PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD

Passage: Ephesians 6:10-24

Key verse: 13

NIV

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord(A) and in his mighty power.(B) 11 Put on the full armor of God,(C) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,(D) but against the rulers, against the authorities,(E) against the powers(F) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.(G) 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God,(H) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,(I) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,(J) 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.(K) 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,(L) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(M) 17 Take the helmet of salvation(N) and the sword of the Spirit,(O) which is the word of God.(P)

18 And pray in the Spirit(Q) on all occasions(R) with all kinds of prayers and requests.(S) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying(T) for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me,(U) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly(V) make known the mystery(W) of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador(X) in chains.(Y) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Final Greetings

21 Tychicus,(Z) the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are,(AA) and that he may encourage you.(AB)

23 Peace(AC) to the brothers and sisters,[a] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.[b]

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Footnotes
  1. Ephesians 6:23 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
  2. Ephesians 6:24 Or Grace and immortality to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, (A)be strong in the Lord and in (B)the strength of his might. 11 (C)Put on (D)the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against (E)the schemes of the devil. 12 For (F)we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against (G)the rulers, against the authorities, against (H)the cosmic powers over (I)this present darkness, against (J)the spiritual forces of evil (K)in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore (L)take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in (M)the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, (N)having fastened on the belt of truth, and (O)having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, (P)as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up (Q)the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all (R)the flaming darts of (S)the evil one; 17 and take (T)the helmet of salvation, and (U)the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying (V)at all times (W)in the Spirit, (X)with all prayer and supplication. To that end, (Y)keep alert with all perseverance, making (Z)supplication for all the saints, 19 and (AA)also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth (AB)boldly to proclaim (AC)the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I (AD)am an ambassador (AE)in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Final Greetings

21 (AF)So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, (AG)Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may (AH)encourage your hearts.

23 (AI)Peace be to the brothers,[a] and (AJ)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who (AK)love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

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Footnotes
  1. Ephesians 6:23 Or brothers and sisters
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Be strong in the Lord (1

-2

)

The Christian life is like a battleground. So, we Christians must be spiritually strong in the Lord. Paul commands us to put on the full armor of God to take our stand against the devil. There are seven pieces of the armor of God. The first five are defensive: 1) the belt of truth that protects us from the devil's lie; 2) the breastplate of righteousness, from Satan's condemnation; 3) the sandals with the gospel of peace, from worries; 4) the shield of faith, from arrows of unbelief; 5) the helmet of salvation, from doubt about salvation. The last two are our offensive weapons: 6) the sword of God's word to defeat the devil; 7) prayer to fight with God's spirit. We must also pray for others to share the gospel fearlessly.

2. I am sending him to you (21-24)

Paul was sending Tychicus with the letter to the Ephesian believers to share about Paul's ministry to encourage them. We are not fighting alone. There are other believers in the spiritual battle. By sharing God's work and praying for them, together we can stand firm in the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, help us to fight against the devil by putting on the full armor of God.

One Word: Stand our ground