Battle Ready: Battle Gear

Ephesians 6:10-20 

Satan is not all-powerful, all-knowing, or omnipresent. Yet he is a formidable foe, a master student of the human condition. On our own, we are no match for him, as shown by his deception of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Satan misleads and misinforms; the world system leads us to rationalize and normalize sin; and our sinful natures desire to do what we want when we want. 

So, how do we prepare for this ongoing spiritual warfare? 

In today’s passage, Paul describes the battle gear we must wear to stay battle-ready. He says, “…Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Eph. 6:13). Here are the six essential pieces of the armor of God.

The Belt of Truth: Biblical Integrity (Eph. 6:14a)
In Isaiah 59:14, the prophet proclaims, “…Truth has stumbled in the public squares….” Today, the world’s systems have normalized the idea that truth is relative and that “my personal truth” is a valid standard. But our beliefs must always be anchored in the Word of God. Our convictions must align with God’s revelation.[1] Biblical integrity must saturate every area of our lives.  

The Breastplate of Righteousness: Obedience (Eph. 6:14b)
The soldier’s breastplate was custom-made, molded to cover the chest and stomach, protecting vital organs—especially the heart. In Scripture, our “heart” refers to the center of our thoughts, emotions, and desires. For the believer, our breastplate is righteousness, both positional (justification) and experiential (sanctification). We are made right with God so we can live right for God.  

Shoes: Peace of God (Eph. 6:15)
The shoes of a Roman soldier had studs or cleats on the soles to prevent slipping during hand-to-hand combat. The believer’s surefootedness comes from the “gospel of peace.” There are two things we need to understand here. 

We first encountered the gospel in Genesis 3:15, where God promised a coming Savior. However, the good news is not merely telling others about Jesus or leaving a tract in a restaurant. The gospel is “the A-Z of the Christian life.”[2] 

I believe the gospel of peace has two parts. First, the believer has peace with God when we trust in Jesus as our Savior (Rom. 8:8-11). Second, the believer lives with the peace of God, knowing that God is sovereign and that Jesus has defeated Satan. Therefore, we live with sure-footed confidence as we engage in the battle. 

Shield of Faith: Trust (Eph 6:16)
The soldier’s shield was made of two pieces of wood glued together and then covered with leather. In ancient times, arrows were dipped in pitch, set on fire, and launched by expert archers. The shield was designed to stop the arrows, and the leather helped extinguish the flames. The believer’s shield is faith, a confident trust in the eternal, omnipotent God. 

Satan will launch fiery arrows of doubt, disappointment, discouragement, and uncontrolled desires. But when we are battle-ready, with our shield of faith in place, our confidence that God is always on our side will block and extinguish those arrows. Remember Elijah’s words to his servant, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). 

Helmet of Salvation: Eternal Security (Eph. 6:17a)
The Roman soldier’s helmet was made of bronze or iron and lined with felt or sponge to make the weight bearable. Nothing short of an axe at close range could pierce this substantial piece of equipment. The believer’s helmet is our salvation, which Paul describes as the “hope of salvation” in 1 Thessalonians 5:8. This, then, is our certain confidence that we belong to God and will be with him forever. When we are absent from the body, we will be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6-9). 

Sword of the Spirit: God’s Word (Eph. 6:17b)
A soldier’s sword was a short dagger about a foot long, used in hand-to-hand combat. It had a needle-like point and was sharp on both sides. The believer’s sword is the Word of God. The writer of Hebrews describes this effective weapon: 

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

Recall how Jesus answered Satan’s temptations. He said, “It is written…,” “Again, it is written…,” and finally, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written….” Each time, Jesus answered Satan’s temptations with the Word of God! 

The spiritual battle is real. It is all around us and right in front of us. The battle is fought on three fronts: Satan deceives us, the world system normalizes sin, and our flesh desires the short-lived pleasures of sin. Left to ourselves, we are no match for Satan and his tactics. We must be battle-ready, dressed in the “whole armor of God.” 

Now we will return to Genesis and continue to consider God’s story in God’s people. Satan will appear repeatedly. But God’s story in us is written with this confidence: “…He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD 
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Ephesians 6:10-20.

Talking to God: Which piece of God’s armor do you most need to strengthen or put on daily, and why?

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SAVE THE DATE: Bible Immersion trip to Israel: November 4-14, 2026.