Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 61

Paul Instructs the Ephesian Believers on Spiritual Warfare Part 2: Putting on our Armor

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. KJV

We learned from Dr. Luke (who was with the Apostle Paul on most of his missionary journeys) that Paul was compelled to go to Rome to declare the Gospel of Christ there, “When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, ‘After I have been there, I must also see Rome.’” (Acts 19:21). However, Paul was attacked by his fellow Jews while in the Temple in Jerusalem and would have been killed by them, but God stirred up one of the Roman centurion soldiers who went and broke up the violence against Paul, but at the same time proceeded to arrest Paul taking him into the barracks in order to save his life. Our Lord Jesus affirmed to Paul that it was truly His will for Paul to go to Rome as recorded again by Dr. Luke here, “Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.’” (Acts 23:10-11). This was confirmation and comfort to Paul that he would get to Rome no matter what occurred. The Apostle Paul spent two years under house arrest in Rome preaching the Gospel of Grace (Acts 28:30-31) and was guarded there by one soldier (they surely rotated soldiers) who around the clock guarded him (Acts 28:16).

Paul being confined for those two (2) year’s day after day observing the soldiers armor used for physical fights and battles, now uses what he sees to instruct these Ephesian believers and we believers today to arm ourselves for spiritual warfare saying, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11). The English phrase “put on” is translated by the Greek word enduo which has the meaning of sinking into a garment of clothing; to endue or clothe oneself with something. In other words, Paul is telling these Ephesian believers and us today to with purpose put on battle gear for spiritual warfare against the devil just as an American soldier today puts on all of his military issued gear and equipment when going to Afghanistan or Iraq to fight against terrorist. The English phrase “whole armor” is translated by one Greek word panoplia which means full or complete armor. In other words, being armed with everything necessary to wage war to win being like an American soldier is heavily armed carrying gear that weighs 80-100 pounds or more in order to have everything needed on the field of battle. Paul was able to observe every day the care and effort each Roman soldier guarding him would take to put on every piece of his armor readying himself for conflict.

The English phrase “may be able” is translated by one Greek word dunamai which means to be able or possible: could, may, might, be possible, be of power. In other words, Paul knew that having the armor and putting it on and using it properly were two different things and that the armor of God would work in our spiritual battles with the enemy and his army at all times, but we determine whether or not we win by our obedience to put the whole suit of armor on each and every day, because the armor from God is powerful enough to defeat the enemy at all times, but the “whole armor” must be put on for God’s Power to be released to us in battle. Paul saw how detailed the Roman soldiers were daily in taking the surely long time required to make certain that every part of their body was protected with the armor given to them by Rome. The English phrase Paul uses “to stand” is translated by one Greek word histemi which means figuratively to abide, continue, or hold up while being under attack from the enemy of our souls. We having now placed ourselves on the side of our Commander in Chief the Lord Jesus Christ must stand or continue, strive, fight, and battle against the wiles of the devil and this English word “wiles” is translated by the Greek word methodeia meaning; traveling over, that is, travesty, (trickery): - wile, lie in wait or schemes and plots. In other words, we must be at all times armed fully to fight against the devil who is always lying in wait to use an assortment of his many tricks to deceive us and compromise our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, meekness, faithfulness to Christ, and our self-control.

“Those who would approve themselves to have true grace must aim at all grace, the whole armor. It is called the armor of God, because he both prepares and bestows it. We have no armor of our own that will be armor of proof in a trying time. Nothing will stand us in stead but the armor of God. This armor is prepared for us, but we must put it on; that is, we must pray for grace, we must use the grace given us, and draw it out into act and exercise as there is occasion.” Matthew Henry

“The idea here is; that Satan does not carry on an open warfare. He does not meet the Christian soldier face to face. He advances covertly; makes his approaches in darkness; employs cunning rather than power, and seeks rather to delude and betray than to vanquish by mere force. Hence, the necessity of being constantly armed to meet him whenever the attack is made. A man who has to contend with a visible enemy, may feel safe if he only prepares to meet him in the open field. But far different is the case if the enemy is invisible; if he steals upon us slyly and stealthily; if he practices war only by ambushes and by surprises. Such is the foe that we have to contend with - and almost all the Christian struggle is a warfare against stratagems and wiles. Satan does not openly appear. He approaches us not in repulsive forms, but comes to recommend some plausible doctrine, to lay before us some temptation that shall not immediately repel us. He presents the world in an alluring aspect; invites us to pleasures that seem to be harmless, and leads us in indulgence until we have gone so far that we cannot retreat.” Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…