Roman Soldier in Armor Holding Shield and Swordby KandD
6:11Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Put on God's whole and complete armor so as to be able to stand firm against the devil's crafty deceptions, snares and attacks in real spiritual warfare. The wrestling is not against flesh and blood or merely human opponents, but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places and invisible supernatural foes. That armor is truth girding the loins, righteousness as the breastplate, readiness of the gospel of peace on the feet, faith as the shield quenching all fiery darts, salvation as the helmet, and the word of God as the sword of the Spirit, with always praying in the Spirit. Every piece together is required, for one or two pieces are not enough to withstand in the evil day and having done all to still stand. No one can stand in own strength or self-confidence, but only by surrendering wholly to God and abiding in union with Christ through living faith, looking to Him for orders and obeying. The armor must never be laid off for a moment but kept on continually with sleepless vigilance and prayer, for the warfare lasts until deliverance with no release.
Command, Enemy, and Armor
Put on the whole and complete armor of God in order to be able to stand firm against the devil's wiles, schemes, crafty deceptions, snares and attacks. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, for strength to resist comes from God and not from self, and He has provided spiritual equipment for real spiritual warfare. That equipment enables withstanding opposition and remaining standing through reliance on His strength.
The wrestling is not against flesh and blood, not merely against human opponents or human enemies, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. These are fallen angels and invisible supernatural foes, spiritual powers of evil, and the conflict with them is real and not merely symbolic. Strength therefore comes from the Lord, and believers take up His armor to withstand evil and remain standing.
The whole armor is truth girding the loins, righteousness as the breastplate, readiness of the gospel of peace on the feet, faith as the shield quenching all the fiery darts of the wicked, salvation as the helmet, and the word of God as the sword of the Spirit. With it goes always praying in the Spirit and watchful persevering supplication for all saints, with prayer and perseverance for all the saints as part of standing firm. The feet are to be always shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, never removing the gospel shoes, and the Word is to be preached according to a Thus saith the Lord with the earnestness of the Holy Spirit.
Every piece together is required, for one or two pieces are not enough, and Christians must take up every part and be clad in the whole gospel armor. Only the full armor enables withstanding in the evil day and, having done all, still to stand, even when placed in a most trying position amid opposition and criticism. This is plain direction from the highest Authority to brethren in God's work, not to be complicated or mystified.
The armor is a complete heavenly panoply, the whole armor of righteousness, the armor of righteousness, light and truth and the gospel. It is Christ's own righteousness and Christ Himself, received by being joined to God, hiding in Him, and being clothed with Christ's righteousness and with His Spirit. Those so clothed meet opposing influences with purity untarnished, continue the struggle against the deadly foe and his works of darkness in Christ's name with enmity against evil, and evil's attacks have no effect while a renewing influence lifts thoughts and desires toward God and heaven. His righteousness goes before and His glory behind, and mere profession of Christianity without a changed heart does not protect, for the carnal mind at enmity with God can serve Satan while bearing another name.
Truth protects against fiction, false interpretations and fables, and Christ's righteousness — not one's own — is the breastplate and fortress of the soul for resisting moral darkness and satanic devices. This taking up of the complete armor provided in Scripture is especially urgent for the remnant church and for those seeking to keep God's commandments amid a crooked and perverse nation, against satanic powers and not merely human opponents. It rules out a self-gratifying aimless life and calls for loyalty to God and heaven as lights, gathering and increasing light and holding it not only for today but for some special occasion to come, letting it shine on all around even though many will reject truth because accepting it involves a cross, resisting the moral darkness flooding the world.
Strength in God Alone
No one can fight the Lord's battles in human strength, self-confidence, or self-sufficiency, and growing self-knowledge only proves utter inability and the need to be clothed. Putting on the whole armor is surrendering wholly to God in sincere prayer, opening the soul to Christ's imputed righteousness, looking to Him continually and hanging the helpless soul upon His invisible power with humility and continual, increasing faith. It requires loins girt about with truth for purity of purpose to serve Christ and not self, and above all the shield of settled, intelligent faith that God knows every trial and difficulty, quenching every fiery attack from whatever source, for talking unbelief belittles His power, dishonors Him, and paralyzes spiritual energies. God is near in His great field of labor to strengthen and uphold tested workers and does not ask dependence on any broken human reed, yet each must act an individual part and cherish conscious duty to be strong, remaining continually on guard like faithful sentinels with no safety apart from meeting these conditions. Standing also requires refusing to stop to quarrel, retaliate when vexed, censure, find fault, or speak harsh impatient words, denying natural desire and inclination to accuse, crucifying self instead of brethren, keeping Christ the Pattern ever before the mind, and pledging temperance in word and spirit against every device to make people like Satan and separate them from the One who gave His life for them.
Putting on the whole gospel armor is putting on Christ by union with Him through living faith, abiding in Him and He in the believer to bear much fruit, for without Him nothing can be done. It is depending on Him who died and trusting Him constantly to supply every need, looking to Him for orders and obeying His commands, refusing any course that gives less of Jesus, which gives wisdom to see clearly the wiles, devices, and stratagems prepared to deceive and ruin. So worn, it makes believers true to God and to one another, faithful in every given duty, not striving for highest place or seeking to be first but representing present truth accurately, growing in grace, helping the weak, and brightening lives with hope and courage to conquer every foe in the power of His might and to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand. Those so connected through daily meditation, prayer, and Scripture study have a saving transforming influence, clear perceptions of truth and duty, yearning for purity and heavenly graces, sanctified boldness before God, and refinement and ennobling by intimate acquaintance with Him. For one exalted to responsibility and trust this means deeper piety, more earnest faith, more zeal as a witness of Christ's grace, constantly increasing growth in grace and knowledge of the Lord and Saviour to be fit for the work, doing all on the human part to cooperate with God, seeking light each day from Christ, using abilities and understanding of Scripture for His glory, obeying Jesus as living Saviour and Captain, and developing physical, mental, and spiritual powers by striving to know God and working by His plan to meet every emergency through imparted power.
God's Word with trust in its promises furnishes sufficient weapons for resisting temptation and recognizing Satan's devices, and the provision is sufficient to equip believers for this warfare. Preparation is faith in the Word prayerfully studied and practically applied, seeking divine wisdom in the open Bible, learning what is true, and accepting truth as the standard, which assures victory and standing on the Rock of Ages through Christ's righteousness and the blood of Christ. This readiness is especially needed as Satan's power to deceive increases toward the coming time of test, when those who received great light but did not live by it face darkness matching rejected light, while those whose works agree with light are numbered on the Lord's side.
The shield of faith guards the heart, the seat of life, so the enemy's fiery darts cannot harm, move, or overcome those who watch and remain steadfast in trust on spiritually dangerous, enchanted ground surrounded by evil angels inventing new ways to annoy and destroy. Every piece is to be taken up, for victory over Satan comes through God and Jesus, with God's watchful eye over Israel for good and angels guarding those who put trust in Him to protect and save them. When the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against him, while Satan seeks to catch saints off guard, lull them into neglecting or doubting present truth, and keep them from the seal of the living God.
Standing firm means resisting temptation as Christ did with It is written, for the struggle is against spiritual powers not merely people, and Adam yielded where Christ in human nature endured and stood. Those who receive Christ share His victory, placed on vantage ground with every provision to overcome and divine power behind every will resolutely set to do right. Wearing the armor is therefore being ever on duty, relying on God's strength, maintaining integrity, never yielding to temptation, never being unjust, neither yielding nor fleeing, holding fast with unyielding firmness, striving lawfully to be crowned, maintaining the principles of God's law at any cost, watchful with daily crucifixion of self, keeping Christ as pattern to discern the slightest taint of evil, promptly correcting divergence from truth, striving for higher attainments, helping others heavenward, and taking hold of Christ by loving faith to resist even unto blood in striving against sin. Christ's victory over temptation makes it possible for those who receive and believe in Him to overcome as He did in active conflict with the enemy.
The armor is the Lord's orders for every Christian soldier, equipping with spiritual health and power so the enemy will not overcome. Obeying those orders, relying on ample grace, and looking steadfastly to Jesus brings overcoming through Christ, dwelling on God's might rather than Satan's power or devices. Faithful laborers in earlier generations put on this armor and stood firm, their strength from trusting God not own power, called not to ease, honor, or riches but to endure hardship even unto death under Jesus' reign that keeps them from the cruel power of the prince of evil. Fighting in the strength of the Mighty One places believers on the side that will win and conquer at last, yet the greatest work and most perilous scenes with deadly conflict are still before them, requiring preparation by hearing God's voice as He still speaks in many ways and by confiding trust placing the hand in His for leading and guidance.
The command itself proves God has thoroughly equipped for warfare with the powers of darkness, so it is no mockery tantalizing the soul, for God is true and dependable under all circumstances and His Word cannot fail and in it is assurance. Every soul who would have the crown of life must fight the good fight of faith inch by inch as an overcomer, keeping the armory well supplied with It is written, with truth the Word of God, faith and righteousness, and the hope of salvation, meeting the foe and meeting advances of the enemy. Eyes anointed to be keen and sensitive detect the enemy's devices, educating and training the soul for still more severe attacks, with faith tested like gold refined by fire and the sword of the Spirit as defense.
Feelings and impulse give no shield or stability against temptation, being ruled by outward circumstances and changing influences, and without the armor assaults prevail, hold the soul in sin, leave no confidence in self or God, leave drifting without anchor, and destroy through foes seeking destruction. Inward assurance strengthens purpose and resolve against the enemy's devices, with watchfulness unto prayer, meditation and prayer keeping the heart in harmony with all God's requirements and pure amid most wicked and debasing influences. Neglecting private prayer and self-examination and giving way to recklessness is laying off the armor and leaving unguarded against an active foe laying snares, while staying near God and continually preparing for His service keeps it on. Living faith enables passing through darkness to reach the Saviour when the enemy seeks to come between believers and Christ, and keeping the armor girded on means staying firm in assigned work without restlessness or faithlessness, laying hold of divine power, looking to the Lord every moment, and praying and working in faith in whom is strength and efficiency to do valiantly and gain victory.
Devil's Schemes and Deceptions
The wiles include the devil appearing as an angel of light and even claiming to be Christ, hunting as a roaring lion seeking prey yet at other times lowering his voice to the softest whisper and coming wrapped in garments of light as an angel from heaven. He hides his real character and purposes by presenting himself as humanity's friend and benefactor doing good, persuading people that no personal enemy exists while deceiving them to ruin, so that blinded by sin they may honor him without recognizing his devices. Men have so little knowledge of these wiles and so little understanding of the mystery of iniquity that he outgenerals them almost every time, and only those grounded in eternal truth and clothed in the complete armor can stand firm through upheaval and widespread apostasy.
The wiles work through the arch-deceiver operating by deceiving human agencies to secure every soul he can just prior to the close of history, the same as his working in heaven, and they must not be met with blindness but with wakefulness and spiritual eyesight to discern the Lord's side and Satan's snares. They include opposition to God's work through men who claim to be followers of Christ but are unconsecrated, having lent talents and ability to the enemy to hinder the work. They come through human agents opposing commandment-keepers with hatred, slander, misrepresentation and attacks on character, met only by humble reliance on Jesus as advocate and holding fast to promises bringing grace and heavenly wisdom. They use unexpected methods and agents who try to lead even saints into sin, work upon human minds to hinder acceptance of truth, and bring great perplexity by taking a text of Scripture and bringing out of it what God never placed in it, to be met by proved experience and clear straight truths without entering controversy.
The wiles are suspicious distrustful thoughts and imaginings against brethren, distorted interpretations of their best purposes, imaginary unhappiness gathering about the soul, and feelings of being demerited and cringing that draw a person to withdraw alone. They work through murmuring, jealousy and unsanctified sympathy that blinds eyes, supports rebellion, gives wrong impressions while being deceived, justifies the wicked and condemns the just, and cries peace to sinners going down with sins unconfessed. Resisting them requires refusing to entertain such suggestions, standing clear of wrong influence, walking in God's light and love, accepting forgiveness by faith, and being changed in moral affections by the regenerating Holy Spirit to be complete in Christ. This standing is possible because the believer is not left as the sport of temptation but is a child of God begotten to lively hope, dwelling in God with God in him, redeemed by the Lamb's blood, with purity and love as living principles and all heaven's treasures at command.
The wiles include every possible device to make people like Satan himself and thus separate them from the One who gave His life for them, with evil angels striving for mastery so that without the whole armor a person will be overcome. They press to make people quarrel, retaliate when vexed, censure, find fault, and speak harsh disagreeable impatient words casting shadow over others, and they rush in to take advantage of a mind darkened with temptation. Standing requires denying natural desires, disposition and inclination to accuse, crucifying self instead of brethren, keeping Christ the divine Pattern ever before the mind, and pledging temperance in word and spirit. It requires refusing by voice, tones or actions to irritate others or place temptation in their way, staying armed with the word, staying close beside Jesus as protection on every side, helping one another with God's temper in sweet kind courteous disposition and pleasant kind words, because there is a heaven to win and a hell to shun.
The wiles are cunning whisperings that captivate the mind and guide thoughts, especially doubts and unbelief about Scripture facts and hints presented wisely that one scripture contradicts another as a wonderful mystery hidden from believers. Listening is serving his purposes, and talking out that unbelief to draw other weak minds into the same dark channel is most grievous, for he first unsettles the one who encouraged temptation and then leads that one to unsettle many. A hint or smallest doubt acts as a barbed arrow and slow poison undermining the whole system unto death, with ministers not standing in clear light used as agents to transmit fiery darts to unprepared minds. His wiles are also charming reasonings and temptation to cherish dissatisfaction, murmur, give willing ear and talk out unbelief to wound the cause, and those who reason and parley as though charmed by the old serpent act like children unacquainted with his workings and leave him claims upon them because they have not recovered from his snare. Standing requires repelling him at once from experience, refusing him place, refusing to spread perplexity, and holding faith in the word.
The wiles include working with pleasing fables upon minds of professed Christians in an age of infidelity and disloyalty, with destructive errors and delusions making of none effect the law of God when the law is not made the standard of character. They include lying wonders in perilous times right upon us, when the sick are healed and other marvels are wrought to deceive if possible the very elect. Those not standing firmly for truth will be deceived by these wonders and unite with the unbelieving who love and make a lie, while those prepared by firm stand on the Word as defense will not fall an easy prey. They include falsehoods and confusing objections against truth supplied by the prince of darkness rather than the Bible, meant to confuse hearers and oppose God's law and Sabbath, whose weakness becomes apparent when examined at length. To press firmly against them is to uphold the law as detector of sin and to take firm stand on the Word by every responsible worker.
The wiles are numberless skillful plans and methods, with dissimulation become a fine art, working in guise of an angel of light to contaminate the world with false ruinous principles bearing appearance of genuine goodness. They work to restrict religious liberty and bring into the religious world a species of slavery, bringing men under control of men, with fraud and guile bearing semblance of zeal for truth and advancement of the kingdom. Whatever in practice is not as open as day belongs to the methods of the prince of evil, and unless organizations and institutions are kept by God's power they work under his dictation. His methods are practiced even among Seventh-day Adventists claiming advanced truth, so sleepless vigilance is the price of safety and standing means remaining in the straight path of truth and righteousness as the only escape from the tempter's power.
The wiles are ingenious deceptive plans to captivate and ruin souls, including delusive power exercised through commercialism of various kinds and corruption constantly invented, met only in Christ who met the wily foe in every stage of human life from infancy to counterwork him. Christ alone understands the enemy's deceptive power, alone can defeat him, having taken human nature to live and suffer and die to win deceived souls to the Lord's side, and He works to uncover the tempter's plans and teach men and women to discern, escape and turn from the archdeceiver. Girding on the armor here means resolute readiness for the Lord's work without delay, with self-denial and consecration rather than spending entrusted means on selfish gratification, resisting temptation to divert resources into commercial ventures and using means to support soul-saving work in cities. The snares include improper familiarity breaking down modesty and reserve between men and women, and a heart tainted by this influence will repeat the course unless truly converted and will be less able to resist devices. Being armored with purity as shield against every evil work means thoughts centered on God pure as crystal and sanctified, life spotless on strict rectitude with no inclination to step off, knowing temptations' evil character and Satan as author, preventing close common mingling of sacred and common that confuses righteousness and gives excuse for liberties. For women in sanitarium work keeping this heavenly armor means guarding speech and conduct, remaining modest kind and courteous without undue familiarity and avoiding even appearance of evil so as to give no occasion to speak against truth, with faith in Christ and eternal realities guarding against being led astray.
The wiles include cunning woven-in snares seeking to take one pin or one single thing from the structure of truth, for taking even one point will soon cause the whole to be gone, as in Ballenger's effort. They include moves to bring the Daily into prominence as a great matter to confuse minds, hinder saving perishing souls, and bring confusion into ranks, giving Satan hold when place is given to dispute over unimportant questions not a testing question, opening the way for satanic agencies and for Lucifer watching every movement and letting his cause triumph. Standing against them means rallying because the devil is far busier than believers, putting away discouraging talk, refusing to meet opponents on the devil's own ground, and standing firm as rock on truths already received. It means not introducing that subject, not hunting up differences of opinion, keeping silence as eloquence and wisdom, burying every difference, pressing together in harmony, and devoting all physical and mental power to taking up work without delay. The same readiness applies to facing opposition intended to undermine warnings given about Kellogg, as a picture of being spiritually prepared for action.
The wiles include hidden snares and temptation to gain advantage and draw people from God, so that joining to an unbeliever places one on Satan's ground, grieves the Spirit, and forfeits God's protection in the struggle for eternal life. They include disguising pleasurable amusements as innocent to weaken spirituality, so that turning from Christ's service is like a deserter joining the enemy, while faithful service resists that influence and helps others toward God. They include snares of improper familiarity breaking modesty and reserve, and encouragement of improper familiarity with one married to another, doing grievous wrong to a faithful spouse and bringing bitter humiliation and distress. Standing against them means refusing in every case to receive affections of a married person, having God's law written on heart and obeyed rather than transgressed, knowing each must give individual account to Him who reads the heart. Guarding requires faith in Christ and attention to eternal realities lest a tainted heart repeat the same course and become less able to resist.
Standing in Last Days
The evil day is the sifting just before the close of this earth's history, when every case is decided for eternity before the soon coming of the Lord, and those who have had great light and have not walked in it will face darkness corresponding to the light they despised, while those whose works correspond with the light graciously given will be numbered on the Lord's side. The enemy is diligently working to add souls to the ranks of apostasy, with unjust persons found among those who claim to be God's children, so waiting and watching must be joined with vigilant working, with no neutral position, no folded hands and no sleep, but active earnest effort to represent Christ and save perishing souls. Only the pure in heart whose soul-temple is purified by truth and whose mind is strengthened to look deep and discern the reasons of faith will be able to stand, while haphazard work brings spiritual declension and leaves that day to overtake as a thief. The church is now militant, not triumphant, and must fight seen and unseen foes, for satanic agencies in human form are on the ground, men have confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts, and in every city satanic agencies are busily organizing into parties those opposed to the law of God, with professed saints and avowed unbelievers taking their stand with these parties. These confederacies will continue until Christ leaves His place of intercession before the mercy seat and puts on the garments of vengeance, so this is no time to be weaklings but to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, never off guard for one moment.
In the last great conflict two opposing parties over building up the kingdom of God will continue until the closing of earth's history, amid constantly changing scenes, increasing confederacies creating opposing influences to the truth, new parties of professed believers acting out delusive theories, increasing apostasy, and some foes not yet developed. Standing then requires never dropping guard for a moment, awaking to the situation, having God as sufficiency with living testimony from converted hearts, praying more and more, earnest effort, diligent study of the Word, talking less of matters of little consequence, giving decided testimony to encourage weak and needy souls, and refusing weak, indecisive, haphazard living or betraying holy trust for self-benefit. Fitness for the coming test, when deceiving power comes from every side in strange ways with devices that infatuate many and when everything that can be shaken will be shaken, is the Word of God as the standard of resistance, put on by abiding in Christ through knowing His Word and doing it, which calls for Bible teaching that roots ministers in truth. In the coming crisis and season of calamity those who defend the truth, including eleventh-hour workers, will gird themselves with this armor as they uphold God's law, keep the faith of Jesus, defend religious liberty, vindicate the law and magnify it and make it honorable, pressing the battle to the gates, for in this war against Satan's untiring attack on the law there is no release and the work must advance or it will go backward.
Proclaiming the third angel's message requires every piece of the armor — the gospel of peace, righteousness and truth — to stand bravely and boldly against detraction and falsehood, fighting the good fight of faith with the weapon Christ used, God's written word, trusting Father, Son and Holy Spirit as strength and efficiency, secure in Him when fully given to God, and speaking truth with power in the latter rain and loud cry. This warfare includes meeting the Sunday movement by working and watching and praying, humbling the heart before God, crying aloud and sparing not, combining teaching and healing through ministers and medical missionaries in Washington and Baltimore and many other large cities of the South and East, coming up to the help of the Lord against the mighty powers of darkness, clearing the King's highway and lifting the standard higher and still higher with a certain sound. After the midnight cry and the 1844 shut door, while Jesus still stands between God and man and the sealing is being finished, the whole armor must be kept on to be ready for battle at any moment, fighting every inch of ground because Satan has come down in great power knowing his time is short. Standing is done with the commandments of God written in heart and mind, going on strong and bold crying the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus even when opposers are many and tall like the sons of Anak, holding firm by proved experience and presenting clear straight truths God has vindicated without entering into controversy, in readiness to meet the coming Lord in peace and to be hid in the time of trouble. Keeping every piece on is necessary to stand awake and faithful at the end amid confusion upon confusion, increasing crime, corrupt and exposed rulers, and the Spirit of God withdrawn from wicked nations that have discarded God's Word and exalt false theories and false laws above His commandments, so God's workers must do an individual work to fit themselves, resist error, doubt and distraction from what is essential, stand as faithful watchmen, sound the last message of warning, prepare the church, and get ready for the closing scenes soon to come.
Unceasing Watchful Warfare
The warfare is aggressive, not mimic battles or make-believe conflict, and true godliness wherever it exists arouses enmity because evil ever wars against good. It begins when a person leaves the black banner of darkness to range under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel and continues until God delivers His people from this present evil world, with no release from it in between. Everyone on the side of right must fight hand to hand with the enemy, with foes both within and without, amid numerous deceiving temptations made more perilous because not always clearly discerned. The adversaries are most powerful, not flesh and blood, and strength for the emergency is found where the early disciples found it, with self merged in Christ and Christ in God in united prayer. Satan often conquers through natural inclinations and appetites divinely appointed pure and holy to be ruled by reason but perverted by indulgence into fleshly lusts warring against the soul, requiring constant watching unto prayer and control by sanctified reason lest they cause backsliding.
The armor must never be laid off for a moment but kept on continually, in work and in rest, in sleep and in waking, for safety is assured only then. One victory does not free from further assaults, for the enemy assails again and again and must be constantly resisted with trust ever put in Christ. The armor is to be worn throughout the work and struggle and not cast off before release from service, since to lay it aside leaves the soldier vulnerable and seeks an opening for dishonoring the cause, like discouragement or desertion from the army. When the work is finished and the promised peace and joy are entered, then the armor may be laid aside and the battle left behind. Between light and darkness, truth revealed and error as darkness, righteousness and unrighteousness, there can be no compromise or fellowship, which is why continual readiness is required against wiles that can appear harmless, plausible, subtle and persuasive.
The Christian life is a daily spiritual struggle and march of duty, not mortal combat, requiring girding for battle and laying aside every weight and besetting sin while laboring to advance the work. It demands continual readiness to obey the Captain of salvation at every moment, without putting personal ease, convenience, pleasure, or worldly work first, and without taking a time of repose from duty. Putting on every piece of the complete gospel armor makes workers safe from defeat as they form characters in harmony with the Word, while angels observe words and actions and righteousness is brought into all the work.
Safety is the price of sleepless vigilance, remaining in the straight path of truth and righteousness as the only escape from the tempter's power. Neglecting self-examination and secret prayer is laying the armor aside, and when worldly cares crowd them out Satan gains access, dulls the spiritual senses, and leaves souls unsuspecting of his snares. Giving oneself to recklessness and distance from God leaves one unguarded before an active foe laying snares, while staying close to God and continually preparing for His service keeps the armor on and enables resistance. His wiles are numberless skillful plans with dissimulation become a fine art, working in the guise of an angel of light with false ruinous principles bearing appearance of genuine goodness, fraud and guile bearing semblance of zeal, seeking to restrict religious liberty and bring a species of slavery under men, so that whatever in practice is not as open as day belongs to the prince of evil.
Standing takes all the strength possessed, with earnest prayer and unyielding faith relying on the merits of the blood of a crucified Redeemer and claiming His saving strength. That divine help is felt only by knowing one's own ignorance and weakness and distrusting self, building firm religious principles as a Bible student with an active unselfish consecrated heart and life and an eye single to God's glory, where faith replaces doubt. Every possible door against Satan's entrance must be closed, including in family life so he can take no advantage of anything said or done to tear one another down, for he will contend for the usefulness or life of the godly and try to mar their peace as long as they live. When powers of darkness gather about the soul and shut Jesus from sight, safety lies in trusting and depending solely on the merits of the atonement, waiting patiently in hope with the will swallowed up in God's will until the cloud passes, a living faith that carries unharmed through the fiery furnace of affliction in the closing history as the form of the Fourth was with those in the furnace.
When weariness, longing for release, and discouragement come in strife against internal foes and formed habits, the armor must be girded on anew and the striving for eternal life continued. Looking into the mirror and discerning defects of character should set one to work by personal effort in penitence and repentance through faith in Christ's grace to overcome them. Rising again in view of the prize and toiling on to gain it takes persistent energy, patient industry, unwearied effort, untiring zeal, courage and vigilance, and this self-conquest and perfection of heart is washing robes of character white in the blood of the Lamb. Those who love ease, indulgence and self-gratification fail in that work.
Standing requires a faith that works by love and purifies the heart, not a mere only-believe faith, for Satan believed and trembled. It takes the fixed position never to violate the commandments at any cost, pressing firmly against Satan's wiles and urging truth against pleasing fables, destructive errors and delusions that make the law of none effect in an age of infidelity and disloyalty when the law is not made the standard of character. To stand is to uphold the law as the detector of sin and to remain in spiritual condition to educate others, watching Satan's devices and attractions that lead the mind from God while constantly seeking God's aid and pressing toward the mark of the high calling in Jesus.
Only the pure in heart can stand firm against deceptive schemes, for the soul is purified by the truth and purity brought about by truth is necessary in view of the close of earth's history, calling for vigilance and active work rather than spiritual carelessness. Meeting every influence with untarnished purity requires a mind trained, sharpened and strengthened by divine enlightenment to discern the reasons of faith, with prayer, communion with God, knowledge of His Word and true holiness renewing the soul. Defects of character and wrong tendencies left unconquered can become desires that war against the soul.
Unity Among Fellow Soldiers
The conflict with the prince of darkness is constant and must be severe, and the wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, so believers must be united in the warfare, cease to war against those of their own faith, and let no one help Satan in his work. Where his power is strongly entrenched through a strong Catholic element as at West Maitland, workers must stay united with all combined forces in one line rather than dividing, learn the Scriptures, apply the mind closely, and present the truth in a clear connected manner with no haphazard work in order to complete the work strongly. Every member of the church is called to strive together for unity by seeking the preparedness of heart that all must have to enter heaven, which requires careful self-examination to see why one is not drawing in even cords with brethren, instead of weakening influence by dwelling on faults and mistakes seen in others. Being able to stand involves patience and kindness and forbearance with one another, with everyone in the family circle standing wholly under the control of Jesus Christ with words and works patterned after His works, and with the gospel shoes of peace calling servants to approach others without anger or harshness and to walk humbly before God whatever their position.
Christians are soldiers fighting for an immortal crown under the eye of God and must be brave in God and point weapons of warfare outward against the spiritual enemy, not form a hollow square and aim destruction at fellow servants under the same banner. There is no time for wounding and tearing down one another, and strength for the battle comes only through being born again and sanctified by practicing the truth. Selfishness, bitter complaints, and turning against fellow workers serve Satan's purposes, and workers must resist this influence rather than join Satan's side by directing their weapons against one another. In controversy over Bible truth the real conflict is with spiritual powers and the rulers of darkness, not with human opponents. Contending for truth therefore means relying on God rather than self and guarding against Satan's efforts to exploit personal defects such as a hasty, irritable spirit, since such conduct can weaken the effect of even strong arguments.
Criticizing fellow believers and dwelling on their mistakes leaves defects in the armor through which Satan can attack, bringing bitterness, jealousy, and evil suspicion and weakening spiritual life. The remedy is to follow Scripture's counsel by speaking privately to a brother about his fault with tender love, praying for him, and avoiding self-righteous comparison. Those who wear the armor stand as faithful sentinels for God, refusing to favor any person and doing the work given with humble faith and sincerity, defending their brethren and remaining loyal and true to them rather than discovering, exaggerating, and spreading their defects. To despise such faithful workers is to side with the enemy, for to accuse the brethren and delight in telling their imperfections and wrongs is satanic and does Satan's work. Standing clear from wrong influence in order to discern the wiles and not be found with those who are deceiving and being deceived means resisting the enemy's attributes of envy, jealousy, criticism, misrepresentation, murmuring, unsanctified sympathy, and efforts to divide people. Such unsanctified sympathy blinds eyes, supports rebellion, gives wrong impressions to others while being deceived by them, justifies the wicked and condemns the just, and cries peace to sinners going down with sins unconfessed, whereas God's servants are to work humbly and sincerely, refusing to take sides and seeking to restore others rather than damage their character.
Standing requires counseling together rather than following one man's mind alone, for Satan may move through one man's mind, but with several minds enlisted there is greater safety against his wiles, plans are more liable to be viewed from all sides, and available talents may be brought into their proper place. Satan works as the accuser and seeks to break the unity Christ established among believers by stirring up suspicion, prejudice, jealousy, and party spirit, so suspecting evil of one another and letting such thoughts control the mind serves the enemy's divisive work. Soldiers in active warfare against Satan and his forces, not against one another, must therefore remain faithful and frank with one another, protect one another's interests, and follow Christ their Captain rather than listen to accusations or imagine evil about fellow workers. In the time of peril before the coming of the Lord every person is beset by deceptions and readiness to meet Christ is not gained in a moment but by vigilant waiting and watching combined with earnest work, by pressing together to resist his power, being of one mind, speaking the same things, and with one mouth glorifying God, and when this unity prevails the church advances from success to success in finishing the great work before it.
Workers Youth and Home
Put on the whole armor of God in order to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, and ministers especially need to be clothed with this whole armor so they may live an exemplary life before church members and younger laborers. In ministry this means persevering with courage and energy rather than becoming discouraged and abandoning opportunities to bring people to Christ. The minister must be ready to endure hardship and spend himself in that work, and without this commitment he should leave the ministry.
Ministers are generals in the army of the great King against Satan the great rebel leader and his host, and putting on the whole armor means refusing all sympathy with the enemy and giving him no opening. Removing even a portion exposes the cause of God and the sacred truths of His word to the reproaches of the rebel host, lays open the weakest points to the deadliest foes, weakens the minister, strengthens the hands of the rebel leaders, and lets Satan hurl in his poisoned arrows and triumph with his hellish clan. True generalship keeps the whole armor on and guards the gospel from the insults of the ungodly even at the cost of life, shedding blood in its defense rather than allowing the enemy to triumph. Going into battle unarmed and unarmored and relying on own judgment without sincere prayer leaves judgment under the guidance of the enemy of all good, makes discourses spiritless, obstructs the channels so the living water of life cannot flow through, and prevents the light of heaven from penetrating the dense fog of lukewarmness and sinfulness.
Those engaged in preaching and publishing present truth must keep the whole armor on because Satan actively and specially and craftily attacks them and seeks to divert their minds from their work. The armor is not to be laid aside until the Lord releases them, for they are enlisted in God's army to serve until the battle ends, and deserting would dishonor God. They must remain watchful, humble, and firmly dependent on God rather than becoming self-sufficient or treating sacred work as ordinary, with Jesus as their righteousness and defense.
Putting on God's armor equips workers for the work God calls them to do, for as they cooperate with divine power they receive the talent, courage, perseverance, faith, and tact needed to resist the enemy's efforts to divert them and to carry the warning to others. As canvassers take up their work they receive the fitness needed to labor for people who do not know the truth and to carry the message worldwide. Those who have received great light through the three angels' messages are to proclaim them throughout the world, united in giving the final warning, needing the Lord's armor as they work to bring the light of truth to people who do not know it.
God's people must rely on the Lord's strength and put on His complete armor to stand against the devil's schemes, for the struggle is spiritual and not against human opponents, and God equips His servants with truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and His word to withstand evil and defend revealed truth. Young people overcome the wicked one by relying on God's strength and putting on every piece, ready to resist the tempter when he tries to lead them astray. This spiritual strength is joined with daily self-examination, earnest prayer, and diligent study of Scripture, which with God's help shape character for the society of the redeemed, and connection with God makes believers strong enough to associate with unbelievers in order to win them to Christ without being harmed by their influence. Satan works to draw young people from faith and duty, including through worldly marriage alliances, gradual skepticism, temptations disguised as light, and efforts to secure them in sin and oppose efforts that lead them toward God and the light. When young Christians abandon faith and religious principles to fit in with irreligious companions they go into danger without that protection and leave themselves exposed to Satan's attacks, while connection with God gives power to resist his devices and stand against him.
Parents are called to put on the whole armor and gird themselves for the battle of managing and training their children, meaning studying and obeying God's Word, learning God's will and way, and keeping the rules and government of the home in strict accordance with a Thus saith the Lord in perfect harmony with the divine plan. Parents must equip themselves with God's armor for the spiritual battle involved in guiding and educating their children according to God's will, and God aids and encourages them as they move in the right direction, working with power in them to will and to do of His own good pleasure as human effort cooperates with divine effort to work out their own and their children's salvation. Taking the armor means putting forth unselfish, persevering effort to train children to bear responsibilities and to practice Bible lessons, laboring for their conversion and keeping spiritual interests fresh and wholesome, and teaching them by parental example to become missionaries themselves, with the assurance that the Lord will work with such parental effort. This duty belongs to places where Sabbath-keepers gather for day schools under a consecrated Christian teacher, because every such place is a missionary field and the work must be done while it is day before the night comes, and the battle against evil begins with preparation, with parents preparing their children before birth to face temptation successfully.
Putting on the armor means being prepared to carry out the work God gives even when plans for rest must be set aside, applied as a call to take up needed work in Battle Creek rather than leave for rest. It also means leaving Battle Creek and going forth into needy fields to labor for the Lord, for it is high time to do it and it does not please God to stay in a place that has been worked over and over again. Remaining there holds workers back and encourages others to drift in, where some become unbelievers in the Testimonies given to God's people or even infidels, and where the truths that lie at the very foundation of faith are sacrificed. Girding on the armor means preparing to press forward together in unity until the Boulder Sanitarium succeeds, advancing despite discouragement and danger of failure without tarrying, moving forward as united soldiers trusting that God works for victory and that heavenly power supports them.
Getting a right hold from above to stand against the devil keeps him from making one his agent in the family circle to cast a shadow where light could be reflected. Its protection is needed to stop harsh, unsympathetic, unkind words that make difficulties and sorrows harder for others and that will be met again in the day of Judgment, and to cultivate instead a Christlike kind, compassionate, loving spirit with courtesy, affection, tenderness, and religion in the home. Being able to stand when opposed in the work means not letting self rise up but being grieved because Christ is wounded, daily assimilating the spirit to Christ's Spirit, sending the heart out in earnest supplication for help from God wherever one is, and being filled with earnest longing for Christ, His help and His love, which keeps Satan from taking possession of the heart and draws angels of God around. Throwing oneself into the arms of Jesus brings help and suggestions just when needed to stand and resist all arguments brought against the truth, with no glory taken to self because God imbues the mind and gives the power to withstand opposition, so to God belongs the glory for every thought and effort that beats back the enemy.
Service Purity and Victory
Putting on the whole armor is part of cultivating personal piety and living by righteous principles, relying on Christ's righteousness to protect the spiritual life and pursuing rectitude in every action. Standing in that armor includes striving with the Holy Spirit's help for victory over one's own inclinations. It also requires acting carefully so that conduct does not bring discredit on good works, while guarding the soul and standing firm in truth as part of being strong.
True soldiers are those strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, who do not live as though Christ were not a risen, ascended Saviour. Putting on the armor means yoking up with Christ, putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and making no provision for the flesh. It means praying for the Holy Spirit, girding up the loins of the mind, putting a bridle upon the tongue, humbling self without self-exaltation, and becoming converted and humble as a little child with childlike faith. It means removing the criticizing spirit that does Satan's work, standing ready to go wherever Providence leads, and holding talents, learning, position, wealth, or influence not as one's own but as the Lord's lent treasure to strengthen His flock as messengers of mercy and ministers of grace. At no time or place is anyone free to act out the temper of the natural heart, for that is what Satan wants, and those bearing the most solemn message ever given must not work in finite individuality lest they be left to carry on the warfare alone, but must learn of Jesus.
The armored life is steadfast adherence to principle and resistance to every kind of corruption. This faithfulness distinguishes those who bear God's seal, even the seal of the living God, from those who receive the beast's mark. Keeping on this heavenly armor means keeping a strict guard over self in word and action. For young women connected with medical institutions and for women working in sanitariums, this requires reserve, modesty, kindness and courtesy without freedom or undue familiarity, especially never showing the slightest freedom when speaking to married men or to men generally. Observant eyes watch conduct and judge by it whether they are children of God, so keeping the armor is abstaining from every appearance of evil and never giving wicked men by word or action the least occasion to speak evil of the truth. Those who will not keep it should sever connection with the sanitarium, where poor shipwrecked souls are to find a haven.
Being armored with purity is a shield against every evil work. With thoughts centered upon God, pure as crystal and sanctified by virtue, the life is spotless and remains on the path of strict rectitude with no inclination to step off it. The armor gives power to resist Satan on every hand, however enticing, artful, or strong the temptations, by knowing their evil character and Satan as their author. It prevents close, common familiarity that mingles the sacred and the common, confuses righteousness and purity, and gives others excuse for liberties with women and girls. Workers, especially youth laboring among the fallen and degraded, must therefore be young men and young women of prayer, wise with the wisdom God alone gives, with characters that have precaution. They must pledge themselves before God to resist every temptation to evil and to keep their morals pure, watching Satan's designs and steadfastly resisting his insidious approaches that would lead them to disregard solemn vows and be contaminated and degraded in character.
In the conflict over Sunday observance, strength from God and His whole armor enable believers to stand against the devil's schemes rather than conform outwardly to pressure. The struggle is spiritual rather than against human opponents, so believers should resist surrendering God's law without stirring needless hostility. Ministers and evangelists must put on God's whole armor as they work in and against the Sunday movement, while watching and praying. Nehemiah's refusal to be frightened into abandoning his work or sinning shows how this call applies when God's people face threats and deception, and a similar trial would confront Seventh-day Adventists. Taking God's full protection is girding for the spiritual conflict ahead by rejecting the world's plans, customs, and conniving and giving no room to selfishness, dishonesty, and craftiness seeking to enter the heart, with each person doing his own work and making his own decisions and refusing to sustain another in a wrong course, which puts one on the enemy's side, after Nehemiah's example of refusing wrong because of the fear of God.
Putting on the armor is putting on watchfulness by meditation and prayer. That watchfulness keeps the heart in harmony with all God's requirements and enables a person to remain pure and uncorrupted while surrounded with the most wicked and debasing influences. Coming forth from pleading with God to plead with fellow men, it gives courage to work the works of God and to warn sinners without masking the truth to find favor with unbelievers. That close connection is man dwelling with God and God taking up His abode with man, with Jesus enshrined in the heart, giving the testimony that the ways please God and making fruit-bearing trees. Enoch in this is the representative of the saints who live amid the perils and corruptions of the last days, and as he for faithful obedience was translated, so the faithful who are alive and remain and put on this armor will be translated from a sinful world to heaven, an experience that is the privilege of every believer today, not confined to Enoch, Elijah, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, or martyrs.
Girding on the armor anew means standing at one's post, resisting the devil, renewing readiness, and fighting manfully the battles of the Lord. Standing against the devil requires awaking, breaking away from the awful deception Satan has thrown over the mind, laying hold on everlasting life, and refusing to listen to evil angels whispering in the ears and visiting with lying dreams, lest God's Spirit be grieved entirely away. Those who do so will be victorious and will soon lay off the armor to wear a conqueror's crown and receive a rich inheritance bought by the agony and blood of the Son of God, the crown of eternal life for those who remain faithful.
Put on God's whole and complete armor so as to be able to stand firm against the devil's crafty deceptions, snares and attacks in real spiritual warfare. The wrestling is not against flesh and blood or merely human opponents, but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places and invisible supernatural foes. That armor is truth girding the loins, righteousness as the breastplate, readiness of the gospel of peace on the feet, faith as the shield quenching all fiery darts, salvation as the helmet, and the word of God as the sword of the Spirit, with always praying in the Spirit. Every piece together is required, for one or two pieces are not enough to withstand in the evil day and having done all to still stand. No one can stand in own strength or self-confidence, but only by surrendering wholly to God and abiding in union with Christ through living faith, looking to Him for orders and obeying. The armor must never be laid off for a moment but kept on continually with sleepless vigilance and prayer, for the warfare lasts until deliverance with no release.
Command, Enemy, and Armor
Put on the whole and complete armor of God in order to be able to stand firm against the devil's wiles, schemes, crafty deceptions, snares and attacks. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, for strength to resist comes from God and not from self, and He has provided spiritual equipment for real spiritual warfare. That equipment enables withstanding opposition and remaining standing through reliance on His strength.
The wrestling is not against flesh and blood, not merely against human opponents or human enemies, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. These are fallen angels and invisible supernatural foes, spiritual powers of evil, and the conflict with them is real and not merely symbolic. Strength therefore comes from the Lord, and believers take up His armor to withstand evil and remain standing.
The whole armor is truth girding the loins, righteousness as the breastplate, readiness of the gospel of peace on the feet, faith as the shield quenching all the fiery darts of the wicked, salvation as the helmet, and the word of God as the sword of the Spirit. With it goes always praying in the Spirit and watchful persevering supplication for all saints, with prayer and perseverance for all the saints as part of standing firm. The feet are to be always shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, never removing the gospel shoes, and the Word is to be preached according to a Thus saith the Lord with the earnestness of the Holy Spirit.
Every piece together is required, for one or two pieces are not enough, and Christians must take up every part and be clad in the whole gospel armor. Only the full armor enables withstanding in the evil day and, having done all, still to stand, even when placed in a most trying position amid opposition and criticism. This is plain direction from the highest Authority to brethren in God's work, not to be complicated or mystified.
The armor is a complete heavenly panoply, the whole armor of righteousness, the armor of righteousness, light and truth and the gospel. It is Christ's own righteousness and Christ Himself, received by being joined to God, hiding in Him, and being clothed with Christ's righteousness and with His Spirit. Those so clothed meet opposing influences with purity untarnished, continue the struggle against the deadly foe and his works of darkness in Christ's name with enmity against evil, and evil's attacks have no effect while a renewing influence lifts thoughts and desires toward God and heaven. His righteousness goes before and His glory behind, and mere profession of Christianity without a changed heart does not protect, for the carnal mind at enmity with God can serve Satan while bearing another name.
Truth protects against fiction, false interpretations and fables, and Christ's righteousness — not one's own — is the breastplate and fortress of the soul for resisting moral darkness and satanic devices. This taking up of the complete armor provided in Scripture is especially urgent for the remnant church and for those seeking to keep God's commandments amid a crooked and perverse nation, against satanic powers and not merely human opponents. It rules out a self-gratifying aimless life and calls for loyalty to God and heaven as lights, gathering and increasing light and holding it not only for today but for some special occasion to come, letting it shine on all around even though many will reject truth because accepting it involves a cross, resisting the moral darkness flooding the world.
Strength in God Alone
No one can fight the Lord's battles in human strength, self-confidence, or self-sufficiency, and growing self-knowledge only proves utter inability and the need to be clothed. Putting on the whole armor is surrendering wholly to God in sincere prayer, opening the soul to Christ's imputed righteousness, looking to Him continually and hanging the helpless soul upon His invisible power with humility and continual, increasing faith. It requires loins girt about with truth for purity of purpose to serve Christ and not self, and above all the shield of settled, intelligent faith that God knows every trial and difficulty, quenching every fiery attack from whatever source, for talking unbelief belittles His power, dishonors Him, and paralyzes spiritual energies. God is near in His great field of labor to strengthen and uphold tested workers and does not ask dependence on any broken human reed, yet each must act an individual part and cherish conscious duty to be strong, remaining continually on guard like faithful sentinels with no safety apart from meeting these conditions. Standing also requires refusing to stop to quarrel, retaliate when vexed, censure, find fault, or speak harsh impatient words, denying natural desire and inclination to accuse, crucifying self instead of brethren, keeping Christ the Pattern ever before the mind, and pledging temperance in word and spirit against every device to make people like Satan and separate them from the One who gave His life for them.
Putting on the whole gospel armor is putting on Christ by union with Him through living faith, abiding in Him and He in the believer to bear much fruit, for without Him nothing can be done. It is depending on Him who died and trusting Him constantly to supply every need, looking to Him for orders and obeying His commands, refusing any course that gives less of Jesus, which gives wisdom to see clearly the wiles, devices, and stratagems prepared to deceive and ruin. So worn, it makes believers true to God and to one another, faithful in every given duty, not striving for highest place or seeking to be first but representing present truth accurately, growing in grace, helping the weak, and brightening lives with hope and courage to conquer every foe in the power of His might and to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand. Those so connected through daily meditation, prayer, and Scripture study have a saving transforming influence, clear perceptions of truth and duty, yearning for purity and heavenly graces, sanctified boldness before God, and refinement and ennobling by intimate acquaintance with Him. For one exalted to responsibility and trust this means deeper piety, more earnest faith, more zeal as a witness of Christ's grace, constantly increasing growth in grace and knowledge of the Lord and Saviour to be fit for the work, doing all on the human part to cooperate with God, seeking light each day from Christ, using abilities and understanding of Scripture for His glory, obeying Jesus as living Saviour and Captain, and developing physical, mental, and spiritual powers by striving to know God and working by His plan to meet every emergency through imparted power.
God's Word with trust in its promises furnishes sufficient weapons for resisting temptation and recognizing Satan's devices, and the provision is sufficient to equip believers for this warfare. Preparation is faith in the Word prayerfully studied and practically applied, seeking divine wisdom in the open Bible, learning what is true, and accepting truth as the standard, which assures victory and standing on the Rock of Ages through Christ's righteousness and the blood of Christ. This readiness is especially needed as Satan's power to deceive increases toward the coming time of test, when those who received great light but did not live by it face darkness matching rejected light, while those whose works agree with light are numbered on the Lord's side.
The shield of faith guards the heart, the seat of life, so the enemy's fiery darts cannot harm, move, or overcome those who watch and remain steadfast in trust on spiritually dangerous, enchanted ground surrounded by evil angels inventing new ways to annoy and destroy. Every piece is to be taken up, for victory over Satan comes through God and Jesus, with God's watchful eye over Israel for good and angels guarding those who put trust in Him to protect and save them. When the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against him, while Satan seeks to catch saints off guard, lull them into neglecting or doubting present truth, and keep them from the seal of the living God.
Standing firm means resisting temptation as Christ did with It is written, for the struggle is against spiritual powers not merely people, and Adam yielded where Christ in human nature endured and stood. Those who receive Christ share His victory, placed on vantage ground with every provision to overcome and divine power behind every will resolutely set to do right. Wearing the armor is therefore being ever on duty, relying on God's strength, maintaining integrity, never yielding to temptation, never being unjust, neither yielding nor fleeing, holding fast with unyielding firmness, striving lawfully to be crowned, maintaining the principles of God's law at any cost, watchful with daily crucifixion of self, keeping Christ as pattern to discern the slightest taint of evil, promptly correcting divergence from truth, striving for higher attainments, helping others heavenward, and taking hold of Christ by loving faith to resist even unto blood in striving against sin. Christ's victory over temptation makes it possible for those who receive and believe in Him to overcome as He did in active conflict with the enemy.
The armor is the Lord's orders for every Christian soldier, equipping with spiritual health and power so the enemy will not overcome. Obeying those orders, relying on ample grace, and looking steadfastly to Jesus brings overcoming through Christ, dwelling on God's might rather than Satan's power or devices. Faithful laborers in earlier generations put on this armor and stood firm, their strength from trusting God not own power, called not to ease, honor, or riches but to endure hardship even unto death under Jesus' reign that keeps them from the cruel power of the prince of evil. Fighting in the strength of the Mighty One places believers on the side that will win and conquer at last, yet the greatest work and most perilous scenes with deadly conflict are still before them, requiring preparation by hearing God's voice as He still speaks in many ways and by confiding trust placing the hand in His for leading and guidance.
The command itself proves God has thoroughly equipped for warfare with the powers of darkness, so it is no mockery tantalizing the soul, for God is true and dependable under all circumstances and His Word cannot fail and in it is assurance. Every soul who would have the crown of life must fight the good fight of faith inch by inch as an overcomer, keeping the armory well supplied with It is written, with truth the Word of God, faith and righteousness, and the hope of salvation, meeting the foe and meeting advances of the enemy. Eyes anointed to be keen and sensitive detect the enemy's devices, educating and training the soul for still more severe attacks, with faith tested like gold refined by fire and the sword of the Spirit as defense.
Feelings and impulse give no shield or stability against temptation, being ruled by outward circumstances and changing influences, and without the armor assaults prevail, hold the soul in sin, leave no confidence in self or God, leave drifting without anchor, and destroy through foes seeking destruction. Inward assurance strengthens purpose and resolve against the enemy's devices, with watchfulness unto prayer, meditation and prayer keeping the heart in harmony with all God's requirements and pure amid most wicked and debasing influences. Neglecting private prayer and self-examination and giving way to recklessness is laying off the armor and leaving unguarded against an active foe laying snares, while staying near God and continually preparing for His service keeps it on. Living faith enables passing through darkness to reach the Saviour when the enemy seeks to come between believers and Christ, and keeping the armor girded on means staying firm in assigned work without restlessness or faithlessness, laying hold of divine power, looking to the Lord every moment, and praying and working in faith in whom is strength and efficiency to do valiantly and gain victory.
Devil's Schemes and Deceptions
The wiles include the devil appearing as an angel of light and even claiming to be Christ, hunting as a roaring lion seeking prey yet at other times lowering his voice to the softest whisper and coming wrapped in garments of light as an angel from heaven. He hides his real character and purposes by presenting himself as humanity's friend and benefactor doing good, persuading people that no personal enemy exists while deceiving them to ruin, so that blinded by sin they may honor him without recognizing his devices. Men have so little knowledge of these wiles and so little understanding of the mystery of iniquity that he outgenerals them almost every time, and only those grounded in eternal truth and clothed in the complete armor can stand firm through upheaval and widespread apostasy.
The wiles work through the arch-deceiver operating by deceiving human agencies to secure every soul he can just prior to the close of history, the same as his working in heaven, and they must not be met with blindness but with wakefulness and spiritual eyesight to discern the Lord's side and Satan's snares. They include opposition to God's work through men who claim to be followers of Christ but are unconsecrated, having lent talents and ability to the enemy to hinder the work. They come through human agents opposing commandment-keepers with hatred, slander, misrepresentation and attacks on character, met only by humble reliance on Jesus as advocate and holding fast to promises bringing grace and heavenly wisdom. They use unexpected methods and agents who try to lead even saints into sin, work upon human minds to hinder acceptance of truth, and bring great perplexity by taking a text of Scripture and bringing out of it what God never placed in it, to be met by proved experience and clear straight truths without entering controversy.
The wiles are suspicious distrustful thoughts and imaginings against brethren, distorted interpretations of their best purposes, imaginary unhappiness gathering about the soul, and feelings of being demerited and cringing that draw a person to withdraw alone. They work through murmuring, jealousy and unsanctified sympathy that blinds eyes, supports rebellion, gives wrong impressions while being deceived, justifies the wicked and condemns the just, and cries peace to sinners going down with sins unconfessed. Resisting them requires refusing to entertain such suggestions, standing clear of wrong influence, walking in God's light and love, accepting forgiveness by faith, and being changed in moral affections by the regenerating Holy Spirit to be complete in Christ. This standing is possible because the believer is not left as the sport of temptation but is a child of God begotten to lively hope, dwelling in God with God in him, redeemed by the Lamb's blood, with purity and love as living principles and all heaven's treasures at command.
The wiles include every possible device to make people like Satan himself and thus separate them from the One who gave His life for them, with evil angels striving for mastery so that without the whole armor a person will be overcome. They press to make people quarrel, retaliate when vexed, censure, find fault, and speak harsh disagreeable impatient words casting shadow over others, and they rush in to take advantage of a mind darkened with temptation. Standing requires denying natural desires, disposition and inclination to accuse, crucifying self instead of brethren, keeping Christ the divine Pattern ever before the mind, and pledging temperance in word and spirit. It requires refusing by voice, tones or actions to irritate others or place temptation in their way, staying armed with the word, staying close beside Jesus as protection on every side, helping one another with God's temper in sweet kind courteous disposition and pleasant kind words, because there is a heaven to win and a hell to shun.
The wiles are cunning whisperings that captivate the mind and guide thoughts, especially doubts and unbelief about Scripture facts and hints presented wisely that one scripture contradicts another as a wonderful mystery hidden from believers. Listening is serving his purposes, and talking out that unbelief to draw other weak minds into the same dark channel is most grievous, for he first unsettles the one who encouraged temptation and then leads that one to unsettle many. A hint or smallest doubt acts as a barbed arrow and slow poison undermining the whole system unto death, with ministers not standing in clear light used as agents to transmit fiery darts to unprepared minds. His wiles are also charming reasonings and temptation to cherish dissatisfaction, murmur, give willing ear and talk out unbelief to wound the cause, and those who reason and parley as though charmed by the old serpent act like children unacquainted with his workings and leave him claims upon them because they have not recovered from his snare. Standing requires repelling him at once from experience, refusing him place, refusing to spread perplexity, and holding faith in the word.
The wiles include working with pleasing fables upon minds of professed Christians in an age of infidelity and disloyalty, with destructive errors and delusions making of none effect the law of God when the law is not made the standard of character. They include lying wonders in perilous times right upon us, when the sick are healed and other marvels are wrought to deceive if possible the very elect. Those not standing firmly for truth will be deceived by these wonders and unite with the unbelieving who love and make a lie, while those prepared by firm stand on the Word as defense will not fall an easy prey. They include falsehoods and confusing objections against truth supplied by the prince of darkness rather than the Bible, meant to confuse hearers and oppose God's law and Sabbath, whose weakness becomes apparent when examined at length. To press firmly against them is to uphold the law as detector of sin and to take firm stand on the Word by every responsible worker.
The wiles are numberless skillful plans and methods, with dissimulation become a fine art, working in guise of an angel of light to contaminate the world with false ruinous principles bearing appearance of genuine goodness. They work to restrict religious liberty and bring into the religious world a species of slavery, bringing men under control of men, with fraud and guile bearing semblance of zeal for truth and advancement of the kingdom. Whatever in practice is not as open as day belongs to the methods of the prince of evil, and unless organizations and institutions are kept by God's power they work under his dictation. His methods are practiced even among Seventh-day Adventists claiming advanced truth, so sleepless vigilance is the price of safety and standing means remaining in the straight path of truth and righteousness as the only escape from the tempter's power.
The wiles are ingenious deceptive plans to captivate and ruin souls, including delusive power exercised through commercialism of various kinds and corruption constantly invented, met only in Christ who met the wily foe in every stage of human life from infancy to counterwork him. Christ alone understands the enemy's deceptive power, alone can defeat him, having taken human nature to live and suffer and die to win deceived souls to the Lord's side, and He works to uncover the tempter's plans and teach men and women to discern, escape and turn from the archdeceiver. Girding on the armor here means resolute readiness for the Lord's work without delay, with self-denial and consecration rather than spending entrusted means on selfish gratification, resisting temptation to divert resources into commercial ventures and using means to support soul-saving work in cities. The snares include improper familiarity breaking down modesty and reserve between men and women, and a heart tainted by this influence will repeat the course unless truly converted and will be less able to resist devices. Being armored with purity as shield against every evil work means thoughts centered on God pure as crystal and sanctified, life spotless on strict rectitude with no inclination to step off, knowing temptations' evil character and Satan as author, preventing close common mingling of sacred and common that confuses righteousness and gives excuse for liberties. For women in sanitarium work keeping this heavenly armor means guarding speech and conduct, remaining modest kind and courteous without undue familiarity and avoiding even appearance of evil so as to give no occasion to speak against truth, with faith in Christ and eternal realities guarding against being led astray.
The wiles include cunning woven-in snares seeking to take one pin or one single thing from the structure of truth, for taking even one point will soon cause the whole to be gone, as in Ballenger's effort. They include moves to bring the Daily into prominence as a great matter to confuse minds, hinder saving perishing souls, and bring confusion into ranks, giving Satan hold when place is given to dispute over unimportant questions not a testing question, opening the way for satanic agencies and for Lucifer watching every movement and letting his cause triumph. Standing against them means rallying because the devil is far busier than believers, putting away discouraging talk, refusing to meet opponents on the devil's own ground, and standing firm as rock on truths already received. It means not introducing that subject, not hunting up differences of opinion, keeping silence as eloquence and wisdom, burying every difference, pressing together in harmony, and devoting all physical and mental power to taking up work without delay. The same readiness applies to facing opposition intended to undermine warnings given about Kellogg, as a picture of being spiritually prepared for action.
The wiles include hidden snares and temptation to gain advantage and draw people from God, so that joining to an unbeliever places one on Satan's ground, grieves the Spirit, and forfeits God's protection in the struggle for eternal life. They include disguising pleasurable amusements as innocent to weaken spirituality, so that turning from Christ's service is like a deserter joining the enemy, while faithful service resists that influence and helps others toward God. They include snares of improper familiarity breaking modesty and reserve, and encouragement of improper familiarity with one married to another, doing grievous wrong to a faithful spouse and bringing bitter humiliation and distress. Standing against them means refusing in every case to receive affections of a married person, having God's law written on heart and obeyed rather than transgressed, knowing each must give individual account to Him who reads the heart. Guarding requires faith in Christ and attention to eternal realities lest a tainted heart repeat the same course and become less able to resist.
Standing in Last Days
The evil day is the sifting just before the close of this earth's history, when every case is decided for eternity before the soon coming of the Lord, and those who have had great light and have not walked in it will face darkness corresponding to the light they despised, while those whose works correspond with the light graciously given will be numbered on the Lord's side. The enemy is diligently working to add souls to the ranks of apostasy, with unjust persons found among those who claim to be God's children, so waiting and watching must be joined with vigilant working, with no neutral position, no folded hands and no sleep, but active earnest effort to represent Christ and save perishing souls. Only the pure in heart whose soul-temple is purified by truth and whose mind is strengthened to look deep and discern the reasons of faith will be able to stand, while haphazard work brings spiritual declension and leaves that day to overtake as a thief. The church is now militant, not triumphant, and must fight seen and unseen foes, for satanic agencies in human form are on the ground, men have confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts, and in every city satanic agencies are busily organizing into parties those opposed to the law of God, with professed saints and avowed unbelievers taking their stand with these parties. These confederacies will continue until Christ leaves His place of intercession before the mercy seat and puts on the garments of vengeance, so this is no time to be weaklings but to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, never off guard for one moment.
In the last great conflict two opposing parties over building up the kingdom of God will continue until the closing of earth's history, amid constantly changing scenes, increasing confederacies creating opposing influences to the truth, new parties of professed believers acting out delusive theories, increasing apostasy, and some foes not yet developed. Standing then requires never dropping guard for a moment, awaking to the situation, having God as sufficiency with living testimony from converted hearts, praying more and more, earnest effort, diligent study of the Word, talking less of matters of little consequence, giving decided testimony to encourage weak and needy souls, and refusing weak, indecisive, haphazard living or betraying holy trust for self-benefit. Fitness for the coming test, when deceiving power comes from every side in strange ways with devices that infatuate many and when everything that can be shaken will be shaken, is the Word of God as the standard of resistance, put on by abiding in Christ through knowing His Word and doing it, which calls for Bible teaching that roots ministers in truth. In the coming crisis and season of calamity those who defend the truth, including eleventh-hour workers, will gird themselves with this armor as they uphold God's law, keep the faith of Jesus, defend religious liberty, vindicate the law and magnify it and make it honorable, pressing the battle to the gates, for in this war against Satan's untiring attack on the law there is no release and the work must advance or it will go backward.
Proclaiming the third angel's message requires every piece of the armor — the gospel of peace, righteousness and truth — to stand bravely and boldly against detraction and falsehood, fighting the good fight of faith with the weapon Christ used, God's written word, trusting Father, Son and Holy Spirit as strength and efficiency, secure in Him when fully given to God, and speaking truth with power in the latter rain and loud cry. This warfare includes meeting the Sunday movement by working and watching and praying, humbling the heart before God, crying aloud and sparing not, combining teaching and healing through ministers and medical missionaries in Washington and Baltimore and many other large cities of the South and East, coming up to the help of the Lord against the mighty powers of darkness, clearing the King's highway and lifting the standard higher and still higher with a certain sound. After the midnight cry and the 1844 shut door, while Jesus still stands between God and man and the sealing is being finished, the whole armor must be kept on to be ready for battle at any moment, fighting every inch of ground because Satan has come down in great power knowing his time is short. Standing is done with the commandments of God written in heart and mind, going on strong and bold crying the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus even when opposers are many and tall like the sons of Anak, holding firm by proved experience and presenting clear straight truths God has vindicated without entering into controversy, in readiness to meet the coming Lord in peace and to be hid in the time of trouble. Keeping every piece on is necessary to stand awake and faithful at the end amid confusion upon confusion, increasing crime, corrupt and exposed rulers, and the Spirit of God withdrawn from wicked nations that have discarded God's Word and exalt false theories and false laws above His commandments, so God's workers must do an individual work to fit themselves, resist error, doubt and distraction from what is essential, stand as faithful watchmen, sound the last message of warning, prepare the church, and get ready for the closing scenes soon to come.
Unceasing Watchful Warfare
The warfare is aggressive, not mimic battles or make-believe conflict, and true godliness wherever it exists arouses enmity because evil ever wars against good. It begins when a person leaves the black banner of darkness to range under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel and continues until God delivers His people from this present evil world, with no release from it in between. Everyone on the side of right must fight hand to hand with the enemy, with foes both within and without, amid numerous deceiving temptations made more perilous because not always clearly discerned. The adversaries are most powerful, not flesh and blood, and strength for the emergency is found where the early disciples found it, with self merged in Christ and Christ in God in united prayer. Satan often conquers through natural inclinations and appetites divinely appointed pure and holy to be ruled by reason but perverted by indulgence into fleshly lusts warring against the soul, requiring constant watching unto prayer and control by sanctified reason lest they cause backsliding.
The armor must never be laid off for a moment but kept on continually, in work and in rest, in sleep and in waking, for safety is assured only then. One victory does not free from further assaults, for the enemy assails again and again and must be constantly resisted with trust ever put in Christ. The armor is to be worn throughout the work and struggle and not cast off before release from service, since to lay it aside leaves the soldier vulnerable and seeks an opening for dishonoring the cause, like discouragement or desertion from the army. When the work is finished and the promised peace and joy are entered, then the armor may be laid aside and the battle left behind. Between light and darkness, truth revealed and error as darkness, righteousness and unrighteousness, there can be no compromise or fellowship, which is why continual readiness is required against wiles that can appear harmless, plausible, subtle and persuasive.
The Christian life is a daily spiritual struggle and march of duty, not mortal combat, requiring girding for battle and laying aside every weight and besetting sin while laboring to advance the work. It demands continual readiness to obey the Captain of salvation at every moment, without putting personal ease, convenience, pleasure, or worldly work first, and without taking a time of repose from duty. Putting on every piece of the complete gospel armor makes workers safe from defeat as they form characters in harmony with the Word, while angels observe words and actions and righteousness is brought into all the work.
Safety is the price of sleepless vigilance, remaining in the straight path of truth and righteousness as the only escape from the tempter's power. Neglecting self-examination and secret prayer is laying the armor aside, and when worldly cares crowd them out Satan gains access, dulls the spiritual senses, and leaves souls unsuspecting of his snares. Giving oneself to recklessness and distance from God leaves one unguarded before an active foe laying snares, while staying close to God and continually preparing for His service keeps the armor on and enables resistance. His wiles are numberless skillful plans with dissimulation become a fine art, working in the guise of an angel of light with false ruinous principles bearing appearance of genuine goodness, fraud and guile bearing semblance of zeal, seeking to restrict religious liberty and bring a species of slavery under men, so that whatever in practice is not as open as day belongs to the prince of evil.
Standing takes all the strength possessed, with earnest prayer and unyielding faith relying on the merits of the blood of a crucified Redeemer and claiming His saving strength. That divine help is felt only by knowing one's own ignorance and weakness and distrusting self, building firm religious principles as a Bible student with an active unselfish consecrated heart and life and an eye single to God's glory, where faith replaces doubt. Every possible door against Satan's entrance must be closed, including in family life so he can take no advantage of anything said or done to tear one another down, for he will contend for the usefulness or life of the godly and try to mar their peace as long as they live. When powers of darkness gather about the soul and shut Jesus from sight, safety lies in trusting and depending solely on the merits of the atonement, waiting patiently in hope with the will swallowed up in God's will until the cloud passes, a living faith that carries unharmed through the fiery furnace of affliction in the closing history as the form of the Fourth was with those in the furnace.
When weariness, longing for release, and discouragement come in strife against internal foes and formed habits, the armor must be girded on anew and the striving for eternal life continued. Looking into the mirror and discerning defects of character should set one to work by personal effort in penitence and repentance through faith in Christ's grace to overcome them. Rising again in view of the prize and toiling on to gain it takes persistent energy, patient industry, unwearied effort, untiring zeal, courage and vigilance, and this self-conquest and perfection of heart is washing robes of character white in the blood of the Lamb. Those who love ease, indulgence and self-gratification fail in that work.
Standing requires a faith that works by love and purifies the heart, not a mere only-believe faith, for Satan believed and trembled. It takes the fixed position never to violate the commandments at any cost, pressing firmly against Satan's wiles and urging truth against pleasing fables, destructive errors and delusions that make the law of none effect in an age of infidelity and disloyalty when the law is not made the standard of character. To stand is to uphold the law as the detector of sin and to remain in spiritual condition to educate others, watching Satan's devices and attractions that lead the mind from God while constantly seeking God's aid and pressing toward the mark of the high calling in Jesus.
Only the pure in heart can stand firm against deceptive schemes, for the soul is purified by the truth and purity brought about by truth is necessary in view of the close of earth's history, calling for vigilance and active work rather than spiritual carelessness. Meeting every influence with untarnished purity requires a mind trained, sharpened and strengthened by divine enlightenment to discern the reasons of faith, with prayer, communion with God, knowledge of His Word and true holiness renewing the soul. Defects of character and wrong tendencies left unconquered can become desires that war against the soul.
Unity Among Fellow Soldiers
The conflict with the prince of darkness is constant and must be severe, and the wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, so believers must be united in the warfare, cease to war against those of their own faith, and let no one help Satan in his work. Where his power is strongly entrenched through a strong Catholic element as at West Maitland, workers must stay united with all combined forces in one line rather than dividing, learn the Scriptures, apply the mind closely, and present the truth in a clear connected manner with no haphazard work in order to complete the work strongly. Every member of the church is called to strive together for unity by seeking the preparedness of heart that all must have to enter heaven, which requires careful self-examination to see why one is not drawing in even cords with brethren, instead of weakening influence by dwelling on faults and mistakes seen in others. Being able to stand involves patience and kindness and forbearance with one another, with everyone in the family circle standing wholly under the control of Jesus Christ with words and works patterned after His works, and with the gospel shoes of peace calling servants to approach others without anger or harshness and to walk humbly before God whatever their position.
Christians are soldiers fighting for an immortal crown under the eye of God and must be brave in God and point weapons of warfare outward against the spiritual enemy, not form a hollow square and aim destruction at fellow servants under the same banner. There is no time for wounding and tearing down one another, and strength for the battle comes only through being born again and sanctified by practicing the truth. Selfishness, bitter complaints, and turning against fellow workers serve Satan's purposes, and workers must resist this influence rather than join Satan's side by directing their weapons against one another. In controversy over Bible truth the real conflict is with spiritual powers and the rulers of darkness, not with human opponents. Contending for truth therefore means relying on God rather than self and guarding against Satan's efforts to exploit personal defects such as a hasty, irritable spirit, since such conduct can weaken the effect of even strong arguments.
Criticizing fellow believers and dwelling on their mistakes leaves defects in the armor through which Satan can attack, bringing bitterness, jealousy, and evil suspicion and weakening spiritual life. The remedy is to follow Scripture's counsel by speaking privately to a brother about his fault with tender love, praying for him, and avoiding self-righteous comparison. Those who wear the armor stand as faithful sentinels for God, refusing to favor any person and doing the work given with humble faith and sincerity, defending their brethren and remaining loyal and true to them rather than discovering, exaggerating, and spreading their defects. To despise such faithful workers is to side with the enemy, for to accuse the brethren and delight in telling their imperfections and wrongs is satanic and does Satan's work. Standing clear from wrong influence in order to discern the wiles and not be found with those who are deceiving and being deceived means resisting the enemy's attributes of envy, jealousy, criticism, misrepresentation, murmuring, unsanctified sympathy, and efforts to divide people. Such unsanctified sympathy blinds eyes, supports rebellion, gives wrong impressions to others while being deceived by them, justifies the wicked and condemns the just, and cries peace to sinners going down with sins unconfessed, whereas God's servants are to work humbly and sincerely, refusing to take sides and seeking to restore others rather than damage their character.
Standing requires counseling together rather than following one man's mind alone, for Satan may move through one man's mind, but with several minds enlisted there is greater safety against his wiles, plans are more liable to be viewed from all sides, and available talents may be brought into their proper place. Satan works as the accuser and seeks to break the unity Christ established among believers by stirring up suspicion, prejudice, jealousy, and party spirit, so suspecting evil of one another and letting such thoughts control the mind serves the enemy's divisive work. Soldiers in active warfare against Satan and his forces, not against one another, must therefore remain faithful and frank with one another, protect one another's interests, and follow Christ their Captain rather than listen to accusations or imagine evil about fellow workers. In the time of peril before the coming of the Lord every person is beset by deceptions and readiness to meet Christ is not gained in a moment but by vigilant waiting and watching combined with earnest work, by pressing together to resist his power, being of one mind, speaking the same things, and with one mouth glorifying God, and when this unity prevails the church advances from success to success in finishing the great work before it.
Workers Youth and Home
Put on the whole armor of God in order to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, and ministers especially need to be clothed with this whole armor so they may live an exemplary life before church members and younger laborers. In ministry this means persevering with courage and energy rather than becoming discouraged and abandoning opportunities to bring people to Christ. The minister must be ready to endure hardship and spend himself in that work, and without this commitment he should leave the ministry.
Ministers are generals in the army of the great King against Satan the great rebel leader and his host, and putting on the whole armor means refusing all sympathy with the enemy and giving him no opening. Removing even a portion exposes the cause of God and the sacred truths of His word to the reproaches of the rebel host, lays open the weakest points to the deadliest foes, weakens the minister, strengthens the hands of the rebel leaders, and lets Satan hurl in his poisoned arrows and triumph with his hellish clan. True generalship keeps the whole armor on and guards the gospel from the insults of the ungodly even at the cost of life, shedding blood in its defense rather than allowing the enemy to triumph. Going into battle unarmed and unarmored and relying on own judgment without sincere prayer leaves judgment under the guidance of the enemy of all good, makes discourses spiritless, obstructs the channels so the living water of life cannot flow through, and prevents the light of heaven from penetrating the dense fog of lukewarmness and sinfulness.
Those engaged in preaching and publishing present truth must keep the whole armor on because Satan actively and specially and craftily attacks them and seeks to divert their minds from their work. The armor is not to be laid aside until the Lord releases them, for they are enlisted in God's army to serve until the battle ends, and deserting would dishonor God. They must remain watchful, humble, and firmly dependent on God rather than becoming self-sufficient or treating sacred work as ordinary, with Jesus as their righteousness and defense.
Putting on God's armor equips workers for the work God calls them to do, for as they cooperate with divine power they receive the talent, courage, perseverance, faith, and tact needed to resist the enemy's efforts to divert them and to carry the warning to others. As canvassers take up their work they receive the fitness needed to labor for people who do not know the truth and to carry the message worldwide. Those who have received great light through the three angels' messages are to proclaim them throughout the world, united in giving the final warning, needing the Lord's armor as they work to bring the light of truth to people who do not know it.
God's people must rely on the Lord's strength and put on His complete armor to stand against the devil's schemes, for the struggle is spiritual and not against human opponents, and God equips His servants with truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and His word to withstand evil and defend revealed truth. Young people overcome the wicked one by relying on God's strength and putting on every piece, ready to resist the tempter when he tries to lead them astray. This spiritual strength is joined with daily self-examination, earnest prayer, and diligent study of Scripture, which with God's help shape character for the society of the redeemed, and connection with God makes believers strong enough to associate with unbelievers in order to win them to Christ without being harmed by their influence. Satan works to draw young people from faith and duty, including through worldly marriage alliances, gradual skepticism, temptations disguised as light, and efforts to secure them in sin and oppose efforts that lead them toward God and the light. When young Christians abandon faith and religious principles to fit in with irreligious companions they go into danger without that protection and leave themselves exposed to Satan's attacks, while connection with God gives power to resist his devices and stand against him.
Parents are called to put on the whole armor and gird themselves for the battle of managing and training their children, meaning studying and obeying God's Word, learning God's will and way, and keeping the rules and government of the home in strict accordance with a Thus saith the Lord in perfect harmony with the divine plan. Parents must equip themselves with God's armor for the spiritual battle involved in guiding and educating their children according to God's will, and God aids and encourages them as they move in the right direction, working with power in them to will and to do of His own good pleasure as human effort cooperates with divine effort to work out their own and their children's salvation. Taking the armor means putting forth unselfish, persevering effort to train children to bear responsibilities and to practice Bible lessons, laboring for their conversion and keeping spiritual interests fresh and wholesome, and teaching them by parental example to become missionaries themselves, with the assurance that the Lord will work with such parental effort. This duty belongs to places where Sabbath-keepers gather for day schools under a consecrated Christian teacher, because every such place is a missionary field and the work must be done while it is day before the night comes, and the battle against evil begins with preparation, with parents preparing their children before birth to face temptation successfully.
Putting on the armor means being prepared to carry out the work God gives even when plans for rest must be set aside, applied as a call to take up needed work in Battle Creek rather than leave for rest. It also means leaving Battle Creek and going forth into needy fields to labor for the Lord, for it is high time to do it and it does not please God to stay in a place that has been worked over and over again. Remaining there holds workers back and encourages others to drift in, where some become unbelievers in the Testimonies given to God's people or even infidels, and where the truths that lie at the very foundation of faith are sacrificed. Girding on the armor means preparing to press forward together in unity until the Boulder Sanitarium succeeds, advancing despite discouragement and danger of failure without tarrying, moving forward as united soldiers trusting that God works for victory and that heavenly power supports them.
Getting a right hold from above to stand against the devil keeps him from making one his agent in the family circle to cast a shadow where light could be reflected. Its protection is needed to stop harsh, unsympathetic, unkind words that make difficulties and sorrows harder for others and that will be met again in the day of Judgment, and to cultivate instead a Christlike kind, compassionate, loving spirit with courtesy, affection, tenderness, and religion in the home. Being able to stand when opposed in the work means not letting self rise up but being grieved because Christ is wounded, daily assimilating the spirit to Christ's Spirit, sending the heart out in earnest supplication for help from God wherever one is, and being filled with earnest longing for Christ, His help and His love, which keeps Satan from taking possession of the heart and draws angels of God around. Throwing oneself into the arms of Jesus brings help and suggestions just when needed to stand and resist all arguments brought against the truth, with no glory taken to self because God imbues the mind and gives the power to withstand opposition, so to God belongs the glory for every thought and effort that beats back the enemy.
Service Purity and Victory
Putting on the whole armor is part of cultivating personal piety and living by righteous principles, relying on Christ's righteousness to protect the spiritual life and pursuing rectitude in every action. Standing in that armor includes striving with the Holy Spirit's help for victory over one's own inclinations. It also requires acting carefully so that conduct does not bring discredit on good works, while guarding the soul and standing firm in truth as part of being strong.
True soldiers are those strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, who do not live as though Christ were not a risen, ascended Saviour. Putting on the armor means yoking up with Christ, putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and making no provision for the flesh. It means praying for the Holy Spirit, girding up the loins of the mind, putting a bridle upon the tongue, humbling self without self-exaltation, and becoming converted and humble as a little child with childlike faith. It means removing the criticizing spirit that does Satan's work, standing ready to go wherever Providence leads, and holding talents, learning, position, wealth, or influence not as one's own but as the Lord's lent treasure to strengthen His flock as messengers of mercy and ministers of grace. At no time or place is anyone free to act out the temper of the natural heart, for that is what Satan wants, and those bearing the most solemn message ever given must not work in finite individuality lest they be left to carry on the warfare alone, but must learn of Jesus.
The armored life is steadfast adherence to principle and resistance to every kind of corruption. This faithfulness distinguishes those who bear God's seal, even the seal of the living God, from those who receive the beast's mark. Keeping on this heavenly armor means keeping a strict guard over self in word and action. For young women connected with medical institutions and for women working in sanitariums, this requires reserve, modesty, kindness and courtesy without freedom or undue familiarity, especially never showing the slightest freedom when speaking to married men or to men generally. Observant eyes watch conduct and judge by it whether they are children of God, so keeping the armor is abstaining from every appearance of evil and never giving wicked men by word or action the least occasion to speak evil of the truth. Those who will not keep it should sever connection with the sanitarium, where poor shipwrecked souls are to find a haven.
Being armored with purity is a shield against every evil work. With thoughts centered upon God, pure as crystal and sanctified by virtue, the life is spotless and remains on the path of strict rectitude with no inclination to step off it. The armor gives power to resist Satan on every hand, however enticing, artful, or strong the temptations, by knowing their evil character and Satan as their author. It prevents close, common familiarity that mingles the sacred and the common, confuses righteousness and purity, and gives others excuse for liberties with women and girls. Workers, especially youth laboring among the fallen and degraded, must therefore be young men and young women of prayer, wise with the wisdom God alone gives, with characters that have precaution. They must pledge themselves before God to resist every temptation to evil and to keep their morals pure, watching Satan's designs and steadfastly resisting his insidious approaches that would lead them to disregard solemn vows and be contaminated and degraded in character.
In the conflict over Sunday observance, strength from God and His whole armor enable believers to stand against the devil's schemes rather than conform outwardly to pressure. The struggle is spiritual rather than against human opponents, so believers should resist surrendering God's law without stirring needless hostility. Ministers and evangelists must put on God's whole armor as they work in and against the Sunday movement, while watching and praying. Nehemiah's refusal to be frightened into abandoning his work or sinning shows how this call applies when God's people face threats and deception, and a similar trial would confront Seventh-day Adventists. Taking God's full protection is girding for the spiritual conflict ahead by rejecting the world's plans, customs, and conniving and giving no room to selfishness, dishonesty, and craftiness seeking to enter the heart, with each person doing his own work and making his own decisions and refusing to sustain another in a wrong course, which puts one on the enemy's side, after Nehemiah's example of refusing wrong because of the fear of God.
Putting on the armor is putting on watchfulness by meditation and prayer. That watchfulness keeps the heart in harmony with all God's requirements and enables a person to remain pure and uncorrupted while surrounded with the most wicked and debasing influences. Coming forth from pleading with God to plead with fellow men, it gives courage to work the works of God and to warn sinners without masking the truth to find favor with unbelievers. That close connection is man dwelling with God and God taking up His abode with man, with Jesus enshrined in the heart, giving the testimony that the ways please God and making fruit-bearing trees. Enoch in this is the representative of the saints who live amid the perils and corruptions of the last days, and as he for faithful obedience was translated, so the faithful who are alive and remain and put on this armor will be translated from a sinful world to heaven, an experience that is the privilege of every believer today, not confined to Enoch, Elijah, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, or martyrs.
Girding on the armor anew means standing at one's post, resisting the devil, renewing readiness, and fighting manfully the battles of the Lord. Standing against the devil requires awaking, breaking away from the awful deception Satan has thrown over the mind, laying hold on everlasting life, and refusing to listen to evil angels whispering in the ears and visiting with lying dreams, lest God's Spirit be grieved entirely away. Those who do so will be victorious and will soon lay off the armor to wear a conqueror's crown and receive a rich inheritance bought by the agony and blood of the Son of God, the crown of eternal life for those who remain faithful.