DEVOTIONAL FOR JULY 8, 2026
Ephesians 6
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
MATTHEW 28:19-20
SONG: The Beautiful Garden of Prayer
1
There’s
a garden where Jesus is waiting,
There’s a place that is wondrously fair,
For it glows with the light of His presence
’Tis that beautiful garden of prayer.
Refrain:
O the beautiful garden, the garden of prayer,
O the beautiful garden of prayer!
There my Savior awaits, and He opens the gates
To the beautiful garden of prayer.
2
There’s
a garden where Jesus is waiting,
And I go, with my burden and care,
Just to learn from His lips words of comfort
In the beautiful garden of prayer. [Refrain]
3 There’s a garden
where Jesus is waiting,
And He bids you to come meet Him there,
Just to bow and receive a new blessing
In the beautiful garden of prayer. [Refrain]
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PRAYER REQUESTS:
- PRAYER REQUESTS:
Pastor Donald Garrett, Jr & family
Deacons and Deaconesses
Ass’t Pastor &Director of Sunday School, Minister Randolph
Deacon Robert Jones, Chairperson
Sister Geraldine Jones
Minister Roy Rogers
Sister Doris Thompson
Minister Odie Bowers
Deacon George and Sister Shelton
Minister Leon Murray
Deacon William Butler and Sister Coleen Butler
Minister Ritch Hall
Deacon Emmanuel and Sister Wilson
Minister Sidney Frazier
Deacon Raymond and Sister Butler
Minister Luther Black, Nursing Facility
Deacon Robert and Sister Murray
New Members Class
Deacon Gregory and Sister Jones
Sister Victina Fearon
Deacon Michael and Sister Brown
Deacon John Kitchen
New Members
TRUSTEES
Brother James Murray, Jr.
Brother Andrew Jones
Brother Willie Stephens
Brother Thomas Likely
Sister Betty J Rosser
Brother Wryvn David
BIBLE TEACHERS
90+ MEMBERS
Sister Felecia Randolph
Brother Charles Williams
Sister Patricia Robinson
Sister Lillie Murphy Lewis
Sister Sophia Wall
Sister Hazel Clemmons
Sister Betty Monford
Brother Jesse Townsend
Deacon Wm. Butler Jr.
Sister Lornetta Dorsette
Deacon Robert Jones
Sister Geraldine Jones
Min. Sidney Frazier
Min. Ritch Hall
Sister Annie Kate Roper
Youth Director, Brandy Murray
Youth/Young Adult Leaders
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PRAYER
Last few weeks we talked about Domestic Relationships, those relationships that govern those who are in God’s Family, which included reading The Sermon on The Mt. in Matt. 5-7. We studied How God expects Children to Obey parents and those in authority, we studied the Development of these Behavior in The Law and why the Law was necessary. We talked about Parents governing themselves in Chastening their Children, and why; we also studied Punishment vs. Chastisement; How Servants are to behave toward masters, that is to Obedient to them [do the work you were hired to do without being watched]; How the Masters are to behave toward Servants, that is treat them as you would want to be treated as if you were the Servant, if for no other reason, then because you have a Master to give an account to. And when you are put in that position, think how you will feel, how you will react. Both are Believers in Christ, and both are accountable to God for their actions. The idea of How Servants and Masters are to behave centers around Onesimus and Philemon. Onesimus was a slave who ran away because of ill-treatment by his master. He ended up in Paul’s camp and received Christ as Savior. It took Onesimus a life-time to Make Him LORD of his life, by constantly keep Christ on the Throne. For Christ to become Savior of your life, you do nothing but accept the Gift of God. But for Christ to become LORD of your life, Christ must constantly live on the Throne of your heart. That’s the WARFARE that we all encounter. You’re trying to keep Christ on the Throne, and trip over Yourself by what you SEE in the world; by what you are feeling, the FLESH; and by who you
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Worship - “I deserve this,” PRIDE. What about God? What does deserve? It is a constant battle. Now, Philemon, Onesimus’s master had a Church in his house. He’s mad because his servant ran away and he can’t find him… well that a No, no! first of all, you have a Master and how will you feel and act when you have to give an account of: 1) owning another individual; 2) your anger; 3) if you find him, what would you do to him? If you were in his place, how would feel, being a Believer and all that? Like Churching others. Your Master is watching You! Would you Punish or Chastise him? Paul says, “God is no respecter of Persons.” God expects more of the Believer because you are to live by My Standards.
What makes the difference is Knowing Christ. John 17:3 says, “'And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” - John 17:3. When we come to KNOW God and Jesus Christ, we have Eternal Life. The Way we conduct ourselves is our plumbline. It measures where You Are IN CHRIST. The more mature one becomes, the better the behavior becomes. Behavior does not determine the Salvation Status in God’s eyes. God says, “that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Salvation involves both an internal reality and an external response. Paul is describing how faith operates in a whole person, not just in intellect or behavior. “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness”
This is the internal side.
Heart in Scripture means the core of a person, the person is made up of Mind, Will and Emotions - the mind creates a thought (that’s all), but the will determines what the Soul (YOU) desire (then Choice), trust your life to Christ and identify with Him. Or to walk away.
Belief here isn’t mere agreement; it’s Entrusting yourself to Christ. (I give myself Away. In that word “away,” you see “A Way to Heaven” or “I die to myself daily, sometimes hourly.”
Unto righteousness means this heart-level trust is what connects a person to the Righteousness God gives - the RIGHT STANDING before Him, the Blood. If one is in the Right Standing, God sees the Blood; if one is in the Right State, the world see Behavioral Changes.
Paul is emphasizing that Salvation begins with a Genuine, Inward Trust, not external works or ritual. Behavior won’t Save anyone; because there will be good folks in hell. So!
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:
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It expresses the fear of the Lord (the beginning of wisdom.) - Prov. 9:10
It creates wholeness instead of divisiveness.
wholeness
soundness
undividedness
completeness
A person with integrity is the same person in private as in public. This is Spiritual Wisdom because God Himself is whole, consistent, and faithful.
It aligns the inner life with God’s Truth.
It protects and stabilizes.
It is the lifestyle of the wise.
It resists the world system.
It reflects God’s Character.
It builds Credibility and Trust.
It is produced by the Spirit.
The Breastplate of Righteousness (v. 14b). This piece of armor, made of metal plates or chains, covered the body from the neck to the waist, both front and back. It symbolizes the Believer’s Righteousness in Christ (II Cor. 5:21) as well as his Righteous Life in Christ (Eph. 4:24). Satan is the accuser, but he cannot accuse the believer who is living a godly life in the power of the Spirit. The life we live either fortifies us against Satan’s attacks or makes it easier for him to defeat us (II Cor. 6:1–10). When Satan accuses the Christian, it is the Righteousness of Christ that assures the Believer of his Salvation. But our positional Righteousness in Christ, without Practical Righteousness in the daily life, only gives Satan opportunity to attack us.
The Shoes of the Gospel (v. 15). The Roman soldier wore sandals with hobnails in the soles to give him better footing for the battle. If we are going to “stand” and “withstand,” then we need the shoes of the Gospel.
Because we have the Peace with God (Rom. 5:1) that comes from the Gospel, we need not fear the attack of Satan or men. We must be at Peace with God and with each other if we are to defeat the devil (James 4:1–7). But the shoes have another meaning. We must be prepared each day to share the Gospel of Peace with a lost world. The most victorious Christian is a witnessing Christian. If we wear the shoes of the Gospel, then we have the “beautiful feet” mentioned in Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:15.
Satan has declared war, but you and I are Ambassadors of Peace (II Cor. 5:18–21); and, as such, we take the Gospel of Peace wherever we go.
The Shield of Faith (v. 16).
The shield was large, usually about four feet by two feet, made of wood, and covered with tough leather. As the soldier held it before him, it protected him from
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spears, arrows, and “fiery darts.” The edges of these shields were so constructed that an entire line of soldiers could interlock shields and march into the enemy like a solid wall. This suggests that we Christians are not in the battle alone.
The “Faith” mentioned here is not Saving Faith, but rather Living Faith, a trust in the Promises and the Power of God. Faith is a defensive weapon that protects us from Satan’s fiery darts. In Paul’s day, arrows, dipped in some inflammable substance and ignited, were shot at the enemy.
Satan shoots “fiery darts” at our hearts and minds: lies, blasphemous thoughts, hateful thoughts about others, doubts, and burning desires for sin. If we do not by faith quench these darts, they will light a fire within and we will disobey God. We never know when Satan will shoot a dart at us, so we must always Walk by Faith and use the Shield of Faith.
The Helmet of Salvation (v. 17). Satan wants to attack the mind, the way he defeated Eve (Gen. 3; II Cor. 11:1–3). The helmet refers to the mind controlled by God. It is too bad that many Christians have the idea that the intellect is not important, when in reality it plays a vital role in Christian Growth, Service, and Victory. When God controls the mind, Satan cannot lead the believer astray.
The Christian who studies his Bible and learns the meaning of Bible Doctrines is not going to be led astray too easily. We need to be “taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus”- Eph. 4:21. We are to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” - II Peter 3:18. Wherever Paul Ministered, he taught the New Converts the Truths of the Word of God, and this helmet protected them from Satan’s lies.
One Sunday afternoon, I visited a man who had been a deacon in a local church, but was at that time involved in a false cult. We sat at the table with open Bibles, and I tried to show him the truth of God’s Word, but it seemed his mind was blinded by lies. “How did you happen to turn away from a Bible preaching Church and get involved in this belief?” I asked, and his reply stunned me. “Preacher, I blame the church. I didn’t know anything about the Bible, and they didn’t teach me much more. I wanted to study the Bible, but nobody told me how. Then they made me a deacon, and I wasn’t ready for it. It was too much for me. I heard this man preaching the Bible over the radio and it sounded as if he knew something. I started reading his magazine and studying his books, and now I’m convinced he’s right.”
What a tragedy that when his local church took him in, they failed to fit him with the Helmet of Salvation. Had they practiced the Truth found in II Timothy 2:2, this man might not have been a casualty in the battle.
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for close-in fighting. Hebrews 4:12 compares the Word of God to a sword, because it is sharp and is able to pierce the inner man just as a material sword pierces the body.
You and I were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37; 5:33) when the Spirit of God convicted us with The Word, we could recognize our sins. Peter tried to use a sword to defend Jesus in the garden (Luke 22:47–51), but he learned at Pentecost that the “Sword of the Spirit” does a much better job. Moses also tried to conquer with a physical sword (Ex. 2:11–15), only to discover that God’s Word alone was more than enough to defeat Egypt. A material sword pierces the body, but the Word of God pierces the heart. The more you use a physical sword, the duller it becomes, but using God’s Word only makes it sharper in our lives.
A physical sword requires the hand of a soldier, but the Sword of the Spirit has its own Power, for it is “living and powerful” (Heb. 4:12). The Spirit wrote the Word, and the Spirit wields the Word as we take it by Faith and use it.
A physical sword wounds to hurt and kill, while the Sword of the Spirit wounds to heal and give life. But when we use the Sword against Satan, we are out to deal him a blow that will cripple him and keep him from hindering God’s WORK. When He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Christ used the sword of the Spirit and defeated the enemy. Three times Jesus said, “It is written” (Luke 4:1–13). Note that Satan can also quote the Word - “For it is written” (Luke 4:10) - but he does not quote it completely. Satan tries to use the Word of God to confuse us, so it is important that we know every word that God has given us.
“You can prove anything by the Bible,” someone said. True - if you take verses out of context, leave out words, and apply verses to Christians today that do not really apply.
The better you know the Word of God, the easier it will be for you to detect Satan’s lies and reject his offers.
In one sense, the “whole armor of God” is a picture of Jesus Christ. Christ is the Truth (John 14:6), and He is our Righteousness (II Cor. 5:21) and our Peace (Eph. 2:14).
His Faithfulness makes possible our Faith (Gal. 2:20); He is our Salvation (Luke 2:30); and He is the Word of God (John 1:1, 14).
This means that when we trusted Christ, we received the armor. Paul told the Romans what to do with the armor (Rom. 13:11–14): wake up (Rom. 13:11), cast off sin, and “put on the armor of light” (Rom. 13:12). We do this by putting “on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 13:14).
By Faith, put on the armor and trust God for the Victory. Once and for all, we have put on the armor at the moment of Salvation. But there must be a daily appropriation. When King David put off his armor and returned to his palace, he was in greater danger than when he was on the battlefield (II Sam. 11). We are never out of reach of Satan’s devices, so we must never be without the whole armor of God.Page 21
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Paul reinforced his admonition with an argument from the Spiritual Experience of his readers. Again the emphasis is on the mind, or the outlook, of the Believer. “But ye have not so learned Christ” (Eph. 4:20). He did not say “learned about Christ,” because it is possible to learn about Christ and never be saved. To “learn Christ” means to have a personal relationship to Christ so that you get to know Him better each day. I can learn about Sir Winston Churchill because I may own many of his books and can secure books about his life. But I can never “learn him” because he is dead. Jesus Christ is alive! Therefore, I can “learn Christ” through a Personal Fellowship with Him. This Fellowship is based on the Word of God. I can be taught “the truth” as it is in Jesus Christ. The better I understand the Word of God, the better I know the Son of God, for the whole Bible is a Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ (27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27; “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” - John 5:39). The unsaved man is Spiritually ignorant, while the Christian is intelligent in the things of the Word. And the unsaved man does not know Christ, while the Believer grows in his personal knowledge of Christ day by day. We have believed the truth; we have received the life; therefore, we will walk “in the Way” and not walk after the example of the unsaved world.
But this experience of Salvation goes much deeper than this, for it has resulted in a whole New Position before God. The old man (the former life) has been put away, and we can now walk in newness of life through Christ. Ephesians 4:22–24 is a summary of Romans 5-8, where Paul explained the Believer’s Identification with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection. He also dealt with this in Ephesians 2:4-6, as well as in Colossians 3. As Christians, we have not simply changed our minds. We have totally changed our Citizenship. We belong to God’s “New Creation” in Christ (17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” - II Cor. 5:17), and therefore, the ideas and desires of the old creation no longer should control our lives.
The simplest illustration of this Great Truth is given in John 11, the resurrection of Lazarus. Our Lord’s friend, Lazarus, had been in the grave four days when Jesus and His Disciples arrived at Bethany, and even Martha admitted that, by now, the decaying body would smell (John 11:39). But Jesus spoke the Word and Lazarus came forth alive, an illustration of John 5:24 “24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.. Notice our Lord’s next words: “Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:44).
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Take off the graveclothes! Lazarus no longer belonged to the old dominion of death, for he was now alive. Why go about wearing graveclothes? Take off the old and put on the new! This was Paul’s argument - you no longer belong to the old corruption of SIN; you belong to the New Creation in Christ. Take off the graveclothes! How do we do this? “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Eph. 4:23).
Conversion is a crisis that leads to a process. Through Christ, once and for all, we have been given a New Position in His New Creation, but day by day, we must by Faith appropriate what He has given us. The Word of God renews the mind as we surrender our all to Him (Rom. 12:1–2). “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth” (John 17:17).
As the mind understands the Truth of God’s Word, it is gradually transformed by the Spirit, and this renewal leads to a changed life. Physically, you are what you eat, but Spiritually, you are what you think. “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7). This is why it is important for us as Christians to spend time daily meditating on the Word, praying, and fellowshipping with Christ.
The Application (4:25–32)
25Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. 26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27neither give place to the devil. 28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Paul was not content to explain a Principle and then leave it. He always applied it to the different areas of life that need to feel its power. Paul even dared to name sins. Five different sins are named in this section, and Paul told us to avoid them and he explained why. Lying (v. 25). A lie is a statement that is contrary to fact, spoken with the intent to deceive. If I tell you it is noon, and then discover that my watch is wrong, I did not tell a lie. But if I gave you the wrong time so you would be late to a meeting and I would benefit from it, that would be a lie. Satan is a liar (John 8:44), and he wants us to believe that God is a liar. “Yea, hath God said?” (Gen. 3:1). Whenever we speak Truth, the Spirit of God Works, but whenever we tell a lie, Satan goes to work. We like to believe that we help people by lying to them, but such is not the case. We may not see the sad consequences immediately,
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but ultimately they will come. “Ye know that no lie is of the truth” (I John 2:21). Hell is prepared for “whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Rev. 22:15).
This does not mean that anybody who ever told a lie will go to hell, but rather that those whose lives are controlled by lies - they love lies and they make lies - are lost forever.
The Christian’s Life is controlled by truth. Note the reason Paul gave for telling the Truth: We belong to each other in Christ. He urged us to build the body in love (Eph. 4:16) and he urged us to build the body in truth. “Speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).
As “members one of another” we affect each other, and we cannot build each other apart from Truth.
The first sin that was judged in the Early Church was the sin of lying (Acts 5:1–11). Anger (vv. 26–27). Anger is an emotional arousal caused by something that displeases us. In itself, anger is not a sin, because even God can be angry (Deut. 9:8, 20; Ps. 2:12). Several times in the Old Testament the phrase appears, “the anger of the Lord” (Num. 25:4; Jer. 4:8; 12:13). The Holy anger of God is a part of His Judgment against SIN, as illustrated in our Lord’s anger when He cleansed the temple (Matt. 21:12–13).
The Bible often speaks of anger “being kindled” (Gen. 30:2; Deut. 6:15), as though anger can be compared to fire. Sometimes a man’s anger smolders, and this we would call malice, but this same anger can suddenly burst forth and destroy, and this we would call wrath. It is difficult for us to practice a truly holy anger or righteous indignation because our emotions are tainted by SIN, and we do not have the same knowledge that God has in all matters. God sees everything clearly and knows everything completely, and we do not.
The New Testament Principle seems to be that the Believer should be angry at sin but loving toward people. “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil” (Ps. 97:10). It is possible to be angry and not sin, but if we do sin, we must settle the matter quickly and not let the sun go down on our wrath. “Agree with thine adversary quickly” (Matt. 5:25). “Go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone” (Matt. 18:15). The fire of anger, if not quenched by loving forgiveness, will spread and defile and destroy the Work of God. According to Jesus, anger is the first step toward murder (Matt. 5:21–26), because anger gives the devil a foothold in our lives, and Satan is a murderer (John 8:44). Satan hates God and God’s People, and when he finds a Believer with the sparks of anger in his heart, he fans those sparks, adds fuel to the fire, and does a great deal of damage to God’s People and God’s Church. Both lying and anger “give place to the devil” (Eph. 4:27). When I was living in Chicago, one out of every thirty-five deaths was a murder, and most of these murders involved relatives and friends. They are what the law calls “crimes of passion.” Two friends get into an argument (often while gambling), one of them
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gets angry, pulls a gun or knife, and kills his friend. Horace was right when he said, “Anger is momentary insanity.”
A woman tried to defend her bad temper by saying, “I explode and then it’s all over with.” “Yes,” replied a friend, “just like a shotgun - but look at the damage that’s left behind.” “Anyone can become angry,” wrote Aristotle. “But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way - this is not easy.” Solomon has a good solution: “A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger” (Prov. 15:1). Stealing (v. 28). “Thou shalt not steal” is one of the Ten Commandments, and when God gave that Commandment, He instituted the right of private ownership of property. A man has the right to turn his strength into gain, and to keep that gain and use it as he sees fit. God gave numerous laws to the Jews for the protection of their property, and these principles have become a part of our law today. Stealing was particularly a sin of the slaves in Paul’s day. Usually they were not well cared for and were always in need, and the law gave them almost no protection. When he wrote to Titus, Paul urged him to admonish the slaves not to “purloin” but to be faithful to their masters (Titus 2:10). But it was not only the slaves, but citizens in general, who were addicted to thievery, for Paul wrote to people in the Ephesian Church who were gainfully employed (Eph. 4:28). Just as Satan is a liar and a murderer, he is also a thief. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). He turned Judas into a thief (John 12:6), and he would do the same to us if he could. When he tempted Eve, he led her to become a thief, for she took the fruit that was forbidden. And she, in turn, made Adam a thief. The first Adam was a thief and was cast out of Paradise, but the Last Adam, Christ, turned to a thief and said, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Paul added motive to the admonition. We should tell the truth because we are “members one of another.” We should control our anger lest we “give place to the devil.” We should work, and not steal, so that we might be able “to give to him that needeth.” You would expect Paul to have said, “Let him work that he might take care of himself and not be tempted to steal.” Instead, he lifted human labor to a much higher level. We work that we might be able to help others. If we steal, we hurt others; therefore, we should work that we might be able to help others. Even honest labor could become a selfish thing, and this Paul seeks to avoid. Of course, it was a fundamental rule in the early Church that “if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thess. 3:10). A lazy Christian robs himself, others, and God. Of course, Paul was not writing to Believers who could not work because of handicaps, but with those who would not work. Paul himself was an example of a hard worker, for while he was establishing Local Churches, he labored as a tentmaker. Every Jewish rabbi was taught a trade, for, said the rabbis, “If you do
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not teach your son a trade, you teach him to be a thief.” The men that God called in the Scriptures were busy working when their call came. Moses was caring for sheep; Gideon was threshing wheat; David was minding his father’s flock; and the first four Disciples were either casting nets or mending them. Jesus Himself was a Carpenter.
Corrupt speech (v. 29). The mouth and heart are connected. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh” (Matt. 12:34). We expect a change in speech when a person becomes a Christian. It is interesting to trace the word mouth through the book of Romans and see how Christ makes a difference in a man’s speech. The sinner’s mouth is “full of cursing and bitterness” (Rom. 3:14), but when he trusts Christ, he gladly confesses with his mouth “Jesus Christ is Lord” (Rom. 10:9–10 NIV). As a condemned sinner, his mouth is stopped before the Throne of God (Rom. 3:19), but as a Believer, his mouth is opened to Praise God (Rom. 15:6). Change the heart and you change the speech. Paul certainly knew the difference, for when he was an unsaved rabbi, he was “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1). But when he trusted Christ, a change took place: “Behold, he prayeth” (Acts 9:11). From “preying” to “praying” in one step of faith!
The word corrupt, used in Matthew 7:17–18, refers to rotten fruit. It means “that which is worthless, bad, or rotten.” Our words do not have to be “dirty” to be worthless. Sometimes we go along with the crowd and try to impress people with the fact that we are not as puritanical as they think. Peter may have had this motive in mind when he was accused by the girl of being one of Christ’s Disciples. “Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, ‘I know not the man’” (Matt. 26:74). The appetites of the old life sometimes show up when we permit “filthy communication” out of the mouth (Col. 3:8). Remember, before we were saved, we lived in spiritual death (Eph. 2:1–3), and, like Lazarus, our personal corruption produced an odor that was not pleasing to God. No wonder Paul wrote, “Their throat is an open sepulchre” (Rom. 3:13). The remedy is to make sure the heart is full of blessing. So fill the heart with the Love of Christ so that only Truth and Purity can come out of the mouth. Never have to say, “Now, take this with a grain of salt.” Paul told us to put the salt of God’s Grace in everything we say. “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6). And keep in mind that your words have power, either for good or evil. Paul told us to speak in such a way that what we say will build up our hearers, and not tear them down. Our words should Minister Grace and help to draw others closer to Christ. Satan, of course, encourages speech that will tear people down and destroy the work of Christ. If you need to be reminded of the power of the tongue, read the third chapter of James.
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not teach your son a trade, you teach him to be a thief.” The men that God called in the Scriptures were busy working when their call came. Moses was caring for sheep; Gideon was threshing wheat; David was minding his father’s flock; and the first four Disciples were either casting nets or mending them. Jesus Himself was a Carpenter.
Corrupt speech (v. 29). The mouth and heart are connected. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh” (Matt. 12:34). We expect a change in speech when a person becomes a Christian. It is interesting to trace the word mouth through the book of Romans and see how Christ makes a difference in a man’s speech. The sinner’s mouth is “full of cursing and bitterness” (Rom. 3:14), but when he trusts Christ, he gladly confesses with his mouth “Jesus Christ is Lord” (Rom. 10:9–10 NIV). As a condemned sinner, his mouth is stopped before the Throne of God (Rom. 3:19), but as a Believer, his mouth is opened to Praise God (Rom. 15:6). Change the heart and you change the speech. Paul certainly knew the difference, for when he was an unsaved rabbi, he was “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1). But when he trusted Christ, a change took place: “Behold, he prayeth” (Acts 9:11). From “preying” to “praying” in one step of faith!
The word corrupt, used in Matthew 7:17–18, refers to rotten fruit. It means “that which is worthless, bad, or rotten.” Our words do not have to be “dirty” to be worthless. Sometimes we go along with the crowd and try to impress people with the fact that we are not as puritanical as they think. Peter may have had this motive in mind when he was accused by the girl of being one of Christ’s Disciples. “Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, ‘I know not the man’” (Matt. 26:74). The appetites of the old life sometimes show up when we permit “filthy communication” out of the mouth (Col. 3:8). Remember, before we were saved, we lived in spiritual death (Eph. 2:1–3), and, like Lazarus, our personal corruption produced an odor that was not pleasing to God. No wonder Paul wrote, “Their throat is an open sepulchre” (Rom. 3:13). The remedy is to make sure the heart is full of blessing. So fill the heart with the Love of Christ so that only Truth and Purity can come out of the mouth. Never have to say, “Now, take this with a grain of salt.” Paul told us to put the salt of God’s Grace in everything we say. “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6). And keep in mind that your words have power, either for good or evil. Paul told us to speak in such a way that what we say will build up our hearers, and not tear them down. Our words should Minister Grace and help to draw others closer to Christ. Satan, of course, encourages speech that will tear people down and destroy the work of Christ. If you need to be reminded of the power of the tongue, read the third chapter of James.
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