”Therefore 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.
Ephesians 6:13New International Version (NIV)
Ephesians 6:13 Devotional
Put on the full armor of God
Ephesians 6:13 commands you and me to “Put on the full armor of God” so that “we may stand our grounds when the day of evil comes”. And in a summative way, Paul highlights the purposes of God’s armor and the raging spiritual warfare that is the reality of our lives (Ephesians 6:12) – physical life is affected by spiritual warfare.
How to counter spiritual conflict
Therefore, Paul, in the final chapter of his letter to the Ephesians, guided them on how to handle spiritual conflict – magic was big in the wealthy city of Ephesus. And in verse 11, he introduced the idea of the armor of God in order to address the spiritual issues at the Ephesian Church (Ephesians 6:10-20).
Consequently, Paul commanded the Ephesians to put on the full armor of God so that they could withstand (be immovable against) the cunning schemes propagated by the devil and his army. This would be their way of “walking in a manner worthy of their calling” (Ephesians 4:1).
Additionally, Paul commanded the Ephesians to “be careful how they walked, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of their time, because the days were evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). But in Ephesians 6:13, Paul seems to be alluding to a specific coming day (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, and Revelation 12 and 20). And on that day, you experience an unexpected and intensified battle (Matthew 4:1-11).
Putting on the full armor of God
Therefore, putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:13) wasn’t an option for the Ephesians, and it isn’t for us too. You and I will be able to stand the devil’s cunning schemes only when we put on the full armor of God. That is, we must put on Christ (Romans 13:11-14) who overcame the devil’s schemes (Matthew 4:1-11) in order for us to overcome the devil’s cunning schemes.
Moreover, only God’s armor can make us stand because it assures us of sufficient protection. And we have to put it on in full, not partially, to be assured of protection – God fights for us (Revelation 20:7-10) because our battles belong to Him (Exodus 14:10-14 and 1 Samuel 17:1-51).
Paul was probably inspired by a fully armed, well-trained Roman soldier
Nevertheless, Paul, probably inspired by a fully armed, well-trained Roman soldier, who was also an accomplished wrestler, illustrated God’s full armor as comprising six pieces of attire. These pieces were very necessary and effective for close-quarter combat, where only one man would remain standing.
Remember, Paul wrote this letter while he was imprisoned. He had been arrested in Jerusalem.
Therefore, it was while he was imprisoned that he observed the Roman soldiers and their armor up close. And the Spirit of God showed him a parallel between God’s armor and the Roman soldier’s armor.
Consequently, Paul was able to picture how God had provided spiritual armor for his people. Of course, this was in addition to the many supernatural acts that God had performed in Ephesus.
Therefore, the list of the six pieces of the armor of God can help you stand against the attacks of the enemy. These six elements are as follows.
The armor of God
The belt of truth
The Roman soldier’s garments were held together by a belt. And sometimes, the belt secured their sword or other weapons.
Therefore, the belt enabled him to run without his other garments getting in the way – the truth holds everything like a rocky foundation. And this is similar to how the truth sets us free from all the lies of the enemy – stick to what scripture says.
Breastplate of righteousness
The breastplate protected the major organs of the Roman soldier. And this plate could have likely covered the front and backside from the attack (more like a bulletproof vest).
Therefore, the breastplate protected and defended the wearer like a bullet-proof vest. Similarly, God’s imputed righteousness will protect and defend you from condemnation and accusations.
Shoes of the Gospel
Shoes enabled the Roman soldier to have good traction as he moved around. Therefore, he could move more swiftly.
When you put on the gospel, that is, knowing the story of the Bible, you are able to preach it to the world. You become a witness, testifying of who God is and what Jesus has done for us (Matthew 28:18-20). And Isaiah reveals that the “preacher’s feet are beautiful” (Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:15).
Shield of faith
The shield that Paul wrote of is the large, full-bodied wooden shield that Roman soldiers carried. It is therefore not the smaller offensive weapon that they sometimes carried. And this is because Paul expected the shield to absorb arrows, which are the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Additionally, in Paul’s day, soldiers would lock shields together as they approached a fortress, creating a protective ceiling in a turtle-like formation to be able to catch the arrows raining down upon them. And since their shields were wrapped in linen and leather, they were designed to extinguish the flaming darts.
Likewise, faith, which is confidence in God’s promises (Hebrews 11:1), will extinguish the enemy’s fiery darts. The devil’s darts will therefore not consume you.
Helmet of salvation
The helmet protected the head of the Roman soldier. This piece of armor was very important because an accurate headshot could quickly eliminate a warrior from the fight. For when a soldier was wounded in the head, the fight was effectively over.
Therefore, our past, present, and future salvation guards our minds. It protects our minds from insecurities, worries, and doubts that invade the same. And this is the transformation we need in our minds (Romans 12:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 10:5).
Sword of the Spirit
The sword was the Roman soldier’s offensive and defensive weapon – the previous five elements were defensive weapons. And according to Paul’s revelation, it was to be used defensively.
Moreover, God’s word is the sword of His Spirit. Therefore, we have to be familiar with God’s word. And Bible Study is the means of gaining knowledge of Scripture (Hebrews 4:12).
Therefore, when Jesus was tempted, He used the word of God (Matthew 4:1-11). He accurately applied (quoted) the word while under demonic attack.
Consequently, regularly reading and studying God’s word will enable you to defend yourself. And when you need to attack, the Word will enable you to do so. But remember, the command is to stand (defend), not to attack (Ephesians 6:13).
Prayer/Blessing
May God’s full armor help you stand firm in the gospel of Jesus Christ Who died for our sins and rose from the dead so that we, by believing in Him, may have life everlasting. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
2 & 3 John and Jude 1 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
