The Whole Armor of God

Strength from the Lord (6:10). “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Paul does not tell believers to make themselves strong. He tells them where strength comes from: the Lord. God’s armor (6:11). “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” The armor belongs to God, and He gives it to His children. Not against people (6:12). “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.” Flesh and blood means people. Our real struggle is never with the people around us, so we never treat anyone as an enemy or try to hurt them. When someone is unkind. If someone is mean or scary, do not fight back. Tell a parent or a grown-up you trust. Powers we cannot see. Paul names evil powers that are real but unseen. We do not need to know more about them. We need to know Jesus, who is far stronger. Jesus has already won. Jesus died on the cross and rose again. The Bible says that God disarmed those powers, “triumphing over them” (Colossians 2:15). God’s children are safe in Him. Stand (6:13). “Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Hard days come to everyone. To stand means to keep trusting Jesus and not give up. What this means for you. When you feel weak or afraid this week, ask the Lord to be your strength. Then tell a parent or a grown-up you trust how you feel.

Finally (6:10). “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Be strong is endynamoo (say: en-doo-nah-MOH-oh), to be made strong. Paul gives it as a passive command: believers receive strength from the Lord; they do not produce it. The whole armor (6:11). “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Whole armor is panoplia (say: pan-op-LEE-ah), the full set of armor, every piece. God does not hand His people only part of what they need. The real struggle (6:12). “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.” Wrestle is pale (say: PAH-lay), a close, hand-to-hand contest. Flesh and blood means human beings. Never against people. Because the struggle is not with people, believers never treat anyone as an enemy and never try to hurt anyone. If someone is mean or scary, do not fight back. Tell a parent or a grown-up you trust. Unseen powers. Paul names “principalities” and “powers.” Believers are given what they need to know: the powers are real, and Christ is far above them. Already won. “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15). Christ won at the cross, and His resurrection showed it. God’s children are safe in Him. Withstand and stand (6:13). “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” The goal is not to win by our own strength. Believers stand firm in what Christ has already won. Application. This week, when you face something hard, ask the Lord for His strength before you try anything else.

Where do God’s people find strength? Paul told them, “Be strong in the Lord.” We are not strong enough by ourselves. God gives His children His own power. Paul called it “the full armor of God.” That armor comes from God, not from us. Who is our fight against? It is never against people. So we never treat anyone as an enemy. We do not try to hurt anyone. If someone is mean or scary, do not fight back. Tell a parent or a grown-up you trust. There are evil powers that we cannot see. Jesus is stronger than all of them. God’s children are safe in Him. Jesus already won when He died and rose again.

Paul said to be strong in the Lord. When someone is mean, we do not fight back. Tell a parent or a grown-up you trust.

Stand therefore (6:14). Everything God gives is so that His children can stand firm. “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth.” The belt of truth. A belt holds everything in place. God’s truth keeps our lives steady. His children believe His truth and tell the truth. No secrets for God. God’s truth works in the open. Nobody should ever tell you something is spiritual or for God to make you keep a secret or do something that feels wrong. Tell a parent or a grown-up you trust. It is never your fault. The breastplate of righteousness. Believers have “put on the breastplate of righteousness.” A breastplate covers the chest and the heart. Righteousness means being right with God. Jesus gives it to everyone who trusts Him, and He helps them do right. God’s own armor. Long before, Isaiah wrote that the Lord “put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head” (Isaiah 59:17). Many Christians see Paul’s armor as God’s own armor, given to His people. Ready feet (6:15). “Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Shod means wearing shoes. The gospel is the good news of Jesus, and it brings peace with God. Ready to share. Shoes help you go places. God’s children are ready to tell others the good news of peace. What this means for you. Choose to tell the truth this week, even when it is hard. Ask God to help you share the good news with one friend.

Stand therefore (6:14). “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.” Each piece is something believers have been given; they stand in what God supplies. Truth. The belt holds everything in place. God’s truth, believed and lived, keeps a believer steady. Honest words and an honest life go together. Truth and secrets. God’s truth works in the light. Nobody should ever tell you something is spiritual or for God to make you keep a secret or do something that feels wrong. Tell a parent or a grown-up you trust. It is never your fault. Righteousness. The breastplate guards the chest and heart. Righteousness is right standing with God, given to all who trust Christ, and it shows in a life that does what is right. The Lord’s armor. Isaiah says of the Lord, “For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head” (Isaiah 59:17). Many Christians see the armor of Ephesians 6 as the Lord’s own armor, now given to His people. The gospel of peace (6:15). “And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Preparation means readiness. Believers stand on the good news that Christ has made peace with God, and they are ready to carry that news to others. Application. Think about where telling the truth is hardest for you. Pray about it, and choose honesty there this week.

Paul said to wear “the belt of truth.” A belt holds things in place. God’s truth holds His children steady. We tell the truth, even when it is hard. Nobody should ask you to keep a secret for God. Nobody should use God’s name to make you do wrong. Tell a parent or a grown-up you trust. It is never your fault. Paul also named “the protection of right living.” Jesus makes us right with God. Then He helps us live right. Isaiah wrote that the Lord “put on the helmet of salvation.” Many Christians see Paul’s armor as God’s own armor, shared with us. Paul said to wear “the Good News of peace.” Jesus brings peace between God and us. We can be ready to share that news.

Nobody should ask you to keep a secret for God. Tell a parent or a grown-up you trust. It is never your fault.

Above all (6:16). “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Faith is trusting God and what He says. Put out. To quench means to put out a fire. Paul says faith can quench all of them, not just a few. Calm and safe. We do not need to be afraid. Jesus is stronger, and He keeps His children. The helmet of salvation (6:17). “And take the helmet of salvation.” A helmet covers the head. Salvation means being saved from sin by Jesus. Knowing that Jesus saved us helps us think clearly when we feel worried. The word of God. Paul names “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” This piece is God’s Word, the Bible. The Holy Spirit uses it to teach and help us. Using God’s Word. We take it up by reading it, learning it by heart and believing what it says. When a lie comes into your mind, a true verse answers it. All from God. Faith, salvation and the Word are gifts from God. We do not earn them. We receive them by trusting Jesus. What this means for you. Learn this week’s memory verse by heart. Say it when you feel weak or afraid.

Above all (6:16). “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Faith takes hold of what God has said and rests on it. Quench. To quench is to put out a fire. Paul says faith can quench “all” the fiery darts, not some of them. Trust in God holds firm. No fear. The wicked one is real, but he is not stronger than the Lord. Believers trust the One who has already won. The helmet of salvation (6:17). “And take the helmet of salvation.” Salvation is God’s rescue from sin through Christ. It guards the mind: a believer can think clearly because Christ has saved. The word of God. “And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” The Spirit gives the Word, and the Word is how believers stand. They take it up by reading it, memorizing it and trusting it. Spoken as well as read. God’s Word is meant to be spoken. Believers answer a lie with what God has said. Gifts, not wages. Faith, salvation and the Word all come from God. None of them is earned. Application. Choose one verse that reminds you God is strong. Write it out, learn it, and pray it this week.

Paul said to use “the shield of faith.” Faith means trusting God. When we trust God, the Evil One cannot win. Jesus is stronger, and He keeps His children. Paul also named “God’s salvation” as a helmet. Salvation means Jesus saves us from our sins. A helmet covers your head. We can think clearly because Jesus saved us. Paul said to take “the sword of the Spirit.” He said it is “the teaching of God.” That means the Bible, God’s Word. We use God’s Word by reading it and remembering it. When we feel afraid, God’s Word reminds us He is near.

Paul said to use the shield of faith. Faith means trusting God. God’s Word helps us every day.

Praying always (6:18). “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” Prayer is how God’s children lean on His strength. Supplication means asking God for what is needed. Watchful. Paul says to keep “being watchful to this end with all perseverance.” Perseverance means keeping on and not giving up. For all the saints. Saints are all of God’s people. We pray for each other, near and far. And for me (6:19). Paul asked them to pray “that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.” Paul wanted courage to tell the good news. An ambassador (6:20). Paul called himself “an ambassador in chains.” He was a prisoner, most likely in Rome, and he still spoke for King Jesus. Boldness. Paul’s request was for boldness to speak. God gives His children courage when they pray. What this means for you. Make a short list of people to pray for this week, and put on it someone who teaches others about Jesus.

Praying always (6:18). “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Prayer runs through all the armor: believers stand by depending on God. In the Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps believers pray. Prayer “in the Spirit” is prayer led by Him. Perseverance. Believers keep praying and stay alert. They pray for “all the saints,” the whole family of God. Boldness (6:19). “And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.” Utterance means the right words to say. Ambassador in chains (6:20). Paul calls himself “an ambassador in chains.” He was a prisoner, most likely in Rome, and he still spoke for Christ. His request was “that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Strength in weakness. Paul was in chains, yet he asked for boldness to speak. Hard places cannot stop God’s strength or His gospel. Application. Write down three people to pray for this week: a family member, a friend and someone who teaches God’s Word.

Paul said, “Pray in the Spirit at all times.” Prayer is talking with God. We can pray anywhere and anytime. Paul said to pray for all God’s people. That means friends, family and people far away. Paul asked them to pray for him too. He was in prison when he wrote. He asked for prayer to speak about Jesus without fear. Prayer is how we lean on God’s strength. Let’s pray for our pastors and teachers. God also hears our prayers for people who tell about Jesus.

Paul asked God’s people to pray. We can pray for others every day. God loves to hear us pray.