. One little lie, deception, etc., will dismantle the belt and the whole armor loses its strength. Of course, it shouldn’t strangle or be a noose around us, nor be a loophole for our selfish purposes, either. The girdle protects the dagger, sword, and thus, it protects our theology and the message itself of the Word of God.
- The breastplate of righteousness – The breastplate is in two parts. Its Greek word is “thoraz” is where we get “thoracic”, and this plate covers the front from chest to leg, and the back, over the vital organs. Our righteousness in Christ, which is our right standing in Him, protects our heart and affections, lungs and breathing capability, liver, which filters our system, and so much more. This is why John 3:3 talks about being born again of water and the blood (it includes the heart muscle and the water sac around the heart – both of which were pierced at the end of the crucifixion.
- The brazen boots, which are the Greek word “knemides”, which are brass/copper boots. This material can allow the oklier to walk through fire. Brass/copper is a biblical metaphor, stands for redemption, so these boots protect the feet of faith, which takes the words of life to those in peril. Within these boots we can stand for the gospel witness and be prepared to do so (we need to always be ready with an answer of the reason of the hope that is within us. – I Peter 3:15, written by Peter, who put his foot in his mouth on a regular basis, until he was filled with the dynamite of God’s Spirit. In a separate message I talked about the “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” and commented on how the shoe has a tongue (we need to be careful that our tongue glorifies God in all matters), a sole (our soul stands in the righteousness and not in our achievement), and therefore, it protects us on the path.
- The shield of faith (not our faith, but faith IN Christ), is the Greek word “thureos”, meaning “a long, oblong shield”, whereby we can move about and stay active, but safe. Through it, we can quench the flame tipped darts of the enemy. There are darts that explode upon impact, like those weapons that discharge multiple bullets and the bullets implode at the same time inside the victim. The shield, by the way, covers the bulk of the body and is in reality, our Lord Jesus Christ – faith in Him. He’s our shield and buckler (Psalm 18:2), and protects us, even when the ground buckles beneath.
- The helmet of salvation, which is the Greek word “perikephalia”. “Pen” means “around” and “kepha” is “head”. It guards the eyes, ears, brain, neck, shoulders and our thoughts, ideas, memories, hearing capabilities, etc. On 9-11, the first civilian casualty was a priest, who stooped down to give last rites. He took off his helmet and a body fell on him. Let’s keep that helmet on, even and especially when we sleep. How the enemy likes to invade our dreams.
- The offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit. Notice it is the Spirit’s weapon. Only He can truly wield it properly. This is the Greek word “machaira”, where the word “machete” comes from. It is the sword, not hung by our side, for that is dangerous to us. It is the sword, saber of the Spirit, and in the figurative, it is referring to death by violent strikes. Remember that the sword is a double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12) and is a physician’s tool, so on the one side it is a truth teller, healer and restorer. The other edge is to destroy the hold of the enemy, so when he tries to defame the Word (or the life of the to learn the Word of God, both for feeding and fighting.
- Verse 18 adds another thing to the battle: prayer. It says to “pray always”. We should be in a constant communication with heaven. It adds “praying IN the Spirit”. In battle we must go beyond our words and concerns and seek the Holy Spirit’s distinct communication and commands of victory (Romans 8:26-27). Once the enemy is stopped by us understanding our salvation and the protection it provides, and we know that His righteousness battles our hurts and wounds, and our feet and standing is protected in the message of the cross, while our truthful living keeps the whole and we can battle confidentially, because Jesus is our shield round about, and the Spirit will wield that Sword properly and with precision. Then prayer goes upward.