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“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).
Paul is coming to the end of his letter to the Ephesians. He has carefully laid out the believers’ riches and position in Christ, and the believers’ walk.
In light of all that God has done for you.
In light of the glorious standing you have as a child of God.In light of the great plan of the ages that God has made you part of.
In light of the path of Christian maturity and growth He sets before you.In light of the conduct to which God calls every believer.
In light of the filling of the Spirit and the walk He enables. ~ William Gurnall
The command is simple, but it is not easy.
Paul reminds us: the struggle is not against flesh and blood. It is against rulers, powers, forces of darkness, spiritual hosts in heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).
Into that unseen war, God does not send us unarmed.
He clothes us in His own armor — the same armor Isaiah once said the Lord Himself wore (Isaiah 59:17).
The Belt of Truth
A soldier’s belt held everything together. Without it, the armor sagged, the weapons slipped.
So too with truth.
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
His Word is truth (John 17:17).
Against the father of lies (John 8:44), truth is what steadies us.
It ties us firm when the world tries to unravel us.
Pause here: what lies press in on you today? What truth must you fasten around your life?
The Breastplate of Righteousness
The breastplate protected the heart — the most fragile and vital place.
We are covered not by our own goodness, but by Christ’s righteousness:
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The accuser speaks day and night (Revelation 12:10).
But he cannot pierce this armor.
God Himself wore it (Isaiah 59:17), and He places it upon us.
Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
Roman sandals were fitted with spikes, gripping the ground even when battle raged.
“Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news” (Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15).
The enemy thrives on chaos and fear.
But peace plants us firm.
We walk, not stumbling, but steady — ready to carry good news.
The Shield of Faith
Picture arrows lit with fire, shot in volleys to ignite panic.
The Roman shield was tall, broad, often soaked in water to quench the flames.
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
“This is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith” (1 John 5:4).
Faith intercepts lies, doubts, fears.
Lift it, and the fire dies out before it touches you.
Pause again: which arrows have you felt most often? Doubt? Fear? Temptation? Ask what it looks like to raise faith in that place.
The Helmet of Salvation
A helmet guards the head — thought, vision, direction. Without it, even a strong soldier could not last.
“Put on…the helmet, the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8).
This is assurance for the mind: you belong to Christ.
Your salvation is secure.
Discouragement and despair may press in, but hope covers you.
The Sword of the Spirit
Every piece so far has been defense.
This one strikes back.
“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12).
Jesus Himself wielded it in the wilderness, resisting temptation with, “It is written” (Matthew 4:1–11).
The Word both cuts through deception and brings life.
It is not our cleverness. Not our strength.
It is the Spirit’s own weapon, placed in our hands.
The Armor as a Whole
Notice what Paul is doing: each piece of armor answers a tactic of the enemy.
- Lies → truth (John 14:6; John 17:17).
- Accusation → righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
- Hostility → peace (Romans 5:1).
- Fear and temptation → faith (Hebrews 11:1).
- Despair → salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:8).
- Deception → the Word (Hebrews 4:12).
And prayer — always prayer — activates it all (Ephesians 6:18).
The armor is not only personal.
Roman soldiers locked their shields together.
So too, believers stand side by side.
We do not fight alone.
This armor is given to the church as a whole. The entire letter has been about building one body, one temple, one people (Ephesians 2:21–22; 4:4). That body is opposed. That temple is attacked.
So the armor of God is not merely private protection. It is corporate defense. Roman soldiers locked their shields together, advancing as one. In the same way, believers stand side by side, covered in the same truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and Word.
We do not fight alone. We hold the line shoulder to shoulder. We stand, not scattered, but as one.
A Benediction
“Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible” (Ephesians 6:23–24).
Armor is not about striving harder.
It is about being clothed in Christ,
standing firm,
and finding strength in His might.
Reflection
- Where do you feel most vulnerable in this season — and which piece of God’s armor speaks to that place?
- What lies have you been tempted to believe, and what truth from Scripture can you fasten around your life?
- How have you experienced the peace of the gospel giving you firm footing when chaos pressed in?
- When fiery arrows come — fear, accusation, temptation — what does it look like for you to raise the shield of faith?
- Who are the people God has placed beside you to “lock shields” with? How can you encourage one another to stand firm?
Originally published on Medium. Reposted with the author’s permission. All rights reserved.