The Knights of Ephesus: Putting on the Whole Armour of God

By Richard Robletto

Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:10-11

Dont be fooled! Christians are in a spiritual battle. The world may ridicule the notion of a spiritual realm, but Christians know that it is both real and potent. As the last days draw ever closer, we need a deeper understanding of this to help us prepare for the great battles that lie ahead for believers. In the Bible, the book of Ephesians gives the clearest definition of the spiritual war we face; author Rich Robletto has written The Knights of Ephesus to offer readers fresh perspective and profound insight on how we are to put on the whole armour of God as he describes the nature of our struggle.

Backed extensively by appropriate, relevant passages from the Bible, Robletto reminds Christians that Satan is real. He cautions that unless we fully grasp what our role is, along with the fact that Jesus Christ has given us all we need to withstand and ultimately triumph over evil, we will be woefully underprepared and overwhelmed by Satans wiles. The Knights of Ephesus effectively highlights the great insight provided by the book of Ephesians and offers instruction on how to prepare for war and how we are to achieve victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781512703139

Richard Robletto

Richard Robletto was born in Oxford, England, raised in New England, and currently lives in Northern California with his family. He has a background in English literature and history. He compiled the scriptural index for the five-volume set of The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer. This book was illustrated by his daughter, Rebekah Robletto.

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Copyright © 2015 Richard Robletto.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-0315-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-0314-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-0313-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015919007

WestBow Press rev. date: 12/15/2015

Contents

Preface

Part 1 Ephesian Warfare

Part 2 The Armour of God

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Epilogue Progressive Amour of God

Preface

Sometimes we get so lost in the details that we lose the vision. The purpose of this work is not to give a detailed exposition on the book of Ephesians, but perhaps to give another perspective in the way we read and understand it.

As the Last Days approach there is a great need to search the Word of God and prepare for the great battles that lie ahead for believers. The Lord Himself taught on the vital need to prepare for warfare: What king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand (Luke 14:31).

As the skies darken and the great storm approaches, the words of the prophet Joel now echo throughout the land: Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up (Joel 3:9)

The book of Ephesians gives great insight and instruction on how to prepare for war and how we are to achieve victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. And the truths revealed about spiritual warfare therein, are as relevant for the faithful today as they were for the faithful back then at Ephesus. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Part 1

Ephesian Warfare

The primary battle is a spiritual battle in the heavenlies. But this does not mean, therefore, that the battle we are in is other-worldly or outside of human history. It is a real spiritual battle, but it is equally a battle here on earth in our own country, our own communities, our places of work and our schools, and even our own homes. The spiritual battle has its counterpart in the visible world, in the minds of men and women, and in every area of human culture. In the realm of space and time the heavenly battle is fought on the stage of human history."¹

—Francis Schaeffer

Ephesus was once a center of the merchants of the earth; it was one of the greatest cities in the world, known as the Gateway of Asia. It was later called by Ignatius, the bishop of Antioch during the Roman persecution of Christians, the Highway of Martyrs. Today the original city of Ephesus exists only as an archaeological site. Spiritually, it was a great center of Christianity fallen into ruin because, as stated in the book of Revelations, thou hast left thy first love (Revelation 2:4). But its place in all of Christianity still exists, and especially today, there are great lessons to be learned from biblical Ephesus. Today not only individuals, but churches have left their first love; they have fallen into loving the things of the World more than the things of God. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world (1John 2:15).

Ephesus was the center of great spiritual warfare. The renowned pagan temple of Diana was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and one of the Enemy’s most infamous centers of idolatry, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth (Acts 19:27), and the dark practice of the black arts. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men (Acts 19:19), yet the Lord would make Ephesus a citadel of the Christian Church. It was at Ephesus that the apostle Paul would spend many years teaching and preaching. Watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears (Acts 20:31). And it was from Ephesus that the apostle Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthian saints. I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost, (1Corinthians 16:8). It was also in Ephesus that Paul wrote to Timothy: I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus (1Timothy 1:3). And 2Timothy, by its contents, seems to conclude that it was written to Timothy either at Ephesus or in its vicinity. The apostle John lived in Ephesus, and most agree that he