Ephesians 6:10-24

Ephesians 6:10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Everything depends upon that. Whether you are called upon to work, or to wait, or to watch, or to suffer, you have need to be strong. If you are not yourself strong, the very armor that you wear will be a burden to you. It is of the utmost importance that Christians should be as strong in grace as they can possibly be. And the power that is to be in them is to be the power of God: «the power of his might.» What a wonderful power that is! The power of flesh is weakness, and the power of man is fading but the power of God is almighty and unchangeable; and if we can be girt about with this power there is scarcely any limit to what we may successfully attempt. «Finally,» as if this were a matter of the highest importance, to be considered first and last. «Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.» You know how strong Paul himself was; he was a veritable giant for Christ, and he here calls upon his brethren to be as he was, he did not want to be brother to dwarfs, so he appealed to his brethren to «be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.»

Ephesians 6:11. Put on the whole armor of God,

The armor of God will not serve you unless you yourself are strong. It needs a strong man to carry girdle, and breastplate, and shoes, and shield, and helmet, and sword. Let me impress upon you the fact that we must first of all get strong within, and after that «put on the whole armor of God,» that armor which God has provided for the good soldiers of Jesus Christ, that armor which distinguishes men as belonging to the army of God. Do not merely put on a part of it, but put on the whole of it. Do not simply look at the armor, and clean it up so as to keep it bright, but put it on, wear it, it is meant for you to use in the great battle for the right against the wrong: «Put on the whole armor of God,»

Ephesians 6:11. That ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

He will attack you sometimes by force and sometimes by fraud. By might or by sleight he will seek to overcome you, and no unarmed man can stand against him. Never go out without all your armor on, for you can never tell where you may meet the devil. He is not omnipresent, but nobody can tell where he is not, for he and his troops of devils appear to be found everywhere on this earth.

Ephesians 6:12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

Our great fight is not against our fellow-men. As Christians, we go not forth armed with sword and shield to fight against «flesh and blood,»

Ephesians 6:12. But against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Our battle is against evil wherever it is to be found, against evil in every shape and form. Evil is as much in the world today as it was in Paul's time, and we must fight against it everywhere. We are not to shut our eyes to it, or try to patch up a compromise with it. Christians are bound to fight against evil principalities, evil powers, the evil rulers of the darkness of this world, and wicked spirits in high places.

Ephesians 6:13. Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God,

What stress the apostle lays upon this point! He repeats the command he had just given, and again emphasizes the fact that it is «the whole armor of God» that is to be worn. There are some professing Christians who only in part obey the injunction here given, but it is no use to wear a part of the Christian armor, and to leave the rest of the soul unarmed. A little leak will sink a ship, and the absence of one piece of the armor of God may cost a man his soul: «Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God,»

Ephesians 6:13. That ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

That is what we have to do, to keep our place and our standing as Christians right to the end. To be apparently pure and holy for a time is no use at all. Transient professors will find everlasting ruin; «but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.» We are in God's army for life; we can never quit this warfare till God shall call us home.

Ephesians 6:14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,

Let this girdle of the everlasting truth of God brace you up. Let it tighten all the rest of your armor.

Ephesians 6:14. And having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Let your heart be guarded by the knowledge that you are right with God, that you love that which is holy and true. Put on the righteousness of Christ himself as the best possible protection for your heart.

Ephesians 6:15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Rough roads grow smooth when these blessed gospel sandals are on your feet. A little stone in the shoe will make the pilgrim's progress a very wearisome and painful one, so try to keep out all the stones, everything about which you have any scruple, or that you think may be wrong; and walk in the safe and narrow way set forth in the gospel of peace.

Ephesians 6:16. above all,

Over all, covering all from head to foot,

Ephesians 6:16. Taking the shield of faith

For you need this shield to protect both your armor and yourself.

Ephesians 6:16. Therewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Not only the fiery darts of the wicked one, but those also of wicked men and wicked women who may throw at you afar darts that are all ablaze, which would burn as well as pierce you if you were not well guarded against them. Nothing can quench these fiery darts but the shield of faith.

Ephesians 6:17. And take the helmet of salvation,

You used to wear the helmet of pride with its fine nodding plumes, but that has been taken off by you long ago. Now put on «the helmet of Salvation.» This will effectually defend your head, and no sword will be able to cleave through it to injure you. Your brain and everything that is connected with your mental powers will be right when you know that you are saved, and when the power of God's salvation is working within you.

Ephesians 6:17. And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

There is no sword like that; it pierces even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Nothing can resist the Word of God if it is only wielded aright. There is one more weapon in the heavenly armoury:

Ephesians 6:18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,

When you cannot use your sword, and even when you can hardly grasp your shield, you can pray. That weapon of «all prayer» is of the handiest kind, because it can be turned in any and every direction. «Praying always with all prayer» groaning prayers, weeping prayers, prayers that are made up of single words, prayers that have not a word in them, prayers for others, prayers of confession, prayers of thanksgiving, «praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,»

Ephesians 6:18. And watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

But will prayer for other people help us? Yes, very much. You will sometimes find that, when you cannot pray for yourself, it is a good plan to pray for somebody else. Think of some child of God, and pray for him, and then the fire of supplication will soon burn up in your heart. The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends, and he will do the same for you. I have heard many of our members say that, when they have felt bound in prayer, they have pleaded for their Pastor and afterwards they have been able to pray for themselves. I advise more of you to try that plan; it will do me good, and then if it also does you good, there will be a double advantage in it. Paul was of the same mind as I am, for he added,

Ephesians 6:19. And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds:

«An ambassador in bonds!» Such a thing was never heard of in earthly courts We never think of chaining an ambassador, but this is how men treated this great messenger from the court of heaven.

Ephesians 6:20. That therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

It is well for Christian people to know how it fares with their spiritual guides. Paul wished the Ephesian saints to know in what state of heart he found himself, that they might the more intelligently pray for him.

Ephesians 6:23. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen

I am sure that we can heartily repeat that benediction May the Lord send much of his grace to all his people, in every part of the earth, who love him in sincerity! Amen.