INTRODUCTION
As Hitler’s appetite for power and territory grew, his army began to march across Europe. In some cases, the fight could hardly be called a battle. The Evil German Nazi army advanced, with its tanks and with technologically advanced weapons. In some of the underdeveloped nations, their armies made a futile effort to resist Hitler’s aggression, fighting back with spears and even rocks. It was no contest at all because these nations were not equipped for the battle.
The same could be said of Satan and those whom he opposes. Many of his victims do not even know there is a war going on. They make easy prey. Often the church is fighting back with car washes and baby contest. Christians should know that we are in the midst of a great spiritual struggle, although many seem not to believe it. And even more distressing is the fact that many who consider themselves “in the war” do not understand the nature of Satan’s schemes, of the weapons which he employs, or of the weapons which God has provided for our defense.
As the letter to believers in Ephesus and throughout the great cities of Asia Minor draws to a close, the author offers a final extended metaphor for how a person of faith in Jesus as God’s own anointed one, Lord overall, might shape the life of believers.
The Image is of a Warrior preparing for a great battle. I have been thinking about warriors and especially Social Justice Warriors recently. Sitting Bull, Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux said; The warrior, for us, is one who sacrifices himself for the good of others. His task is to take care of the elderly, the defenseless, those who cannot provide for themselves, and above all, the children - the future of humanity. While talking about his people the Native Americans the point is valid for all of us. Being a warrior is more than about fighting, it is about service to the community and protection of their homeland.
I have also been thinking about non-violent resistance to hate and racism and bigotry, I've been asking the same kind of questions that The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC, often pronounced /sn?k/ SNIK) asked of the Civil rights movement during the 60s is unarmed civil disobedience still the best way. And Yes Church I have gotten an answer we are not weaponless.
It is important to keep in mind that the addressees of this letter to the Ephesians were to a people who were very much a minority group in the first century. The language used to describe their God and Lord was very similar to that used to describe imperial officials, especially the emperor. Even the word for their gatherings, ekklesiae, which later became church was a term for political gatherings at the local level.
This letter, then, was written for people for whom their allegiance to Christ set them at conspicuous odds with the allegiances of others in their families and cities. In other words, this was a Political letter to a people involved in politics.
So yes, these folks had to have a certain kind of armor. Yes, the Ephesians need to be geared up and Armed.
It is impossible to think about this passage in 2021 without thinking of the many minority groups at odds with their overlords throughout the world.
For many of these groups, the United States government has been asked desperately for “armor” of a more contemporary sort, armor that will allow such groups either to claim their freedom more aggressively or to defend it simply by standing fast.
It's impossible to read this text and not think about the situation with the war in Afghanistan and the withdrawal of U.S. forces, the Taliban swiftly toppling the government, and driving thousands of people into a desperate race to escape the country.
It’s impossible to read this text and not to ask How does COVID Vaccines and Face Mask fit into this discussion of putting on the full armor of God. We have seen how the Vaccines, the shots, have changed the Pandemic of diseases in the country and yet the politicizing of the taking the shoot has also cost people their lives.
The text makes it very clear that the events of life in this world, especially the conflicts, are truly indicative of warfare in the “heavenly places.” They are spiritual and not just Earthly. Three points from the text and I’ll let you go to Wendy’s to get you brunch.
1) This is a Bigger Battle than You think!
The battle is not with flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12), but with other dark and dangerous powers who do rule the world at the present time.
For the Ephesians, no matter what hostility is displayed by their fellow townsfolk, they are to understand that the real hostility is emanating from larger, darker, spiritual forces. I tell you when we were in DC protesting evil and sin that was reflected in the government’s usage of the filibuster and other staling technics that are denying living wages and voting rights, I met the Yogananda Pittman who was Acting Chief of the Capitol Police. What caught me was she still had on her face scares from the January 6th insurrection of American Born Terrorist. And You know A black woman is not prone to get hit in the face. It reminded me that no matter how much I want to make the events of January 6 about race and racism that it was were more about sin and the darkness that is taking over our country and world if we are not geared up in our faith.
Such forces cannot be fought by the believers themselves but are rather to be resisted.
Faithfulness to God places one in the midst of a battle one is unable to fight aggressively on earth.
This text describes the spiritual battle that exists in the lives of believers. It does so perhaps better than any other words in Scripture.
(a) First, Paul affirms our battle is indeed spiritual, not physical.
a. The enemies we face, ultimately, are not people or objects.
b. The Devil may use those as part of his attack, but our true opponent is not other people: it is sin.
(b) Second, Paul identifies our spiritual enemies.
This list is commonly interpreted as a vague listing of the "ranks" within the demonic armies.
a) "Rulers" seem to indicate a top level of evil spiritual forces.
b) "Authorities" refer to general forces of evil attacking believers.
c) "Cosmic powers" seem to refer to the worldwide nature of this spiritual battle.
d) "Evil in the heavenly places" again emphasizes a battle beyond this world.
Move 2. Note The Nature Of The Armor
You have to note the very nature of the armor makes clear that the message here is a survival strategy for persons of faith in a hostile world, not a strategy for aggression.
Note that the armor is designed to help folks stand fast: it is not armor for aggressive action.
Standing fast does not require a person to hurt a neighbor in any way. Standing fast is How we do it.
(a) The “standing fast,” from the Greek word histemi is repeated in Ephesians 6:11, 13, 14, clearly a very significant threat in this passage.
(b) The Greek word Anthistemi also appears in v. 13.
Withstanding (anthistemi) is necessary for standing. The armor is to empower believers to withstand (anthistemi) the evils that surround and threaten them.
Believers are girded in truth, faith, peace, the Spirit through the word, and in prayer for their defense and strength.
Second, the nature of the armor itself is profoundly defensive.
Move 3. Finally, let me end here the weapon in this text is speaking the Word of God.
The phrase “sword of the Spirit” is found only once in Scripture, in Ephesians 6:17. The sword is one of the pieces of spiritual armor Paul tells the Ephesian Christians to put on as part of the “full armor of God” that will enable us to stand our ground against evil (Ephesians 6:13). The only equipment for the attack is the sword, and even that weapon is a sword of the Spirit, aka, the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).
The sword is both an offensive and defensive weapon used by soldiers or warriors. Swords were used to protecting oneself from harm or to attack the enemy to overcome or kill him. In both cases, it was necessary for a soldier to get rigid training on the proper use of the sword to get maximum protection.
All Christian soldiers need the same rigid training to know how to properly handle the Sword of the Spirit, “which is the word of God.”
Since every Christian is in the spiritual battle with the satanic and evil forces of this world, we need to know how to handle the Word properly. Only then will it be an effective defense against evil, but it will also be an offensive weapon we use to “demolish strongholds” of error and falsehood (2 Corinthians 10:4–5).
Thus, the power over the darkness the evil is the spoken word of God in boldness. the boldness for which this armor empowers one is the boldness of witness in speech (Ephesians 6:20). Not all are expected to engage in such bold witness.
This kind of speech would be a gift granted to some, but not all (Ephesians 4:11).
Yet all share in this confident life in the midst of difficulty by everyday real prayer, prayer for everyone. The armor is for individuals and their lives and, perhaps more importantly, the community as a whole is armed with faith, truth, peace, God’s Spirit, and prayer.
Here this now, The words calling upon believers to stand fast are plural.
Thus, the Word today for us calls for considered, corporate resistance to evil when and wherever it is embodied in the structures of the world one lives in, through the power of God. We have to work together if we are going to stand and win.
I can hear us singing in the words of the song Stand Up from the Movie Harrit: That's when I'm gonna stand up
Take my people with me
Together we are going
To a brand new home
Far across the river
Can you hear freedom calling?
Calling me to answer
Gonna keep on keepin' on
I can feel it in my bones
Stand up
Take my people with me
Together we are going
To a brand new home
