“Strong in the Lord: Dressed for Battle”
Scripture: Ephesians 6:10–20
The Armour of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armour of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,
19 and pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Theme:
The Christian life is spiritual warfare. God equips us with spiritual armor so we can stand firm in the face of the enemy.
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Introduction:
We are living in a world that is not neutral. Behind the visible, tangible things we see each day—our work, relationships, news headlines, and even our temptations—there is an invisible battle raging.
The Apostle Paul doesn’t sugarcoat the Christian life. He ends his letter to the Ephesians not with a peaceful benediction, but with a call to arms.
He writes:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armour of God…”
He reminds us that we are soldiers in a spiritual war—and we are not left defenseless. God has given us everything we need to stand firm.
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1. The Source of Our Strength (v.10)
“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”
Paul does not say, “Be strong in yourself,” or “Try harder.” He says: Be strong in the Lord.
Our strength to fight temptation, endure suffering, and resist the devil comes not from our willpower, but from God’s power. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to you.
Christianity is not about what you can do for God—it’s about what God has done and is doing through you.
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2. The Nature of the Battle (v.11–12)
“Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
Paul warns us: the devil has schemes. He is subtle, crafty, and calculating. He doesn’t usually attack with fire and fury; he whispers lies. He tempts, deceives, divides, and accuses.
And look who we’re up against:
“…not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness…”
Your enemy is not your neighbour, your boss, your spouse, or even your worst critic. The real enemy is spiritual—and so our weapons must be spiritual.
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3. The Call to Stand (v.13–14)
“Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
Paul repeats the word stand several times. This is the goal of the Christian soldier—not to conquer new territory, but to hold the ground Christ has already won.
We don’t fight for victory—we fight from victory.
The evil day is not a distant apocalypse. It’s today. It’s the moment of temptation, the season of suffering, the hour of doubt.
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4. The Armor of God (v.14–17)
Paul now describes the spiritual armour God provides:
a) The Belt of Truth
“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…”
Truth is the first piece of armour because lies are the enemy’s primary weapon. The truth of God’s Word must hold everything else together in our lives.
b) The Breastplate of Righteousness
“…and having put on the breastplate of righteousness…”
Our protection is not our own goodness, but Christ’s righteousness given to us. It guards our hearts from condemnation and shame.
c) The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
“…as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”
We are called to move—not just to stand still. We carry the Gospel into the world with confidence and peace, ready to share good news.
d) The Shield of Faith
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one…”
The enemy will shoot arrows—doubts, fears, accusations. Faith is what blocks them. Faith is not blind optimism—it’s trust in the character of God.
e) The Helmet of Salvation
“…take the helmet of salvation…”
Your mind is a battlefield. Salvation guards your thoughts—reminding you that you belong to Christ, that you are safe, forgiven, and secure.
f) The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God
The only offensive weapon listed—God’s Word. Jesus used Scripture to defeat Satan in the wilderness, and so must we. Know it. Quote it. Pray it. Trust it.
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5. The Power of Prayer (v.18–20)
“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication…”
Prayer is not just the glue that holds the armour together—it is our constant connection to the Commander-in-Chief.
Notice how Paul emphasizes all:
• All times
• All prayer
• All perseverance
• All the saints
And then Paul, the great apostle, humbly asks for prayer:
“That words may be given to me… to boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel…”
If Paul needed prayer, how much more do we?
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Conclusion:
So, fellow Christians, what do we do with all of this?
• We recognize we are in a spiritual battle.
• We receive the armour God gives.
• We resist the enemy by standing firm in truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, the Gospel, the Word, and prayer.
Don’t go into the day spiritually undressed.
Every morning, wake up and consciously put on the armour of God. Remind yourself of who you are and what you’ve been given.
Because you are not alone. You are not unarmed. You are not powerless.
You are clothed in Christ.
“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”
Amen.
