The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-11-17
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER 2l.
Lesson Text: "The Christian Armor,"
Ephesians vi, 1O-2O-Golden Text
Ephesians vi, ,1O-Commentary on the
Lesson by the Rev. DR.. d. NJ. Stearns.

Ephesians vi, 1O-2O-Golden Text
Ephesians vi, ,1O-Commentary on the
Lesson by the Rev. DR.. d. NJ. Stearns.
10. "Finally, my brethren, be strong In
the Lord and in the power Of His might"
The first three chapters set forth our saliva
tion, or rather His salvation, In all It's full
ness. Then we are taught In the following
chapters what our walk in the Lord, or our
daily life should be, and now In the verses
of our lesson we are taught how to do 1t
and adorn the doctrine OF God our Saviour
In all things (Titus H., 10Y. My readers
must be very familiar with Eph. H., 10, but
1t only just comes to me now to associate
with 1t Titus H., 10. Thank the Lord for
the association. May the words grip US
with power.
II. PUT on the whole armor OF God, that
ye may he able to stand against the wles
OF the devil" There Is real personal
devil, the enemy of God and man, at pres
ent the prince Of the power Of the air, the
prince OF this world, whose prison will soon
be the bottomless pit and his final abode
the lake Of fire and birthstone (John XIV,
80; Eph. H., q; Rev. Xxx, 2, 8, 10).
-. "For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood" The demons who do the DEVILS
work are not all visible in the form of men
or women. The air is often full Of them.
lucy cOme dt US Wueu VIC aio moah ahu
alone and fairly storm US with their evil
thoughts and lies. They come at US In the
house OF God, and when we read His word,
and even when on our knees In prayer.
How shall we know them2 They are the
opposite OF all that Is OF God. Righteous
ness and peace and rest and quietness are
all Of God and His Spirit through Christ.
The opposite must be Of the devil.
13. "Wherefore 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" One Of the first and
greatest things Is to understand that as
we are saved freely by His grace (Eph. H., 8;
Rom, ILL.,, 24), so we stand continually in
served favor Of God. Unless we see clear
ly that all our salvation from first to last Is
wholly undeserved on our part, and Is
ours only in and through Jesus Christ and
His finished work, satan will get many an
advantage over US. We are not worthy,
but Thou art worthy, o Lord. On that let
US stand firmly and continually.
A. "stand, therefore, having your loins
girt about with truth and having on the
breastplate Of righteousness" Our Lord
said, 'T am the TRUTH" and He Is also
made unto US righteousness (John xiv, 6;
I Cor. l., 80; II Cor. ", 29, so that when
only" to run with patience looking unto
Jesus" and ever to consider Him (Math.
xviii, 8; Heb. xii, 2, 81, we have learned
the secret OF standing firmly. -. o.. -,
Is. "And your feot shod with the prep
aration of the gospel Of peace" The feet
shod also takes US back to the Passover
verse (Ex. XIII. 1D, for we can do nothing
and are asked to do nothing till we are
safe under the blood. We are also re:
minded by Isa. ill.,, 7, How beautiful
upon the mountains are the feet OF him
that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth
peace" The first thing is to be made nigh
by the blood Of Christ, "for He is our
peace" (Eph. H., IS, 14) Then have the
mind station Him In perfect peace elsa.
XVI, 81. Then carry the tidings OF peace
through the blood of His cross (Col. l., 20)
to every creature.
16. tAbove all taking the shield OF faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts OF the wicked one" Many trials
are very fiery, but none the less precious as
tokens OF HIS approval who gives US fellow
ship with Himself q Pet. w., -, 13. He
has not promised to keep US out OF the fire,
but to be with us in 1t, even as with Dan
lels friends Elsa. xliii., 2; Dan. ILL.,, rs and
II He can be better seen in the fire with us
shall we not praise Him even for that? But
3S TO LQ6S0 ueEy udIlS VI tuc uofh " AiSh u0
hurls Mt US, there is not one that need touch
Us to harm US, for all may be quenehed by
quick and firm "I believe God" (Acts
xvii, 25). Confidence In God and reli-
ance upon His word will do 1t every time"
II, "And take the helmet OF salvation
and the sword Of the Spirit, which is the
word Of God" In 7 Thess. ", 8, 1t is writ
ten, "For an helmet, the hope Of salvation"
This Is the completion OF our salvation at
his coming, which is every day nearer than
when we believed (Rom. kill. 1D. The
blessed hope that purlles q John ILL.,, -,
for then we shall be like Him, even as to
our bodies, for we shall see Him as He Is
phil. ILL.,, 81; Rom. will, 23). From first to
come to us through His word, which Is Tor
ever settled In heaven and true from the be-
ginning Cps. cxix., SO, 1907.
18. praying always with all pr aver and
duplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and sup
plication for all saints" Our Lord spent
whole nights In prayer. David and Daniel
prayed many times day (Ps. w., II; Dan.
vi, 10). We should pray without ceasing
II Thess. ", 1D. 1t IL possible to be ever
In an attitude Of prayer, constantly com
muning with Him about everything. be
who prays honestly will expect answers
HQu WdLCu luz IuCA 10 tluiy % VIZ soS
who throws his ball. into the air watches
for 1t to return to him.
10. "And for me that utterance may be
given unto me, that may open my mouth
boldly to make known the mystery OF the
gospel" He said to the Corinthians, "1n
everything ye are enriched by Him. IN oil
atterance and in all knowledge" q Cor. l.,
81. And yet, recognizing his own weakness
and the reality Of the wiles OF the devil, he
asks prayer for himself that he may have
utterance and boldness for Christ. Paul
was very conscious Of his own weakness
and often spoke Of it.
20. "For which am an ambassador in
bonds; that therein (margin thereof 1 may
speak boldly as I ought to speak" The
Lords messengers with the Lords message
are supposed to have no fear of man, nor
OF the face OF man, yet many are very weak,
and not many seem to declare, without
thought OF mans frown or favor, the whole
council OF God. Many ministers seem to
know little or nothing Of the mystery OF
which God has just spoken, and more fully
In chapter ill.,, the mystery hid from
the beginning OF the world and spe-
cIally revealed to Paul; that during the
postponement OF the kingdom God Is gath
erine from Jews and gentiles body for
Christ, the church, which shall be one with
Him when He shall come In His glory and
take unto Him His gree. power and reign,
Many seem to think that instead OF gather
ing out body for Christ He Is seeking the
conversion OF the world, and are therefore
working and walking in much darkness
Lesson Helper.