Discover Together Ephesians: Sit Down to Stand, Eph. 6:10-24

Spiritual warfare is not something we western evangelical Christians want to think about too much. We are certainly more sophisticated than to think that the devil is actually alive and active and attacking us!

As Sue points out in our video for this lesson, that's one of the errors we can fall into – ignoring the devil all together. The other error is to be obsessed with his existence. What is the right attitude to have, according to Paul?

We do need to recognize that the devil exists and is at work today, but also realize that he is not nearly as powerful as our Father. Paul gives us a definite battle plan for dealing with the devil at the end of Ephesians. We are to put on the armor of Christ. What does that really mean? Do I literally go through the actions of putting on the various pieces of armor before I leave the house in the morning or is it something deeper than that?

We have learned what it means to sit with Christ and to walk with Him daily. That means we know who we are in Christ and we remain in daily relationship with Him. Those actions are essential to being able to stand against the devil.

Sue has an insight about the armor that I have not seen before. She looks at Romans 13:12, 14 and Galatians 3:27 and concludes Jesus is our armor. That means we have our armor, Jesus, having received Him when we were saved.

What does that mean for our day to day spiritual life and warfare? When the devil comes against us with his lies, for example, we surround ourselves with the Truth, Jesus. When the devil tries to make us feel unworthy, we protect ourselves with Righteousness, Jesus.

This has given me a whole new understanding of what it means to “put on” my armor. Now I know to “put on” Christ, that is, surround myself with Who He is and stand in that truth.

Watch the video for Lesson Nine here.

You find out more about the study series at www.discovertogetherseries.com and see the video clips at www.discoveryseries.net. You can follow the discussion on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DiscoverTogetherSeries.

You can also read my comments on the Introduction, Lesson One, Lesson Two, Lesson Three, Lesson Four, Lesson Five, Lesson Six, Lesson Seven, and Lesson Eight.

Sue Edwards is an associate professor of Christian education at Dallas Theological Seminary. She brings over thirty years of experience to the classroom as a Bible teacher, curriculum writer, and overseer of several women's ministries. She is the author or co-author of several books. She has a D.Min. From Gordon-Conwell theological Seminary and a master's in Bible from Dallas Theological Seminary. She and her husband have been married for forty years, have two married daughters and five grandchildren.

Kregel Publications, 127 pages. See the publisher's product page for more information about the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Open Book Promotion for the purpose of blogging this study.