Ephesians 6:10-20 (Part 1)

I. Be strengthened in the Lord.
-be strong = endunamoo = strengthen, make strong; present passive imperative

II. Be prepared with the armor of the Lord.
-put on = enduo = dress, put on; idea of permanently putting on
-full armor = panoplian; idea of all the armor that was needed for protection and battle
-II Pet. 1:3
-stand firm = istemi = stand, place, set, fix; when used in military context, was idea of holding a critical position on the battlefield.
-Satan = accuser, devil = slanderer
-Hughes "Because Satan is finite and God is infinite, our enemy is infinitely inferior! Satan's power is overwhelmed by that of God."
-schemes = methodeia = craftiness, trickery, schemes
-Snodgrass "Mention of the 'schemes' of the devil reminds us of the trickery and subterfuge by which evil and temptation present themselves in our lives. Evil rarely looks evil until it accomplishes its goal; it gains entrance by appearing attractive, desirable, and perfectly legitimate. It is a baited and camouflaged trap."
-Four general methods
1) Deception.
2) Distortion.
3) Discouragement.
4) Distraction.
-Areas of attack
1) Assurance of salvation. 1:3-6
2) Teaching of the gospel. 2:1-10
3) Unity of the church. 4:1-6
4) Faithfulness of our walk. Ch. 4-5
5) Foundation of the family. 5:22-6:4
-struggle = pale = wrestling, hand to hand combat

III. Be resistant and stand in the battle.
-take up = analambano = take up, pick up; when used in military setting, was the idea of making final preparation before entering the battle.
-having done = katergazomai = to accomplish, to carry out
-"It here means not only having made all necessary preparations, but indicates having done everything which the crisis demands, in order to quell the foe and maintain position." Exegetical Key to the New Testament
-resist = anthistemi = resist, oppose, withstand, hold one's ground