The Panoply of God (Part 4)
How great our God is to keep us prepared and ready for our spiritual warfare! The truth of the gospel wraps around our waist as the breastplate of God’s righteousness is secured over our chest. As we tread through enemy territory, we declare God’s gospel of peace. Our shield of trust in God and His salvation grants us great protection. God has not left us defenseless nor powerless in the battle for our souls and the souls of others. This article will examine the two final God-given provisions that Paul writes about in Ephesians 6:10-20.
The Sword of the Spirit
Paul gives a massive help in identifying exactly what the sword of the Spirit is—the word of God. It is God’s word of truth that brings salvation (Eph. 1:13)! The word of God is also directly connected to Jesus’s sanctifying and cleansing work in the church (Eph. 5:25-27). God’s word is sanctifying truth (John 17:17)! The word of God is living, active, and sharper than any other sword (Heb 4:12). Jesus Himself has a direct connection to the word of God. He IS the Word become flesh (John 1:1-14). His words are the very words of God (John 12:44-50). Isaiah says concerning Him that He will “strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked (Isa. 11:4-5). John’s vision of Jesus in glory in Revelation 1:12-16 reveals a loud voice with a sharp two-edged sword coming out of his mouth. As God’s people, we can have confidence in whatever comes out of the mouth of God! God’s word and God’s Word never fail!
Prayer
Unless supply lines and support remain open, a soldier will not last long. If God’s word is the weapon of our warfare, our words are the open lines of communication to HQ. According to Ephesians 6:18-20 our prayers should be:
Ongoing -“at all times”
Attentive - “keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints”
Intentional - “to boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel”
Our prayers are also related to the Spirit. That God’s Spirit is a necessary part of our lives is expressed throughout Paul’s letter!
Ephesians 1:13 - Christians are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:18 - We have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Ephesians 2:22 - We are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians 3:16 - Through God’s Spirit, our inner being is strengthened!
Ephesians 4:25-32 - Our life is to be such that the Holy Spirit is not grieved (Eph. 1:13-14 cf. 1 Cor. 6:19-20).
Ephesians 5:18-21 - Our lives are to be full of the Spirit!
Is it so surprising that our prayers should be done “in the Spirit?” God has granted to us an open line to Him. How could we not be more prepared for battle? Chris Bullard’s comments are appropriate: “The army of the Lord marches on its knees.”1
In God’s armory we are well supplied to “fight the good fight” (1 Tim. 6:12). Let us take great confidence in the panoply of God!
1 Lockhart, Jay, and David L. Roper. Ephesians and Philippians: An Exegesis & Application of the Holy Scriptures. Resource Publications, 2009. p. 348
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