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Sermon preached on Ephesians 6:10-13 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 08/23/2026 in Petaluma, CA.
Sermon Manuscript
Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
“Finally.” That’s how our passage begins. This marks the final teaching section of this epistle. Paul brings his letter to a culmination by alerting us to the spiritual warfare that we are involved in. This is something that’s been going on throughout the Bible. Even when the Old Testament described earthly wars, there was still spiritual warfare going on behind it. The Bible began with Satan tempting and deceiving humanity into sinning against God. Satan and his demons have continued since then to oppose God and afflict us, his people. Yet, God has been work too, especially through his Messiah, even Jesus our Lord, to defeat these enemies. While these enemies were definitively conquered at Christ’s first coming, they will be brought to their final end when Jesus returns. That means, in God’s plan, he has allowed Satan and his demonic forces to yet continue for a little while longer to have some ability to wage war against this world, especially against us, the saints of God on earth. Paul alerts us to this. We must not underestimate these enemies, thinking we can prevail by our own strength. That would also be to overestimate ourselves. Yet, we also must not overestimate these enemies by thinking we have no way to withstand and overcome them. For, we have at our disposal the mighty power of Christ to preserve us until his coming. We cannot overestimate the all-surpassing power of God in Christ Jesus.
Today, I’ll have us first consider “What We Wrestle”. Second, I’ll have us consider the call to be “Strong in the Lord”. Third, I’ll have us consider the need the goal “To Stand Firm”. Next week, I will have us work through the details of the armor of God. That will help us think through more practically about how we do battle in this spiritual warfare. But, today, I wanted us to consider the big picture about such spiritual warfare.
We begin first with “What We Wrestle”. The language of wrestling is the imagery of a hand-to-hand fight. That complements the armor imagery that especially dominates this passage. This armor refers to what a soldier would wear in battle. That brings out a military combat theme. So, Paul describes that we have a fight and battle before us. But we need to understand what exactly is the nature of who we are fighting.
Verse 12 starts by explaining that this warfare is not “against flesh and blood.” Our struggle is not ultimately a human-to-human struggle fought with earthly weapons against other humans. This is important to understand, because we all do have various “flesh and blood” battles we face all the time. Maybe work is a battle for you. Maybe your marriage or family life is a battle. Maybe our country with its polarized politics and culture wars is a battle for you. Maybe your health is a battle for you. There are many this-world battles you may face and they may each have their relative importance. But do you recognize that especially you are involved in spiritual battles? Do you see how Satan may even use those earthly battles as an opportunity to attack you spiritually?
So then, verse 12 goes on to say what we do fight, namely we fight “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Paul likely is not describing different kinds of enemies, as if we sometimes fight against a ruler and another time against a cosmic power. Rather, Paul is surely giving a long, extended description of all these spiritual foes we face. So, we can divide the description in verse 12 into two complementary descriptions. First, he says we fight against rulers, authorities and cosmic powers. Those three things are closely related ideas, power, rule, and authority. The previous passage just spoke about people in positions of earthly authority versus those in submission to them. Those “flesh and blood” authorities exercise rule and power in those relationships. But notice in verse 12 where Paul says these demons have their power and authority. It’s over this present darkness, referring to how in this present age, in this fallen world, the darkness of sin is so prevalent. We see here that these demons are ruling with authority and power over this darkness. Of course, we realize that is only because God, with his bigger plan, permits that for a season until his judgment falls upon them. Nonetheless, they do wield their influence in this world with the darkness that tempts and deceives and leads astray so many.
Second, Paul describes our foes as “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”. To describe these forces as evil is to make clear God’s judgment of them. These forces are not good, they are wicked. There is no gray area here or subjective assessment. Satan and his demons are working their evil agenda. Now, to call them both spiritual and in the heavenly places is to speak in closely related terms. Demons, like angels and even God, are spiritual beings. They do not have physical bodies like us, but their nature is immaterial. To describe them as heavenly is to describe their ordinary realm of existence. You might be confused why demons would be in the heavenly places, because we tend to think of heaven as where God’s throne room is with his holy angels. But we must understand the phrase “heavenly places” as how Ephesians defines it. Back in chapter 1, Paul said that Jesus’s ascension took him to the heavenly throne room of God, saying both that such was in the heavenly places but also that it was far above all the ruler and authorities and powers. In other words, Ephesians paints the heavenly places in the plural and that it envisions not only it as the place for God’s throne in the highest place, but also where other spirits exist too in lesser positions. This is like saying our enemies are not terrestrial but celestial.
So then, we’ve identified these enemies as evil spirits with power and authority over the darkness of this present age. We see the chief of these demons specifically mentioned in verse 11. There, Paul refers to the schemes of the devil. When we think of Satan’s scheming, we remember he is crafty. As we are thinking about who we are wrestling, we must remember that our enemy will attack us in sneaky ways. Satan doesn’t publicize that he is a demon of darkness, rather he disguises himself as an angel of light, 2 Corinthians 11:14. He is the father of lies, John 8:44, in contrast to the truth that we learn in Jesus. He lied from the beginning to Eve, and he’s been doing it ever since. Scripture paints him as an accuser and slanderer of the saints, Revelation 12:10. He is described as a prowling lion, looking to devour the faith of Christians, 1 Peter 5:8. He wants to discourage us, shipwreck our faith, and turn us to sin. This is why we must be on guard amidst our various earthly battles we go through, because he may use those as opportunities to afflict us. If we are going through a health trial, he might lie and say God must not love us to let us go through such. If we are struggling with some sin, he might accuse us and tell us that we are beyond God’s forgiveness. If we are having relationship challenges, he might tempt us to be prideful and try to stir up anger to keep us from the peace the Lord would have us to seek in those relationships. These are just a few examples of why we must know who we wrestle against and how he likes to attack us.
Let us now turn to our second point and consider the call to be “Strong in the Lord”. Verse 10 says, “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” Knowing our enemy explains why we need to find our strength in the Lord. Satan and his demonic forces exercise great power, authority, and influence. Our own strength and might is insufficient to combat them. While humans are the chief creation on earth, Psalm 8 explains that we have been made a little lower than the heavenly beings. If we had to rely on our own strength to stop these enemies, we would lose the battle. Yet, praise be to God, we do not have to rely on our own strength. Verse 10 says we can instead be strengthened by Christ Jesus, and find our power and might in him. While our own power falls short of these heavenly beings, Christ’s power far surpasses them, as Hebrews 1:4 says that in his exaltation he has become as “much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”
Let us back up. At the beginning, Adam and Eve failed to withstand the schemes of the devil and plunged all humanity into the reign of darkness. But Jesus began his earthly ministry by undergoing Satan’s temptations in the wilderness. Jesus answered each of Satan’s lies with the truth of God’s word and showed himself to be perfect and righteous. As Jesus began his teaching ministry, he then did battle against the spiritual forces of evil with every unclean spirit that he cast out. Finally, he turned the tables on Satan who thought it wise to have Jesus betrayed unto death, only to realize that the cross was the climax of Christ’s victory over Satan, sin, and death. For there, Jesus bound the strong man named Satan (Mark 3:27) to liberate the souls he had enslaved. There, Jesus destroyed the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) by atoning for the sins of the elect. As Hebrews 2:14 says, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself [Jesus] likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” Colossians 2:15 describes the significance of the cross, by saying that it resulted in Jesus disarming the rulers and authorities and putting them to open shame. After Jesus did all this, he then he ascended up into heaven. As we noted from chapter 1, he is far exalted above all these demonic beings, being seated at the right hand of God in the highest place in the heavenly places.
My point in all this is there is good reason we should find our strength in the Lord and not ourselves when faced with the devil and all these demons. Jesus’s strength has already been proven to be mightier than any of these foes. Our own strength is insufficient. But the strength we find in Christ is more than sufficient.
Let us appreciate that verse 10 says that we need to “be strong” instead of “make yourself strong”. The verb is a command in the passive voice. While we are commanded to become strong, the way we become strong is by receiving strength from Jesus. It’s a command that really is a gospel call to trust in Jesus in faith, and in that become strong by what he will do in our heart by the Spirit. Again, this is what we learned in chapter 1. If we are united to Christ through faith, we have every spiritual blessing in him. It says this includes that the same power that has worked in Christ when he rose from the dead and ascended on high. That same power which is above all other powers is at work in us, if we are united to Christ through faith. That is why in chapter 2, it said that the Christian who is united to Christ is even, in a sense, already seated with Christ in that highest place in the heavenly, the place which is above all these evil spirits.
In other words, to be strong in the Lord is not about something we accomplish to take hold of this strength. Essentially, the call to find our strength in Christ is the gospel call. Will you turn from yourself to trust in Jesus and follow him? This is what Ephesians has been telling us this entire time. If you have come to believe on Jesus, then you are already united to Christ. You already are a new creation. You already have been liberated from your former darkness. Now, in Christ Jesus you are learning to walk in love, light, wisdom, and truth. We will be strong in the Lord if we will continue to cling to Jesus in faith. And for any here who have not yet done this, you too can yet find this strength. Believe on Jesus and be saved. Then trust in his strength to give you the victory in the spiritual battles we find ourselves in.
Let us now turn to our third point and consider the goal here “To Stand Firm”. You may have noticed as we read our verses for today, that there was an emphasis on the goal to basically stand or withstand the attacks of the enemy. This is how our passage starts and ends. Verse 11 said we need to put on God’s armor “that you may be able to stand” against the devil’s schemes. Verse 13 repeats and expands on the idea. It says we need to take up God’s armor “that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” So, the verses want us to stand, withstand, and stand firm. It connects this especially with the armor of God. As we’ll see more next week, this armor is especially defensive. Yes, we will see some offensive function, like the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. But largely, the armor is about enduring and persevering the attacks of the enemy. I hope that encourages you. Sometimes the Christian life can be so difficult. Yes, we want to go on the offense and take all things captive for Christ! But so often, we can just be struggling to survive. The enemy might be trying hard to stop you, but the Lord will give you the strength to stand, withstand, and stand firm.
Now, I love how there is an idea here of standing up under the current attacks you may face, but also an idea of standing fast all the way to end, to the return of Christ. Look at verse 13. It talks about withstanding in the evil day, and then having done all, to stand firm. Some wonder if the “evil day” refers to a final terrible amount of persecution near the end. While I think it can include that, I think it probably is meant in this case to be understood more generally. Right now the enemy is actively working in this present time. But we know that sometimes we can personally endure difficult times of affliction. When you personally experience such an evil day, the strength you find in Christ will uphold you. But ultimately, the verse sees that when you add up all those evil days that you’ve persevered through, you finally do get to the end. There will come a time, when all your spiritual battling is complete. Either you die and go to be with Christ and the church triumphant, or Christ returns coming to us who are still alive. Then Christ our strength will put a final end to his and our enemies. Then we will be ushered into an eternity of blessing in that future age to come. These evil foes are allowed to operate in this present age, but in that future age they will be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity. Then, there will finally be peace, forevermore.
And so, this third point about standing firm until the end is not just about persevering under affliction. It’s about hope. Yes, right now we wrestle, and struggle, and fight, by the strength Christ supplies, against these enemies of the faith. But, there is coming a time when the battle will be over. As Paul concludes Romans, he tells the church, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Rom. 16:20). We will be fully victorious. Then, the swords will be beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. There will be no more battles, at all, whatsoever. No battles between people. No battles with our health. No battles with our old sinful nature as that also will be gone. And certainly, no battles with Satan or any evil spirit.
This third point is to say there is a call for endurance amidst the spiritual warfare we currently endure because of this hope. Yes, it can be difficult. The days, today, can be so evil. But we should want to endure because the future that awaits the saints is so surpassingly great, that it is all worth it. As Paul says in 2 Cor. 4:17, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” By the grace of God, and the strength that he richly supplies in Christ, may we all withstand the attacks of the enemy, and having done all, to stand firm unto the end.
Trinity Presbyterian Church, in conclusion, may today’s passage remind us of the spiritual warfare we are in. We can get so focused on the mundane things of our flesh and blood life and miss the spiritual realities that are at work. May we recognize how even the ordinary troubles we face are a test. Satan would take advantage of any situation to tempt you to respond in an ungodly, non-Christian way. He wants you to view your life challenges from a perspective without hope and without faith. He wants you to respond to conflicts with hatred instead of love. He wants you to try to face struggles on your own instead of seeing how much you need to rely on Jesus through prayer. He wants you to either become discouraged and to despair, so you curse God, or he wants you to become so outwardly successful in this life so you think you don’t need God. May God’s word today keep us alert and vigilant to the various schemes of the devil as he wages war against us. Next week, we’ll delve further into considering all this wonderful gospel armor Jesus equips us with as we think further how to withstand these enemies in the strength of Christ. Amen. Copyright © 2026 Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
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