E P H E S I A N S 6 V 10-20

Paul was leaving his people at Ephesus, and he is concerned, for he knows the struggles which thwart them. People had to live hard lives in Paul’s time. We may feel discouraged, often because we have those who govern us, who have promised us much to gain election, but when elected claim to have been left a legacy by their predecessors, to excuse the lies which were freely given, but we cannot compare with people of Paul, They believed in demons, devils and evil spirits. They thought the air they breathed was full of harm.  The names Paul uses, such as powers and rulers, where what he used for evil spirits and demons.

To Paul, the world was a battleground, and in effect it still is for us in the same way. The  people had to face attacks, and also found spiritual forces fighting against God. (Still the same today) We may not use the description of Paul, but now there is a more sophisticated way in which we face the same.

Robert Louis Stevenson once said, I met Satan at an icy cold Station in Scotland on a windy night. That actual experience was not mentioned, but we have all meet the same influence, which seeks to upset us.

Paul was all the time chained to a Roman soldier. Night and day, the soldier was there to stop him escaping. Paul was the kind of man who could get alongside anyone, and would have talked to all the soldiers he met. This gave him an idea, that the Christian could be a soldier for Christ, and could use armor like them.

The Belt of truth.

The belt was worn around the tunic, and had a sword hanging from it which allowed easy and quick movement.  Christians move freely, and in any situation know the truth.

The breastplate.

Righteousness is a breastplate, when a man is clothed with righteousness is totally protected.  Words are not a protection  from accusations, but a good life is. When Plato was accused of sinning, he said,we must live so to prove they were a lie. The only way a Christian can act if so accused, is to show how good a Christian they are.

There were sandals. 

The sandal allowed a man to walk quickly and be ready to move. The sign of a Christian is to be eager to preach the gospel, and tell of their faith and the story of Jesus Christ.

There was the shield.

This was a small round one. The most used weapon was the dart equipped with pitch on the point  The shield was made of wood, so that when a dart was fired  , it st,ck in the wood. Faith can deal with the dart of temptation, And give complete and perfect trust in Christ.  That means faith with a close relationship with Christ is safe from all  weapon of temptation.

The helmet.

This was for salvation. Salvation looks forward and back. This means your past sins are forgiven, and  strengthen you for things to come.

There is the sword.

The sword is the word of God. A   weapon to attack or defend. In the word of God we find protection from sin, and fight stops the sins of the world. Those who fought with Cromwell did so with a sword in one hand, and a Bible in the other hand.

Finally, we come to the greatest weapon, of prayer.

We have to note that which Paul used about prayer. It has to be constant in every time of life.  It is so often only used when things go wrong, or when things were wanted.  For Paul, it meant daily prayer.  Worry and stress cause lack of sleep and sometimes illness, so prayer needs concentration. Lots of words are not necessary, God will know what you need, so be concise.  And remember to give thanksgiving when answered.

,Paul asks for the prayers for his friends for himself. And this prayer is not for peace, this prayer is for comfort; this prayer is that he may be allowed to tell God’s secret, that God’s love is for all men, to all the world.  We would do well to remember  that no Christian leader and no Christian preacher, can go on unless his people are ever upholding their hands in prayer.

Lord, We give thanks for your word to us. May your Holy Name be Glorified