THIRD QUARTER 2023
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #13
SEPTEMBER 23, 2023
“WAGING PEACE”

 

“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:16, 17, NKJV).

For the past couple of weeks, we have considered the weapons needed to defend ourselves against Satan’s attacks, as recorded in Ephesians 6:10-20. All biblical references in this article are from the New King James Version.

Notice the actions enjoined upon us in this struggle:

— “be strong in the Lord and the power of His might” (vs. 10)

— “put on the whole armor of God” (vs. 11)

— “take up the whole armor of God” (vs. 13)

— “having girded your waist with truth” (vs. 14)

— “having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (vs. 14)

— “having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (vs. 15)

— “taking the shield of faith” (vs. 16)

— “take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit” (vs. 17)

— “praying always . . . and being watchful” (vs. 18)

 

That’s a lot of action! In short, Paul says, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:14). To put on Christ is to arm ourselves with heaven’s military defenses.

As Seventh-day Adventists living in the time of the end, we are the object of Satan’s special attacks. “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 12:17).

That war began in heaven with Satan’s subtle attacks on Christ. It continues on earth.

If there was any doubt, Paul makes it explicitly clear. We are in a war, and it’s not with people. It is with principalities and powers, rulers of darkness in this age, and spiritual hosts of wickedness.

These powers are manifesting themselves everywhere. We and our children are not immune. Satan does not pass us by because of our profession.

Recently, a newly baptized friend called. “Can you please bring some church people to come and sing for my daughter? A being dressed in black was hovering over her five-year-old son’s bed last night. He was screaming and feverish. She is really scared.”

We went to visit this young woman in her home. She explained that during the day she sees beings dressed in white in every room of the house. Her house has very tall ceilings, and she indicated the beings were as tall as the ceiling. They were just observing, arms folded, eyes watching. She wasn’t bothered by this. But the apparition in black got her attention.

Another friend called, “Can you please come and help my daughter in law. She just moved into a house next to where a black witch lived. Doors are opening and closing at night on their own. She would like you to come and pray for the house to be cleansed.”

In both cases we/I visited these young women, explained the powers of darkness that are contending for us, lifted up Jesus as our only hope and safety, and prayed with them. In the first case, the watching beings and black apparition have not reappeared. In the second case, the young woman has gone deeper into spiritualism and witchcraft herself.

These are not easy times. But Satan has a thousand ways, usually more subtle, of finding an avenue into our souls.

One time a young man from our home town attended a boarding academy far away. He was caught stealing someone’s camera. He was asked why he stole it. His answer was simple. It was left unguarded. Later he murdered both of his parents.

If we allow ourselves to go unguarded, we, too, will fall prey to Satan’s snares. Everything in the world seems to be against the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Who can stand in such a time as this?

In Ephesians chapter six Paul elaborates on what it means to put on Christ. Nothing is left unprotected; we are to put on the whole armor of God. Notice the protections listed:

—waist girded with truth; breastplate of righteousness (vs.14)

—feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (vs. 15)

—body protected by the shield of faith (vs. 16)

—head covered with the helmet of salvation, and body armed with a sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (vs. 17)

Notice that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5).

Clearly, Paul is not encouraging us to stockpile military weapons, but to be armed with truth, [Christ’s] righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Spirit, and the Word of God.

Which of the protections listed above did Paul note as being “above all?”

“Above all, taking the shield of faith . . .” (vs. 16).

Why is faith “above all?”

God’s final church is distinguished by two characteristics, “keep[ing] the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).

Ahead of us is a time when, “In the last great controversy with Satan those who are loyal to God will see every earthly support cut off.” — Ellen G. White, Last Day Events, p. 148.

The only way to survive that time will be by total dependence upon Christ and His righteousness. The faith experience we will need then we must practice today. Above all, taking the shield of faith.

“Faith is the expecting of the word of God to do what it says and the depending upon that word to do what it says,” — A. T. Jones, Review and Herald, December 27, 1898.

Now let’s look at the reasons why Paul encourages all this protective action:

— “that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (vs.11)

— “for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (vs. 12)

— “that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (vs. 13)

— “to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (vs. 16)

— “that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel” (vs. 19)

— that in it I may “speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (vs. 20)

 

Do you see Paul is driving at something here? In the end he leaves the third person (“that you may be able . . .”), and he invites prayer for himself: “That I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel” (vs. 19).

Paul, the champion of the gospel, is in prison for having preached the gospel, and he is praying (can we infer this?) for courage to open his mouth boldly and proclaim the mystery of the gospel!

“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints, to them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:24-28).

What is this mystery of the gospel? It is Christ living in us, by faith! The world needs to see this living demonstration.

Do we need courage today to proclaim (and to live!) the most precious message of Jesus Christ and His righteousness? Paul prayed for this, and we should, too.

“In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import—the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.

“The most solemn truths ever entrusted to mortals have been given us to proclaim to the world. The proclamation of these truths is to be our work. The world is to be warned, and God's people are to be true to the trust committed to them. They are not to engage in speculation, neither are they to enter into business enterprises with unbelievers; for this would hinder them in their God-given work.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 19.

 

May God help us fulfill this divine call by faith.

~Patti Guthrie