The Armor of God: Understanding Ephesians 6:10-18

 Ephesians 6:10-18
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

In this passage, Paul gives us one of the most well-known teachings about spiritual warfare—the armor of God. Countless sermons have been preached on this passage, but it's often misunderstood or reduced to a symbolic metaphor, disconnected from our everyday lives. Many view the armor as a spiritual concept meant to be thought about or prepared for mentally, but in reality, Paul is teaching that the armor is to be actively worn and lived out each day. The various pieces—truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Word of God—are not just ideas but practical, tangible aspects of how we live and engage in the battle against spiritual forces.

One common misunderstanding is that the armor is something to "put on" once and forget about. Some believe that the armor is a one-time act, like mentally preparing in the morning, but Paul is clear that it’s something believers must continually "take up" and "put on." It's a daily, ongoing act of spiritual vigilance, not just an occasional mental exercise.

Another point of confusion is the role of prayer in this passage. Often seen as a separate activity, prayer is actually the power that strengthens and empowers the believer to wield the armor. Without prayer, the armor is incomplete. Paul stresses the importance of praying at all times, in the Spirit, as the key to standing firm and engaging in the spiritual battle.

Additionally, people often focus primarily on the defensive parts of the armor—like the shield and helmet—seeing them as ways to "resist" the enemy. While these are certainly important, they miss the offensive weapon: the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. The Word is meant to be actively used to confront and overcome spiritual darkness, not just for defense but also for taking ground in spiritual warfare.

In summary, the armor of God is not just a metaphor to think about or a mental preparation to "put on" in the morning. It’s a call to live out these truths—truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God—in every area of life. Prayer is the power that fuels it, and the Word of God is the weapon we actively use. This passage is a reminder that spiritual warfare isn’t about just standing firm; it’s about engaging with the truth of God’s Word and standing strong in prayer as we battle against the forces of darkness.

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“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.”

I am the author of two books: Embracing God's Wisdom: A Journey of Faith and Reflection and Embracing God’s Wisdom: Paul’s Commands for Victorious Living. Both are available on Amazon.

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