Christian conflict Chapter 6v10-17
Standing resolutely in the face of a determined enemy
I have often wondered why Paul leaves this important issue to the last ("Finally..."), almost making it an appendage to the letter. It is surely because he wants us to see the blessings before the battles, the resources before the rigours. I note a similar phraseology in these verses to ones in chapter 1; there in vv21-22 he speaks of "...principalities, and powers, and mights, and dominions..". In chapter 6 he uses the same words to describe the enemy of believers, but , before he portrays the enemy, he has given us the vision of our glorious risen and ascended Lord, who has been exalted "far above" those powers and has "all things under His feet" including the armies of demons arrayed against us! The same enemy who tracked the footsteps of our blessed Lord throughout His life, will also trouble us in our lives but he is a defeated enemy.
Nevertheless we must not underestimate the task and he prepares the Christians by putting them on a war footing using military terminology. We must realise, in this life we are in a war zone. Watchman Nee in his commentary on Ephesians, put in a graphic way, the gist of which is this; We are
Seated in heavenly places in Christ chapter 2
Walking on earth in the power of new life chapters4/5
Standing against a hellish foe chapter6
Confronted, as we are with an INVISIBLE, INTANGIBLE, and DEMONIC foe, we have all that is necessary to stand. We are to be
passive and
active in our stand against an enemy more powerful than we.
Passive "
Be strong (strengthened) in the Lord and in the power of His might." Not strong enough for this we need inward strength supplied by the Lord. Ephesians not only expounds the grace of God but also the power of God;
1v18/19; 2v1; 3v16; 3v21.
Active "Put on the whole armour of God." the panoply.... the entire battle dress for defence and offence in the heat of battle. There are four main areas of study;
- The nature of the enemy
- The nature of the conflict
- The methods of the enemy
- The armour of God
1. Firstly, they are in vast numbers; according to Revelation 12v4 they are estimated to be one third of a numberless throng of angels, drawn away by Satan. Then they are said to be spiritual, that is invisible but very real. They are very ordered and organised, being arranged in stratas as follows:
Principalities (the elite high ranking individuals who control vast swathes of the spiritual world); Powers (authorities, involving every conceivable unit of government, whether national, regional or local; these could be considered as being behind the politics of the world....the bible is clear that behind the powers on earth there are higher powers.); Rulers of the darkness of this age (inventors of evil doctrines and practises, pervading the academic world, promoting philosophies, religions, ideologies, sustainers of the world system in opposition to God.; Spiritual wickedness in high places (promoters of all lawlessness, controlling the world of pleasure and self-pleasing, the spirit of rebellion against God.) It should be clear to all that there are things going on in this world that can only be explained in terms of diabolical influence and control. Control of mass media communication, education, politics, entertainment, religions, health, all areas of life.
2. Not long range warfare, but close combat, making it a very personal conflict indeed. He uses the term "wrestle", which indicates a very intensive experience. Jesus spoke of this in John 14v30 "...the prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me." The picture is vivid and self- explanatory.
3. The methods are twofold and they have never changed from the beginning. First deception "the wiles of the devil" then destruction "the fiery darts of the wicked one." When the ploy of deception fails, let every one of us be aware that the destruction of spiritual life is intended if not the destruction of physical life. The bible casts Satan as at once "an angel of light", and again as "a roaring lion.". Back in Eden, he used deception to bring humanity down, the result was destruction, spiritual death, then physical death, and ultimately eternal death. He cannot touch the eternal destiny of the Christian, but the intention is to destroy the life.
4. Note the cooperation required in the reality of close combat with such a powerful and determined enemy......"Put on the whole armour of God" v10; "..take unto you the whole armour of God." v13; "Withstand in the evil day..." v13 (i.e. the times when the attacks come); "having done all stand" v13 (i.e. when the attacks are successfully defended.). He now enumerates the full panoply of armour with which the Christian is protected. The battle is not with flesh and blood but with unseen spiritual forces. Paul reflected on this in 2 Corinthians chapter 10v4 "
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds...." What is then the armour of God made available to us? Paul envisages a soldier in full battle garb.
- The girdle of truth This is INTEGRITY, something which is singularly lacking in the world. We were saved by "the word of truth" chapter 1v13; we were taught "the truth as it is in Jesus" chapter 4v21; we are to "speak the truth in love" chapter 4v15; we are "after God created in righteousness and true holiness" chapter 4v24. Everything else is a lie, whether doctrinal or practical. Satan is a liar and the father of it, said the Lord Jesus. We refuse the false gods and false religions, peddled by him, we do not deal in lies or half-truths; it is such integrity of soul (God given) that will preserve us in the conflict. The girdle or the belt of a soldier held together the whole armour, being linked to the breastplate and the leg girths and the sheath which holds the sword, so truth, integrity, whether in belief or in behaviour is fundamental to our spiritual survival.
- The breastplate of righteousness This is LOYALTY, first to the Lord, then to our fellow members. The breastplate is a full body cover protecting the heart. The heart is the very seat of human emotion and when Satan takes on the saints he has to weaken their deep loyalty to God and His saints. The heart that was once given over to sin and unrighteousness is now com mitted to do what is right. This is because God has made us right with Himself; we are righteous, therefore we live righteously. The new man "has been created in righteousness" and we are to "put it on" chapter 4v24. We have it, we just have to put it on! "Walk in love, as Christ also loved us...." chapter 5v2. Demonstrate the features and the fruit of the new life "for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth...." chapter5v9. Love to the Lord and love to the saints is what is right, wherever we look in the bible and this supersedes all other considerations. The breastplate of righteousness is a very formidable defence.
- The feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace This is STABILITY. The aim is to stand in the face of combat and for this we need proper footwear. If we are to walk in the Christian pathway, if we are to stand in the heat of conflict we are to be shod. The word preparation is the idea of "readiness", that is to always be ready, to have at our fingertips and at the forefront of our minds the gospel of peace. The gospel of peace because in this I am reconciled to God and why should I mar that by succumbing to the one who took me away? "He is our peace" chapter2v14. Through Him we have been reconciled to God..."The work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness shall be quietness and assurance forever. The gospel has settled all questions, there is no fear for the future, and no devil can proclaim otherwise. "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. We stand firmly on this sure foundation, we do not cower before a lying enemy, we stand, having at the ready always, the gospel that has given us peace with God, and no demon can unsettle us.
- The shield of faith This is SECURITY; he says "above all" or "over all", meaning to cover all.....the shield was a full body protection from head to foot. This is to deflect "the fiery darts of the wicked one." The thought here is of missiles sent with the intention to hurt...they could be temptations to sin (he is the tempter), or accusations of sin ( he is "diabolos" the false accuser). Scriptures like Zechariah 3vv1-4; Revelation 12 v10; 2 Corinthians 11v3; 1 Timothy 3v6 etc. apply. Christians under such attacks can become frustrated, and discouraged, and the only protection they have is their faith; faith in the sure word of God that says they don't need to yield to temptation (Romans chapter 6v12-22), and that if they sin we have full provision made (1 John 1v7 and 2vv1-2). Faith can be at different levels, but the constant bombardment only strengthens it. The reality we face is recorded in Revelation 12v10 is that the devil accuses the people of God, before the face of God day and night! There is a lovely truth hidden in the Greek in these verses....."The shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts...." The word for "able" is from the root word for power dunamis, which is power in motion, power in action, effective power!! Translated thus it says "...the shield of faith by which you will be empowered.....enough said. The power of grace is greater than the power of sin, the power of God within us is greater than the power of evil, from wherever it comes.
- The helmet of salvation This is CERTAINTY, the protection of the mind, from all doubt and despair. In Eden Satan first attacked the mind of Eve...his tactics were successful and they follow the same pattern today DOUBT, DENIAL, DISSATISFACTION, DISOBEDIENCE, DELUSION then finally Death! He began with the mind and that led to the hand that took in defiance against God. It was also in Eden God pronounced His salvation, the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent's head. God's salvation is the only antidote to sin and Satan. Salvation is a blanket term and involves many aspects, which take care of everything that sin lost, and it is the understanding of the full orbed glory of the gospel that stops Satan before he can even start. In the blanket term of Salvation used by Paul in Romans 1v16, and other places are the truths of election/predestination; regeneration; propitiation; redemption; justification; reconciliation; sanctification; glorification; presentation; manifestation. A study of these will take a lifetime to digest, but essentially God's salvation is so comprehensive, it leaves no stone unturned, to such a degree, that no demon, however many, can destroy and no human can ever gainsay. Christian take the helmet (the word is receive), and go forward on full confidence to ultimate success.
- The sword of the Spirit This is VICTORY. It is defined as" the spoken word of God", not so much a quotation of the general scripture, but the word applied to a specific situation. This requires greater knowledge and skill to use it timeously. It is "the word in season" of Isaiah 50v4; the "word fitly spoken" of Proverbs 25v11; the "instant word" of 2 Timothy4v2. It is best illustrated in the Lord's confrontation with Satan in the temptation, where He lifted three short sharp words from Deuteronomy chapters 6&8. He said "...it is written......it is written again...it is written. He met the adversary of God with this and the result was decisive....the gospel writers record; "Then the devil leaveth Him" Matthew 4v11; "Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit..." Luke 4v14. His victory can be our victory by the same word. The sword is the short sword used in close combat; no one, not even Satan is any match for the spoken word of God, which, according to Hebrews 4v12 is "..living and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. No one, whether angel or demon or mortal man can gainsay that so the Christian is in possession of the ultimate spiritual weapon, enough to meet any situation
