“Spiritual Warfare: On The Offensive”
(Ephesians 6:14-18)
I. Introduction.
A. As the apostle Paul brings his letter to the Ephesians to a
close, he reflects on the magnitude of the conflict in which
they, and all disciples of Christ, are engaged.
1. Not only did Christians have to contend with the
attacks of hostile people, Jew and Gentile, but with
those of the powerful spiritual forces at war
with God.
2. Our own life’s experiences – along with God’s
word – tells us there is an active power of evil in
this world. Against this evil, Christians must make
a stand. That’s how our scripture text begins:
“Stand, therefore . . .” (verse 14). The Greek word
translated as “stand” means to be steadfast; to set
yourself so as not to be moved.
3. Not only must we “stand” – firmly and with
resolve not to be moved away from truth and
righteousness – but, we must also go on the
offensive. As we beat back the enemy, Satan, we
“conquer” the minds, and win the souls, of people.
But, remember, it’s the power of God that brings
victory, and that is our defense against defeat.
B. The Roman historian, Seutonius, relates that Julius Caesar
was able to extend the borders of Rome’s empire to distant
areas of the known world because of his courage as a
soldier. Caesar never told his officers and men “Go,” but,
rather, said, “Let us go.”
-2-
1. As one raised both as a Jew and a Roman citizen,
Paul no doubt had been told of the deeds of Caesar.
As a Christian, just as in his previous life as a Jew,
Paul showed that same aggressive, combative,
courageous spirit. As a “soldier” in the Lord’s
army, Paul didn’t say to disciples “Go,” but “Let
us go.”
2. Paul never thought that his Christianity required
that he accept the world’s ways with resignation;
accept persecution without fighting back; accept
peoples’ prejudices and mistaken ideas without
arguing against them.
3. Paul also never thought he could be victorious on
his own. So, he says, “. . . take up the whole armor
of God.” (Ephesians 6:13).
a. The term “whole armor” suggests entirety,
completeness. Nothing lacking that is
necessary.
b. To stand against Satan, his lies and
deceptions, his assaults and temptations,
requires courage, and it requires help from
God.
C. So, we dress for battle.
1. We put on the belt of truth.
2. We put on the breastplate of righteousness.
3. We make sure our sandals are tightly laced.
4. We take up our shield.
5. We put on our helmet.
-3-
6. Then, we grasp firmly our sword – “. . . the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”
II. Using Our Sword.
A. The Roman soldier’s sword varied in length from
twenty to thirty-three inches. It not only had a sharp
point, but was sharpened on both its edges. With it, the
soldier was able to ward off the blows of the enemy and
to advance against him. Like any dangerous weapon, it
had to be used properly to be effective, and to accomplish
the purpose it was meant to serve.
1. The sword in the hand of a skilled and practiced
soldier was a powerful weapon.
2. The sword in the hand of a novice, or unpracticed
user, was dangerous and detrimental.
B. Nowhere in the scripture is it clearer than here, in
Ephesians, that the Christian must have a thorough
knowledge of the “word of God” in order to “. . . stand
against the wiles of the devil.” (verse 11). Without such
a spiritual sword, without a knowledge of truth from God’s
word, we are helpless before the enemy; the enemy uses
that same sword skillfully – for his own unholy purposes.
1. In the second of the three temptations recorded in
Matthew 4, Satan wields the “sword”; (READ
verses 5-6). Satan quotes from Psalm 91.
2. In all three instances of temptation, Jesus, too,
wields the sword to counter the test the enemy
brings upon Him. (verses 4, 7, and 10). In each
case, Jesus starts by saying “It is written . . .,” the
same phrase Satan uses (verse 6).
-4-
C. The spiritual sword is used to expose sin and reveal truth;
to “cut out” the decay of unrighteousness, and to open up
the mind to the call of God to repentance and salvation.
1. Peter used that sword on Pentecost: “Therefore let
all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has
made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and
Christ. Now when they heard this, they were cut to
the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the
apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’”
(Acts 2:36-37).
2. Stephen, the first to fall in the spiritual battle after
the church was established, used the sword:
(READ Acts 7:51-54).
3. The power of the spiritual sword cannot be denied.
The effect its use produces depends upon the
recipients of that power. Hebrews 4:12: “For the
word of God is living and powerful, and sharper
than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the
division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart.”
a. Rather than attempting to look at the subtle
differences between “soul” and “spirit,” it’s
better to get the overall picture of what God
is telling us here.
b. The “power” of the word of God is its
ability to penetrate the complex inner nature
of human beings, to convict people of sin, to
expose hidden motives, and to judge the
intents, not just of actions, but of thoughts.
-5-
4. The word of God is relevant to all people at all
times. Other writings pass into obscurity and are
forgotten. Other writings may have a message for
one generation, but not for succeeding generations.
But, the “sword of the Spirit” is for everyone, in
every generation (Jesus, Matthew 24:35: “Heaven
and earth will pass away, but My words will by no
means pass away.”).
5. The word of God is effective, wherever, and
whenever, people have taken God’s word seriously,
things have happened as a result. The “sword of the
Spirit” is not mere decoration; it’s not just to be
read, or studied, or written about. It’s to be used.
D. We’re not fully “armed” – not ready to fight the enemy –
until we can skillfully use the “sword of the Spirit.” We
can never defeat the enemy without God’s book.
III. Our Greatest Weapon.
A. In the last verse of this passage, Paul comes to the greatest
weapon of all – prayer (RE-READ verse 18). Paul says
three things about prayer.
1. It must be constant (“praying always”). It is a part
of the Christian’s life at all times, under all
circumstances. In daily prayer comes daily
strength; in constant communion and
communication with the heavenly Father comes our
ability to “stand” and “. . . be strong in the Lord.”
(Ephesians 6:10).
2. Second, it must be intense (“. . . with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit”). It demands attention,
and concentration, upon God.
-6-
3. And, third, it must be unselfish. (“. . . for all the
saints”). It is not just for us and our situation or the
circumstances of our life. It’s much greater and
broader than that. We are to pray as much, and as
intensely, for others as we do for ourselves.
B. William Henricksen, in his commentary on “Ephesians”,
remarks on the use of the word “all” in this one verse on
prayer.
1. All kinds of prayers are to be used: public, private,
intercessory, thanksgiving – every kind.
2. All times are times for prayer: all times of day or
night, all conditions and circumstances, all places –
no matter where we are, or what’s going on.
3. All perseverance is a mark of prayer: in
discouragement, or defeat, as well as in victory –
let nothing hinder prayer.
4. All people are to be prayed for – victory over Satan
and evil involves prayer. Prayer is a part of “. . . the
whole armor of God” and our offensive weaponry.
C. Psalm 56:9: “When I cry out to You, then my enemies will
turn back; this I know, because God is for me.”
1. The Christian “soldier” must be perceptive,
persistent, and prayerful.
a. Psalm 105:3-4: “Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the
Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek
His face evermore.”
-7-
b. Psalm 145:18: “The Lord is near to all who
call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in
truth.”
c. I Thessalonians 5:17-18: “Pray without
ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is
the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
d. Hebrews 4:16: “Let us therefore come
boldly to the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy and find grace to help in time
of need.”
2. I Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that
your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
IV. Conclusion.
A. Spiritual battles, and their outcomes, can never be
measured by our earthly standards, because our
perceptions are not always the same as God sees things.
(Like individual soldiers in any battle, we often see only
a small part of the larger picture; can’t tell how the battle’s
going from where we stand and fight. But, our
“commander” tells us, “Keep fighting, the victory is
assured.”)
B. We see gains and losses over a period of time. We see
those whom the enemy captures and holds hostage, or
those who voluntarily yield themselves to the enemy. We
also see those who break free from the enemy’s grasp and
align, or re-align, themselves with God.
C. For us, for everyone, the question remains: “Who’s side
am I on?”