Equipped To Stand - Session 3 - Nick Prisco

Standing still rarely feels heroic, but Paul presents it as a frontline act of spiritual warfare. In this session, we continue our study through Ephesians by focusing on Ephesians 6:13, where the command is both simple and demanding: “Take up the whole armor of God… withstand in the evil day… and having done all, stand firm.” Nick Prisco explores why the Christian life is not sustained by personal determination or natural resilience, but by strength borrowed from the Lord—the kind of strength that becomes most evident when the pressure is real and the spiritual battle cannot be ignored.

Together, we examine the meaning behind key phrases such as “the whole armor of God,” “stand firm,” and “withstand,” discovering that Scripture presents resistance as an active, faith-filled posture rather than passive survival. James and Peter reinforce this same pattern: submit to God, resist the devil, and stand firm in the faith. That sequence is essential. Resistance without submission can become pride and self-reliance, while submission without resistance often leads to compromise and spiritual drift. The Christian goal is not dramatic displays of conquest, but faithful endurance—remaining steadfast when fear, temptation, accusation, and discouragement seek to move us from our foundation in Christ.

The session also broadens its focus by looking at the church in Ephesus several decades later through the lens of Revelation 2. Though commended for perseverance, discernment, and unwavering commitment to truth, the church is confronted with a sobering reality: they had abandoned their first love. It serves as an important reminder that faithfulness in doctrine and practice must always be accompanied by genuine affection for Christ. It is possible to continue doing the right things while quietly losing the joy and intimacy that should fuel them.

Throughout this study, we explore why intimacy with God is the true starting point for putting on the armor, how sanctification grows through daily fellowship with Him, and why standing firm is ultimately rooted in the finished work of Jesus rather than our own efforts. The victory has already been secured through Christ, and by grace through faith we are invited to stand confidently in what He has accomplished.

Whether you’re facing spiritual opposition, growing weary in the battle, or simply longing to deepen your walk with God, this session offers both biblical encouragement and practical wisdom for enduring faithfully. Come discover what it means to stand firm—not through self-confidence, but through the strength of the Lord, whose victory enables His people to remain steadfast until the day He returns.

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Transcript

Series Recap And The Real Enemy

Nick Prisco 0:04

So we are going through the book of Ephesians, and we are going through actually Ephesians 6. So we're going verse by verse, and to recap, we had Evan in the first week. He was talking about being strong in the Lord and our strength coming from him. And then two weeks ago we had Joshua uh talking about uh being equipped to stand. So knowing that we have an enemy that's real and that we are in a real spiritual. Can you guys hear me alright? Thumbs up in the back. Yeah, good, cool. Alright, then that we have a real enemy. And um so I just gonna open up with a word of prayer before we go into the scripture.

Prayer And Reading Ephesians 6:13

Nick Prisco 0:55

So Lord, I just thank you for this opportunity, this opportunity to share your word. Lord, thank you for this time together. Thank you for dinner. Um thank you for the hands that that made it, and Lord, I just pray that your word would would come through me today, and that ears would receive it, Lord. If there's people that are listening online that they would receive from your word, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen. Okay, so Ephesians 6 13 goes, Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all to stand firm. So traditionally, uh it's agreed that the that Paul's letter to the Ephesians was written in around uh 60 to 62 AD while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. So what does the church look like that wears the armor of God? What does it look like? So when I talk about the the church and I use the word her, I mean most of you guys probably are familiar, but but when I say her, it's in regards to the church. So referring to her is in Christ's bride. So the church cannot stand in her own strength, but must take up the whole armor of God.

What The Whole Armor Means

Nick Prisco 2:24

So there's a Greek word called painopalia, and it is the word that um is used for whole armor. And so this word is describes uh a whole suit of armor. So it describes the the shield, the the um offensive weapons, so the spirit and the sword and the accessories. So um when it's that word is being used, it has um Old Testament echoes, but also it is would have been understood as in a Roman context, like a Roman weaponry context.

Standing Firm As A Battle Plan

Nick Prisco 3:05

So, what does it look like to stand firm in the evil day? So in verse 12, we learn that the Lord has not left his uh people defenseless, but he instructs uh the church through Paul to face the spiritual forces of evil by holding fast against the enemy's charge. So success in this battle in the um in the stand is not defined by advancing to meet the enemy but and conquering new territory, but rather the there's a Greek word called histami. Histami is the Greek verb to stand, to stand ready or prepared. So this uh word is also used throughout scripture. So it's used again in 1 Corinthians, um, Paul writing the Corinthian church. It's used in 1613, and he says, be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act strong, act like men, be strong. So the action itself is passive, yet it is a form of warfare that the Lord um instructs Paul or has Paul is used to charge the church with. So uh there's another uh word in verse 13. The word withstand. Now the word withstand in in Greek is anthamy. Anthysteme is um it's used as withstand, and then the the rest of it is in the evil day. It means to actively oppose, resist, or stand face to face against an oncoming force. So Ephesians 6 13 commands believers to put on the full armor of God, so every piece of the armor, which we're gonna learn in in coming weeks, and to stand your ground, having done everything to stand. So uh James uses the same word um in James 4 when he says, Submit yourself thee then to God, resist. So this word resist also is that same word as with withstand. So um, so resist the devil and he will flee from you. So submit yourself then to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. And then Peter also echoes in First Peter uh five nine, resist him standing firm in your faith. So this verb depicts active, um, faith-filled response. So um it's it's um going out and being able to stand firm against the enemy. So there's one more uh um Greek word that I wanted to say, which is the Greek word for having done all. So there's a a word, it's kind of a tongue twister, but it's keterged zamahi. And the phrase having done all it comes from Ketergadzamahi, which means to perform, accomplish, or achieve having gone through every struggle of the fight. So um Paul is saying that after the worst has passed in this in this battle, the ultimate proof of victory is that you're still standing on your feet. So picture the dust settling in this war, and the Lord is there. You are standing and you're with the saints. And remember, this is a spiritual battle that we're that we're talking about. And um, so why does defending, why does defending take precedence over attack attacking?

Victory Is Already Won In Christ

Nick Prisco 7:25

The victory is already won. So Ephesians 2, one goes, and you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. We were on the wrong side. We were fighting on the wrong side, but God, rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. For by grace you have been saved through faith. So, because of this great love that which he loved us, even though we were dead in our trespasses, he made us alive. So, Jesus secured this the ultimate victory. Christians are not fighting to conquer new territory because God said it is finished. So remember that the victory is already won in Christ. Now, this isn't uh just to pause, this isn't like an excuse to not strive for the Lord, to not um do good for the Lord or not um push or anything like that, but but rather to it's an identity thing, it's to know who we are in Christ. So the enemy's real goal, going back to what Joshua was saying two weeks ago, you know, Satan's objective is to destroy. You know, that's a real thing that's going on that we can't see, but is happening. You know, he's gonna try to do whatever he can in the spirit to really just terrify and and just break down believers um and have them abandon their post. So this is um probably not something that's revolutionary to well it is revolutionary, but but but it's probably not something that you haven't heard before. But you're not exempt, we are not exempt, and I say you, but I'm talking to myself also, from putting the armor of God on and standing because of your maturity in Christ. Rather, we should be getting better throughout our life and drawing closer to him more frequently, and and our relationship with him should be getting stronger. So, what does it mean to stand firm? So Paul wrote this um the to the Ephesians from prison in Rome, and and we also have um another letter.

Ephesus Endures But Loses Love

Nick Prisco 10:18

So John also wrote to the Ephesians from exile about 30 to 35 years later, around 95 to 96 AD, from the island of Patmos. So for approximately three decades, the church of Ephesus sought to obey Paul's instructions to stand firm. So um the church today, isn't today, must stand firm and be strong in the Lord and be equipped to stand, but she must not lose her first love. So the book of Revelation 2, 1 through 7 says, this is John writing this down, and to the angel of the church in Ephesus, right? Same church. The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your works, your toil, your patient endurance, how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are patiently are you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember, therefore, from where you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. If not, you will I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. Yet this you have, you hate the works of the Nicolaitians, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. So I don't know about you, but I want to eat from this tree of life. I want to get to the end of my race and be seen fit. John wrote to a church that maintained its work and patient endurance, a church that could not bear with those who were evil. They had discernment to recognize false teachers, and they were practicing wearing the armor of God, going through real tests, standing firm in the decades that followed Jesus' death and resurrection. Yet he wrote to a church that had abandoned its first love. They maintained their duty, but they lost their joy. So we cannot, as a church today, we cannot lose sight of why we stand firm. We stand because God first loved us. We love him, and he is our master who tells us to carry our cross daily. So in the coming weeks, you know, we are gonna talk about um the armor of God in in um more detail, and each piece we're gonna go through. And um my encouragement to to you is to remember why. Why are we why are we going to choose to put this armor on? Why are we in this fight?

Why Intimacy Comes Before Armor

Nick Prisco 13:48

We cannot attempt to put the armor of God on without first drawing near to him. This intimacy is not about salvation, not gaining new salvation or salvation again, but rather it is being sanctified and drawing closer to him day after day after day.

An Invitation To Trust Jesus

Nick Prisco 14:11

So um before I mean I'm looking around the room and I don't know all of you, but before I know most of you, but there might be some people online who don't know the Lord. So before you can stand in God's armor, you must first belong to the God who provides it. So if there's anybody here who's not ever believed in the Lord Jesus, or there's anybody online who's never believed in the Lord Jesus, I want to leave you with this encouragement. If you have not put your trust in him, I would ask you to consider doing so today. Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, rose again, so that all who believe in him will have everlasting life. Salvation is not earned by works, but received by grace through faith in Christ. If you have never trusted in Christ, I would like you to know, I would and would like to know more about this. I would invite you to come talk to either me or somebody else after the service or uh speak to one of the elders. But we would be glad to open up God's word and um go through it with you and help you understand what the Bible teaches about salvation.

Closing Prayer And Sending

Nick Prisco 15:37

And yeah, just on that note, I'm just gonna keep it short and just end with some prayer. So, Lord, I just thank you for um your word. I thank you that you are such a a good God, and I just pray that you will touch the hearts of even those who might listen to this um message, and I pray that you would bring them to salvation. If there's people who are are even here tonight, Lord, I pray that they would walk with you, Lord Jesus, that they would choose to walk with you, and that they would put you first, that they would equip themselves, that they would stand firm, that they would um ask you, Lord Jesus, what you um what you want for their lives. And Lord, I pray I thank you for this community, and I pray that you uh just Yeah, bless all these people as we go in our different ways in Jesus' name. Amen.