Reflections From Ephesiansಮಾದರಿ

No study of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians would be complete without reference to the armour of God. The people he wrote to would have been familiar with the soldiers' uniform and weapons - Roman soldiers were everywhere.

Paul cleverly employs a picture showing how we are to, fully armed, face our enemies, who are unseen and far more malicious than those the soldiers of Rome faced. These enemies are called, not heathens or pagans, but “cosmic powers of this present darkness … spiritual forces of evil.” We have been given resources through the resurrected Lord to stand against these insidious forces and, having done all, to remain standing.

The placing of each piece is not without significance, although we shouldn’t try to read more than the obvious.

Truth is to gird us, as a belt did the Roman soldier. Truth, as the belt, holds things together - the truth of the gospel, the fact that Jesus Christ is the truth. If truth is central, we will stand and not fall.

Righteousness, the breastplate, covers the heart. We are easily condemned without an understanding of the gift of righteousness - what God has done for us in Christ assures our hearts, despite our failures, that we are in him - securely.

Readiness, in all circumstances to share the gospel, is likened to having your feet covered. The feet are less the issue in this case; it is more about always being ready wherever your feet take you.

The shield is a cover-all weapon - it protects most of a soldier. Faith is our shield. Faith is primarily trust in what God has declared - faith in his word to us, fulfilled in and through Jesus. If we believe what God has spoken of our past, present, and future, we are protected from Satan's flaming arrows - doubt, fear, and guilt. This unholy trinity discourages and enfeebles us. In one sense, faith is the common denominator in all the armoury, as without it each piece is inoperative.

The helmet of salvation protects the head. The head is vulnerable in any conflict, so the truth and power of our shared salvation keep us from doubts and fears.

The one offensive weapon is the sword. It is God’s spoken word. No better example exists than that of Jesus in the wilderness, where he spoke God’s word to defuse Satan’s deceptive use of scripture, and in so doing defeated him. He thrust and parried with the sword of the spirit - as we can and should.

Paul adds one further part of the armoury for which no Roman soldier’s equivalent is available - prayer. He asks the church to pray by every means of prayer - its rich variety - for all the saints and for him, for continued boldness in the proclamation of the gospel. We can’t do anything more valuable than pray, for the church and for the message to be spoken with power. All else pales.

As we conclude this short series of reflections in Ephesians, can I encourage you to read the book over again - in one sitting if possible. It has treasures to be discovered.

May God richly bless and keep you by the power of the Holy Spirit.