Ephesians 6:16, commentary and pictures

Above all, taking up the shield of faith makes it possible to quench every fiery dart of the wicked one, the attacks and temptations of Satan the enemy. The shield belongs to the whole armor of God with truth, righteousness, readiness of the gospel of peace, salvation, the word of God, and continual prayer to withstand in the evil day. Taking it means settled heart belief that God knows every trial, is near to strengthen and uphold, and is to be looked to alone rather than to human aid. It is living faith in Christ's merits and blood and in God's word studied and obeyed, kept by looking steadfastly to Jesus rather than to the enemy's power or to one's own unworthiness. Cherished unbelief casts the shield away and leaves the soul exposed, while constant confidence quenches every dart, turns the attack back upon Satan, and enables standing firm to the end as more than conquerors through Christ.

Armor Words Explained

Above all means faith taken up as a shield gives power to put out every burning missile of the wicked one, the enemy, Satan, in the fight against spiritual evil, so that believers can withstand evil and stand firm. Faith is the shield within the call to grow strong in the Lord and put on the whole armor of God to stand against the devil and his tricks. It belongs to God's armor for meeting Satan and his agents and for withstanding in the evil day after having done all.

The shield stands together with truth fastened about the waist, righteousness worn as breastplate, feet fitted with readiness of the gospel of peace, salvation worn as helmet, and the word of God wielded as sword of the Spirit, with continual prayer, watchfulness, perseverance and supplication for all believers. The whole armor is for becoming strong in the Lord and in the power of His might to stand against the wiles of the devil and to withstand in the evil day, because the wrestling is not against flesh and blood or human enemies but against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places. The militant church must put it on now in a real fight against seen and unseen foes, including satanic agencies in human form organizing in every city against God's law, with professed saints and avowed unbelievers confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts until Christ leaves intercession before the mercy seat and puts on garments of vengeance, so this is no time to be weaklings and no moment to be off guard.

One or two pieces are not enough, for the whole gospel armor is needed to stand against the devil, withstand temptation and withstand the evil day. Every piece God has provided is essential and must be girded on and kept on, with the whole body prepared and no part left off, by those preaching truth where God has precious souls while Satan contests every point and every inch of ground. Taking the armor in that contested work means trusting God for strength and blessing, refusing to fail or be discouraged, refusing to leave the field of battle, standing at post as a faithful sentinel and giving the enemy no quarter, exposing error in its deceptive and fatal character and showing truth firm as the eternal hills, enduring increased bitterness and opposition, and pressing the battle to the gates with the answer that Satan shall never gain the victory because the God of Israel is on the side of truth and righteousness. Dependence on God's Word is essential to that stand, and believers must be armed with faith and prayer and rely on the Lord rather than their own abilities or organizations to withstand Satan's deceptions, for after doing all one can there is assurance of victory in Christ's righteousness.

The armor is not human armor but God's own strength, even Christ Himself and His righteousness and the gospel armor heaven provides. Hiding in Him makes its weight bearable when it feels too heavy to carry, protects faith so the wicked one cannot harass or confuse it, and supplies His own peace and strength for what the believer cannot manage alone. Keeping God's glory ever in view anoints the eyes with heavenly eyesalve to look deeper and see afar off what the world is — its dishonesty, craftiness, selfish eye-service, pretence, boasting, want of fair honest dealing in ordinary life, and grasping covetousness — and enables taking a stand by precept and example to represent Christ and convert souls from the world by sound principles, firm integrity, hatred of all dissembling, and holy boldness in acknowledging Christ, rather than yielding to men and losing the soul. Joining to Jesus and keeping close to His side, hiding self in Christ and trusting in God, bringing every God-given ability into subjection to Christ and always representing truth as it is in Jesus, is the only safety against opponents who hate the truth and seek to provoke hasty words to use against believers, giving full and complete victory over irritated human nature, giving strength and confidence, sustaining believers, glorifying God, and making the contrast between truth and error clear, whereas leaving the armor off lets words be spoken that give no strength, lets one's own spirit flash forth, dishonors God, and lets Satan triumph.

The Bible is the armory where this equipment is obtained, with truth about the loins, righteousness as breastplate, salvation as helmet on the brow, faith held in the hand as shield, and the Word of God as sword of the Spirit from God's abundant provision for successful warfare against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. The armor is for cutting a way through the ranks of bitter foes, requiring readiness to follow the Captain wherever He leads and to be doers of His Word and not deceive oneself. Faith in God's Word as shield and weapon supplies inner power to turn aside the enemy's attacks, resist every temptation and deceptive appeal that would draw the mind away from Jesus, and meet the foe with It is written, keeping the armory well supplied with Scripture and educating and training the soul inch by inch in the good fight of faith for still more severe attacks, with eyes anointed to be keen and sensitive to detect the devices of the enemy. Strength to stand comes from being strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, for God has made true provision to thoroughly equip for warfare with the powers of darkness, so His commands and promises are not mockery, His Word cannot fail, and His Word is the place to find assurance and counsel for gaining the crown of life.

The armor is also invoked simply as the image of Christian life as serious warfare for eternal interests and the call to gird for battle and put on the whole armor of God to stand firm against opposition. In that use the struggle is serious because Satan seeks to weaken believers' forces, destroy courage, and prevent effective action, calling for disciplined, harmonious action and readiness for God's work and the great review, without further explaining the shield of faith or the fiery darts.

Warfare and Enemy

The struggle described is not against human opponents of flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places, requiring strength in the Lord and in the power of His might to stand against the wiles of the devil and to withstand in the evil day. It is a real fight against seen and unseen foes, including satanic agencies in human form organizing in every city those opposed to God's law, with professed saints and avowed unbelievers confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts until intercession ends and vengeance is put on, so this is no time to be weaklings or off guard. That enmity reaches into one's own household and heart, into opposition from close family and into hereditary and cultivated tendencies seeking control, and victory there begins with watchfulness and prayer in the struggle within and depends only on the free Spirit of God. God does not shield from these trials of world and household and heart and temptation and corrupting influence, but prepares to meet and resist them, calling for perseverance and self-conquest over inherited tendencies and wrong habits for lasting victory. Connecting with an unbeliever in marriage gives Satan advantage in this battle of shafts aimed at the soul and forfeits that protection.

The adversary is artful and busy and active in untiring work against God's law, bringing special power to bear upon those preaching and publishing present truth as his special marks, watching going out and coming in and working most successfully in darkness where his devices are unknown. If his method were understood he could gain no advantage, yet unguarded minds give him entrance to divert from the great work, obtain a foothold, and strike down leaders to affect inexperienced minds. His attacks come thick and fast as he watches for opportunities to weaken, and human beings naturally captive cannot resist by their own power, for every other defense is vain and his power is limited only through Christ living within by living faith with earnest prayer of faith frustrating his strongest efforts. The conflict between truth and holiness and error and ungodliness is therefore unceasing with no release and no period of repose and no laying off protection sick or well, a constant battle and march requiring instant obedience to the Captain without dwelling on self or consulting ease or convenience or pleasure. The work must advance or go backward, fought manfully inch by inch and pressed even to the gates, with faith not relaxing in hard dark places but cherishing God's power to uphold and following His guidance in upholding His law.

Christ commands as Captain of salvation and Prince Immanuel, with soldiers marshalled only under His banner and blood-stained banner for an eternal invisible world and with the whole universe and angels from the heavenly courts fighting beside them, so that while under His banner they can never be conquered. Taking the shield quenches every fiery dart and, with the other preparations, brings supernatural assistance so human weakness does deeds of Omnipotence, provided there is faithful obedience to orders, unity, dying to self, hiding in Jesus, and refusal to criticize fellow workers. The fight is against spiritual enemies and not against flesh and blood and not against one another or fellow soldiers, but for building His kingdom, with every brain and voice enlisted and the trumpet giving a certain sound summoning all to engage in the time of the end. Like soldiers drilling for battle, those fighting for Him need earnest painstaking preparation and actual drilling like an army, taking part in the drill and learning to obey before being fitted to command, so as to be ready for any emergency and actual service at the call. That readiness is for battles in different countries against tradition and superstition and error, and mere training for games does not prepare for spiritual victories or make faithful soldiers.

Faith That Shields

Taking the shield means establishing the heart in settled belief that God knows every trial and difficulty met in the warfare against evil, that He is near to strengthen and uphold, and that His promised help and everlasting strength can be depended on. Faith so understood looks to God alone and does not depend on human aid or human strength, on broken reeds, or on putting man where God should be, for no one can fight the battles of the Lord in his own strength. Growing self-knowledge brings consciousness of inability and need for loins girt about with truth, purity of purpose, and service to the Lord Jesus Christ and not to self, with humble trust in God's wisdom, power and love as the sinner's only hope joined to faithful obedience. Taking it in this way clothes a person with the whole armor of God to stand against the wiles of the devil in the evil day and to be a successful co-laborer with Christ.

The shield is trusting reliance on the merits of the blood of Christ and the atonement of the crucified and risen Saviour, held with earnest prayer and unyielding faith in claiming His saving strength. It is being clothed with the righteousness of Christ by faith which God will accept, received as strength in Jesus made one's own by trusting Christ as Saviour and relying on His power to forgive, and joined to God the person is protected from the shafts of evil. Clad in this panoply of heaven believers successfully resist the serpent's wiles, and Satan's power against the trusting Christian is limited so that he may heat the furnace, contend for usefulness or life, mar peace and gather darkness to shut Jesus from sight, yet Jesus and angels watch so the fire cannot destroy or hurt the true metal and only the dross is consumed. Taking the shield in this sense means closing every door against Satan, casting every idol out of the heart, refusing to serve God and mammon, keeping the grace of God as an abiding principle that keeps spiritual eyesight clear to discern danger and expel sin including cherished lust which wars against the Spirit, with each family member living so Satan can take no advantage of what is said or done to tear one another down. It acts most in terrible seasons when hope seems to fail and despair seizes, by waiting patiently in hope in darkness, depending solely on the atonement in helpless unworthiness, with faith and submission that swallows the will in the will of God, pleading for patience to endure and grace to overcome, and those who hold it this way will never perish.

It is living, abiding faith that works by love and purifies the soul, needed for the stern conflicts Christians must face with every piece of God's armor. Such faith must be prayed for, kept on at all times, exercised and increased through activity and trusting Christ's help toward maturity, for it will be tested severely and in every way as gold is tested in fire. Within the heart unbelief strives against faith, and believers must obey God's orders and rely on the help of the One who is mighty to quench every attack of the wicked one and keep the powers of darkness from gaining the advantage.

It is faith in God's word prayerfully studied and put into practice, which shields from Satan's power and his invisible agents and brings off conquerors through the blood of Christ and of the Lamb. It must be taken up now to arm for the contest soon to be engaged against Satan as Christ's personal enemy, with evil angels on every track moving bad men and working marvels, miracles, healings before the eyes, lying wonders, deceptive healings and miracles more fully exhibited that will tempt many to receive them as from God. Those who depart from God's plain precepts and commandments and give heed to fables are preparing their minds to receive those lying wonders and will be ensnared and taken, while this shield with the word of God as the only successful weapon protects, makes alert to his devices, and enables resistance in the fight of faith carried on against each advance of the enemy.

The shield is kept by steadfastly looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith, which increases faith as Christ supplies grace to those who cooperate with God, rather than dwelling on the enemy's power. It guards the heart, the seat of life and the very life, from the enemy's fiery temptations and darts, enabling believers to withstand them and have complete victory through Jesus and God's care, and to stand firm against efforts to make them careless or doubtful about present truth. It is weakened and lost when people turn from Jesus to dwell on their own unworthiness, while looking instead to Jesus, His worthiness, love, merits and mercy enables the weak to believe and exercise faith, holding firmly to God's sure promises, enduring trials, persisting in prayer, and reaching beyond darkness to Him as light and power.

This defense is living faith in the Lord joined with obedience to His orders, with no other resources able to take its place, enabling believers to stand firm in the day of evil and remain steadfast to the end. It is the prayer of faith as a weapon for resisting and withstanding the enemy's assaults, and the grasping of God's gift of the Holy Spirit and the grace of Christ to strengthen the inner man with all might in continual increase of faith and trust and assurance that the believer will never be confounded. True faith and repose in God are always accompanied by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ and His representative dwelling in believers as His temple and carrying conviction to hearts, as an anointing from the Holy One pervading the whole being and impressing Christ upon the life so that divinity flashes through humanity and the presentation of truth as it is in Jesus has power of more value than all worldly honor or glory. The safety of messengers of truth is found in possessing the meekness and lowliness of Christ, keeping Jesus close every moment as counsellor and refuge, keeping calm and thinking of Jesus under insult, provocation and vexatious troubles, looking to Jesus to right every wrong and to stand with the believer in difficult work with suffering humanity, possessing the soul in patience, refusing to divide character into great things and little things, opening mind and heart to heaven's sunshine until self sinks into insignificance and joy in Christ becomes permanent, rejoicing not that spirits are subject but that names are written in heaven.

Cherished and expressed unbelief casts the shield away and leaves the soul vulnerable to temptation and distress, giving the enemy an opening so that there is a hard struggle to drive him out and regain firm ground. Talking unbelief belittles God's power and dishonors Him by treating His power as small, while breaking away from questioning doubts, deliberately cultivating and exercising faith, and speaking faith glorifies Him. Unbelief can become an ingrained habit, but it can be overcome by deliberately cultivating and exercising faith.

Darts and Attacks

The darts are fiery temptations surrounding believers on every side, aimed to destroy faith and trust, to hinder spiritual growth, and to draw the mind away from Jesus. They guard against by faith as a shield over the heart, which is the seat of life itself, and through Jesus they can be withstood with complete victory under God's care. The shield holds firmly to God's sure promises, endures in prayer, and trusts that what is asked will be received, protecting even from carelessness and doubt about present truth. It is weakened when attention turns from Jesus to dwell on personal unworthiness, and it is strengthened when the weak look instead to Jesus, to His worthiness, love, merits and mercy, and believe. Gloom and harshness in the home leave parents and children subject to these darts, and joining with an unbeliever in marriage gives Satan advantage as shafts aimed at the soul and forfeits God's protection, so faith is needed to resist.

The darts are sharp doubts and unbelief about facts of Scripture, especially hints that one scripture contradicts another put forth as wonderful mystery hidden from believers. Satan makes the smallest hint or doubt expressed into a barbed arrow and slow poison that infects the whole system, takes away relish for truth, casts midnight darkness, undermines the whole, and finally ends in death and infidelity. The seed may spring up at once or lie buried long until a wrong course is taken, place is given to the enemy, light is withdrawn, and under powerful temptation Satan nourishes seeds sown long ago until they bear fruit. No dart wounds and bruises the soul like these sharp doubts rushed into the mind after long captivity to cruel power, and talking them out belittles God's power and dishonors Him. Those troubled with doubts who talk out unbelief become his agents, for he transmits his darts through persons of influence, especially ministers not standing in clear light of God, to minds not prepared to resist what comes from their ministers. Doing this to carry unbelief and infidel feelings from mind to mind where words take root is cruel, is done much, and makes Satan exult that he works unperceived, so ministers as well as people have a warfare to resist, must not listen to whisperings, let him captivate mind and guide thoughts, or unsettle others, but must break away from questioning doubts in Christ's strength, face Satan with all strength Jesus gives, conquer the inclination to express unbelief, and let light in by voice and lips expressing faith, confidence and trust to glorify the Lord, for the Lord is very nigh to give victory.

The darts are often transmitted through members of one's own family, when those loved speak or act unguardedly without intending injury and Satan magnifies their words and acts before the mind to pierce it. He earnestly and skillfully attacks to turn believers from the right way and hurt or destroy them, watching going out and coming in, and working most successfully in darkness where his devices are not understood, where he could gain no advantage if his method were understood. They are quenched by earnest and persevering resistance and prayer to God for strength to resist Satan, not by bracing against the supposed injurer to stand for what are termed rights. Standing for rights mars happiness and gives Satan double advantage by making the wounded person his agent to wound and distress others in turn who did not intend injury. Calmly taking a second and most favorable view, candidly considering, yielding one's own way and submitting even when feeling conflicts, saves both sides from unhappiness and gives great victory over temptation.

The shield must be taken up now to arm for the contest soon to be engaged, for it is faith in God's word prayerfully studied and practically applied, which shields from Satan's power and his invisible agents and brings off conquerors through the blood of Christ. Satan as Christ's personal enemy with evil angels on every track moves bad men and works marvels, miracles in sight, healings before the eyes, lying wonders, deceptive healings and miracles more fully exhibited, which will tempt many to receive them as from God. Those who depart from God's plain precepts and commandments and give heed to fables are fitting their minds to receive those wonders as from God and will be ensnared and taken. Against Spiritualism as represented by a spiritual medium, relying on self and arguments, rushing onto Satan's ground to meet an opponent when truth and God's cause do not demand it, parleying and reasoning with Satan, tarrying on forbidden ground, and indulging doubts and unbelief is going to battle without armor, leaving one enshrouded in unbelief, fascinated and charmed, surrounded by a cloud of evil angels, grievously wounded and insensible to the wound. Steadfast resistance to his suggestions with determined seeking of strength from God, and going forth together with others in prayer and faith, breaks every fetter, drives back Satan and his angels and the host of darkness, brings shielding by angels that excel in strength, draws closer to God, and triumphs in His name.

Satan looks for an unguarded moment to make believers lose heavenly graces, and aims his temptations at weaknesses in spiritual defenses to wound the soul by leading into sin. These openings come through carelessness, excuses to miss meetings where truth is heard, distractions during meetings, trivial conversation that keeps people from remembering what they hear, careless speech, attachment to the world, irreligious companions, criticism of fellow believers, and company of the wicked. Christians obtain strength from God to hold fast every precious grace, and by taking faith for defense with the sword of the Spirit and fervent effectual prayer regarded in heaven they can succeed against the powers of darkness. Safety is only in moment-by-moment clinging to Christ's merits with watchfulness and faithful effort, for when truth in simplicity and strength prevails among believers and is brought to bear against the spirit of the world, proving no concord between Christ and Belial, danger is put in the enemy's camp and persecution and reproach are called into action, requiring disciples to be living examples of their Master's life and spirit.

Temptation itself is not sin, and arrows and darts cannot harm or injure the soul unless consented to and opened to. While refusing to yield, standing firmly for God and the right, keeping integrity and relying on promises of Scripture, the soul remains unharmed, unpolluted and need not be overcome or ashamed, for ruin depends on the will's consent and surrounding corruption cannot defile a mind not itself polluted. When the tempted flees to God the arrows are broken, and trials and temptations endured in God purify and humble rather than destroy or endanger.

The darts were aimed at Christ in the wilderness and through His severe forty-day trial, but found no lodgment and no place in Him. Weakened by forty days and forty nights of fasting and mental suffering, He met demons in deceptive pretensions as angels, with seducing attractions, wily insinuations against God, and deceiving artful sophistry to undermine confidence in God, strain the mind, and draw Him into controversy. He met every leading temptation wherewith man is beset with It is written, speaking only Scripture from point to point and giving Satan no word to lead him on. Like Him, believers can withstand fiery darts when tempted, for He endured severe temptation and knows how to help the tempted, so they should not give up or complain when temptation or just consequences come but remain steadfast.

Specific darts include efforts to destroy confidence in the visions and bring James down so his work on the paper would stop, until by faith he was wrenched from Satan's grasp and placed in the Great Physician's care where he was healed. They include harmful influence transmitted through Elmore Waters, to which weak and undecided people are especially vulnerable, so God's people must take a stand to cut it off. They include discouragement that makes one lay aside armor and shield, as Augusta had laid aside her spiritual armor and shield of faith in weakness calling for renewed strength, and as a discouraged brother had thrown down his armor and was returning to harmful habits until encouraging message and grace helped him raise his head and regain hope. Against such evil, confidence in Christ's help sustains through danger, as Wolff treated prayer, zeal for Christ, love and the Bible as his protection.

Joseph shows trust as defense, for his fear of God and trust in Him shielded his heart to remain faithful to his master and true to God despite inducements, threats and false accusation. By calling on God's grace he resisted temptation and did not despair when imprisoned, and God sustained him until Providence turned devices to good. Grace, firm principle and unwavering trust act as a shield preserving virtue and integrity even amid corrupting influences and surrounding evil, so evil need leave no stain on character. Though suffering false accusation, in time Providence can raise the faithful from humiliation to honor unstained.

Victory and Protection

Constant confidence in God quenches every fiery dart of the wicked, hindering nothing of spiritual growth and attainment, and no attack can succeed no matter what its source when the helpless soul hangs on unseen power, pleads His assurance with humility, looks to God continually, cherishes duty, and takes every piece of the armor with the Word made counselor for intelligent resistance to unseen powers. Those pledged to oppose evil stand safe in the Lord's strength under His banner, with courage against threats and the devil's schemes and deceptive influence, so they need not be strengthless but living abiding faith keeps the powers of darkness from gaining advantage. The darts turned back upon Satan drive back darkness, and the comforting, hopeful, calming faith of a friend helps a discouraged soul turn them aside from their aim to destroy.

The shield belongs to taking the whole armor of God in order to be able to withstand in the evil day and, having done all, to stand and stand firm against Satan and his emissaries and every fiery attack of spiritual evil. It enables withstanding even after weakness, remaining steadfast to the end, making steady progress toward heaven, and becoming more than conquerors through Christ's love.

Under its protection believers carry Christ and represent His character, with self hidden in Jesus, minds fixed on God, and whole armor put on in watchfulness amid deceptive signs and spiritual danger so the enemy's darts cannot harm or move them. They stand on enchanted ground where they must not fall asleep, guarded by angels and opposed to the enemy by the Spirit, with Jesus and angels watching so that fire consumes only dross and cannot destroy true metal.

Christ's victory over temptation proves resistance to Satan's temptations and accusations is possible through Him for those who stand firmly, hold fast to God's word, practice watchfulness, self-denial and loving faith, and rely on divine strength against evil and sin. Even the weakest saint who trusts God and asks in faith receives heavenly help, for from His holy place Christ commands ten thousand times ten thousand heavenly beings waiting to do His bidding to go and work for the weakest trusting soul, with the same help for high and low, rich and poor, never betraying confidence. Like Christ, who endured severe temptation and knows how to help the tempted, believers are not to give up or complain under temptation or its just consequences but to remain steadfast, resist unto triumph, and when victory is not yet gained, fast and pray.

Human beings are naturally captive to Satan's influence and cannot effectively resist evil by own power, organization, self-sufficiency or independence, and every other defense is vain. Faith in one's own faith does not protect, but God's power received through living faith does, when Christ lives within, shapes desires, gives strength from above, subdues self, lets truth prevail, and unites His power with human effort. Clad thus in the armor of His righteousness with full assurance of faith, the earnest prayer of faith frustrates even Satan's strongest efforts, turns his attacks back, strengthens the believer, and keeps from error and false ways, while his power is limited only through Christ.

Conflicts, rebuffs, trials and adversity test and prove people, and faith itself will be tested as gold is tested in fire. Endured in God, trials and temptations purify and humble rather than destroy or endanger, breaking Satan's arrows so they cannot harm the one who flees to God. Clothed in the whole armor of righteousness, believers face opposing influences without losing purity, for conflicts and rebuffs strengthen and stabilize faith, and trials discipline and supply abundant resources and moral power to do right as an appointed means of success.

Safety from the powers of darkness depends on humble reliance on God and obedience to His commandments, with close connection with Him and living for His glory, while self-reliance and absorption in worldly concerns draw away from spiritual influence and leave the soul vulnerable to snares. Prayer keeps fortified against temptation, and careful study of Scripture reveals the tempter's deceptions and how to resist them, with convictions strengthened daily through humble prayer and the Word held in God's strength rather than human strength. Taking faith as shield means cooperating with God in keeping from evil practices, watching unto prayer, praying not to enter temptation, refusing even the first step in a wrong course, making the Lord strength and helper through trust, and undergoing decisive change of life's aims with continual exercise in spiritual things. Such faith is intelligent, fearless and unshakable when the earth shakes and pillars tremble, like Daniel and his fellow captives in Babylon, unable to be changed, corrupted, or separated in affection from God, so that nothing can separate from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

The armor is given as assurance and encouragement that the church is not left helpless amid deception, trial, persecution and danger, but is protected by God while faith remains firm. Believers are therefore to prepare themselves through faith, resist temptation, and cooperate with God in becoming Christlike, a work requiring special help from above.

Taking Up Armor

Taking the shield belongs with the whole armor — truth, righteousness, preparation of the gospel of peace, salvation, the word of God — taken to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, to stand against the wiles of the devil and to withstand in the evil day, because the struggle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places. Above all taking it quenches every fiery dart of the wicked one, extinguishing every burning attack no matter its source. It is taken together with continual prayer, watchfulness, perseverance and supplication for all believers, with vigilance, thoughts fixed on Christ, and readiness in the final conflict against satanic powers. Standing thus is standing at the post as a faithful sentinel, giving the enemy no quarter when preached truth brings increased bitterness and opposition, showing on the uplifted banner the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. For messengers and ministers amid the closing scenes, it means walking in the light as Christ is in the light, living in every ray of light, and as watchmen on the walls of Zion discerning and giving the due message with a certain trumpet sound, lest souls be quieted to sleep to eternal loss. Daily consecration, earnest prayer, Scripture study and self-examination bring divine help against wrong influences, so the enemy gains no advantage.

Taking it up requires a spirit of self-denial and self-sacrifice cultivated in daily life, so that God's people are prepared for the final trials and fight the Lord's battles with no defense chosen apart from the Spirit of God and the power of truth. It requires sober hope to the end for grace at the revelation of Jesus Christ, and diligent active work for Christ instead of sleepy inaction that lets Satan gain ground. Progress in the divine life is opposed by an antagonistic force, and preparation through prayer and the armor is the appointed way to meet it.

Defense is in the preparation of the gospel, which is sufficient with the rest of God's armor to withstand in the evil day and to stand. Inherited or cultivated objectionable traits that Satan can exploit must be cut away, personal peculiar traits must not be brought into difficult fields, and the Spirit of Christ must take possession of speech and of mental, physical and moral powers, or Satan will use his masterly power at important moments to call those traits into active exercise and bring defeat just when there should be victory. Satan knows exactly what traits to work upon, and therefore wisdom must be asked for and Christ's methods studied. Going fully girded requires knowing well one's own character, the sin that most easily besets, and the temptations most likely to overcome, faithfully investigating motives and principles of conduct and comparing actions with the standard of duty revealed in God's word. Such self-knowledge saves from grievous temptation and inglorious defeat, and self-watchfulness over one's own spirit, temperament, words and deficiencies, as critical as watch over others, keeps God from being dishonored and truth from being misrepresented, making discernment clearer and letting living truth shine as fire in the bones to represent Christ. When weary and discouraged in strife against internal foes, the armor must be girded on anew with the prize of eternal life in view, toiling on by persistent energy, patient industry, unwearied effort and untiring zeal, overcoming defects of character seen in the mirror by personal effort with penitence and repentance through faith in the grace of Christ unto self-conquest and perfection of heart.

Taking the shield is obeying the Captain's command for battle against a vast confederacy of evil for an eternal invisible world, with supernatural assistance by which human weakness can do the deeds of Omnipotence, withstand in the evil day, and stand safe. That requires unity, dying to self, hiding in Jesus, and refusing to criticize or disparage fellow workers. No strength is to be spent warring against brethren by criticism and fault-finding, but time is to be used in saving souls before probation closes, seeking God while He may be found and calling upon Him while He is near, so that the work will hear Well done, good and faithful servant. Carefully following the directions for wearing the armor enables walking humbly before God and working discreetly, without imposing human plans or rules on others or allowing anyone to dominate God's people. Weapons must be left in the hands of those who fight, with angels arrayed for defense ascending and descending a ladder of shining brightness and commissioned to draw nearer and still nearer, so no one should disarm or hinder fellow fighters because they do not work exactly as expected. Christlike gentleness and self-control keep personal defects from weakening the force of truth, while reliance on God is essential against Satan's power.

Each person must act his individual part for his own battle, for all strength comes from God yet duty must be cherished and continual, increasing, intelligent faith strengthened. Every piece must be taken with none left off, so the whole body is prepared, recognizing Jesus Christ as Captain of the Lord's host leading today as truly as when He led Israel enshrouded in the pillar of cloud through the wilderness for forty years. That standing means being prepared to meet every sophistry and fallacy by which the enemy moves upon minds and blinds eyes, watching over one's own soul and over souls connected with the work lest Satan gain advantage, yielding to the Holy Spirit working on the mind to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord, and fighting the armies of darkness with Christ as Leader in order to sit with Him on His throne. It means looking to God continually, pleading His assurance with humility, hanging the helpless soul upon unseen power, and making the Word the counselor so resistance to unseen powers is intelligent and understanding. The believer must pray, commune with God and keep watch over the soul, for as the tempted person seeks God, God comes near and raises a standard against the enemy, and earnest prayer teaches the meaning of breaking God's law and the cost of redemption, leading the sinner to hate sin and approach Jesus the compassionate High Priest in contrition. Putting on every piece to stand against snares and devices means keeping faith, obeying Jesus as Captain, praying, and looking to Christ rather than relying on human approval, so there need be no failure or discouragement when trials come.

The armor must be kept on at all times, when working and when sleeping, for safety is assured only by constant vigilance, since good and evil never harmonize, light and darkness cannot compromise, truth is light revealed and error is darkness, and light has no fellowship with darkness nor righteousness with unrighteousness. It is never to be laid off while Satan opposes, but kept ready for duty until the Master bids it be laid at His feet, remaining faithful through hardship and opposition and continuing in persevering service to others. After failure it must be girded on anew to stand at the post and fight manfully the battles of the Lord, awaking and breaking away from the deception Satan throws over the mind, refusing to listen when evil angels whisper and visit with lying dreams, and laying hold on everlasting life before God's Spirit is grieved entirely away. Resisting the devil in that armor brings victory, and soon the armor is laid off for a conqueror's crown, a rich inheritance bought by the agony and blood of the Son of God, laid aside at the feet of Christ only when the struggle is over.

Feelings and impulses of whatever nature, good or bad, give no shield against temptation, for not rooted in conviction they have no stability but shift with outward circumstances and prevailing influences. Temptation changes unstable feelings and leaves no confidence in self or in God, drifting without an anchor. Unless the whole armor of righteousness is put on, the assaults of the enemy will surely prevail and conquer, for the adversary holds the unguarded in the slavery of sin and eagerly seeks destruction. What is needed instead is firm principle and conviction of judgment, inward assurance that strengthens purpose to stand against the devices of the enemy, and watchfulness unto prayer, without which foes seeking destruction will succeed.

Taking the shield with prayer drives back Satan and his angels and quenches their attacks, but relying on self and arguments, rushing onto Satan's ground to meet an opponent when truth and the cause of God do not demand it, parleying and reasoning with Satan, tarrying on forbidden ground, and indulging doubts and unbelief is going to battle without the armor. That course leaves one enshrouded in unbelief, fascinated and charmed, surrounded by a cloud of evil angels, grievously wounded and insensible to the wound, as seen in confronting spiritualism as represented by a spiritual medium. Steadfast resistance to Satan's suggestions with determined seeking of strength from God, and going forth together with others in prayer and faith, breaks every fetter, drives back the host of darkness, brings shielding by angels that excel in strength, draws closer to God, and triumphs in His name. Connecting with an unbeliever places a person on Satan's ground and forfeits God's protection, leaving greater risk in the battle for everlasting life where faith enables withstanding Satan's temptations. Standing in the whole armor means refusing to follow one's own course into danger or yield to Satan's suggestions, for separating from heavenly helpers leaves one exposed. Keeping off the tempter's ground as much as possible and not going without God's direction into the companionship of those who do not love or fear God, especially after yielding, quenches temptation and makes one a power for good because the life revealed is the life of Christ, an instrument for Christ's use in bringing souls to salvation, giving holy angels opportunity to work through submitted humanity, with the blood of Christ as the only hope and sufficiency that through faith removes every dark spot in character.

Taking it up is part of putting on every piece and requires a deeper Christian experience, readiness to meet the Bridegroom, and thoughts, motives and desires brought into obedience to God. It means grasping God's gift of the Holy Spirit and the grace of Christ to strengthen the inner man with all might, giving continual increase of faith and trust and assurance that the believer will never be confounded. It means keeping Jesus close every moment as counsellor and refuge, keeping calm and thinking of Jesus under insult, provocation and vexatious troubles, looking to Jesus to right every wrong and to build up faith and to stand with the believer in difficult work with suffering humanity, representing Christ and acting manfully and nobly to please Him. Putting on the whole armor of righteousness means possessing the soul in patience through Christ Jesus who is staff, wisdom, sanctification and righteousness, refusing to divide character into great things regulated by the law of God and little things subjected to nervous irritation and natural traits, and opening the windows of the mind and the door of the heart to heaven's sunshine so that joy in Christ becomes a permanent state of the heart. It requires watching unto prayer and praying not to enter into temptation, refusing even the first step in a wrong course, and making the Lord strength and helper through trust, cooperating with God in keeping from evil practices. Such faith is intelligent, fearless and unshakable when the earth shakes and the pillars of the world tremble, like the faith of Daniel and his fellow captives in Babylon that cannot be changed, corrupted, or separated in affection from God, so that nothing can separate from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

In advancing God's work and maintaining Bible principle, difficulties test faith and steadfastness while unbelief obstructs the way. Believers are to stand firm in faith and hope, obey the truth, and resist human opinions that claim the authority of God's voice, for faith as a shield quenches every fiery dart of the wicked.

Faithful Living Daily

Ministers, physicians, and workers in every line need the whole armor with true faith upheld by sincere prayer in order to live exemplarily, depend on promised help and not human aid, help the weak, and present truth accurately, for no one can fight the Lord's battles in own strength. Taking the shield above all means settled heart belief that God knows every trial and difficulty in the warfare against evil, is near to strengthen and uphold, and supplies every need to those united to Him by living faith who look to Him for orders and go forward in His might. Talking unbelief belittles His power and dishonors Him, while growing self-knowledge brings consciousness of inability and need for loins girt about with truth, purity of purpose, and service to Christ and not to self. Those tested in God's great field of labor must not depend on any broken reed of human aid or put man where God should be, but trust His everlasting strength, live with fidelity without striving for highest place, and receive wisdom to see clearly the wiles, devices and stratagems prepared to deceive and ruin. Without this, workers go unarmed with judgment guided unseen by the enemy into spiritless preaching and dense lukewarmness, though experienced workers who obey the words of faith present the truths of the faith.

Ministers as generals in the army of the great King must keep every portion of spiritual armor on, for removing even a portion through unfaithfulness and sympathy with the rebel leader exposes the cause of God and sacred truths to reproach and opens weakest points to deadliest foes. When the armor is removed Satan hurls in his poisoned arrows, the hands of rebel leaders are strengthened, God's servants are weakened, and Satan and his host triumph over the victory gained. Satan's special, artful, busy, active power is brought to bear upon those preaching or publishing present truth as his special marks, with danger of becoming unguarded so he obtains entrance, imperceptibly diverts the mind from the great work, obtains a foothold, and strikes down leaders to affect inexperienced minds. Keeping it on requires united effort, thorough watchfulness, deep constant humility, firm trust and dependence upon God, thorough interest and devotion to the work, laying aside selfish interests and spirit of traffic, and much prayer and meditation, for faithfulness guards the gospel from insult even at cost of life rather than letting the ungodly triumph. Laying aside the armor of righteousness leaves workers exposed to darts and fall under temptation, where even one thoughtless act or careless word can turn a soul toward a decision with eternal consequences, while without it workers get above simplicity, trust in self in self-sufficiency when strength is perfect weakness, become lifted up, mar the work with human impress, and drink the bitter cup of affliction.

Young men and young women must put on the whole armor when they consecrate themselves to fight decisive battles for God, to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and to stand against the wiles of the devil in the evil day. The fight is needed because Satan is intense to deceive souls and gather them under his banner of apostasy and rebellion, and the wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places. Putting it on means learning to know God and Jesus Christ whom He sent and choosing to stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel, using intellect and reason in touch with the Lord to work with Him and for Him instead of turning education into weapons against God. Youth in Battle Creek must be given every advantage to be prepared to stand with the whole armor on, fully and entirely awake to tremendous issues to be met which will test every soul having knowledge of present truth, and this requires deliberate education in every grade with the very best abilities to teach them to stand in truth and righteousness and not be left to haphazard or slack makeshift. They need spiritual training and must depend on the Holy Spirit for strength and power to fight the Lord's battles rather than relying on own strength or exalting self, for the Lord gives them power to overcome every defect and gain victory after victory, while those suspended are thrust into battle without defense as easy prey.

Parents are to equip themselves with God's armor and prepare for spiritual battle as they study and obey God's Word and guide and educate children in harmony with divine authority, and God aids and encourages them in every right step. Preparedness is first formed and proved in the home through faithful performance of home duties and through spiritual progress and perfection of Christian character, with family members seeking with earnest humble hearts to know Christ abiding in the heart, and that home preparation is then carried into missionary work abroad and abundant work in the church. This belongs to trustful dependence joined with active effort, giving children God's Word as weapon against evil and teaching them to use the shield of faith to quench every fiery dart. Helping a tempted person resist the devil is a practical expression of that struggle, and equips believers to help tempted people and enlighten others.

Believing in the Lord Jesus in daily work is cultivation of personal piety from righteous principles, producing kindness, courtesy and humility instead of severity and superiority, maintaining a sense of right in every transaction, and in striving for victory over personal inclinations help comes by the Holy Spirit, with sense of Christ's forgiveness making life circumspect so no occasion is given for good works to be disparaged. With the shield believers extinguish every fiery attack of evil agencies that seek to lead into words and actions pleasing the enemy, as part of the whole armor needed to stand firm, showing the truth's holiness in words and deeds. The armor includes gospel shoes of peace, so God's servants walk humbly and approach others without anger or harshness. Keeping a strict guard over self in word and action is lived out as reserve, modesty, kindness and courtesy without freedom, especially for young women connected with sanitariums where poor shipwrecked souls seek haven, showing not slightest freedom when speaking to men and especially never to a married man, abstaining from every appearance of evil, and never by word or action giving wicked men occasion to speak evil of the truth, because observant eyes watch conduct to judge whether one is indeed a child of God. Whoever will not keep on this heavenly armor should for Christ's sake sever connection with sanitarium work. God's workers wearing the whole armor, clothed with His Spirit with His righteousness going before them, must not answer ridicule and opposition with ridicule or sarcasm, but speak calmly and distinctly in Christ's meekness and lowliness, refusing irritating devil-prompted words, and as they do so heaven works with them while God alone gives increase.

In debate over questions of Bible truth workers are not fighting men, for warfare is not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers and rulers of darkness of this world, so they must keep out of controversy rather than join issues with the wily deceiver or yield to temptation to prove position impregnable. Taking the shield is part of putting on God's whole armor to stand firm against spiritual evil and resist deception, false teaching, and efforts to frighten and hinder from the work. God's people are to follow the Bible and hold its doctrines in purity, resisting influences and man-made tests that would turn them from truth and work given them, and the armor must not be left incomplete. Keeping on the whole armor means remembering Christ as the unchanging Rock, looking unto Him continually, heeding every warning He has given, and trusting and obeying His words, which keeps from ever being deceived by false presentations and keeps safe. Protection requires not trusting words of men nor making flesh an arm, since brethren may change and through subtle reasoning of satanic whisperings seek to divert the mind to falsehoods, and men often deceived work on the enemy's side, accept false theories, and may preach theory of truth for a purpose to lead others into erroneous positions, and following such men is at peril of the soul.

The whole armor equips practical medical missionary work of a character testifying to sanctifying power of truth upon human minds, with truth, breastplate of righteousness, preparation of gospel of peace, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and praying always to stand against wiles of the devil and to stand in the evil day. Believers are urged to remain on guard, to hunt and fish for souls, enter needy fields and cities, organize Sabbath schools, and go with gospel shoes instead of sitting idle or hovering over worked-over places. Faith enables standing faithful through persecution, withstanding deceptions and trials threatening to turn from truth and righteousness, quenching every attack by holding to Christ rather than giving way to fear or acting wrongly. In facing deceptive spiritual ideas believers must remain watchful and rely on God's armor and loyalty to Him. During persecution Christians remained prepared for conflict with spiritual enemies and persecutors demanding abandonment of faith or death, moving steadily forward in fear and love of God without weakening testimony to accommodate hearers, and enemies could kill bodies but could not make them surrender faith and hope, facing death with hope of immortality at resurrection of the just.

Aged servants of God with experience from 1844 and great light are to stand firm in assigned field, such as the southern field, with faith and hope and courage and wisdom, doing arduous work of fitting up men and women to proclaim the message and withstanding perplexity brought by misleading theories drawn from Scripture by holding forth clear straight vindicated truth without entering controversy. God's aged servants are to stand as Christ's soldiers with whole armor on to vindicate truth given them, standing fast and working on the affirmative side and refusing to exchange instruction taught by God through immortal messengers for science falsely so called, with angels as guides and powerful helpers. Every church member must put on whole armor of Christ's righteousness and not remain useless without God and without hope or dependent on minister for experience. Putting it on means beginning the work little though it be, telling God all trials and perplexities, refusing to dwell on self, thinking of Jesus, and trusting God for help, with Christ at right hand to help who never betrays confidence, commanding ten thousand times ten thousand heavenly beings waiting to do His bidding to go and work for weakest saint trusting God, with same help for high and low, rich and poor. Christians must put on every piece as minutemen for the world, not compassed in little section by themselves, with converted tongue and mind, no frivolity, tattling, condemning and faultfinding, going with gospel shoes from place to place on foot to impart truth to those in darkness instead of sitting doing nothing, letting light shine so numbers are converted, with whole heart rejoicing in grace, with Holy Spirit and blessing resting upon workers, and with prayer for ministers and Holy Ghost instead of finding fault, because there is a world to save. The armor God has given including shield of faith is to be worn and used together and not as armor of any one individual, so on the field those engaged must counsel together with much earnest prayer for wisdom, venture something and run risks, do best under all circumstances, and labor in union of effort in Christian charity and love under own standard, distributing literature and giving trumpet a certain sound. Girding on armor means united determined effort now with no delay and no voice raised to hinder it, for decided work in cities, increasing workers to meet demands of city work, with means coming in to carry forward soul-saving, turning attention to cities with lay members who have means remembering responsibility to help without delay and not letting lack of means delay the Lord's work, requiring reconsecration and harmony with God and Christ, resisting temptation to enter commercial enterprises, and proclaiming message throughout world.

Final Crisis Stand

The shield of faith belongs to the present militant time when the church must put on the whole armor to stand and withstand in the evil day against seen and unseen foes, not flesh and blood only but principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places, including satanic agencies in human form organizing in every city those opposed to God's law, with professed saints and avowed unbelievers confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts until Christ leaves intercession before the mercy seat to put on vengeance, so none can afford to be weaklings or off guard for a moment but must be strong in the Lord, girt with truth, covered with righteousness and salvation, shod with the gospel of peace, wielding the word of God with prayer. Preaching truth where precious souls are requires every piece girded on, trusting God for strength and blessing, refusing to fail or be discouraged or leave the field, standing as faithful sentinels giving no quarter, exposing error in its deceptive fatal character and showing truth firm as eternal hills amid increased bitterness, pressing the battle to the gates because the God of Israel is on the side of truth and righteousness. Subtle satanic powers, some not yet appeared, are overcome only by keeping on the whole armor, which means staying awake with shield and all armor on as faithful watchmen fitted to sound the last warning and prepare the church that has had light for the closing scenes, when confusion, accidents, crime, corrupt rulers and fulfilled signs show the end near and God's Spirit is being withdrawn from nations that discarded His Word for false theories and false laws above His commandments.

Faith is the shield in the conflict against satanic powers that quenches every fiery dart, calling for putting on God's whole armor and standing against the devil's schemes with readiness, watchfulness, vigilance and thoughts fixed on Christ in the final conflict. It enables withstanding every attack of the unseen enemy in troublous perilous times ahead, when hatred, opposition, insult and misrepresentation come and the enemy is on everyone's track, so God's servants must wear the whole armor, face opposition without discouragement, place body soul and spirit under discipline, love present truth and follow warnings line upon line lest strong delusions be accepted without excuse.

The warfare is Satan's untiring work against God's law, especially setting up a spurious first-day Sabbath against God's sanctified seventh day, to be met by advancing without going backward, fighting manfully with no release and pressing to the gates by magnifying the law and upholding God's honor through obedience. Defending truth and religious liberty in the coming crisis requires this armor to remain faithful to Jesus and uphold His law, standing firmly by principle against corruption so as to be distinguished as bearing God's seal rather than the beast's mark. Meeting the Sunday movement requires every minister, evangelist and church member to take up the whole armor by working, watching, praying, humbling the heart and crying aloud without sparing, with the sense of being laborers together with God, exalting His law, adhering to the faith of Jesus and maintaining religious liberty defended by Reformers with toil and life, at a time when many souls from the world and the churches, even the Catholic church, come to the front as eleventh-hour laborers whose zeal exceeds those heretofore in rank and file. Putting on the armor means giving full attention to truth, present truth and the great work of the last message of mercy, too important to leave to answer falsehoods, misrepresentations and slander by which Satan diverts minds from present truth and Christ's coming, knowing Jesus sees all and judgment according to deeds will soon stop the lying tongue while sinners in Zion are afraid and hypocrites surprised with fearfulness.

The shield belongs with truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, salvation, the word of God and persevering prayer to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand, showing on the uplifted banner the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus while standing at post as faithful sentinels giving no quarter when preached truth brings increased bitterness and opposition. Messengers and ministers amid the closing scenes must walk in the light as Christ is in the light, live in every ray of light, and as watchmen on Zion's walls discern and give the messages due at this time with certain trumpet sound lest souls be quieted to sleep to eternal loss. It is the defense against efforts to undermine the foundation of faith in the third angel's message, requiring those who proclaim it to stand bravely and boldly amid detraction and falsehood, fight the good fight of faith, and resist with Scripture as Christ did with It is written, unmoved by misplaced prophecies while proclaiming the gospel of peace and righteousness.

After the midnight cry and shutting of the door in 1844, while Jesus still mediates between God and man before sealing is finished, the whole armor must be kept ready for battle at any moment because Satan has come down in great power knowing his time is short, fighting every inch of ground with the commandments written in heart and mind to make believers strong and bold to cry the commandments and testimony of Jesus even when opposition is many and tall like the sons of Anak, so as to be hid in the time of trouble such as never was and ready to meet the Lord in peace. Those made Seventh-day Adventists by actual experience in unfolding prophecy must stand with loins girt with truth against theories continually agitated to divert and unsettle faith, and those without that experience may hold the same message with the same confidence, since light about the past path strengthens rather than weakens confidence to hold the beginning of confidence firm unto the end.

In the great crisis coming God's soldiers must put on God's strength, not human armor, for still yielding to men as done for fifteen years will lose own souls and lead others astray, while keeping God's glory in view anoints eyes with heavenly eyesalve to see afar what the world is — dishonesty, craftiness, selfish eye-service, pretence, boasting, lack of fair dealing, grasping covetousness — and to take a stand by precept and example representing Christ to convert souls by sound principles, firm integrity, hatred of dissembling and holy boldness in acknowledging Him. Without the armor even those who ought to stand as strong men are weak as children, and magnifying own opinions makes them weaker, lets Satan gain victories, leaves them unreliable in emergencies and losing continually, whereas strength from God alone comes by learning meekness from Christ, surrendering will to His and yoking with Him for victory in every conflict instead of heavy galling self-made yokes. The prince of evil wields great widespread power in disloyalty and transgression over the world, marking with every shaft those preserving allegiance and active in service, a power subdued only by the Spirit's might through faith and obedience corresponding to light, so those exalted with opportunity and privilege yet lacking it are leavened with apostasy, controlled by another spirit, and fall worse than zealous advocates of error.

Those enduring the agonizing struggle and gaining victory are pictured clothed in armor from head to foot, with faith as shield quenching every fiery attack, so pressing evil angels have no power over them. Putting on the whole armor is necessary to secure entrance into the city of God because heaven is to be won or lost, turning eyes from earth to center the mind on heavenly things amid continual temptation, not aiming at the world's standard which counts nothing in God's day and wins no good and faithful commendation. As soldiers of Jesus Christ in conflict with the devil believers must put on righteousness, resist the devil till he flees, break with the enemy, press to the gates, speak truth that impresses hearts with angels ministering, take position on the Lord's side with spiritual discernment, fight together with Christ and angels for a perishing world in prayer and co-labor, and faithfulness leads to overcoming at last, entering the city with all nations keeping truth and winning the crown of eternal life.

Taking the shield above all with the whole armor to stand against the enemy's wiles and withstand in the evil day belongs with strength in the Lord, wrestling with God in prayer for blessing as Jacob did, gathering fewer responsibilities, giving no occasion for stumbling, considering these words and doing all possible to make peace. Nehemiah's rebuilding teaches lessons needed as long as time lasts, because the enemy mingles evil with every good work unless workers are on guard to spoil God's purposes, calling for men of strength and decision. Paul illustrates the conflict, having the whole armor, fighting earnestly, keeping faith and overcoming the world, pressing faithfully in the gospel though physical strength failed, looking to the faithful's reward, enduring opposition without leaving the struggle until laying down armor at the Redeemer's feet, triumphant with cheerful voice and gaze fixed on high while declaring Christ.

Keeping the armor on in Switzerland and like fields where the enemy withstands every effort to let in light and disputes every inch means pressing back the determined powerful foe in Jesus' name, doing what can be done then leaving results wholly with Christ who loves souls more, standing in right relation to God as channels of light imbued with wisdom, tact and skill to win souls. It means staying firmly in assigned work as in Sydney and suburbs instead of leaving for new untried fields, refusing restlessness or faithlessness when few obey, strengthening the soul in God, trusting Him for strength, holding infinite power's hand, humbling the soul, praying and working in faith and upholding fellow workers by prayer for physical and mental strength, doing valiantly till God lifts the cloud and shows duty elsewhere, with promise that God hears, gives victory, makes the weakest strong as David and gives souls to those not failing nor discouraged. Staying where Father, Son and Holy Spirit give efficiency puts heaven's strength at command of those giving themselves unreservedly to God, barricading with an impregnable wall whoever makes God his trust, with truth as in Jesus planted in the heart and nourished by holy oil shown in Zechariah belonging to this defense.

Awaking and putting on the whole armor means rooting selfishness out of the church, seeking the Lord earnestly, revealing sanctifying power in life, cooperating with the evangelist placed among them, working as fishers of men, praying much and practicing self-denial to establish God's work. It means awaking from stupor and earnestly repenting coldness, indifference and selfishness till cleansed and converted, seeking light, life and the Holy Spirit's quickening power, and heartily engaging in house-to-house teaching to carry the message to those never hearing it. It puts on Christ's righteousness by heeding Thus saith the Lord and catching the spirit of Him who gave His life for the world, ending impotent talk of what cannot be done and sending people forth to do and dare for God trusting His omnipotence to supply need and remove dearth of means from transactions lacking divine approval. Wearing it as men waiting for their Lord in the clouds brings conversion instead of month-long labor with none brought in, through hunting and fishing for men and persevering whether catching or catching nothing, knowing God's message to unbelievers will win many hearts, continuing in self-denying sacrifice through heat, cold, weariness, suffering and want to meet emergencies and fighting through every difficulty instead of laying armor down.

Success in the Lord's battles when iniquity abounds and love grows cold requires the whole armor, holding up Christ as able to save to the uttermost all coming to Him and putting away sin because God hates it, while truth's light flashes on every seeker's path. Standing firmly by principle against corruption in the armor of righteousness distinguishes those bearing the living God's seal from those receiving the beast's mark.

God's strength, not human armor, anoints eyes to discern the world's dishonesty and covetousness and to represent Christ by sound principles and integrity rather than yielding to men and losing the soul. On the battlefield of service under Christ as Captain, soldiers clad in all armor must do aggressive warfare, lift and bear the standard through battle under orders, forget infirmities at the trumpet's advance, allow no crippled seekers of easiest places nor cowardly compromisers to weaken forces, but share Christ's self-denial, exercise ability so it grows, work while possible as active diligent workers because the Lord is coming. Taking the shield means receiving God's work with humble unprejudiced heart distinguishing truth from error, whereas viewing in distorted light so what would bring joy and peace in the Holy Ghost seems inconsistent, counting the Spirit's testimony as men's word and refusing clear link-upon-link evidence to hold own ideas and force the Bible to sustain them is refusing God's armor and putting on Satan's to war against God's work.

The gospel armor with shield of faith is needed to stand firm after weakness, be true to God and one another, live faithfully and represent present truth accurately without striving for highest place, united to Christ by living faith, constantly trusting Him for every need, looking for orders, obeying commands, going forward in His might while helping the weak, with wisdom to see clearly the wiles and stratagems prepared to deceive and ruin. It is needed when meeting opposition from professed followers who are unconsecrated and lend talents to the enemy to hinder God's work, and it belongs with loins girt with truth, breastplate of righteousness, gospel shoes, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit and persevering prayer for all saints as a Word to be practiced, for ministers and members standing with the world instead of Christ, minds clouded by selfish indulgence in eating, drinking and dressing, cannot expect blessing and cooperation till minds are cleared and the Word practiced. The call to stand with the Lord against mighty opposition centers on answering rather than explaining shield or darts, warning to take firm stand against Satan's increasing deceptive power, since heeding Paul's instructions would have kept those abandoning Bible truth standing more firmly in faith.