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This verse is taken from:
Ephesians 6. 15-17
“search the scriptures” John 5:39
The epistle to the Ephesians makes several references to ‘heavenly places’ or ‘high places’. The book opens by telling us that our blessings are there, 1. 3, and closes by telling us that our battle is there, 6. 12. It is from that aerial realm our arch enemy orchestrates his malevolent attacks against us and, left to ourselves, this would be a one-sided affray. Human wisdom and physical strength are no match for the devil, for he has far greater resources than these.
However, there is no need for us to be defeated for there are resources which, if used, guarantee victory. Therefore, our primary obligation is to ‘put on the whole armour of God’, v. 11. Having acquired this armoury, we are not to retreat but to front up, to ‘stand’. There are six items in this divine arsenal and they afford us complete protection for the battle.
The first item is for the loins, that area of strength that enables us to stand. The source of that strength is ‘truth’, the word of God, cf. 1 John 2. 14. The breastplate of righteousness refers to what we have been made through Christ, cf. 2 Cor. 5. 21. In verse 15, we have our ‘feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace’. Opinion is divided as to whether this refers to something defensive or offensive. If defensive, it relates to the stability the gospel gives to those who believe it. However, it may refer to our readiness to take the gospel into the enemy’s realm, a gospel that brings men into peace with God.
The ‘shield of faith’ is that full-length shield which ensures our total security from the ‘fiery darts of the wicked’. These darts of doubt, inadequacy and accusation, which seek to plague the mind and distress the spirit, can all be extinguished by faith. ‘The complete defence to all the fiery darts of unbelief is simply, I believe’, A. Leckie. The helmet of salvation enables us to hold up our heads in the heat of battle confident in the knowledge that we are on the victory side. Lastly, we have the ‘sword of the Spirit’, referring to those times when the Spirit of God gives us relevant scriptures to quote to suit the situation.
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