It is common to hear new believers make the statement, “Now I’m a Christian but things seem to be getting worse!” At times this results from having been offered cheap grace by common false prophets who promise elimination of all problems, assurance of financial needs being met, and guarantee of a first-class ticket to heaven by simply repeating a so-called ‘sinner’s prayer.’ Distortion of Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom ignores a firm and yet loving warning by the Savior to expect tribulation, persecution, and possible rejection by members of one’s own family to result from faithful commitment. And when it comes to Satan, true believers learn rather quickly that a target has been placed on their backs.
There are many who tickle itching ears in order to attract great numbers to their church: “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Tim 4:3). This explains the development of many if not most megachurches where a “form of godliness” exists but the power of the Spirit is absent to heal the sick and cast out demons to free those under demonic oppression (2 Tim 3:5). Jesus has clearly detailed the reality of Christian life for us, explaining not only the blessings but the cost of discipleship for all those who would exchange their lives for eternal life in Him.
In reading about saints, we find, “Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated – the world was not worthy of them” (Heb 11:36-38). One’s faithfulness to God never guarantees either comfort or deliverance from persecution by the world, but it does assure us of God’s grace to help in times of trial. Severe persecution under the new covenant is described in Acts and today there is brutal and even fatal treatment of Christians in parts of the world, especially where the prevailing forms of religious belief are Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism.
The apostle Paul explains that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against… forces of evil in heavenly realms” (Eph 6:12). When it comes to attack by Satan and his minions, however, we have available both defensive and offensive weapons. This lesson is directed to the former, the latter being the subject of the next chapter. Defensive weapons are alluded to through-out Scripture but the most concise and complete description is in the sixth chapter of Ephesians. Here we find the “full armor of God” which Paul urges us to have in place “so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground” (6:13). Note that Paul does not tell us “if” days of evil attack come but rather “when” they come.
The first piece of armor is to “stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist” (6:14). The Gk aletheia translated as “truth” has two meanings: that which is truth and our being truthful to the truth. The Gk for “buckled” (“girded” in KJV) means to be dressed ready for service. So buckling on the belt of truth is knowing truth contained in the word of God and being ready to act on it (Jn 17:17). The next piece is a “breastplate of righteousness in place” (Eph 6:14). The Gk for “breastplate” is thorax, referring to that part of the body containing the heart. And the Gk for “righteousness” also has two meanings: the righteousness received by faith in Christ (see helmet below) and that used here, namely a heart inclined toward righteous living.
Knowing the truth of God’s word and having heartfelt intention to live righteously brings us to the next piece of armor: “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (6:15). The Gk for “fitted” means to put on, implying an active role in “walking the talk”, not just being prepared with knowledge of truth and having good intentions. It is having feet that are fitted with readiness to let the word of God be a light to one’s path (Ps 119:105) and then walking that path. This is contrasted with ‘cheap grace’ that offers a divided Christ – the notion that one can receive Jesus as personal Savior without having to submit to His lordship over one’s life. Unfortunately the latter is where so many in the church are living their lives today.
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (6:16). The conditions for having protection by the shield of faith are what the first pieces concern: knowing truth, determining to live by truth, and feet that are walking in truth (Tit 2:11,12). The Gk for “shield” is thyreos, the only time this word is used in the Bible. It is a shield measuring approximately 2 x 4½ feet in size, not quite sufficient to cover a soldier from head to toe. But when kneeling (representing submission to the lordship of Christ in obedient faith), the entire front is fully protected. Note, however, the complete absence of protection for the back if one should turn away from facing the enemy.
“Take the helmet of salvation” (6:17) uses a different Gk word than used in “take up” the shield. The latter implies personal responsibility for taking up something. The GK for “take” used with the shield means accepting or receiving something done for us instead of doing it ourselves. The Gk for “helmet” literally means around the head. So we are to accept and welcome what Jesus has already done to protect our minds from the lies and thoughts sent by Satan. Nothing shields us like the truth of what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf. “O Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle” (Ps 140:7).
“Take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph 6:17) again uses the word for take as receiving something provided, i.e. the word of God as a sword having divine power. The Gk for “sword” is machaira, a short sword ideal for hand-to-hand combat. And the Gk used for “word of God” is not the general term logos referring to the entirety of God’s word. Rather the Gk rhema is used and refers to a specific Spirit-inspired word given for a particular situation. It was a rhema word of God that Jesus used in ‘hand-to-hand’ combat against Satan’s temptations during forty days in the wilderness prior to start of His ministry (Lk 4:1-13).
A final defensive weapon is to “pray in the Spirit” on all occasions (Eph 6:18). We may look at spiritual warfare as a 3-legged stool with success depending on faith, obedience (dying to self and walking in God’s will as revealed in His word), and prayer. And prayer isn’t just another weapon, but is part of the battle itself. I personally believe that Paul is speaking here about praying in his prayer language, i.e. praying in tongues. This is supported by Paul speaking specifically of praying in the Spirit (1 Cor 14:13-15) as praying in tongues. Such prayer, carried out by the Holy Spirit, is always certain to be in accord with the perfect will of God.
