Verse Mapping | Ephesians 6:13
My favorite way to glean more knowledge off of a verse is to do a verse map. Sometimes I make a fancy, pretty cool looking map out of it but this verse has so much packed into it--it got messy in a hurry!
Verse mapping allows for deeper understanding of what is being told to us by God, by looking up definitions of words, researching other translations, and allowing scripture to interpret scripture. That last one is called scripture cross-referencing and honestly, it is my favorite part because it ALWAYS amazes me how God connects every little thing. So let's get to it!
"Therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to STAND YOUR GROUND." Ephesians 6:13 NIV
Therefore
Definition: "for that reason"
This is one of those times it's important to pay attention to the verses just before this statement: It's the reason the last verse was included. So what was right before in v12?
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
The real fight, not the one the enemy wants us to believe we are in, is not against FLESH AND BLOOD. aka: other humans. We are up against spiritual forces, pure evil itself. We must remember to separate the humans who have fallen into beliefs that contradict the Word of God from the evil that has taken them captive and is holding them hostage!
I'll remind you of last month's statement: we destroy arguments, not people.
put on
Scripture cross-reference:
Col 3:9-14 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
We are being directed to put on a lot of things! A new self, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Lastly is love, which binds it all together. Don't forget that even when you are standing your ground, you can do so in a respectful manner while still unwaveringly staying true to your convictions. Again, remember the real enemy!
the full armor of God
Reminds of these other scriptures:
2 Cor 10:4 "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."
Romans 13:11-12 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Job 41:13 "Who can strip off its outer coat? Who can penetrate its double coat of armor?" **ok go read Job 41 in entirety. This verse refers to the pure evil that has a stronghold in our world right now. It is eye-opening!**
so that when the day of evil comes
Zephaniah 1:15-18 "That day will be a day of wrath—a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring such distress on all people that they will grope about like those who are blind, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole earth will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth."
Amos 5:20 "Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light—pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?"
Isaiah 13:9 "I, the Lord, will show no mercy or pity when that time comes. In my anger I will destroy the earth and every sinner who lives on it."
Joel 2:31 "The sun will turn dark, and the moon will be as red as blood before that great and terrible day when I appear."
Ecc 11:8 CEV "Even if you live to a ripe old age, you should try to enjoy each day, because darkness will come and will last a long time. Nothing makes sense."
well, that got serious in a hurry didn't it? I think this is where that "healthy fear of the Lord" comes in. We don't even understand how powerful He is. And He's coming back! The last part of Ecclesiastes 11:8 sticks out to me… “nothing makes sense” because I feel that way a lot these days!!
Anybody else catch the bit about the armor of light? and how when the day of evil comes it will be darkness? HOLY SPIRIT CHILLS! God is so GOOD to help prepare us!
you may be able to stand
Luke 21:19 ”Stand firm, and you will win life.”
Psalm 5:5 “The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong;”
Psalm 119:120 “My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.“
Mark 3:24 “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.”
1 Cor 16:13 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
your ground.
definition of standing your ground: not retreat or lose one’s advantage in the face of opposition. The opposite of this is to GIVE UP!
I find comfort in all these cross references for this verse, even though that may seem a little weird. I find comfort because it shows me without a doubt that the opposition that I am facing is worth the trouble to stand my ground against, while being steadfast in my faith and convictions. That meeting opposition is literally part of the grand plan that God has for us. We learn through these trials about God, our faith, ourselves and the world. It also reminds me that I was not made for this world, and the frustrations and pain will be worth the fight.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:18-25 NIV
Last, it reminds me of Jesus. How he stood His ground in allowing the people of His time to persecute and crucify Him because He knew that was the only way to save them. He knew the fight was worth it. And for that, I am so thankful!
That was a lot! Thanks for digging deep with me!
