The Full Armor of God – Ephesians 6

Joy:  You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #174.  Today we’ll read the 6th and final chapter of Ephesians together:  Paul talks about serving with a good attitude and taking up the full armor of God.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

Welcome

Congratulations, you’ve reached the end of yet another New Testament book!  We began reading the New Testament together 174 days ago and now there are fewer than 100 chapters left to read…87 to be precise.  

There have been times when I’ve wondered why I pledged to doing a daily podcast.  It is a heavy commitment and requires me putting the podcast ahead of other things in my life.  After all, I have a job, a husband to tend to, a home to take care of and responsibilities at church.  Not to mention the fact that I like to go play.  

But God continues to sustain me through all of this and more.  He has given me strength and perseverance and the words to continue to fulfill this calling.  And I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to you, the people who tune in and listen to me read the Word of God.  And there have been so many blessings.  Hearing how God is working in your lives, your daily encouragement to me, the new dimension it has added to my marriage as Mitch and I work together to get the podcast to broadcast.  What a gift!

Most importantly of all, no effort we put forth and no sacrifice we make can ever compare to the love that Christ showed us by going to the cross.  

I ask that you would pray for me…that I be filled with His Spirit, that my desire to fight the good fight and finish the race would stay strong, and that God will continue to give me the words I need to say to reach the most people possible.  As always, if you have a personal message for me, you can always reach me at Lifting Her Voice.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Ephesians Chapter 6

Children and Parents

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land. Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as you would Christ. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people, knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Christian Warfare

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.

Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit  — which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

Paul’s Farewell

Tychicus, our dearly loved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage your hearts.  Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Closing Thoughts

Paul encourages us to “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.”  The real struggle, the real battle in which we are engaged is a spiritual battle with Satan himself leading the charge against us.  And Satan is a powerful enemy.

We are born as sinners.  We do not start out as perfect creatures who are then corrupted by the wiles of the world.  We are sinners at birth, by nature, and it takes tremendous effort for us not to give in to this desire to sin.

This is what makes us such easy targets when Satan takes an interest in us.  He generally strikes when we are at our weakest: when we are tired or lonely or feeling spiritually weak.  He’s right there to lie in our ears – he is after all, the Father of lies – and it is off the races, Katie bar the door!

That is why we need not one or two weapons of defense in our toolkit…but the whole armor of God!  Satan is a worthy adversary, but he is not more powerful than God.  And when we are clothed with that Power, Satan is a minor irritation who can be told to flee.  And he will.

The Armor

The armor consists of God’s truth, righteousness, readiness to share the Gospel, faith, salvation and the Word of God.  I particularly like that last one because it means being in the word daily.  And we are admonished to pray, with perseverance and intercession for our Christian brothers and sisters.

What a beautiful picture Paul paints with his words, a soldier of Christ fully equipped to do battle with the forces of evil in our world.  Are you fully equipped?  Are you lacking in one or more of the parts of the armor of God?  Let’s speak to God about that right now.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for Your word, thank You for providing us a way to resist Satan and all his schemes.  I pray that You will encourage us all to evaluate our armor and if it needs parts or repair, that You will give us the humility and the desire to fill in the gaps.  When we are weak, give us a measure of Your strength and help us to stand again, fully equipped to the end.  Amen.  

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.