10 Finally, my brethren,
be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you
may be able to stand against
the schemes of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers
over this present darkness, against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
places.
13 Therefore
take up the whole armor of God, that you
may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done
all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having
fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of
righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the
readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take
up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming
darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that
endkeep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for
all the saints,
19 and also for me, that
words may be given to me in opening my
mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the
gospel, 20 for which Iam an ambassador in chains,
that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Stand Still Strong in/after the Storm
Paul used the word “brethren” only in this last exaltation section in the whole book of Ephesians. Paul is calling believers as his comrades in the extension and expansion of the Kingdom of God. The conclusion message is to prepare the mind and heart of believers to be able to withstand the power of darkness in coming days of evil. The reality is that Paul facing obstacles and opposition in preaching the gospel and in proclamation of good news. He is physically restricted in chain and facing injustice prosecution. Though it is possible for people to see that Paul is facing prosecution from those who oppose and reject the gospel. However, Paul tries to convince the readers that the real enemy is not the people with flesh and blood but powerful evil sources. In another word, Paul help the readers to see beyond the hatred that believer could accumulate from those people who persecuted them. Paul said the enemy is not those people with flesh and blood but the Devil. The great commission of Jesus Christ also faces the great opposition from powerful spiritual realms. Paul is not calling people to put on the armor of God in order to attack the Spiritual power stations rather urging them to be able to withstand in the stormy day. To take up the armor of God literally means taking up a stand on God’s side or to be the soldiers of God. The purpose of taking up the armor of God is to be able to withstand the evil forces. In another word, there is no victory outside of God’s army camp.
From the beginning of this conclusio message , Paul deliberately urge believers to be Strong in the Lord, under the Shadow of His mighty Hand. The calling to be strong in the Lord bring readers memory back to Psalm 91. In Psalm 91, the Psalmist proclaims that peaceful rest for those who take refuge under the shadow of God. Ephesians 6:10 is the message of reassurance for believer who are facing opposition because they are taking refuge under the shadow of God almighty. Paul said be strong in the Lord. The palpable way to be strong in the Lord is by taking the Armor that God prepared (in ahead of time). Careful examination of the usage of “the Armor of God” means “the armor that God already prepared.” The armor of God is not something new, but something that God prepared in ahead of time for those who take refuge in Him. In Ephesians 6 Paul is borrowing the usage of Isaiah to describe the armor of God (Isaiah 11:5, Isaiah 59:17a, Isaiah 52:7a, Isaiah 59:17b, Isaiah 49:2a). Paul used the language of changing cloth in the Ancient Near East which is “Put On”. The armour of God should be look individual as well as a whole. The general interpretation of the armour of God could be “holistic transformation into God-likeness.” In Colossians 3:5-12, Paul used the same language of “Putting Off” and “Putting On.” However, in Ephesian 6 did not talk about putting off but to put on the armor of God. Therefore, in the light of Paul’s usage of the word “put on”, it is safe to say that the armor of God is a metaphorical usage of God-likeness. It is a calling to do the will of God, to pattern their life after their creator.
The purpose for putting on the armor of God is to be able to withstand in the evil day (v13). It is like to be preparing for the unexpected coming days of destruction. Not every day is stormy day. The storm comes always unexpectedly. Not every day believers will face difficulties, temptations. But destruction always comes unexpectedly. In such situation Paul is saying that believes must be able to withstand because they already put on the armor of God. Therefore, the armor of God is a permanent uniform for believers.
Though believers are not competing against people with flesh and blood but the result of the attack of evil can be physical sense. The message of Paul to put on and to withstand in the day of evil bring back our memory of Jesus’s conclusio message in Matthew 7. After preaching and giving so much of Kingdom principles, Jesus said whoever put what He preached into practice will be able to withstand when the storm and rain hit. Therefore, the armor of God is God-likeness character, doing the will of God, following Him closely. Those who take refuge in God will be always strong. In another word, without God there is no victory. The scene of after storm always present destroyed houses, life and hopeless situation. Yes, the storm may hit us but we will be able to withstand, we will be able to Stand Still Strong in our God.
In his final part of this conclusio message, Paul urge believers to pray for him to be continues to preach despite and in spite of his physical hopeless situation in chain. Paul used the word “boldly” in each sentence of the last two sentences: “boldly to proclaim and declare it boldly.” Though the storm hit him and he is going through violent raging sea, Paul is Standing Still Strong to preach the gospel. This is the key message of the passage. Believers are to Stand Still Strong to do what God called them to do even in the day of evil. Paul walks what he preached. His life is a living testimony for Ephesians, especially people whose faith are shaken by both internal and external strong forces. Paul said Stand Still Strong in the Storm. Amen
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