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PRAYER

SCRIPTURE: “For we must all (all Believers) appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his (Christ’s) body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” - II Corinthians 5:10.

We’ve been in The Book of Ephesians, a letter written by the Apostle Paul, who wrote (I believe) 13 books in the New Testament. This letter (Epistle) was sent to Ephesus, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and delivered to Churches throughout Asia Minor. To just read this one letter is to short-circuit what God expect His Believers to know in order to be successful Christians and have a good report when we stand before The Judgment Seat of Christ.

The great Theme of the letter to the Churches is God’s Eternal Purpose to establish and complete His Body, the Church of Jesus Christ. His Purpose is found in 66 Books. Ephesians is His Spring board. We can’t just read Ephesians and think we know it all. Another thing:

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This is not our Church. This is not Pastor’s Church. This Church belongs to God. We need to treat it like it belongs to God. He has expectations: “The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein.2For he hath founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the floods.3Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand in his holy place?4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully” - Ps.24:1-4.

Last week, we ended with saying that satan, like all other created beings, has a Stewardship that we must all give an account to God. We learned that satan goes back and forth between Heaven and earth for two reasons that we know about, 1) To give account of his stewardship (“And the LORD said unto Satan, ‘Whence comest thou?’) Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” - Job 1:7; Secondly, To get permission to tempt God’s Children to sin against God. Not so God will know we will act, feel or perform, but so the individual being tested can know where he/she STANDS in Him. We must know: “Is my faith strong enough that God can use me on this level and move me to the next phase of my journey?” You don’t know until your faith is tested. You can’t know until you have been tempted to sin against God. This is God’s method. Who can change it?

We must not forget, many times (not always), when things go wrong in our lives, such as death, sickness, evil plotted against us in any way, God has given satan permission to tempt us to sin. At the same time, God is testing or allowing our faith in Him to be tested. Tempting Believers in Christ to sin against God is Satan’s stewardship. Scriptures to Remember to remember concerning this is: Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7; James 1:12-16.

Scriptures That Advocate Giving an Account of Our Stewardship

Several Bible passages emphasize that God expects Faithful Stewards to be accountable for how they manage the Resources He has entrusted to them. God entrusts His Children with things to show His Love, His Faithfulness, His Goodness, His Blessings and Generosity. These verses Call Believers to demonstrate trustworthiness, diligence, and transparency in our own Stewardship.

Key Verses on Accountability in Stewardship

I Corinthians 4:2 – “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” This verse directly states that stewardship involves proving one’s faithfulness, implying that an account will be given.

Luke 16:10 – “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest

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with much.” This parable teaches that small matters of trust are tested, and dishonesty in small things will be exposed in larger matters

Matthew 25:21 – “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” This commendation assumes the Steward has been faithful and will be entrusted with more, indicating that their Stewardship has been reviewed and approved, therefore, he can handle more.

Proverbs 28:20 – “A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.” This verse warns that those who seek wealth dishonestly will face consequences, implying that God will hold them accountable.

Colossians 3:23–24 - “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” This passage frames all work as Stewardship before God, with the expectation of an account at His judgment.

I Peter 4:10 – “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” This verse Calls Believers to Serve Faithfully, recognizing that their Gifts are God’s and will be evaluated.

Summary These Scriptures teach Believers that Stewardship is not just about using God’s gifts wisely, but also about being transparent and trustworthy. God will review how we have managed His Resources (our time, talents, and finances) and we will give an account, either in blessing or correction while on earth. But when Jesus comes, we will give an account to God, when we all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. These expectations encourage Believers to live with Faith/Trust in God, Generosity, Integrity, Diligence, Wisdom, Carefulness with words, Purity and a Heart of Gratitude. These are Pillars of Wisdom.

Scriptures on the Use of Talents

The Bible teaches that God gives each person unique gifts and abilities, and that these should be recognized, developed, and used to Serve Others and Glorify God.

Learn this: God’s Grace is distributed in different ways to each person, and we are Called to be Faithful Stewards of these gifts. As I Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” This means talents are not for personal gain alone, but for the common good.

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Key Verses

Romans 12:6 – “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith.”

When you are tested, God knows the outcome of the test; You Don’t! The outcome should be to learn to: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding.6In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.7Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the LORD, and depart from evil…” Prov. 3:5-7a.

God entrusts Believers with earthly resources, such as, time, talents, treasures, and responsibilities - not as permanent ownership, but as Stewardship under His authority. This entrustment serves several key purposes in His Plan for humanity:

1. Fulfilling the Creation Mandate (Law) In Genesis 1:28, God gave humanity the mandate to “Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Ruling over creation. This includes caring for the environment, managing resources, and using them for His Purposes, not your own.

2. Demonstrating Stewardship and Accountability Believers are not owners but stewards of what God owns (“The earth is the Lord’s … Psalm 24:1). The Parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) shows that God entrusts resources according to ability, He expects faithful management and multiplication of it for His Glory. This entrustment is temporary - I Timothy 6:7 reminds us “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

3. Encouraging a Focus on Eternal Values Scripture contrasts temporal and Eternal priorities. Jesus taught us to store up treasures in heaven, not in perishable things on the earth - Matthew 6:19–20. Entrusting Believers with earthly things is meant to redirect focus toward God’s Eternal Kingdom. Everything that we see, hear, taste, smell, and touch are temporary and for earthly use. We shouldn’t get so hung up on them that we miss Heavenly Treasures. “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” - II Corinthians 4:18.

4. Preparing His Believers for God’s Glory and Purpose God uses earthly resources to equip Believers for His Work. Whether through generosity - II Corinthians 8:3 or Service, these gifts are tools for advancing His Mission on earth and reflecting His Character.

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5. Building Our Character and Faith Managing entrusted resources - whether money, time, or abilities - shapes our Character, Discipline, and Trust in God’s Provision. This prepares Believers for greater responsibilities and for the day of accountability - at the Judgment Seat o Christ - II Corinthians 5:10..

6. Reflecting God’s Sovereignty and Care Recognizing that ALL belongs to God fosters Reverence and Trust. It reminds Believers that God is the Ultimate Provider - “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” - Philippians 4:19 and that His Care extends to how we use His Gifts.

7. Encouraging Generosity and Sacrifice Entrustment Calls Believers to give freely, even beyond their means, as a response to God’s Own Generosity - “I assure you that they gave what they could afford and even more than they could afford, and they did it voluntarily” - II Corinthians 8:3. This reflects the heart of Stewardship - using what is given for His Purposes

We learn Ephesians by knowing God’s Plan and Purpose. It was written to the Church. God confined Paul in prison to keep his focus. We are not focused.

He said, “14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.17Wherefore Come out from among them, and be and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch not the unclean thing; And I will receive you,18And will be a Father unto you, And ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

God wants our attention.

Going forward, we will look at Lessons on PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING.

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YOU ARE IN THE ARMY NOW!

Ephesians 6:10-24

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¹⁰Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²For we wrestle 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. ¹³Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; ¹⁵and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: ¹⁸praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; ¹⁹and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.²¹But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: ²²whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.²³Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Ephesians 6:10–24.

YOU’RE IN THE ARMY NOW!

Sooner or later every Believer discovers that the Christian Life is a battleground, not a playground, and that he faces an enemy who is much stronger than he is.

That Paul should use the military language and images to illustrate the Believer’s conflict with Satan is reasonable. He himself was chained to a Roman soldier (Eph. 6:20), and his readers were certainly familiar with soldiers and the equipment they used.

In fact, military illustrations were favorites with Paul (he used this illustration in

II Cor. 10:4, it reads: “(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds). This is one of Paul’s boldest statements about the Nature of Spiritual conflict. Paul teaches that:

        Believers do not fight with human tools or strategies.

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        Their “weapons” are empowered by God and

        Capable of demolishing spiritual, mental, and ideological strongholds.

What Paul means by “weapons”

         Not carnal - not physical, not rooted in human strength, manipulation, or worldly tactics, nor outsmarting others.

         Mighty through God - empowered by the Spirit for effectiveness because of Divine Power, not human cleverness. Lucifer/satan was the wisest angel in Heaven. One of the things that got him in trouble with God; he outsmarted himself trying to outsmart God.

         Weapons include things like Truth, Prayer, Righteousness, Faith, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Authority of Christ.

         Weapons like arguments or philosophies that oppose God are Pride, rebellion, or self‑exalting ideas

         Internal fortresses of fear, shame, or unbelief are in opposition to God.

         Cultural or ideological systems that resist the knowledge of God are weapons that are in opposition to God. [An ideological system is a structured set of beliefs [grandma passed it down], values, and ideas that explains how the world works and guides how society should be organized. A clear example is communism, which provides both a worldview and a program for political and economic action. Christianity and Politics don’t mix; religion and politics go hand in hand.

These aren’t external enemies; they’re Spiritual and Intellectual structures that shape how people think and live.

What are “strongholds”?

Paul is talking about:

         Entrenched patterns of thinking (ex. mental “strongholds” example: Entitlement - “That should have been mine, but she got it.”

         Identity strongholds. E.g.

Perfection is my goal. And if I don’t do it…

God is disappointed in me all the time, I can’t measure up.

I’ll always be the black sheep.

These patterns shape how some people interprets their failures, relationship, or spiritual moment.

. Fear-Driven Strongholds

“If I don’t control everything, everything will fall apart.”

“Something bad is always about to happen.”

“I can’t trust anyone; people always hurt me.”

Fear becomes the lens through which life is viewed.

Shame-Based Strongholds

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        Their “weapons” are empowered by God and

        Capable of demolishing spiritual, mental, and ideological strongholds.

What Paul means by “weapons”

         Not carnal - not physical, not rooted in human strength, manipulation, or worldly tactics, nor outsmarting others.

         Mighty through God - empowered by the Spirit for effectiveness because of Divine Power, not human cleverness. Lucifer/satan was the wisest angel in Heaven. One of the things that got him in trouble with God; he outsmarted himself trying to outsmart God.

         Weapons include things like Truth, Prayer, Righteousness, Faith, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Authority of Christ.

         Weapons like arguments or philosophies that oppose God are Pride, rebellion, or self‑exalting ideas

         Internal fortresses of fear, shame, or unbelief are in opposition to God.

         Cultural or ideological systems that resist the knowledge of God are weapons that are in opposition to God. [An ideological system is a structured set of beliefs [grandma passed it down], values, and ideas that explains how the world works and guides how society should be organized. A clear example is communism, which provides both a worldview and a program for political and economic action. Christianity and Politics don’t mix; religion and politics go hand in hand.

These aren’t external enemies; they’re Spiritual and Intellectual structures that shape how people think and live.

What are “strongholds”?

Paul is talking about:

         Entrenched patterns of thinking (ex. mental “strongholds” example: Entitlement - “That should have been mine, but she got it.”

         Identity strongholds. E.g.

Perfection is my goal. And if I don’t do it…

God is disappointed in me all the time, I can’t measure up.

I’ll always be the black sheep.

These patterns shape how some people interprets their failures, relationship, or spiritual moment.

. Fear-Driven Strongholds

“If I don’t control everything, everything will fall apart.”

“Something bad is always about to happen.”

“I can’t trust anyone; people always hurt me.”

Fear becomes the lens through which life is viewed.

Shame-Based Strongholds

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         Transformation begins in the mind

         Victory comes through alignment with Christ, not force or persuasion

What are we Talking about?

Military illustrations

Paul told Timothy in I Timothy 6:9, 10, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.¹⁰For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”

I Tim. 6:12 reads: “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses”.

II Tim. 2:3 reads “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ”; and II Tim. 4:7 reads “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”).

Paul used military illustrations because they were culturally familiar, Spiritually strategic, and rhetorically powerful for communicating the Christian Life as: Active, Disciplined, and Embattled, either by being prepared for war or involved in it.

As Christians, we face three enemies:

        The world (Lust of the eyes)

        The flesh (Lust of the flesh), and

        The devil (The Pride of life)

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.¹⁶For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.¹⁷And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” I John 2:15–17.

These three are our primary source of temptation. Satan has nothing else, and we have no reason to look for anything else. “The world” refers to the system around us that is opposed to God. The world system is the organized pattern of values, priorities, and desires that operate independently of God and often in direct opposition to Him. It is:

        Invisible (a Spiritual orientation)

        Cultural (shaping societies and its norms)

        Personal (appealing to the flesh)

        Supernatural (energized spiritually by satan.)

It is the environment in which sin feels normal, self is central, and God is optional.

-       No other gods. God alone is to be worshiped; He is to have no rivals, no divided loyalty. We are to be Faithful Followers of Christ. He gives you new Mercies every Morning. He’s your Provider, He’s your Shepherd; Healer; constant Companion; He Sanctified you; He Fights for you; He’s your Peace; He’s your Righteousness; He’s your Stabilizer, He’s the only reason you’re NOT going to a “Therapist” or taking “Anti-depressants”. Christ is the ANSWER. There’s nothing wrong with that. It was God who provided them. Or so says John, His Beloved Disciple in His Word: “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.²⁴But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,²⁵and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man” - John 2:23-25.

-       No idols. Nothing visible or created may replace or represent God. Get rid of the altar in the house, they’re making you crazy.

-       Do not misuse God’s Name. His Name is Holy. It must not be used lightly, falsely, or irreverently.

-       Remember the Sabbath Day. A weekly rhythm of Rest, Worship, and Trust in God’s Provision.

-       Honor father and mother. Respecting parents brings stability and blessing. God gave Children to Parents. Not the other way around. When parents don’t train them up the way they should go, the world does it. The results are: criminals, homeless, reckless, disrespectful, mental health issues, etc. Remember: nothing is 100%. There are some children who did not have good parents, and they turned out just the way God designed them.

Commandments About Loving People

-       Do not murder. Life is Sacred because it comes from God’s image.

-       Do not commit adultery. Marriage is a life-long covenant - faithfulness to each other reflects God’s faithfulness - to us, to His Word. Vows mean something eternal. When you speak them, they can only be taken back at death.

-       Do not steal. Respecting the property and dignity of others.

-       Do not bear false witness. Truth protects justice and relationships.

-       Do not covet. Sin begins in desire, it becomes lusts - excessive desire. God Calls us to Contentment and Purity of Heart.

The People’s Fear and Moses’ Role (18–21)

The people tremble at God’s Voice and ask Moses to speak to them instead. Moses tells them: “Do not be afraid; God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him will keep you from sinning.” (Paraphrased)

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 “Society apart from God” is a simple, but accurate, definition of “the world.”

“The flesh” is the old nature that we inherited from Adam, a nature that is opposed to God and can do nothing spiritual to please God.

By His Death and Resurrection, Christ overcame the world (These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” - John 16:33; “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” - Gal. 6:14, and the flesh “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ²God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ³Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: ⁶knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” - Rom. 6:1–6; Gal. 2:20), and the devil “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”, AND Eph. 1:19–23, which reads “and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power [before you could be Born Again, the Holy Spirit convicted you, John 16:8; the Son died - John 10:18, they buried Him - Matt. 27:57-61, He Rose - Matt. 28:1-8, The Father drew you to Himself - John 6:44; it took all that Power to Save One Sinner],²⁰which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,²¹far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:²²and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,²³which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

The Victory Has Been Won!

In other words, as Believers, we do not fight for victory - we fight from victory! The Spirit of God enables us, by faith, to appropriate Christ’s Victory for ourselves. In these closing verses of the letter, Paul discussed four topics so that his readers, by understanding and applying these truths, might walk in victory.

The Enemy (¹⁰ “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²For we wrestle 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” - 6:10–12. 

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The intelligence corps plays a vital part in warfare because it enables the officers to know and understand the enemy. Unless we know who the enemy is, where he is, and what he can do, we have a difficult time defeating him. Not only in Ephesians 6, but throughout the entire Bible, God instructs us about the enemy, so there is no reason for us to be caught off guard. The leader - the devil. The enemy has many

different names:

Devil means “accuser,” because he accuses God’s People day and night before the throne of God; not his own people who are evil, but God’s People who have been set free of SIN. John tells us: (⁷“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,⁸and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.⁹And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.¹⁰And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.¹¹And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.¹²Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” - Rev. 12:7–12).

Satan has the responsibility of Going back and for to Heaven to give an account of his stewardship - Job 1: 6-12; 2:1-7. The reality is, God gave satan a Stewardship to “temp” to sin. His accountability is to report to God what he’s been doing. Just as the Angels also must give an account to God for their Stewardship; just Believers must give an account for their Stewardship - Time, Treasure and Talents.

Satan means “adversary,” because he is the enemy of God. He is also called the Tempter (Matt. 4:3), and the murderer and the liar (John 8:44). He is compared to a lion, who has powerful hunting abilities, and complex social structures. (I Peter 5:8), a Serpent (Gen. 3:1; Rev. 12:9), and an angel of light (II Cor. 11:13–15), as well as “the “god” of this age” (II Cor. 4:4). Where did he come from, this spirit-creature that determines to oppose God and defeat His Work? Many students believe that in the original creation, he was “Lucifer, son of the morning” (Isa. 14:12–15) and that he was cast down because of his pr”I”de and his lust to occupy God’s Throne. Many mysteries are connected with the origin of Satan, but what he is doing and where he is going are certainly no mystery! Since he is a created being, and not eternal (as God is), he is limited in his knowledge and activity. Unlike God, Satan is not all-knowing, not all-powerful, or not everywhere-present. Then how does he accomplish so much in so many different parts of the world? The answer is in his organized helpers. He lead 1/3 of the angels in Heaven in

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rebellion against God. They were kicked out with him and they are called Satan’s helpers, demons. Paul called them “principalities … powers … rulers … spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12). Charles B. Williams translated it, “For our contest is not with human foes alone, but with the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark world; that is, with the spirit forces of evil challenging us in the heavenly contest” (Williams).

This suggests a definite army of demonic creatures that assist Satan in his attacks against Believers. God does not allow all of Satan’s angels (demons) to gather together at once, YET! Some are in the Second Heaven; some are in the atmosphere; some indwells people, even God’s People; some are in the Abyss, waiting for the chance to demonize during the Seven Years of Tribulation.

John tells the story of what happens when they are all loosed in the Book of Revelation (The Seven Years of Tribulation or some call it “The Time of Jacob’s Troubles.” Whatever you call it, don’t be here when it happens.

John wrote: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; (why?) that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.¹⁴And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his (God) will, he heareth us:¹⁵and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.  There are different kinds of petitions: [petitions against something with many signatures; divorce petitions] John is speaking of an appeal or request to deity, the Superior One. We know we have our petitions because it’s according to His Will. John is saying, you can BE SURE OF YOUR SALVATION!

The Apostle John hinted that one third of the angels fell with Satan when he rebelled against God (Rev. 12:4), and Daniel wrote that Satan’s angels struggle against God’s angels for control of the affairs of nations (Dan. 10:13–20).

A Spiritual battle is going on in this world right now! As well as in the sphere of “the heavenlies,” and you and I are a part of this battle. Knowing this makes “walking in victory” a vitally important thing to us - and to God. The important point is that our battle is not against human beings. It is against spiritual powers, against wickedness in high places.

We are wasting our time fighting people when we ought to be fighting the devil who seeks to control people and make them oppose the WORK of God. During Paul’s Ministry in Ephesus, a riot took place that could have destroyed the Church (Acts 19:21–41). It wasn’t caused only by Demetrius and his associates, for behind them were Satan and his associates. That’s what causes fights:

¹From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?²Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.³Ye

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ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.⁴Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.⁵Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?⁶But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.⁷Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.⁸Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.⁹Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.¹⁰Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.¹¹Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.¹²There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

¹³Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:¹⁴whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.¹⁵For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.¹⁶But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.¹⁷Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Certainly Paul and the Church prayed, and the opposition was silenced. The advice of the king of Syria to his soldiers can be applied to Our Spiritual Battle: “Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king” - I Kings 22:31.

Satan’s abilities.

The admonitions Paul gave, indicate that Satan is a strong enemy - Eph. 6:10–12 and that we need the Power of God to be able to stand against him.

Never underestimate the power of the devil. He is not compared to a lion and a dragon just for fun! The book of Job tells what his power can do to a man’s body, home, wealth, and friends.

Jesus called Satan a thief who comes “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” - John 10:10. Not only is Satan strong, but he is also wise and subtle, and we fight against “the wiles of the devil.” Wiles means “cunning, crafty arts, stratagems.” The Christian cannot afford to be “ignorant of his devices” - II Cor. 2:11. Some men are cunning and crafty and “lie in wait to deceive” - Eph. 4:14, but behind them is the arch-deceiver, Satan. He masquerades as an angel of light - II Cor. 11:14 and seeks to blind men’s minds to the Truth of God’s Word.

The fact that Paul uses the Word Wrestle indicates that we are involved in a hand-to-hand battle and are not mere spectators at a game. Satan wants to use our external enemy, the world, and our internal enemy, the flesh, to defeat us. His

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weapons and battle plans are formidable (inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable).

The Believer’s Equipment - 6:13–17.

¹³Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; ¹⁵and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,”

Since we are fighting against enemies in the spirit world, we need special equipment offensively and defensively.

God has provided the “whole armor” for defensive protection, as well as offense to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative against the enemy, disrupting their defenses and overwhelming their capabilities to ensure their defeat or destruction, and we dare not omit any part. Satan looks for that unguarded area where he can get a toehold (neither give place to the devil” - Eph. 4:27). Paul commanded his readers to put on the armor (when you take off any piece, BAM! you’re dead) take the weapons that He gave to withstand Satan, all of which we do by faith. Man made weapon, e.g., fights among one another. Knowing that Christ has already conquered Satan, and that the Spiritual Armor and Weapons are available, by faith we accept what God gives us and go out to meet the enemy. The day is evil, and the enemy is evil, but “if God be for us, who can be against us?” - Rom. 8:31.

The Girdle of Truth (v. 14a). Satan is a liar (John 8:44), but the Believer whose life is controlled by Truth will defeat him. The girdle held the other parts of the armor together, and Truth is the integrating force in the life of the victorious Christian.

A man of Integrity (one of the seven Pillars/Column of Wisdom), with a clear conscience, can face the enemy without fear. The girdle also held the sword. Unless we practice the truth, we cannot use the Word of truth. Once a lie gets into the life of a Believer, everything begins to fall apart. For over a year, King David lied about his sin with Bathsheba, and nothing went right. Psalms 32 and 51 tell of the price he paid.

Integrity is spiritual wisdom because in Scripture integrity is not merely moral behavior - it is the practical expression of a heart aligned with God’s Truth. When the Bible talks about wisdom, it is never abstract. It is always Lived Truth, embodied in choices, habits, and Character. Integrity is one of the clearest ways Wisdom becomes visible.

Integrity is Spiritual Wisdom because: