STANDING ON THE ANCIENT BATTLEFEILD

In Ephesians 6:10-20, the lesson calls us to… note each time paul uses some form of the verb “Stand’
and why this idea so important to him.

In Ephesians 6:11 it says “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the
schemes of the devil”

Ephesians 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 ”

And in verse 14 “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate
of righteousness”

We can see here that the word “Stand” is being used 3 times and let us consider that we are in a war
between good and evil, and we must make a choice on which side to be on. That even we choose to stay
on God side, satan is trying to pull us back towards the evil side but, we have to participate and
cooperate with God inorder to STAND.

So, standing involves- Putting on the armor of God, this is an action.

Let us look at the different times when we see the verses form 10-20, actions that you and I are suppose
to do. Notice what we are suppose to do.

Vs. 10 be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might,

vs. 11 Put on the whole armor of God (this represents the defense we must take in our spiritual lives),

vs. 12 vs. We are told that, we do not wrestle, there’s a wrestling, we are involved in a wrestling

13, take the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand in the evil day

vs 14 put on the breastplate of righteousness (All who have put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness
will stand before Him as a chosen and faithful and true. Satan has no power to pluck them out of
the hand of the Savior)

vs 15 and, as shoes for your feet, and having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

vs 16 in all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts
of the evil one. (Faith protects us when we have doubts and discouragement. With God’s help you
can block whatever the devil throws at you.

Vs 17 and take the helmet of salvation- this is a warfare against self that we are to fight, and we are not
supposed to be idle and tell that let God do the battle is the Lord’s, no, we have to cooperate with
the Lord

Vs. 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. In the battle with self, we must
persevere in prayer and ask the Lord to give us victory. Because with, God, all things are possible.
Without Jesus, we can do nothing and with Him, we can do all things. We praise God, that we
don’t fight this battle alone, God is going to be with us.
It says from our lesson, this is no relaxed stance! To stand, then, is to be vigorously engaged in battle,
employing every weapon in close-order combat, a point from the military imagery in Paul’s earlier
exhortation to be found “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of
the gospel. Philippians 1:27

To summarize this lesson, we are told how to stand our ground firmly, side by side with fellow believers.
And we praise God, we are not alone, we have God with us.

WRESTLING AGAINST EVIL POWERS

We need God’s armor/protection for this close, hand-to-hand combat with spiritual powers. Paul is
emphasizing the reality of believer’s close struggle against evil powers.

It is no secret that all evil powers are subdued by God. Yet, it’s not a good strategy to underestimate
your opponent in the battle. Paul warns that we face spiritual hosts led by the devil, but God is present
with us. (Ephesians 1:21, 3:10, 6:10-20) God has given us His armor, truth, righteousness, salvation,
peace, faith and Holy Spirit.

Be strong in the Lord