August 31 - Ephesians 6:10-20 Suit Up! Stand Up!

 

Part 7:  Read Ephesians 6:10-20

Good day, Sisters 💖

Today marks the final day of our journey through Ephesians—the final stretch of this powerful study. We have walked chapter by chapter, soaking in God’s truth:

• Chosen in love (ch. 1)

• Saved by grace (ch. 2)

• Rooted in Christ’s love (ch. 3)

• Walking in unity and holiness (ch. 4)

• Shining in love, light, and wisdom (ch. 5)

• And now, standing clothed in the armor of God (ch. 6).

Paul’s words are urgent and timeless:
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." (Eph. 6:10–11, NASB 1995)

Remember—we cannot fight if we do not first love. The armor is not given so we can battle one another, but so we can stand together in Christ’s love against the enemy’s schemes.

So today we because we are loved to love, “suit up and stand up” in the Strength of the Saviour, knowing that every piece of the armor protects the love of Christ in us: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word.

Thank you for walking faithfully through this book with us all month. You are not just hearers of the Word, but doers, standing firm because you are loved to love.  

Let's see how this chapter ends:

Paul writes from a Roman prison cell. His hands are chained, but his spirit is free. He addresses believers who are free in body but often bound in fear and conflict.

Paul (reading):
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." (Eph. 6:10–11, NASB 1995)

Narrator (teaching):
Notice the word “Finally.” This is not Paul’s first command—it is his last. For five chapters he has reminded us of who we are: chosen, redeemed, sealed, loved, called to unity, and commanded to walk in love. Only now does he say, “Suit up.”

John Stott comments:

“It is through love that the church grows into maturity, and it is in unity and love that we must stand firm when attacked.”

Paul shows us: we cannot fight the enemy if we are not rooted in love. If we fight without love, we fight the wrong battle.

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🎭 Skit 

Choleric (defiant): “I have strength of my own. Why do I need armor?”
Paul: “Because strength without love becomes harshness. With righteousness, your strength shields others instead of crushing them.”

Sanguine (playful): “Armor feels heavy. Can’t I just keep people smiling?”
Paul: “Joy without love becomes shallow. The belt of truth and peace makes your joy solid—so it heals, not harms.”

Melancholic (anxious): “What if I fail—even with armor?”
Paul: “Failure cannot chain love. Faith lifts you when guilt and fear drag you down. Love believes, hopes, and endures.”

Phlegmatic (calm): “I just want peace. Do I really need to fight?”
Paul: “Peace is the goal, but love requires courage. The shoes of peace let you stand strong when others are shaken, so your love becomes an anchor.”

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📖 The Armor Explained in Light of Love

Paul (reading):
"Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith … And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Eph. 6:14–17)

Narrator (teaching):
Each piece of armor protects our ability to love:

1. Belt of Truth 🧍‍♀️ — Love cannot live in lies. Truth holds us together.

   • Application: Speak truth gently, so love can grow strong.

2. Breastplate of Righteousness 🛡 — Love dies in corruption. Righteousness keeps our hearts pure.

   • Application: Let integrity guard your relationships.

3. Shoes of Peace 👞 — Love stumbles without steady ground. Peace lets us walk together firmly.

   • Application: Be a peacemaker. Seek reconciliation instead of retaliation.

4. Shield of Faith 🛡 — Love is smothered by doubt. Faith blocks the arrows of fear and mistrust.

   • Application: Trust God to hold relationships when you cannot.

5. Helmet of Salvation ⛑ — Love is fragile if the mind believes lies. Salvation secures our identity in Christ.

   • Application: Remember: I am saved, loved, and secure. Out of that confidence, I can love freely.

6. Sword of the Spirit ⚔️ — Love must be defended. The Word cuts through division and shows us how to love rightly.

   • Application: Use Scripture not to wound, but to heal and guide.

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🌿 Lessons for Each Temperament

• 🔴 Choleric: Armor turns raw strength into protection for others.

• 🟡 Sanguine: Armor steadies joy so it becomes lasting encouragement.

• 🔵 Melancholic: Armor frees you from fear so you can love with compassion.

• 🟢 Phlegmatic: Armor makes your peace active—love that refuses to retreat.

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Blog Response:

Paul reminds us: we cannot fight the enemy if we don’t first learn to love one another.

Which piece of God’s armor do you most need this week to love well?

1. 🧍‍♀️ The Belt of Truth — to love with honesty.

2. 🛡 The Breastplate of Righteousness — to love with purity and integrity.

3. 👞 The Shoes of Peace — to love by making peace instead of division.

4. 🛡 The Shield of Faith — to love by trusting God in strained relationships.

5. ⛑ The Helmet of Salvation — to love from the security of my identity in Christ.

6. ⚔️ The Sword of the Spirit — to love with God’s Word guiding my actions.

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🎭 Closing Scene

The temperaments step forward:

• The Choleric shields others with faith.

• The Sanguine fastens truth to steady her joy.

• The Melancholic secures her hope with salvation.

• The Phlegmatic stands firm with peace.

Together, they lift the Sword of the Spirit—not to destroy, but to protect the bond of love.

Paul (commanding):
"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit… be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints." (Eph. 6:18)

The assembly cries out together:
"To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen!" (Eph. 3:21)

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🌅 Benediction & Conclusion

Paul, in chains, writes to those who are free: Do not waste your freedom in fighting one another. Use it to stand together in love.

• Ephesians 1–3: We are loved, chosen, redeemed.

• Ephesians 4–5: We are called to unity, holiness, and love.

• Ephesians 6: We are armed, not to fight people, but to fight for love against the enemy’s schemes.

As Matthew Henry said:

“We are to put on the armor of God, not that we may fight with one another, but that we may withstand the assaults of the common enemy.”

💖 Sisters, remember: We cannot fight if we do not love. The armor is not to conquer each other, but to protect the unity of love Christ has given us.

So go forth, Warriors of Love—suit up, stand up, and fight the good fight of faith, because you are loved to love.

Continue to pray for each other.

If you have time, come back to this blog on Wednesdays in September if you wish to participate in the Go Light Track or Monday to Friday if you wish to Go Deep.

Love always.