Ephesians 6-10b

There's the armor of light, Romans chapter 13, and then there's the armor of righteousness in 2 Corinthians 6, verse 7. In both of those cases, maybe the enemy is different. Romans chapter 13, it's the flesh. 2 Corinthians 6, it's the world, but here it's the devil.

So if you put the three references, three passages of our Christian armor together in your New Testament, then you have the threefold enemy of the world, the flesh, and the devil. In the question that you took up about the person who, do I waste my time, could that not be Satan using that person to discourage me from talking to anybody? I never seem to get any place with a person like that, so why waste my time? Part of his design obviously has affected the thinking of that person. So in that sense, we're combating his work, and the devil of course could use it in the way you're speaking about too, but I think we deal with patience with that person, not somehow with a nebulous enemy we can't define.

Brother David, without getting off this too much and just going back to that point, it's been well said, and I'm not disagreeing with my brother, it's been well said, never give up on a sinner. Never give up on a sinner. You can think of any numbers that have gotten saved, and I would have given up on them, but they got saved.

Thank God for it. That's not what our brother Dave was saying earlier, but when you meet a person that, for example, always wants to argue evolution or some cult doctrines or whatever, you can go on and on, waste days and nights and hours debating with them. That becomes a waste of time.

Tell them about God's salvation, tell them what Christ means to you, give them a track now and again. Don't waste your time arguing, because people love to argue, and you're getting nowhere. I think that's a thought you're giving, isn't it? The Word of God is the only power we have with people.

Leave that seed there. And you're not saying write them off and forget them forever. No, please don't take that from anything that was suggested.

But I was just thinking the discouragement that might come could be Satan using that person to discourage me. Gordon, Marcus raised the question over the two different put on and take unto you. I wondered if he had any thought, because it is a different word, and it probably is not just a duplicated statement in other words.

It was a sincere question. I'm not saying other people's questions aren't sincere. You're backpedaling already.

So would we suggest then the armor's available, take it, put it on? I would have thought like put on is David being given armor that he didn't have before and he puts it on. I wonder if the take to you, take up, may actually be reminding us of the need that in the battle with this wily foe, there are times when you need to take it up and embrace it to yourself afresh. I just wonder if we're not looking at... There are two different words and two different thoughts in the words.

So it's not just I put it on yesterday and I'm okay. It's rather in the battle there's a need to make it mine again. It's actually take, it's up to yourself take.

That's the character of the word. So it may have fallen to the ground, maybe that's the up, but it certainly is personalized afresh. Is it against the evil day, whatever that is? Yes, I think that's... Well, okay.

Well, let's pick those two things and put them together then. Historically, this would be true that a Roman soldier would ordinarily be equipped with his army. I'm having trouble there today.

With his armor. But your typical Roman soldier wouldn't always have the helmet on his head for a simple practical reason. It's too hot.

It's often carried in his hand or tied to his belt or whatever. But one of the things we'll get to later is watching. And when Roman soldiers saw the enemy is just there, then his helmet is not dangling on a belt.

It's up here. So that might come along. I think that's the point, Gordon.

But nevertheless, the point would be the armor as such should be upon us. Because of the enemy, we need all this armor. But because of the imminent danger, then it needs to be embraced afresh.

Now, we have that you may be able to stand or withstand, stand against. And I mentioned the three spheres there. Can we get some help on the evil day then? What is the evil day? Is it the tribulation that's ahead for the world or what is it here? What are your thoughts, William? I would think it would be a specific time whenever the attack is made.

And it could come at any time. I thought you'd like to go forward to the future on this somehow. Back to the future.

Well, I hope that none of you brethren are going to go forward to the tribulation because I don't intend to. So in one sense, we are in evil days. Another sense, there is a uniquely critical moment of attack that may come.

An evil day with special intensity and special attack. There was a day when you think of Job. There was a day when the sons of God came to appear.

So that was that evil day for Job. The church at Smyrna, they were told they would have tribulation ten days. So there was a specific time of special persecution.

So are we all okay on the thought then that when we live where we live, the days are evil. That's general of the age. And that's not just the thought here.

The thought here is that we have a picture of soldiers, armor supplied to them, an enemy about to strike. Now, when might Satan strike you or me? How might he strike us? The wrestling, the dart from a distance, or the close encounter with the sword. We don't just know when that might be, but be prepared for it.

That's the idea. So the evil day, as you said, with Job or Smyrna will be the day that Satan or one of his agents strikes at you. I think that your illustration can be seen so lovely, so accurately, I should say, in how Satan dealt with the Lord Jesus.

There was a direct attack in the wilderness. Satisfy yourself, show yourself, spare yourself. The very same thing happened, not now directly from Satan, but you come to John 6, John 7. His brethren said unto him, show yourself.

The people said, we want bread, make us bread. And you recall as well, they came to make him king. So the same words that Satan had used are now put in the mouths of men with another evil day.

And you can take the same three expressions and see them at the cross. Come down, show yourself, show us who you are and we'll believe. If you're the king of Israel, save us and save us.

Save yourself and save us. Spare us all of this and so on. If you're a king, come down and we'll believe you're the king.

So the character of the attack directly from Satan in the wilderness, from the mouth of others in John 5 and John 6, John 6, 7, just that short period. And then likewise at the cross, the same thing. So there is that different character in which attack occurs.

Alright brethren, we'll go to verse 14 then. Stand therefore. Picture the soldier standing now.

Clothed in the armor, ready for the encounter, ready for the enemy. Stand therefore. And we start off with number one.

Having your loins girt about with truth. And then number two, the breastplate of righteousness. So the loins girt about with truth.

Now let's get some help as to the importance of what the Bible means by the loins. And secondly, what exactly is meant by the truth here. Now a Roman soldier normally would have a belt around him.

He would have a belt that would have various leather things that would protect the middle of his body. Ironically, on the typical Roman soldier, there would be things there that could make a noise that would frighten away the enemy. But that's not going to work here.

So, you won't frighten Satan with a noise. Loins girt about with truth, with the belt of truth. The girting of the loins seems to be an expression that is used to indicate a readiness, unencumbered.

So does that thought enter in here too? The unencumbered though would be more in the thought of the race or the preparation to go. The ease of movement, isn't it? And I suppose it's applicable here in the sense of not to be entangled with things. That's normally how the belt is used.

But the belt for the soldier was to keep all his armor in place. Yes. Or so.

Because from there, the short Roman sword would hang, which we'll get to later. So the belt of truth then, truth is keeping everything in place for the believer? Is that the idea? Yes, I think so. It's often been said that we hold truth, but let the truth hold us.

I think it's the second part that's more applicable here. Yes, this is not truthfulness, as good as truthfulness is. This is the truth actually that the epistle has been feeding to us.

Yes. Lay hold of what we have been made in Christ. Lay hold of the riches, the unsearchable riches of Christ.

And again, were we to take the time and slip through the Ephesian letter and see what's presented to us as believers. After all, Christians, you think of the greatness of God's salvation. For most of us, for many of us anyway, salvation was a realization of sins forgiven.

No need of the fear of the judgment of God and so on. But dear me, look at what we've got in Ephesians. All this about adoption and inheritance and raised up together and linked together with Christ in the glory.

I hadn't a clue of that when I was saved. But these are things that God has given to us. And they should keep us.

They should hold us. And they should guard our loins. Anything else there, brethren? Now, we're not getting a lot of questions from you, brethren, all around.

But don't be shy. We've still got 45 minutes. The breastplate would obviously cover the heart.

So, if we look at this as a guard to the affections. And what is it? It's a breastplate of righteousness. Given that it's the armor of God, I would take it that this is the righteousness that God regards us in, in Christ.

So, is it our appreciation of that? I think it's more the thought, brother William, of a life that's lived in good of what God has done. In other words, practical righteousness and appreciation. Live a life.

And you're absolutely right. The breastplate covers, of course, the heart. Which means the affections and all of that.

But live a life of righteousness before individuals. It's often been said, there's no testimony as important as a righteous life. A life that people can't say anything about.

Why do I become vulnerable if I fail to live a righteous life? Brother Sandy, immediately comes to my mind this. One of the tactics of this enemy is the accuser of the brethren. We go back to the picture of the priest Joshua in the book of Zechariah.

The filthy garments. And who's pointing the fingers? Who's doing the accusing? So, where there's a failure to live a righteous life, the finger pointing goes on by Satan. But also, sadly, by the world around us.

The world around will very quickly point. The Christian's testimony and everything about them is in danger. Had you something else in mind? No, that's okay.

Well, but then there's also not only giving room for the devil's accusation. But then there's a bad conscience. There is actually a loss of fellowship with the Lord.

Actually, then, this matter of being strengthened in the Lord is not really going to be a reality. So, we move on our own strength. We move out on our own and therefore become all the more vulnerable.

But I have a problem in that. Just one? No, this is a big one. Even doing that which is right, practical righteousness in my life.

Maybe later on I can see it was flawed. It wasn't perfect. So, the enemy has a just approach and attack.

Let's keep in our mind that as we start the Ephesian letter, we should live in the enjoyment in the good of all that God has blessed us with. Now, righteousness obviously comes in there. See, I would see that as an impenetrable breastplate.

That God looks upon me as righteous in Christ. Justification. That's impenetrable.

Whereas, anything that depends upon me, He's going to find a way through it. Yes, but we're concerned here with not God's looking at you, but Satan's approach to you. Can I just suggest, to keep the two of you from fighting together, that the two are inseparable.

The more I recognize what I have been made in Christ, the more equipment I have then to live that. So, that's the two halves of the epistle we've been looking at. I would think in terms of, for my own self anyway, in terms of interpretation, I would want to start with positional things in what we're looking at here.

In terms of what we just look at. The truth. That's an absolute.

And the righteousness that is our standing. I would have thought that then gives us the very same thing. I would have thought that the breastplate is the righteousness that God gives to us in justification.

The putting on of that is the enjoyment that I have of it in my life. And really, what will produce righteous living in my life? It is that. An appreciation of our righteous standing with God.

There's no difficulty there. Appreciation of what God has done for us, then produces a life that's lived for God. We put that on in our practical living.

And everybody's happy. That's good. Wonderful.

Solved this problem. Alright, your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Now, obviously, soldiers would have had a sandal type thing to wear.

They also had a number of other things I had mentioned attached and associated with their sandals. But here, notice the attachment is the gospel of peace. Christians walk in the goodness of what the gospel has done for us.

Live in the goodness of the peace that we have with God through the Lord Jesus. And, of course, when we think of the preparation of the gospel of peace, there's obviously the thought that, listen, the Lord has left us here for a reason. We've got something that the world needs.

Of course, this soldier that's writing this was actually in prison because of the gospel of peace. That is, the gospel that brought Jew and Gentile together in peace, I would take it. Is there the thought here that the gospel will guard our walk, keep our walk, that we'll be guided by it all the way through? Because we've been dealing with the walk at different times in the Ephesian letter.

In this portion, we also have a picture of submission. Previously, we had been dealing with submission in the last chapter some, and then this will be the first part of this chapter. When a soldier puts on that armament, he is submitting to or identifying to whoever that ruler is.

Yeah, that's good, brother. And he's submitting to that person's authority. Here, we're seeing a submission of ourselves to Christ.

We are to stand, let him go forth. Our brothers bring up the point that there's a picture of submission through this. A Roman soldier that took the armor that Rome provided for him is obviously identifying with that authority, that government.

He's obviously clothing himself in that protection. He's obviously engaging himself in relation to the enemy of Rome. A Roman soldier is said to be offensive as well as defensive.

We're more concerned with the defensive here. But nevertheless, yes, submission means I need that protection, and we vitally need this protection. The recent mark—sorry, this is way off Bible things.

The recent marketing of an army of one in this country has been an advertisement for the army. An army of one is not what the Word of God has in view. I don't think it's really what the military has in view either, but it's not what the Word of God has in view.

It's one who is taking his orders from another. I was just going to mention another possible translation of the preparation of the gospel is the firm foundation. And I hope this doesn't diverge too far from our theme, but wouldn't it suggest to us the importance of a clear gospel being presented in local assembly testimony that, yes, believers are saved, but to constantly be reaffirming the solid foundation of a clear gospel that people stand upon and gives them strength, gives believers strength, really, as they face all that they face in the world, to have a clear gospel preached in local assembly testimony.

What do you mean by that? I mean invite you every night. Oh, my good friend. Let's take it to disaster.

No, but obviously it is so important what our brother is saying. A clear gospel. Over the years, I have been in so many areas where people have told me, if I ask them whether they're saved, yes.

Are you going to be in heaven? Well, I'm not so sure of that. Saved, yes, but heaven, not so sure. Why not? Well, I don't know what might happen between now and then.

Is that a clear gospel? No. The gospel that we know depends not on what might happen to me between now and then, but depends absolutely on what was done at Calvary. Our link with God is in the person and work of Christ and the shed blood of Christ.

It's not my ups and downs of life. So to link back to the expression we have in chapter 2, where the Lord came and preached or declared peace to you, which are far off and to them that are nigh. So we have been brought into peace by virtue of the work of Christ.

Absolutely. And enjoying that in our souls now, being grounded in it, to be able to share that with others that they too will come into that peace. Yes.

But we enjoy peace in Christ. Yes, absolutely. And that gives us a firm foundation.

And that's guiding your feet as you walk through this world, isn't it? We stand on that. Can I just follow a little bit of what Sandy has said here? Get that. Erase that part from the tape, please.

But a clear gospel not only is it a gospel that preaches eternal security, but a clear gospel is going to be a gospel that preaches man's ruin and God's remedy, foundational. And by that I think there are phrases being used in an evangelical world that muddy the gospel. Okay, receiving Jesus into your heart, praying the sinner's prayer, the four spiritual laws, and many other statements.

And the unfortunate thing to me is I hear those things coming through, beginning to be imitated. We hear so much on the airwaves, and if you're watching those men on the television, God help you. And the way they present the gospel is becoming, is having its influence on what I hear from time to time.

My beloved brothers, I'm not saying that we do everything right and everybody else is wrong, but I am saying this, a clear gospel presents the fact that man is fully incapable of aiding himself in salvation. He is fully lost, and there is only one hope, and that savior is received only by personal faith. That's just basic things, but the clear gospel needs to, I mean, maybe, not maybe, you had the influence of a Mr. McBain and so did I. And that was one thing he was very, very definite about.

A clear gospel is essential to assembly testimony. And a mixed multitude is a result of a gospel that's mixed. That has become apparent to me and Wayne in the last year in going into the prison, that there are groups that are probably more, they're there more often, and there are more of them going into prisons with a mixed up gospel.

And we spend half of our time kidding, you know, the things that they're being told that are wrong, and some of them know it's wrong, but others that are there don't know that it's wrong, and just correcting exactly what you're saying. The gospel is being, you know, changed and those are the things. We need to have the gospel presented in a way that is an understandable and acceptable, understandable and acceptable to the people to whom we speak.

By acceptable, I don't mean we water it down. I mean we preach it in a way that they will take it. But it must be repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Man's ruin, God's remedy must be the basis of what we present. Sorry, we've taken you off the track a little bit, but since our brother Sandy mentioned that, I think that's crucial. If that's true, I pray God will preserve it.

Very good. It's a gospel of peace. Of course, there's many other things can be said about the gospel, but thank God for this.

It's peace with God. Our next little verse tells us taking, or above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Now, the shield of faith, first of all.

Every Roman soldier would have known very well and carried a shield. Very, very important for them. In this case, of course, the arrows are coming from a distance, and the shield is held up for that purpose.

But there are so many lovely things in literature in relation to the Roman shield. It was big enough that in critical circumstances, the soldier could actually get behind it. One of the tremendous pictures of Roman history, I don't know if there's ever been training so much as some of these Romans would have gotten, but have you ever heard of the Romans when they made what was called the tortoise or the turtle protection? At a given command from a commander, a body of Roman soldiers could literally position themselves with a perimeter ring of shields on the ground and vertical.

Then behind them, other soldiers, they carried their shield over their arm. Other soldiers behind them would take their shield and put it flat over their heads so that when there were too many arrows coming, they could have a ring of shields with no gap between them and a roof of shields with no gap between them. Then the soldiers would be all inside this total turtle covering of shields.

There was a reason for it. Generally, the Romans fought with the lance and the short sword. Barbarians came with the darts, the fiery darts.

It wasn't uncommon in Roman history that when there's too many arrows and it's not close enough for the short sword to work, that the commander would give the order to form this, can I call it, turtle. Of course, inevitably, you know what would happen. The enemy would close in, but when the enemy closed in enough, the commander would give the order to open up and then tackle the enemy with the equipment that they had.

But what a picture, a shield of faith, and they were so trained and could work together in such a way that no gaps between the shields. What do we say about the assembly here? Here's your picture. The Romans, didn't they use that at times as an offensive thing, that is that they actually moved as a phalanx? Yes.

That's not what's here. No. But it is a reminder, we don't stand alone in this army.

When we're looking at what's here, I take it this is an assembly that is standing shield to shield to be preserved from the onslaught of evil and to preserve all that are part of it. We have the shield of faith. Now, the fiery darts are coming from a distance.

Again, just to reiterate, fiery darts, they would have arrows covered in pitch. They would set them alight. Of course, when they landed, oftentimes these fiery darts, the fire would spread and would lead to a disaster.

The Romans would hold up their shield in such a way as to catch these fiery darts. Practically, though, for us, remember, we have an enemy that will be throwing darts at us from a distance. Now, the shield of faith is to stop them.

So what is the faith here? Is this my faith in the Word of God, in the character of God himself? Is this a body of truth that I have embraced as a Christian, the faith once for all delivered? What is in view here? Or is it my confidence in what God has provided for me? Would you not think that, Brother Sandberg? I would think it is more subjective here, yes, than objective. But they both will go together. Excuse me? They both will go together.

Yes. You want me to negotiate this one again? Would you mediate again? You can't take away from the truth, as you're saying there, Brother William. But it's rest in that.

It's resting in it, too. Yes. Here's a little illustration.

Some of you brethren will know this. But years ago, years ago, I was in the southern part of Nova Scotia. There had been an older man that had gotten saved long before my time there.

But anyway, I smiled. His wife told me this story. She said, after he'd gotten saved, Brother David's going to know this one.

After he'd gotten saved, one day, this man, she said, he had gone out to the yard and he was cutting firewood. And she watched him. He was chopping away with the axe, and then he stuck the axe in the block, walked in the house, went to the room, took out his Bible, went to the Bible, and says, there it is, devil, read it for yourself.

You can imagine what went on. He's chopping away and something is happening up here. So he goes to his Bible.

There it is, devil, read it for yourself. Or an assembly of the Lord's people, small in number, not much happening, seemingly, with souls being saved. And the fiery darts come.

What's the use? What's the point of going on? But then to come to the truth of the Word of God and recognize that this is what God expects. And he has gathered us to his name and of confidence in that. So that the fiery darts are repelled.

The point would be that Satan will throw at us any number of things, practically, of course, any sorts of things, discouragement, difficulties, all these things come. He'll throw them and he'll try to use them. The important thing is that we realize, we rest upon what we have in Christ, and when the doubts or the difficulties come, put that between us and the enemy.

Wouldn't one of the dangers be, and this perhaps more for younger believers than those who are older, when Satan transforms himself into an angel of light. Now, I'm not going to criticize anything and everything people can hear on the Internet or wherever the case might be. But unfortunately, if somebody is getting their teaching from sources that perhaps are not of complete confidence, those can be fiery darts that Satan will use to confuse a young believer.

As far as assembly principles are concerned, as far as the security of the believer is concerned, and so we need to be very careful to have that shield of faith and to know what the Word of God says. Marcus, a detour here just for a moment on this subject. The Word of God always envisions that the teaching of believers will be under the guidance, the guardianship of mature men, elders, leaders.

And today, the model is to move away from that with the sources of information you're talking about. Young believer, if you have anything that you find that is different from what you were taught in the assembly, bring it to overseers and ask for help and preservation. That would take us back obviously to Ephesians chapter 4, the pastors and teachers.

Yes, okay. But just the need for recognizing that I am not, and I by that I mean any of us as individuals, are not the final arbiters of truth. We do need protection from men of experience with the Word of God.

And it's worth saying that things like the Internet, while there's all kinds of valuable information, there's an awful lot of dangerous things that are there, and no more so than in the religious realm. Be careful what we're reading, where it's coming from. So we have the shield of faith, the fiery darts.

Then the helmet of salvation. Obviously a Roman soldier would make sure that the helmet was there any time when he's encountering any of the enemy. It's a protection for the head.

Now for the Romans it was much more than that, but certainly a protection for the head. How do we understand the helmet of salvation? There was an old brother in one assembly, and he said, the way you understand this is, I'll tell you now, it says, and take the helmet of salvation. What? That's what it says.

That's what it means. These old brethren are generally right. Good for you, Brother David.

The helmet to protect the head. And keep in our mind that one of the great areas of our New Testament is that Satan is after the mind. We keep in mind as well that our minds are to be transformed.

And that transformation, I think in Romans 12 now, transformation of the mind, that we can know the good and perfect and acceptable will of God. So we have to guard our minds. That's the thought life.

Remember the doors are the ears, particularly the eyes. But guard our thought life. The helmet of salvation then.

We can have such confidence in the salvation that we have in Christ. Keep our minds there. Yes, William, what are you thinking? But it's actually very embracive, isn't it, in this epistle, the idea of salvation? It's really controlling your prospects.

It's controlling your walk here upon earth. So it's not just the idea that I'm saved and that controls my thought life, but the ultimate redemption to which we're moving is really embraced here as well so that my whole outlook and attitude is framed by the truth of salvation and all that it embraces. You're including in that then the salvation that's past, salvation from the power of sin now, and salvation from the very presence of sin.

So it's not saying to myself, I'm saved, I'm saved, I'm saved. But it rather is embracing this. All that I have that is bringing blessing to me comes from God.

It's salvation of the Lord so that I recognize that my present preservation and all that I look forward to the future must be coming from Him. So the helmet of salvation, not only through the aspect of, yes, that I am saved, but it'll guard my mind. It'll guard my mind so that I, there are things that I will not let into my mind and that is through eye gate.

There are things that I will not think about, not ponder, whether it's the eyes or the ears or whatever it might be. Our minds will be guarded and guarded by the helmet of salvation. Then we have the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, the sword of the Spirit.

So my earlier suggestion, now is it defensive or offensive or both? What kind of sword is this? The short sword or the long sword? For the Romans, it would be the short sword. The large shield, short sword. Broad sword.

Yeah. They were specialized with the short swords. You're suggesting then the defensive.

Mostly defensive. Yes. Well, again, my point earlier, you see, resist the devil, but we don't go on the attack as such.

We go on the attack with tracks and moving into his territory, but always remember what we're up against. So the short sword. Now, which is the word of God? You've already touched that a little bit, brother.

The Spirit uses, the Holy Spirit uses the word of God. Take us back again to the wilderness with the Lord Jesus and Satan. You will all appreciate the parallels between the threefold temptation of wilderness and the things of Genesis 3, Eve, and Satan's suggestions.

I'm sure we all appreciate the three things that are there with what John tells us in 1 John 2. Lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. What does the Lord do in the garden? I think it's worth just considering if there was any one person in this world who was in a position to dispute with Satan over the ownership of kingdoms, it would have been the Lord Jesus. He could have stopped that conversation any moment by saying any number of things.

Tell me, why does the Lord Jesus just use three simple Old Testament quotations? And if you like the parallel, of course they're all from the one book of Moses, his five books, David's one stone, if you want to draw that little parallel. Why does the Lord just use a quotation? Because if there was any one person who might have disputed and won the dispute with Satan, it would have been the Lord, but He didn't. Would it not be that He's showing us what we should do? So how do we deal with Satan? Do we follow the logic of stones into bread and cast... Do we follow the reasoning? Eve did.

Eve did. If we follow His line of thinking, you know where it's going to lead. But in each case, the Lord Jesus simply quoted a verse.

The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And we have the word of God that we can use in every attack of Satan, the Bible says. There are a number of things, yes.

There are a number of things in our Bible where we are to flee, a number of times when we are to fight. There are lovely teachings if you go through them. But I would suggest the thought is flee situations such as idolatry.

Flee fornication. Stay out of environments, areas where these are there. There's no place for the Christian.

Obviously, the beautiful Old Testament example is Joseph getting out of the house when he knows he's in a bad situation. So the principle line there for all of us as Christians would be this. Don't find yourself or don't let yourself be in a situation where any of these things can happen.

Stay out of it. There are environments where you and I as Christians have no place, no right to be there. Shouldn't be.

That'll include the Internet, certain parts of it. Is there a connection? Just to go back to your question and maybe get a practical point here too. Is there a connection between the Lord's being full of the Spirit in the wilderness? It's pointed out being full of the Spirit.

The Spirit drove men to the wilderness. Full of the Spirit using the sword of the Spirit. That's good.

That is, in subjection to the power of the Spirit of God, He employs the Word of God. Again, the connection we notice between Ephesians and Colossians, being filled with the Spirit and the Word of God richly dwelling in us. This is not merely saying, here's my Bible.

Let me respond to the problem. Here's my Bible. It is knowing what from the Bible will be effective in that circumstance.

That's something that we would all love to know better and we will know it under the power of the Spirit of God. So, I mean, there's a practical need to know the Word of God and to allow the Spirit of God to, if I could just say, quicken that Word for us at the right moment. Yes, so the full story of the Lord in the wilderness, obviously, there's a lesson to us.

Many other aspects about it. I appreciate what you're saying, brother. The Spirit, the Word.

But it's showing us that the simple answer to Satan's attacks is arresting upon what God has given to us. And I appreciate your point. For that, we need to know our Bibles and simply to use a Bible verse, whatever the situation might be.

Now then, we have the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Were there any other comments before we go into the next little section? Any questions, comments? Some of you, brother, are being awfully quiet. Just one thing to carry on with what brother Oliver has said and what you have mentioned already.

There are times when believers will say, well, the Bible says nothing about this particular thing that I'm involved in. It doesn't say, no, I can't do it. And so it's not just a matter of knowing the words of the Bible and knowing the verses, but seeing the principles behind many of the stories that we have in the Word of God as well that will help guide us in circumstances.

When I was a young believer, brother Mark, an older man sat down alongside me one time and he said, Gordon, do you know why the New Testament is shorter than the Old Testament? Of course, I hadn't a clue. I didn't know what he was talking about. He said, well, there's not so many thou shalt nots in the New Testament.

This is what our brother is saying. Do you understand? We don't live with a thou shalt not do this or thou shalt do something. We have principles.

It's the principles that will guide us. I was just going to say, those principles actually are based on the character of God. So if we want to put it another way, what we're talking about is the standard of our behavior is the character of God itself.

So it's not what loopholes do we find. Where does God's character impact this decision? It's to learn Christ. It's therefore.

Now, are you going to tell us that there are six pieces of armor? Is that what you wanted to do? I didn't say that. But I'm just pushing you. You see, I know the armor of the Romans.

I could give you a list if you want. And I said, some of them are not here. But do we have six? We've done six, haven't we? There's something that the armies of today have that the Romans didn't have who says the Bible is not up to date.

If you and I could look at, you know what it is. If you and I could see any soldiers anywhere today, there was a time when they had a big old pack strapped on their back with an antenna. I think they're gone now.

They've had little things on their shoulders, but I think they're gone now. Now they have their helmets and there's little things in there. What's that little thing that's in there? It's a radio communication with headquarters.

It's a direct connection with the commander, if you like, or the commanding office. So are there six? Well, okay, let's read about the radio. It's wireless here.

I don't care. Verse 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.

And we're back to the Spirit. Praying in the Spirit. So here's the soldier, the Christian soldier, with a direct connection to headquarters.

I'm going to say seven, Brother William. Is that okay? That'll be all right. Because I like the completeness, you see.

All right then. So we'll talk about the radio. The prayer aspect here.

And obviously think of the implications here. And then subsequent to that in verse 18, the two things, praying and watching. You know what it means, of course.

The Roman soldier would be watching. Watching what's around him. Where might the danger come from? All right, so let's deal for a few moments with the praying and then the watching.

Looking out, being careful. Any possibility, Gordon, that the watching has to do with expectation? Not just awareness of circumstances, but expecting that headquarters is going to provide with all perseverance, waiting for headquarters to send relief. I was thinking of the watching.

That's good. I was thinking of the watching in one sense. I know that enemy is coming.

Yeah. I know they're there. I don't know which direction they're coming at me.

I don't know what method they will use, but they're going to come. But thank God for this. I've got the lifeline to headquarters.

And as you said, relief is available. And we notice it's praying with all prayer and supplication in the spirit. There are different words for praying in our New Testament.

We appreciate that supplication carries this thought of a needy one going to one that can meet the need. The soldier that can call for reinforcements, if you like. And then it says watching with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

So I suggest now we're watching not only for self, but for the whole company. Any other thoughts on verse 18, brethren, before we go to the next one? Yeah. That's very nice, brother.

So the thought is looking very, very carefully, isn't it? That's good. Yeah. Did you get that over there, Mark? No.

It needs to be repeated. He's told us that in the Russian of this, it carries the thought of looking for gold. And, of course, people who are looking for gold are looking carefully.

They don't want to pass over it. So looking with all perseverance, watching with all perseverance for all saints. In other words, watching out not just for self, but for the company.

All saints. So everyone has needs. Yes.

Needs for defense, needs for help, assistance. Would this not help in our interpersonal relationships as well? I know perhaps it's not the context exactly here. But if we are believers that are praying for all saints, it's much more difficult to be critical of other believers when I'm on my knees praying for them day by day.

Yeah. It's a good practice. Everybody making each day pray for each member of the assembly.

But obviously, I take it now, Gordon, the way I see this picture is if there is one believer in the Ephesian assembly that goes down, the whole is weakened. So I would take it that this viewpoint is related to our interpersonal relationships actually, Marcus. That we recognize the need for everyone in the assembly.

The need for preservation for everyone in the assembly. It's at the end of 1 Corinthians 15 when again I would suggest the Apostle Paul is using the Roman military picture. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

Similar terms there. But the thought would be this. That in the days of Rome, if one soldier falls, it's an enticement to the enemy.

You know, they can be defeated. If one little Roman outpost, should I say assembly? But if one little Roman outpost station fell, it's an enticement to the enemy. So the idea of standing fast, the idea of watching with all perseverance.

Supposing we were just in a Roman fort, only 10 or 12 of us, surrounded by hundreds. We better be on guard. Supposing we're a little assembly of just 8 or 10 or 12.

We need to be on guard. And it's important to our king and our kingdom that that flag stay up. So watching with all perseverance is what tactic is coming.

What darts have hit what people. And just caring one for another. On guard one for another.

Brethren, we have in verse 19 then. Not only the prayer for the saints. I said there's a two-fold aspect here.

The prayer for all saints or watching for all saints. But praying for me, the apostle Paul says. Now here's the man in prison.

And I would suggest again two things. Pray that utterance may be given. Can I ask you what that means? And then secondly that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.

Utterance to be given to Paul. And then that he open his mouth boldly to speak the mystery. Not just the words that he would speak but the opportunity to speak them.

The confidence to speak. This is however prayer that's moving in the offensive direction. Not offensively but in the offensive direction.

And that's good, yes. There's no question I did touch on that earlier. You're moving into the devil's territory when you're using tracts or the gospel or anything else.

When I said earlier about not fighting the devil. I mean just appreciate the power we're up against. But obviously here's a prayer that the Lord would give him the words to speak.

And give him the boldness or the confidence as it were to speak them. Good prayer for all of us, isn't it? And he's asking the Christians to pray that. Would we keep it in mind brethren when there are gospel meetings around? Pray for the speakers.

Pray for confidence. But it's not that so much here. It's a man in prison.

Pray for believers. In some sense those two things are together. One reason, one excuse.

I use for not speaking sometimes is I just am afraid I don't have the right word to speak. So having the right word is linked with that boldness. I mean it's two different things but there is a connection.

Now in verse 20 we have, For which I am an ambassador in bonds. Would we all appreciate? That is not where you normally find an ambassador. Or in bond, isn't it? It's in the singular.

Isn't it rather ironic that an ambassador of any country, of any empire, would be the one person that you would not find imprisoned or in chained because of his status. But that's earth's standard. And here's an ambassador for heaven.

And earth has put him in jail. It would be an international incident if an ambassador were put in prison. It would show a lack of respect by this country for the ambassador's country to put that ambassador in jail.

Is it possible that we're learning here that we are living in an enemy territory that has no respect for our country? There would have been a day when an incident like this could have caused a war between two countries. But we'll keep in mind as our brother David has just said, Yes, we live in a territory. World rulers of this darkness.

Spiritual wickedness in high places. We live in a territory where the prince of the powers of the air, the God of this world, is not going to value the standard of heaven. But keep in mind that our God, one day, will take care of this action, this enemy.

Now then, we have a few other little things as we move into chapter 21. We have a mention of Paul's beloved brother, faithful minister. Two things said about him.

These couplets seem to run down through here. And then I said the twofold reason. Tychicus is mentioned five times in our New Testament.

He's mentioned in relation to Colossians as well. He's with Paul in 2 Timothy chapter 4. He was with Paul in Acts chapter 20. You'll remember on the third missionary journey.

But the two things here. He's going to let them know about Paul. He'll let Paul know about them.

And there's a lovely little interesting point there for all of us, isn't there? That the believers should know about the apostles. That the apostles should know about the believers. And particularly he's concerned with their spiritual well-being.

There's just an order there in verse 22. Am I jumping too far? Knowing first before comforting. The objective is that Tychicus is going to give comfort to the believers.

But he's going to know their affairs in order that he might be able to do that. That's good. And it's bringing before us a little thought, isn't it? Of the assembly conscious of what's happening in the life of the apostle.

And it's good. I think you brethren here do very, very well in that regard. Knowing what's happening with the meetings in the area.

Marcus mentioned the work in Mexico and so on. We don't want to live in isolation. Because if you picture the Romans.

What touched one part of the empire touched another. You're up against a hostile world. So it is with ourselves.

So it's important to know about God's work. We don't need to know the personal affairs of each other. But know about the Lord's work.

And of course then be diligent in prayer for it. Show something again of the character of Paul. That he was concerned about their comfort of heart.

Even though he was in a chain. Yes. Now we'll end with verse 23.

Peace be to the brethren. Love with faith. And then from God the Father.

From God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. So he gives them these two lovely things. Peace and love.

The Father and the Son. And then he says grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus in sincerity. Any comments on the closing words of this chapter? Well if not brethren we've come to the end of the Ephesian epistle.

And may I remind you. That chapter one showed us the greatness. The wonder of what God has done.

What God has brought us into. This chapter shows us the danger that we face from the spiritual realm around us. Shows the provision that God has made.

And gives us confidence to go on in the future. Thank you brethren. The brethren that closes.

Please give thanks for the food. Richard. Is there a question there? No.

Should it be answered? We have one question. I'll ask the question. Somebody else can answer it perhaps.

Because I'm not perhaps up in this as much as others are here. Living in a different country. That has not yet been as affected as this country.

In times we live in now. How can you serve people in corporate level. Such as AIG.

Or a mortgage company. How can you serve people in corporate levels. Such as AIG or mortgage companies.

I think the right answer is fear and trembling. Because that's Ephesians 6 and 5. And I say that in all seriousness. There are people very close to us.

That we know that just this weekend we were told. We've been employed a long time with a very big company. Got his notice Friday afternoon.

So it's. Is the sense behind the question. I wonder how can you work.

In an environment where there could be corruption. And just you know. Misuse of money and all that type of thing.

Anyway my answer there would be. If it's that. If that's what's involved.

My answer would be look. Individuals work in a given environment. And often times we don't know what.

You know the management is such. Even our governments might be doing. If you work for the government.

And do your job do your work. As long as you yourself. Are not being asked to do anything wrong.

So personal integrity. Yes. After all.

You can't leave every company. Where the boss has done something wrong with the money. You'd have quit all government jobs.

And everything else if you did. But where you yourself. Are asked to do anything wrong.

Of course then stand by Christian values. But did that question ask. How a Christian is to serve the people.

That are working in that corporation. And perhaps corruptly working there. Is that the implication.

No no no no no no no. But I was thinking it was they were affected. By what's happened in those.

I don't know. I think service sometimes. Is not doing what a person wants.

But giving them help. And what they need. So that may be.

Not simply. Being honest ourselves. But trying to be a help to others.

That are embroiling themselves. In situations that are harmful for themselves.