A Spiritual Warfare study on Ephesians chapter 6

   Eph 6:10-FINALLY, MY BRETHREN, BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.
   11-PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES (or schemes) OF THE DEVIL.
   12-FOR WE WRESTLE (or struggle) NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES (or authorities), AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES (or spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms-NIV).
   13-WHEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU (or put on) THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND (or stand your ground) IN THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE ALL (or everything), TO STAND.
   14-STAND THEREFORE (firm), HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH (or the belt of truth buckled around your waist-NIV), AND HAVING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS;
   15-AND YOUR FEET SHOD (or fitted) WITH THE PREPARATION (or readiness) OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
   16-ABOVE ALL, TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH, WHEREWITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUENCH (or extinguish) ALL THE FIERY DARTS (or flaming arrows) OF THE WICKED.
   17-AND TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.

Eph 6:10-These passages are addressed not to all people, but to the believers, MY BRETHREN. God then commands the brethren to BE STRONG. However, that "strength" does not come from ourselves but from IN THE LORD. Further, our "power" comes from THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT. Our power comes from being in union with Jesus. We are in a struggle, and we need to defend ourselves using God’s ways, not man’s ways. We need His strength and His power.

Eph 6:11-Again a command comes forth, PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD. The armor we are to put on is not worldly armor, not worldly ways, not worldly defenses; but God’s ways, God’s armor, God’s defenses. God’s armor is referred to as the ARMOR OF LIGHT-Ro 13:12. It is also called, THE ARMOR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ON THE RIGHT HAND AND ON THE LEFT-2 Cor 6:7. Armor is for protection. This is how we can get the victory. That protection is so we can STAND and not fall. We are to STAND AGAINST THE WILES (or schemes) OF THE DEVIL. Note the words, STAND AGAINST. The strongest defensive position is usually standing still, feet firmly planted on the rock, while watching, being ready, and alert. The devil is scheming and planning how to cause each of us to fall. He wants to knock us off our feet. He wants us to fall back into the bondage of sin and disobedience against God. Satan is the enemy of every born-again Christian. He is clever and sneaky. He often attacks in ways that do not come to our mind until it happens. Satan masquerades and IS TRANSFORMED INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT-2 Cor 11:14. When he puts thoughts into your mind, he does not tell you it is him. He tells you it is your own thoughts or the thoughts of God. He mixes truth and lies together and tries to make you think it is all truth. Satan is a master of deception. Satan often speaks to you through ministers that appear to be ministers of God, but they are not. THEREFORE IT IS NO GREAT THING IF HIS MINISTERS ALSO BE TRANSFORMED AS THE MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS-2 Cor 11:15. Satan seeks to take what is the pure truth and make it something different, such as a compromise or a lie.

   Eph 6:12-FOR WE WRESTLE (or struggle). We are in a war, a battle, a fight. In a wrestling match, one person tries to throw the other down and defeat him. We are in a personal match or battle with the most cunning, deceitful foe ever created. It is a life and death struggle. That battle is for our soul. God, in His love, is not willing that any should perish. His will is that we follow "Him." Satan, on the other hand, wants us to follow him. Thus, we are in a struggle. At times, it feels like we are being pulled in two different directions at once. At times, it feels like we might be torn apart. God is telling us how to win this struggle. We wrestle NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD. Our battle is not physical. FOR THOUGH WE WALK IN THE FLESH, WE DO NOT WAR AFTER THE FLESH-2 Cor 10:3. Our struggle is really against PRINCIPALITIES (or high ranking demonic authorities), AGAINST POWERS (those that have certain powers or authority), AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD (the unseen rulers of darkness), AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES. We are in a struggle with unseen wicked spirits. Satan has a vast army of demonic forces that he uses in the unseen realm of darkness. He is THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR-Eph 2:2. He also has access to heaven at this time-ref Job 1:6, but will be cast out during the Tribulation-ref Rev 12:7-9.
    Often our mind becomes filled with wicked thoughts. It becomes filled with thoughts of wrong things to do. Then our emotions become involved. We may yield to sin. We often think these thoughts are our own, when in reality, they come from the darkness of this world. During the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, Satan will be bound and a seal shall be upon him, so he should DECEIVE THE NATIONS NO MORE-Rev 20:3. For one thousand years there will be peace upon the earth. Sin, as it is today, will almost disappear. The world will love the Jew. You might wonder how this can be? It is because Satan will no longer be able to fill a person's thoughts with wickedness. We wrestle or struggle against these things. There is a spiritual realm—a whole unseen world of darkness that we cannot see, yet can feel. The evil thoughts people have, cause much of the wickedness that is in the world today.
    Let's say, for example, that you are walking down the street. You hear a still, small voice say to walk up to a certain person and witness to him about Jesus. Immediately, this seems like a wonderful idea. This is from the Lord. You begin walking toward that person. As you do, other thoughts come into your mind. Thoughts telling you not to witness to that person. Then as you get closer, you begin to be afraid. You begin to wonder how the person will respond. You may think he will become violent toward you and hit you if you try to witness to him. All of a sudden, it feels like you need to use the toilet. As you approach the person, you are now almost shaking with fear. It becomes hard to speak. You have trouble thinking what to say.
    There is a struggle going on inside of you. The Spirit of God is telling you to witness to this person. Satan is telling you not to. Your faith is being tested. Your heart is being tested. You can "feel" the darkness screaming in your thoughts. You can "feel" your emotions rising. Although you cannot see the rulers of the darkness, you can hear them in your thoughts telling you to disobey God and sin. You can "feel" the pressure they can exert against you when you seek to do God’s will. You can observe the obstacles they put in your path to try to stop you. You can see many things coming against you, including people trying to turn you away from obeying God. Satan has a whole arsenal at his command to try to defeat us. He uses fear, the lusts of the flesh, the pleasures of this world, the cares of this world, the desires for other things, and the deceitfulness of riches to lead us astray. But behind it all, is Satan speaking to us in our thoughts with the things he knows we are susceptible to. Satan can be very persuasive when he puts thoughts in our mind. We WRESTLE. We struggle against the forces of the darkness. Nevertheless, by faith we overcome all things.
    Why do many people never get saved? Because they choose to believe the lying thoughts that Satan puts in their mind rather than God’s Word.
    Why did Eve sin? Because she chose to believe the lying thoughts that Satan put in her mind rather than God’s Word.
    Do not underestimate the power of the devil to deceive.

   Eph 6:13-WHEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU (or put on). God’s Word has told us to be strong. It has already told us to put on the whole armor of God. It has told us to stand. It has told us that we struggle. Now, it is further telling us to take THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD. We need to understand that THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL, BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD-2 Cor 10:4. Why should we take the whole armor of God? THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND (or stand your ground). Verse 11 said, that we may be able to stand. Here we are being told that we may be able to WITHSTAND. In addition to the normal onslaught that comes against the born-again Christian, there are certain evil days when the Christian seems to get hit with a barrage of things. It is written, the RAIN DESCENDED, AND THE FLOODS CAME, AND THE WINDS BLEW, AND BEAT UPON THAT HOUSE, which is you-Mt 7:25. The Christian feels like they are beaten down and can take no more. The rains keep coming, the floods never seem to stop, and the winds keep blowing. Nevertheless, God’s Word is telling us how to withstand such days. God’s Word is showing us what to do to prepare for these things, so when Satan blasts us (remember Job), we do not fall and turn from God to the enemy and perish. It is written, that ye may be able to withstand IN THE EVIL DAY. This verse, Mt 7:25, is describing specifically the evil day mentioned in Eph 6:13. The verse continues with AND HAVING DONE ALL (or everything), TO STAND. Most Christians have not obeyed this command. They have not done everything to stand. Does your faith in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, Who is come in the flesh, reflect itself in the following?
    Have you truly repented of all sin? How about drinking? How about smoking? How about astrology?
    Do you have an overwhelming thirst to read God’s Word? Have you been faithful in both reading and studying many chapters in your Bible every day? Do you truly believe that all of the Bible (sixty-six books) is God’s Word and that it is all true?
    Do you hate people? Are there people you refuse to forgive?
    Are you attending a Bible-believing and teaching church faithfully? Are you attending a dead church and refuse to leave, because you are of that XYZ denomination and you will die in that XYZ denomination? Do you refuse to leave a church that teaches false doctrines because your friends or relatives go there? Do you go to a church that puts any other book on the same level as the Bible? Do you go to a church that combines church traditions with God’s Word? Do you go to a church that is a political arena rather than totally centered on and led by Jesus?
    Are you ready always to give an answer to any person that asks you about the reason of the hope that is in you? That hope can only be Jesus.
    Are you still using filthy language? Is your conversation centered on Jesus or the things of this world?
    Do you still love this world or Jesus? Are you laying up treasures in heaven or upon the earth?
    Is Jesus the center of your universe, your thinking, your life, or are "you" the center of your universe?
    Are you still fellowshipping with the unsaved? Are you dating an unsaved woman or man? Are you planning to marry an unsaved person?
    Do you watch garbage on television or listen to it on the radio? Do you find pleasure in evil, or do you hate every evil way?
    Do you pray daily? Do you pray over all your meals and give thanks, or are you embarrassed, especially when others are present?
    Do you acknowledge Jesus in all your ways? When a person looks at you, do they see a reflection of Jesus, or do they see a reflection of the world? Does Jesus come out of your mouth, but the world shines forth in what you do?
    Do you fear God? Do your actions show you fear God?
    Do you love all born-again Christians, no matter what denomination or church they may be in?
    After you believed on Jesus and repented of your sins, have you obeyed the Bible and been baptized by full immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost?
    Are you soft and childlike towards correction from God’s Word? When being corrected, do you have a sweet spirit or another spirit?
    Do you obey God’s Word, or do you argue with God’s Word and say it does not mean what it says? Does your love for God reflect itself through obeying "His" commandments?
    Do any of these questions offend you? Do you disagree with any of them?
    Have you truly DONE ALL (or everything), TO STAND? Are you giving a place to the devil to attack you?

   Eph 6:14-STAND THEREFORE (firm). Again we have a command to STAND. HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRT (or buckled) ABOUT. Jesus spoke these words, LET YOUR LOINS BE GIRDED ABOUT, AND YOUR LIGHTS BURNING-Lk 12:35. Peter spoke these words, GIRD UP THE LOINS OF YOUR MIND-1 Pe 1:13. It is the girdle around the loins that holds all things together. It is not an ornament. Our loins are to be girt about WITH TRUTH. Truth is to govern the struggle we are in. Standing in Jesus must be based on truth. It must be based on being FOUNDED and BUILT upon "the" ROCK-Jesus. Jesus is the Word-ref Mt 7:24,25; Jn 1:1,14. It is written, HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON (or the Word) SHALL NOT SEE LIFE-Jn 3:36. HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT GOD (the Word) HATH MADE HIM A LIAR-1 Jn 5:10. AND YE HAVE NOT HIS WORD ABIDING IN YOU: FOR WHOM HE HATH SENT, HIM YE BELIEVE NOT-Jn 5:38. Our loins must be GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH (or the belt of truth). Our waist is to be belted with truth. Truth should reflect righteousness. It is written, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL BE THE GIRDLE OF HIS LOINS-Isa 11:5. The sword, which represents God’s Word-ref Eph 6:17, can be fastened to the belt-ref 2 Sam 20:8. The Word is fastened to truth.
    AND HAVING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. A breastplate is part of our armor. The breastplate protects our vital organs in the chest area, including our heart. That armor or breastplate must be of righteousness. It is written, HE PUT ON RIGHTEOUSNESS AS A BREASTPLATE-Isa 59:17, and also PUTTING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF FAITH AND LOVE-1 Thes 5:8. Note, "faith and love." Love is the fulfilling of the Law, thus, righteousness. The righteousness here is denoting the righteousness of Christ coming forth in the believer’s life. The fruits we should bring forth are those of the Spirit of God. Our integrity, character, and conduct should reflect Jesus. We should walk worthy of the calling we have received-ref Eph 4:1. Our righteousness is of Jesus.
    Note-LOINS GIRT-WITH TRUTH-which holds all together.
    Note-The Word-fastened to truth.
    Note-BREASTPLATE-RIGHTEOUSNESS-which covers the chest, including the heart. Faith in Jesus Christ and love denote righteousness.

   Eph 6:15-AND YOUR FEET SHOD (or fitted). Again we see another piece of the armor that God is telling us to have on. Our FEET are to be SHOD WITH THE PREPARATION (or readiness) OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. We should be ready and prepared. We are to stand on the "Rock," the Gospel. We are to put on armor and be ready for the struggle, yet our message is "peace," the GOSPEL OF PEACE. Indeed, peace on earth and good will toward men-ref Lk 2:14. We are to have peace, even in the midst of the struggle—the peace which passes all understanding-ref Phili 4:7.
    As it is written, FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD-Ro 10:17. Our feet need to be fitted with God’s Word.
    Jesus gives us the example of how to defend ourselves against Satan.
    Mt 4:1-THEN WAS JESUS LED UP OF THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL.
    2-AND WHEN HE HAD FASTED FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS, HE WAS AFTERWARD AN HUNGRED.
    3-AND WHEN THE TEMPTER CAME TO HIM, HE SAID, IF THOU BE THE SON OF GOD, COMMAND THAT THESE STONES BE MADE BREAD.
    4-BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID, IT IS WRITTEN, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD. Jesus overcame Satan with God’s Word.
    5-THEN THE DEVIL TAKETH HIM UP INTO THE HOLY CITY, AND SETTETH HIM ON A PINNACLE OF THE TEMPLE,
    6-AND SAITH UNTO HIM, IF THOU BE THE SON OF GOD, CAST THYSELF DOWN: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE CONCERNING THEE: AND IN THEIR HANDS THEY SHALL BEAR THEE UP, LEST AT ANY TIME THOU DASH THY FOOT AGAINST A STONE.
    7-JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, IT IS WRITTEN AGAIN, THOU SHALT NOT TEMPT THE LORD THY GOD. Satan misused God’s Word. Jesus, again, overcame Satan by rightly using God’s Word.
    8-AGAIN, THE DEVIL TAKETH HIM UP INTO AN EXCEEDING HIGH MOUNTAIN, AND SHEWETH HIM ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD, AND THE GLORY OF THEM;
    9-AND SAITH UNTO HIM, ALL THESE THINGS WILL I GIVE THEE, IF THOU WILT FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP ME.
    10-THEN SAITH JESUS UNTO HIM, GET THEE HENCE, SATAN: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, THOU SHALT WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD, AND HIM ONLY SHALT THOU SERVE. Again, Jesus overcame Satan’s temptations by using God’s Word.
    11-THEN THE DEVIL LEAVETH HIM, AND, BEHOLD, ANGELS CAME AND MINISTERED UNTO HIM.
    Christians need to have their feet shod or fitted with the Gospel of peace.
    Note-FEET SHOD-THE GOSPEL. Our feet are to be shod with the Gospel, which is God’s Word. We stand firm on the Rock, which is the Word (Jesus).

   Eph 6:16-ABOVE ALL (or overall, or in addition). This next thing is essential and needs to be done. TAKING THE SHIELD. Thus far, we have had our loins girt, a breastplate, our feet shod, and now a shield that is to be taken. The shield for a Roman soldier was about two and a half feet wide, and four feet long. It was oblong in shape. The shield for the Roman soldier was made in such a way that it could absorb fiery arrows, thus, protecting the other parts of the armor. The shield can be used to protect any part of the body according to how the person uses it.
    We are to take the shield OF FAITH. Faith is complete trust and dependence on God in all ways and for all things. It is an unwavering confidence in Jesus Christ. We need to have childlike faith. Faith in Jesus Christ (your shield) puts "Him" between you and the enemy.
    It is written, THE LORD CAME...SAYING, FEAR NOT, ABRAM: I AM THY SHIELD-Gen 15:1. THE LORD, THE SHIELD OF THY HELP-Deut 33:29. The SHIELD OF VICTORY-2 Sam 22:36 NIV. The shield of faith is faith in the Lord. Through faith, all things can be overcome.
    In each of the seven churches, promises are given only to those that "overcome."
    TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH-Rev 2:7
    HE THAT OVERCOMETH-Rev 2:11
    TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH-Rev 2:17
    HE THAT OVERCOMETH-Rev 2:26
    HE THAT OVERCOMETH-Rev 3:5
    HIM THAT OVERCOMETH-Rev 3:12
    TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH-Rev 3:21
    HE THAT OVERCOMETH SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS-Rev 21:7
    How do we overcome all things? How do we overcome the wrong attitudes we have? How do we overcome temptations? How do we overcome even our very emotions and worldly, sinful desires? The answer is, AND THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT OVERCOMETH THE WORLD, EVEN OUR FAITH-1 Jn 5:4. In Eph 6:16, we read, TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH. Faith is a shield whereby we overcome all things.
    What can we do with this shield of faith? It is written, WHEREWITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUENCH (or extinguish). Consider the words "YE SHALL BE ABLE." With the shield of faith there is no question that you can QUENCH (or extinguish) ALL THE FIERY DARTS (or flaming arrows) OF THE WICKED. Note the word, "FIERY" DARTS. These are flame-tipped darts or arrows that are dipped in combustible materials, set on fire, and shot at people. It is written, BELOVED, THINK IT NOT STRANGE CONCERNING THE "FIERY" TRIAL WHICH IS TO TRY YOU, AS THOUGH SOME STRANGE THING HAPPENED UNTO YOU-1 Pe 4:12.
    Satan can be expected to shoot darts or arrows, that can penetrate inside you. These darts are also fiery. They are like an igniting flame. When they strike you and penetrate, they kindle a fire inside you that keeps burning and tearing you up inside. These flaming arrows can hurt so badly, it seems that there is absolutely no way to stop or extinguish them from hurting you, except you give in to them. What are these flaming arrows?
    They can be summed up in three words: thoughts, emotions, and flesh. These are usually intermixed and affect the other. In other words, a thought stirs your emotions and causes your flesh or mouth to sin.
    You may get big knots or flaming arrows in your stomach. You get really uptight. These huge knots often occur when you go forth to do God’s will. Your emotions can get so stirred up that sometimes it feels like there is a raging fire inside you. It seems as if the only way you can put out that horrible, raging fire, is to fulfill the very thoughts that are prompting the fire to keep burning and tearing you up inside. These flaming arrows usually prompt you to disobey God in some way; however, there are many times that your thoughts will tell you that you are not disobeying God at all. They may tell you that you are doing God a favor. What would prompt a person to commit murder? The answer is a flaming arrow. Yet it is written, THE TIME COMETH, THAT WHOSOEVER KILLETH YOU WILL "THINK" THAT HE DOETH GOD SERVICE-Jn 16:2. Fiery darts can cause fear. They can inflame your desires and flesh.
    What causes a person to believe there is no God, no heaven, no hell, or no eternal judgment? What can prompt a person to run from God’s Word and not believe the truth? What encourages a person to listen to false teaching, go to blind churches, turn to false ways, believe lies and deceit, or turn to idols such as worldly possessions? What can cause a person to put unnecessary things in place of reading and studying the Bible? What can drive a person to steal, to lie, to commit murder, or to take drugs? What can stir a person to commit rape, fornication, adultery, or any such sin? The answer is flaming arrows. These are wrong thoughts, which prompt your emotions and flesh.
    You cannot trust your feelings. You cannot trust your heart, which is deceitful and desperately wicked. You can trust the Word of God. Can a person’s senses or feelings ever be trusted? Only when they line up with the Word of God, and in those few Christians WHO BY REASON OF USE HAVE THEIR SENSES EXERCISED TO DISCERN BOTH GOOD AND EVIL-Heb 5:14.
    How can we extinguish these flaming arrows that penetrate so deeply? The answer is, THE SHIELD OF FAITH. The shield of faith comes from hearing, reading, and believing God’s Word. Thus, Satan’s attacks can be expected to try to stop you from partaking of God’s Word, by which faith comes to them that believe. Faith becomes a shield. With this shield, you can quench the FIERY DARTS that Satan shoots at you.
    It is written, CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST-2 Cor 10:5. Take the shield of faith wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Overcome it by faith.
    For example, you sit down to read your Bible. All of a sudden, a thought comes to you as you look at the window. You think you have to clean that dirt off the window. The fiery dart inside you stirs you up. Finally, your thought and emotion prompts you to get up and clean the window. Now you sit back down to read your Bible. Again, another thought strikes you as you look at the dirt on the floor. You resist it, but the fiery dart burning inside you seems to force you to get up and clean the floor. You sit back down to read your Bible. Then the telephone rings. An irresistible impulse tells you to answer that phone. You answer it. It is a friend that talks, and talks, and talks. You know you should hang up, but a fiery dart inside you tells you, "You do not want to offend them," so you stay on the phone for a half hour. Finally, you sit down again to read your Bible. As you read, you begin to get tired. You yawn, and your eyes grow heavy. For some reason, you just can’t seem to stay awake. Then your eyes look at the clock. It is now late, and you have a fiery dart inside, telling you to go to bed. Three hours have passed since you first sat down to read your Bible. You have only read one verse. Do you understand what is happening? It is written, SUBMIT YOURSELVES THEREFORE TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU-Ja 4:7. Fight the devil with God’s Word as Jesus did. Take the SHIELD OF FAITH that will enable you to extinguish the flaming arrows of the devil.
    It is written in the Lord’s prayer, AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION-Mt 6:13. Yet so many people lead themselves into temptation. They go to the unsaved and listen to their ungodly advice. They intentionally go by a certain woman’s house just so they can look and lust after her. They buy a newspaper just so they can read the wicked astrology section. They attend a church where the minister does not exhibit the fruits of the Spirit of God, neither is he an example of Christ. They lead themselves into temptations, and this gives a place to the devil to tempt and mislead them. They fall, and there is none to help them up. They lead themselves into an atmosphere that is full of fiery darts by not obeying God’s Word.
    Note the SHIELD "OF FAITH." Faith can overcome everything. This shield can quench the flaming arrows and protect all the body. It can overcome all things.

   Eph 6:17-AND TAKE THE HELMET. God is now giving us another piece of armor, a helmet. The helmet protects the head. From the head we see, we hear, we smell, we think. This helmet is OF SALVATION. Multitudes of people sit in churches on Sunday, listening to the preacher, and are confident of their salvation. Should the minister ask to see the hands raised of those who are fully persuaded they are saved, they will raise their hands. They are among approximately eighty percent of the people that are positive they are saved, but are not. They have never taken THE HELMET OF SALVATION. They sit in the church and sing songs about a God they do not know. The minister talks to them and preaches to them as if they are God’s children. They wander in darkness and do not know they will perish. The Lord is commanding to take the HELMET OF SALVATION. It is written, AN HELMET OF SALVATION UPON HIS HEAD-Isa 59:17, and also FOR AN HELMET, THE HOPE OF SALVATION-1 Thes 5:8.
    AND take THE SWORD. The sword can be used for both defense and offense. With it a person can block another weapon coming against him, but it can also be used to strike an opponent. We are to take the sword OF THE SPIRIT. The Spirit of God moved through holy men of God to speak God’s Word-ref 2 Pe 1:21. As it is written, NOT BY MIGHT, NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, SAITH THE LORD-Zech 4:6. What is the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT? Verse 17 concludes with, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD. Take God’s Word. FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS QUICK, AND POWERFUL, AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD, PIERCING 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-Heb 4:12. The Word of God can cause some to flee. The Word of God can make people tremble. It is written, as PAUL...REASONED OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, TEMPERANCE, AND JUDGMENT TO COME, FELIX TREMBLED, AND ANSWERED, GO THY WAY-Acts 24:24,25. With the Word of God, Jesus overcame Satan after He had fasted.
    FOR THOUGH WE WALK IN THE FLESH, WE DO NOT WAR AFTER THE FLESH: (FOR THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL, BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD TO THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONG HOLDS;)-2 Cor 10:3,4. LET US PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT-Ro 13:12. AS SERVANTS OF GOD WE COMMEND OURSELVES IN EVERY WAY...BY THE WORD OF TRUTH, BY THE POWER OF GOD, BY THE ARMOR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ON THE RIGHT HAND AND ON THE LEFT-2 Cor 6:4 NIV.
    Note the HELMET "OF SALVATION." The helmet covers the head, which is where we think, hear, and see.

The devil is scheming against you. Thus, you need to learn how to stand against his schemes, against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. You need to learn how to extinguish the flaming arrows of the devil—those misleading thoughts, elevated emotions, and fleshly desires that burn inside you—prompting you to sin against God.
God has now given us the prescription for being strong, for standing, for wrestling or struggling, for withstanding in the evil day against Satan. The conclusion of these verses might be summed up in this: take and put on, be fitted with and have on the whole armor of God; this includes your loins being girt about, a breastplate, your feet shod, a shield, and a helmet. Take, put on, be fitted with, and have on truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, and salvation. Your strength is in the Lord, in the power of His might. Do everything possible to stand. And take God’s Word, rightly divide it, and use it as the Holy Spirit directs.

    In these days in which we live, the masses of professing Christians are almost totally ignorant of, or indifferent to, these truths. Others openly criticize and oppose them. The church of today is getting further and further away from the strait gate and the narrow way of the Bible. New ideas and doctrines are coming into most churches at, what seems to be, an ever increasing rate. People are being tossed to and fro with the winds of all kinds of misleading doctrines. The God-fearing, born-again, love-filled, fruit-bearing, obedient, Bible-reading, and discerning Christian, who understands spiritual warfare, who demonstrates his love for God by obeying His commandments, who reveals his faith by serving God and taking a stand for truth, and who is watching and ready for Jesus to return, seems to be a disappearing figure in this generation. Most churches today are places where make-believe Christians gather on Sundays to feel comfortable and be entertained. They leave church confident and reassured that all is right in their life. Then they die and are shocked, as they find themselves in a place called "hell."
   We need to search God’s Word and let God’s Word search us.
   We need to have the Word in our hearts and our hearts in the Word.

    BE STRONG-6:10
    PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD-6:11
    STAND-6:11
    FOR WE WRESTLE (or struggle)-6:12
    TAKE UNTO YOU THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD-6:13
    HAVING DONE ALL (or everything), TO STAND-6:13
    STAND THEREFORE-6:14
    HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH-6:14
    AVING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS-6:14
    TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH-6:16
    TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION-6:17
    TAKE...THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD-6:17

    AGAINST THE DEVIL'S SCHEMES-6:11 NIV
    AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES (or authorities)-6:12
    AGAINST POWERS-6:12
    AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD-6:12
    AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES-6:12

    LOINS GIRT-6:14                  TRUTH-6:14                           Holds all together.
    BREASTPLATE OF-6:14     RIGHTEOUSNESS-6:14        Covers the chest, including the heart.
                                                     Faith and love-1 Thes 5:8
    FEET SHOD-6:15                  THE GOSPEL-6:15                  Stand on God’s Word (the Rock).
    SHIELD-6:16                          OF FAITH-6:16                       Can protect everything.
    HELMET-6:17                        OF SALVATION-6:17           Helmet covers the head: Thinking, hearing, seeing.

    THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND-6:11
    THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND (or stand your ground)-6:13
    WHEREWITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUENCH (or extinguish) ALL THE FIERY DARTS (or flaming arrows) OF THE WICKED-6:16

    TAKE-6:13,17
    TAKING-6:16
    Fitted WITH-6:15
    PUT ON-6:11
    GIRT-6:14
    HAVING ON-6:14

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