Meditation: Standing & Resisting the Devil.

“Use all the armour and weaponry that God provides so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. We are not struggling against human beings but against the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. So, take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing.” Ephesians 6:11-13

?The purpose of putting on God’s armour is to stand against the schemes or stratagems of the devil or Adversary. Contrary to popular belief, Christians are not to attack Satan or advance against him; they are only to “stand” or hold the territory Christ and His body, the church, have conquered. We are to withstand the attacks of the devil trying to win back or destroy our God’s territory. Without God’s armour, believers will be defeated by the “schemes” of the devil, which have been effective for thousands of years.

The struggle is not physical (against flesh and blood); it is a spiritual conflict against the spiritual “Mafia.” Though the ranks of satanic forces cannot be fully categorized, the first two (rulers and authorities) have already been mentioned in verses 1:21 and 3:10. Paul added the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil. Their sphere of activity is in the heavenly realms, the fifth occurrence of this phrase, which is mentioned in the New Testament only in 1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12. Satan, who is in the heavens (2:2) until he will be cast out in the middle of the Tribulation (Rev. 12:9–10), is trying to rob believers of the spiritual blessings God has given them (Eph. 1:3).

??????????Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist, put on righteousness for a breastplate, and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom. Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. (Ephesians 6.14-16)

Before a Roman soldier put on his armour, he put a belt around his waist. This held his garments together and served as a place to hang his armour. The belt of truth refers not to the facts of the gospel but to subjective truth, a believer’s integrity, and faithfulness. As a soldier’s belt or sash gave ease and freedom of movement, truth gives freedom to self, others, and God.

The breastplate of righteousness refers not to justification, obtained at conversion (Rom. 3:24; 4:5), but to the sanctifying righteousness of Christ (1 Cor. 1:30) practised in a believer’s life. As a soldier’s breastplate protects his chest from an enemy’s attacks, sanctifying, righteous living (Rom. 6:13; 14:17) guards a believer’s heart against the assaults of the devil.

Verse 6.15 does not speak of the spreading of the gospel, for Christians are pictured in Vv. 10–16 as standing, not advancing. Instead, this refers to a believer’s stability or surefootedness from the gospel, which gives him peace to stand in the battle.

The shield in a Roman soldier’s attire, made of wood, was about 2 1/2’ wide and 4’ long. It was overlaid with linen and leather to absorb fiery arrows. Thus, it also protected the other pieces of the armour; hence Paul used the phrase in addition to all this.

Of Faith is a genitive of content; the shield consists of Faith. The idea, then, is that a Christian’s resolute Faith in the Lord can stop and extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one aimed at him.