Ephesians 6:10-20

The Whole Armor of God

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

6:12 These who are not "flesh and blood" are demons over whom Satan has control.  They are not mere fantasies—they are very real.  We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat Christ church.  When we believe in Christ, these beings become our enemies, and they try every device to turn us away from him and back to sin.  Although we assured of victory, we must engage in the struggle until Christ returns, because Satan is constantly battling against all who are on the Lord's side.  We need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God has provided this by giving us his Holy Spirit within us and his armor surrounding us.  If you feel discouraged, remember Jesus' words to Peter: "Upon this Rock I will build my church and all the powers of hell will not conquer it" (Matthew 16:18).

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness.

15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

6:10-17 In the Christian life we battle against rulers and authorities (the powerful evil forces of fallen angels headed by Satan who is a vicious fighter, see I Peter 5:8).  To withstand their attacks, we must depend on God's strength and use every piece of his armor.  Paul is not the only one giving this counsel to the church.  The whole body needs to be armed.  As you do battle against the "mighty powers of darkness," fight in the strength of the church, whose power comes from the Holy Spirit.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

6:18 How can anyone pray at all times? One way is to make quick, brief prayers your habitual response to every situation you meet throughout the day.  Another way is to order your life around God's desires and teachings so that your very life becomes a prayer.  You don't have to isolate yourself from other people and from daily work in order to pray constantly.  You can make prayer your life and your life a prayer while living in a world that needs God's powerful influence.  We also should pray for all believers in Christ, so pray for the Christians you know and for the church around the world.

19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God's mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.

20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God's ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for Him, as I should.

6:19-20 Undiscouraged and defeated, Paul wrote powerful letters of encouragement from prison.  Paul did not ask the Ephesians to pray that his chains would be removed but that he would continue to speak fearlessly for Christ in spite of them God can use us in any circumstance, to do his will.  Even as we pray for a change in our circumstances, we should also pray that God will accomplish his plan through us right where we are.  Knowing God's eternal purpose for us will help us through the difficult times.

Text and study notes taken from the Life Application Bible, New Living Translation