Purkey's Bible Study Outlines

(Read Ephesians 6:13-24)

Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen (Ephesians 6:24).

First, The Equipment We Wear (Ephesians 6:13-17). The armor describes is for protection; the sword (God’s Word) is for actual battle. Each part of the spiritual armor tells us what believers must have if they are to be protected against Satan:

(1) Truth—Satan is a liar! But the Christian who knows the truth will not be deceived. 

(2) Righteousness—This means the consistent daily walk of the Christian. Satan is the accuser (Revelations 12:10), but the believer who walks in the light will give Satan no opportunity to attack. We stand in the imputed righteousness of Christ, and we walk in the imparted righteousness of the Holy Spirit. 

(3) Peace—Satan is a divider and a destroyer. When the believer walks in the way of peace, the Gospel way, then Satan cannot reach him. The Christian’s feet should be clean (John 13), beautiful (Rom. 10:15), and shod with the Gospel. Christians who are ready to witness for Christ have an easier time defeating the evil one. 

(4) Faith—Satan is the source of unbelief and doubt. “Has God indeed said?” is his favorite question (Genesis 3:1). Faith is what overcomes every foe (1 John 5:4). As believers use the shield of faith, the fiery darts of unbelief and doubt are kept away. 

(5) Salvation—This verse (Ephesians 6:17) probably refers to our ultimate salvation when Christ returns (see 1 Thessalonians. 5:8). The believer whose mind is fixed on Christ’s imminent coming will not fall into Satan’s traps. The blessed hope must be like a helmet to protect the mind. Satan would love to have us believe that Christ is not coming back, or that He may not come back today.

Second, The Energy We Use (Ephesians 6:18-24). Armor and weapons are not sufficient to win a battle; there must be energy to do the job. Our energy comes from prayer. We use the sword of the Spirit, and we pray in the Spirit; the Holy Spirit empowers us to win the battle. Read Ephesians 3:14-21 and dare to believe it. The Word of God and prayer are the two resources God has given the church to overcome the enemy and gain territory for God’s glory.

(1) Fight. The Christian must fight spiritual enemies with spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4), and the Word of God. “Watch and pray” is God’s secret for overcoming the world (Mark 13:33), the flesh (Mark 14:38), and the devil (Ephesians 6:18). 

(2) Watch. We should also “watch and pray” for opportunities to serve Christ. Paul was never too proud to ask for prayer. He wanted to have the power to be able to share the “mystery” (see Ephesian 3:1-12), the very message that had put him in jail. 

“Ambassador in bonds” is a peculiar title, yet that is exactly what the Apostle Paul was. Chained to a different Roman soldier every six hours, Paul had a wonderful opportunity to witness for Christ. Always be ready to serve the Lord Jesus Christ!