'All-Prayer'- The Necessary Tool for Christian Living
Notes
Transcript
Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We now come to the last teaching of this summary of living the Christian life - and just like the significance of the order of each of 10 Commandments, matter so to here with the armour of God. The message of our teacher that mirrors the teaching of Scripture, is given in the order. Just look at our text - this letter probably next to Romans the most theologically, doctrinally rich book of the Bible. Also some of the greatest instructions on Christian living, walking in the Spirit, putting on the armour of God, yet what are Paul’s last words, like our catechism - prayer - pray.
All the teaching, all our doing, is nothing and empty and powerless if not through prayer. And not just any kind of prayer but prayer in the Spirit. And we can be thankful for our catechism’s approach - before the what of prayer- like most catechisms OK good prayer is important so here is how to do it; no our catechism starts with QA 116 WHY? Like Brandon V’s friend, and Kathleen Knegt nephew at that TED TALK - don’t start with what but why! Why is prayer so vitally important, not just a great privilege, not just a duty, but the great necessity of the Christian life? And here I want you to see where the why fits in with the catechism’s teaching. Remember how the Third Part starts - Gratitude - why of Christian living, why still do good works, even if earn us nothing in terms of merit? And that question brings us to the question even more important than what or why, but who!
Read it with me: QA 86 To be sure, Christ, has redeemed us by his blood. But we do good because Christ by his Spirit is also renewing us to be like himself...
God’s law such a helpful tool with the Holy Spirit for this happening in us, but the other tool is prayer. And not just any prayer but prayer in the Spirit!
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
The whole purpose of our salvation, eternal life is that we come into this communing with and knowing God.
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Not just know some stuff about God, but to really come to know Him better than mom or dad, or good friend. Ephesians has been about that:
For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
And now as we live with that ongoing access, anytime - surpreme wisdom and power and love in the universe, gave us His Ceellphone number text and hear look - Says in this battle you are in this broken world, in your battling for kingdom of light, many binds, many struggles ,trials, now giving you this tool of all-prayer in the Spirit -
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Prayer in the Spirit that goes through the Mediator Jesus Christ, who ever lives now to intercede with us. That is the ongoing chosen means for us living like Christ, being restored more and more - the means for us doing the battle of the kingdom of God in this world, the means of our encouragement and comfort, the means by which God will supply both our needs and the needs of others - is through our prayer! I need you to see this why and this who before we begin with the actual what and how to pray. In the same way the 10 commandments not just moralistic, legalism of duty, but Christ by His Spirit renewing us .. so too must see the why of prayer and the who in Spirit through the mediator Jesus
If we are going to be a people who are remade to be for the praise of His glory as says,
so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
If like we are going to live a life of a thanks-offering back to God, do you see it that the means, the tool will be in all kinds of prayer - which praying continually and groaning inwardly - asking and thanking - this kind of prayer is how God chooses to bring all sorts of graces down into our lives. It is how those graces, gifts, and calling, get exercised in our lives! It is prayer in the Spirit, but it is also prayer in Jesus’ name, that is -that our prayer in not only the breathing of the Holy Spirit within us, it is also only offered on the basis of our union with Jesus as mediator in heaven!
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
And in addition to using the armour, the whole way to be strong in the Lord’s might - for standing, witnessing, working, enduring, for serving is through prayer. John Calvin puts it this way: “To call upon God is the chief exercise of faith and hope; and it is int his way that we obtain from God every blessing!” We need to understand that this is how whole armour, each piece, is taken up, put on, & strengthened. It is how all the graces in your life are fortified and increased. It is how God has chosen for his kingdom to expand, for salvation to work in each other’s lives, and even for the innumerable host of the elect that god has chosen to save, prayer is effective in how they are brought in!
Think only of two instances now - God chooses not to hide the destruction he was to visit on Sodom and Gomorrah - and the whole point of the story is that, though God sovereignly decreed that destruction, the remnant of the righteous in Gomorrah, rescued by God , the tool of Abraham raised up to pray to intercede, is also sovereignly decreed too. In the same way we see at Lazarus’ tomb - without prayer Lazarus isn’t rising, and we aren't seeing the glory of God, but even the Son of God incarnate who lives by prayer with his father, who models what it means to be always in praying at all times - he must pray for God’s saving will to be activated. God didn’t have to do it this way, but the who God ordained the event, also ordained the means of prayer through which he accomplishes it. This is a great mystery of God working in you by His Holy Spirit prayer that jesus in heaven as our mediator brings to the Father for the accomplishing of His will.
So before we begin the how to of prayer I just want to ask you tonight - do you see the why and the who of prayer? And I want to ask you: What is the place of prayer in your life? You speak every day, you argue, you confer, and diagnose. You complain,you threaten, and you offer. You use all our words and thoughts often in these ways. But how and when are you praying in the Spirit? How often do you pray, what is the character of your prayers? Someone once said not only that prayer is the Christian’s breath, but that what my pulse is to life and health. I want to check if I am alive -is there a pulse. Am I getting weaker or stronger - what’s my pulse. Well, prayer is to Christian life what pulse is to his physical life.
Key Truth: Prayer is the necessary means of living a Christ-filled, thankful life of service back to the Lord.
Do this by looking at the 4 alls in our text. Prayer at all times, with all-prayer, with all perseverance, for all the saints! We begin with that first phrase that almost seems an impossibility.
We begin with that first phrase that almost seems an impossibility.
A. Praying at All-times
Perhaps you’ve heard the story of the monks who wrote Can we smoke while we pray. No. Confused because they saw some other monks doing exactly that, what did you ask? “Can we pray while we smoke.” When we are born-again by the Spirit of God, prayer is not just a short activity we do in our own power, - our whole life becomes prayer. It is the Christian’s breathe. All the armour we need to put on, the commands need to follow , all the doctrine to believe really only done in fellowship and communion with God - and that fellowship, communing with God - 24/7 - ongoing prayer - pray without ceasing - Living Coram Deo, in our work, resting family enjoyment , in our intense work - awareness of the Gracious presence of God with us, within us. Medieval Monk, Brother Lawrence -writing on prayer - doing the dishes! Had to do that growing up - after camp really spoke to me. This armour, these doctrines, these instructions, all for nothing, if not always and at all times living in relationship to God, receiving his strength and power.
In our Men’s Fellowship - see how even the Precepts of God - can’t keep. They are designed for us to feel how much grace, we need to have them fulfilled in ourselves - all this instruction, command, doctrine is designed so we would seek the gospel promise in Christ. Until we feel it God must work in me!
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
In a very real way - ongoing prayer, prayer without ceasing, is about consciously relying on God’s presence with us. So we then pray like Paul did
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
MLJ put it this way - you cannot fight the devil with philosophy, idealism, … yes fight him with the truth of God. But can’t fight the devil even with orthodox doctrine. Dead orthodoxy - only in your own power and strength… Churches with all trapping but not living by this prayer - false mechanical view of kingdom and armour of God. Only living contact in prayer. If you read this whole letter about doctrine and instruction how to live, see that it is beginning to end bathed in prayer!
This ongoing, prayer without ceasing is what Jesus modeled. if look at his life, but also what he taught, first sermon I ever preached Persistent widow and what was Jesus point there:
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
Just mastering one form of prayer, repeating prayer through day, showing up at pray meeting - can’t get you to this all-prayer - living out o the Spirit. But when this is your breath, then in the car, waiting in line, in between meetings. Jesus wasn’t praying audibly all the time, but He lived in ongoing communion with His Father. He didn’t just say a prayer, he talked with God through the day and so should we! This is why Romans makes such a point of the Christian being the one with the Spirit of adoption,cries out continually Dad help- why Paul called
But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
As we see in Spirit gives us petitions, promptings, warmth and freedom. All the other questions about posture, place, form secondary to praying always in the Spirit!
All times - incense of the tabernacle of God - always burning!? in your life? In Isaiah and John smoke by God’s throne, is the everlasting worship that goes on. The origin is of the high priest coming into the tabernacle 2x daily: The high priest enters the dimly lit tabernacle with trepidation. In one hand is a censer, hot with glowing coals from the altar. In the other are two handfuls of incense. As he moves behind the curtain into the Holy of Holies, he puts the incense on the coals, producing a fragrant cloud over the ark of the covenant, the footstool of Yahweh. Thus the place of the Presence is shrouded in aromatic smoke, and the priest is hindered from seeing the forbidden throne of God. Beginning and end of day, what is the smoke a symbol of:
And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Now remember these are the prayers of just really really special holy people. The prayers of God’s saved people, set apart, holy in Christ! Now that we see how essential prayer, ongoing prayer is to the Christian life, we need to move onto a bit of the how and even when of this praying.
TY - ENCYC
AU - Ryken, Leland
AU - Wilhoit, Jim
AU - Longman, Tremper
AU - Duriez, Colin
AU - Penney, Douglas
AU - Reid, Daniel G.
CY - Downers Grove, IL
ET - electronic ed.
T2 - Dictionary of biblical imagery
PB - InterVarsity Press
PY - 2000
SP - 418–419
ER -
Next Paul does like QA 117 give us some of the how
B. Pray with ‘all Prayer and Supplication’
What kind of prayers do you know? Confession, humlity, some just groaning, other prayers pure jouy and adoration - should be sung by ourselves beforethe LORD, prayer in loneliness,silent prayers, prayer of lament - holy complaint before Lord not att he Lord, family prayer, prayer of thanksgiving, pray like last Sunday night for our nation; prayer that happens when you repent, prayer of dedicating our stuff.. look at Timothy… Robinson Cursoe. Which do you use? - need to grow in the form of all these… Some of the most helpful books: 1. Workbook of Living Prayer 2. Calvin on the Christian Life - Treatise on Prayer & Prayers Leath 3. John MacArthur - Lord, Teach us how to Pray; others … ACTS model, Finger.
Here is a reminder that we need to seize every justified occasion for prayer and that our prayer must be spontaneous at any time. But also that we are not to neglect set times for prayer in our daily life: Daniel 3x in the day. How about you - Some like Spurgeon’s devotion book - Morning & Evening. Space for God - recovery of solid Reformed practice of this. Really what stated prayer times in monastary that our home and civic life - stopped for prayer through out the day. Family prayer
And then there is this specific mention of one type of prayer: supplication. You know
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We are to take our own needs, physical and spiritual; as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ’s needs, as well as our neighbour’s needs -
and intercede, bring them like a priest to Christ the high priest - lay that need before the throne of grace, and pray down mercy and help of that situation. What are you doing that for? Sickness, jobs, decisions, that’s good we are to do that even for our daily bread… realizing that it is ultimately only in dependence on God that we have anything! In one sense, these should be faith-filled cries, prayers cut in half and set on fire in the middle. Jesus says, don’t heap up flowery words like Pharisees to be heard by others our motivation is to bring these people their needs their trials sorrow - before the throne of God’s grace and mercy to find help in time of need!
I dare you to compare Paul’s to your own, Only two in this letter End of Ch 1,3. What is the focus of your asking, how about for Paul’s? I dare you to look at what Paul elsewhere ask people for prayer in his own life for. Do you pray for each others spiritual condition? For the trials and temptations, for the growth and service, do you pray for each other’s grasp of Jesus? I dare you to read these ask for prayer from others in similar way! Look at one very specific supplication, request he asks: in
and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
I must urge you and I must model as a church - that we must pray for the preaching of God’s world in this world. yes for those in China who are being imprisoned for declaring the gospel, but also for Western affluent pastor’s like myself tempted to compromise the gospel to tickle ears. We are to pray for future pastors raise them up. We are to pray for witness we have in our nation, and
But then Paul, instructs about prayer that manners matter. That is true in general, minding your manners shows respect you have for others. Minding your manners in prayer, isn’t about never shouting, crying, raising your voice, hiding sadness. No, minding your manners in prayer is going to have every emotion, as the prayer of the Psalms shows us, but minding your manners in prayer - is letting God shape the mode of your praying - your method of praying.
C. Pray with All Perseverance
Paul says:
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
If our prayers were just mumbling words, listless thoughts before we doze to sleep - and they can become like that - the manner of pour prayer would’t matter much. Then prayer would be like someone praying beads - repetition , or Muslim recitation, or a Budhist -enter the Ohm and the breathing of prayer. But the manner of our prayer matters because we are to be praying in the Spirit.
Before we get to praying, we must be attentive! What would you think of me, if you come to my office and bare your soul, ready to not only speak but to listen o me- and all the while I’m twirling my hair, looking out the window, never interrupt with a so-what your saying, or a what do you mean - no active listening. But Paul says in our prayers their is to be an alertness, an attentiveness because God is really there and really listening and attending to us. This is not just while we are actually praying, but before prayer there are certain impediments we are to remove - ie. early Christians knew it is hard to pray on a full stomach - literally why fasted before coming to table of Lord, but figuratively it is really hard to pray if you stuff your life full of appointments, entertainments, tweets, txts, and check this, and keep working at home at this… need space, margins in our life. Paul Stooley wrote a song about moving to a hen house in the country why move from the city. One morning sitting on the steps -sunrise over the ocean, and he got to thinking some people miss things because life goes by to fast, but the other is if we go by too fast!
A Christian engaging in all-prayer can’t live in rush no matter how busy they actually are. Luther would say, I am too busy not to pray. We have to live attentive lives. First of all for thankfulness :
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
But secondly we must live attentive lives for our spiritual condition, that we would not enter temptation:
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
But thirdly we must live attentive lives so we recognize the signs of the times, the place of the kingdom in our lives and world, ready for the Return of Christ:
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
During prayer: your manners matter too, irreverence, tepid lukewarmness - roving thoughts . Jesus instructs us from all distraction:
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Some of the best practical advice I received, find a place and find a time. And here too it must be said, failing to plan is planning to fail.
Got to make a plan and then work your plan.
Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
But then lastly there is after prayer that we must mind our manners. Do you pursue the fruit of your prayers. Like Jacob do you say, I’m not going to let you go until you bless me. Do we just throw up a request - and think well if God wants it - I’ve prayed it done. Or do we like keep track of answered or not. Do we pray some requests again and again. A purifying can happen. Sometimes God doesn’t just say yes or no, but just wait - solidifying of your desire for what your praying, or a modifying. Forgetfulness and sluggishness can’t follow our prayers. Do you really want what you pray for? Then after prayer - live by motto of the monks, Oro et laboura . Pray and work. You really think what you are praying is God’s will, then we don’t just pray it but work towards it. ie. Brother’s salvation, am I really praying if not expecting answers in opportunity and taking those opportunities.
QA 117 is basically saying, prayer in the Spirit, the manner for attending to Him and praying through Jesus will be marked with faith, humility, fervor, and constancy!
Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
Without prayer in the Spirit, our church, our families, our own lives - will be fainting. But with prayer in Spirit it is like, we’re living our lives paddling a canoe - only our effort and direction in a big lake - grow faint. But prayer in the Spirit is like this under the surface current, you pull your canoe into that current, and zip - now talk about direction, now talk about strength for pursuing that direction.
Well, we know the threefold amen, I’ve just uncovered the threefold ALL of prayer, praying at all times, praying with all prayers and supplication, keeping alert with all perseverance. And if you are saying what about the fourth, well what is the fourth? making supplication for all the saints. And I’ve included that in the all prayers and supplication. Our prayers are not just individual life thing, but a partnering to stand against temptation, to serve and witness, to persevere, to comfort and encourage together - Do you see each other as saints - blood-bought brothers and sisters in Christ! Pray for each other like that.
This is the why and who of prayer. But let me conclude with the why not? Why not give up on prayer, Why not just say prayers rather than grow in talking with the living God?
Someone mentioned that they had absented themselves from a certain time for awhile, came back a decade later - guess what people had changed, relationships not as tight. Imagine if you came here but talked to no one. Imagine family member - drift apart. It will be like with God too if you don’t pray in the Spirit!
If for no other reason, this would be a good enough reason to pray and not give up - Prayer is necessary so our lives are directed toward God. You know a cord of three strands is not easy broken, also engineers say -strongest rope - more than 4 or 5 strands. Why only with three in constant, contact with each other. So it is with us - need contact with each other, share burdens sorrow, serve and worship together, but that’s just a weak -two strand rope that often gets frayed. But we keep in contact with each other and with the LORD by prayer for each other - not easily broken!
Revelation - church’s prayers - mother or father’s f- - everythign we need physically and spiritually…
Do you get this? The Chrsitinan life is no bed of roses, in a spiritual battle and tough journey, so many types of evil oppress us and our neighbours and our world, - so many wonderful things need to give thankf for
And all the necessities and occassionof others - are to squeeze out of us a multitude of prayers. for all kinds oof new and different graces of God to work.
We are not to rest in a certain formula , and just say our prayers -
fell God wrestling with us in prayer like he did with Jacob - to come with desperation -
But let us feel our need for thie spirit with thie next ALL
C> Praying with All Perseverance”
If no prayer in our church’s life - faint! If not in the Spirit we will faint. When wee pray as jesus so recognized need to take stock of all the impediments and road blocks to prayer in our \self, in our daily routines, in our world!
What the catechism means by acknowledging our need and misery hiding nothing - recognize our prayer are weak and wingless - need to lean on grace and working of the Holy Spirit, and not rest on our own ingeniuty
Praying in the Spirit - to be like - current invisble in ocean… boat caught into it…
Spontaeous prayer yes, seek occassions, But does not mean we can neglect stated times of prayer ie. Morning and Evning by Charles Spurgeon, Space for God - Don Postema.
Keep watching means - before prayer get rid of impediments, in prayer -irreverent thoughts, tepdi feeling, roving mind… After Prayer - foregtfulness and sluggishness - James look into mirror forget - do you forget what you pray , sluggish in pursuing it ?
Ora et labora = pursue the fruit of pour prayer ie. Helicopter - onl ook out - prayer of faith one of expectation beyond what ask or imagine, not just good but unimaginable but taht God’s grace there - He is active…
have to learn from QA 117 summary the manner of prayer in Scripture - faith humilty fervor, constancy … Look at
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Wrong way to pray selfiesh, Prayer is to be covnantal comuniciation - God’s part is the grace = provide for body and soul and advance his kingdom, but our part is to serve and to honour , and to approach in prayer
and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
D. But lastly We must pray for all the saints!
Some here keep a prayer list - do you konw the spiritual needs of those in your family, you know the duties God’s place don them but hard and struggle, do you ee waht Paul askss for prayer in himself - pray for those who bring the Word, raise up, not comporimise, proclaim it BOLDLY - whoel counsel of God - pray aroudn the world, Roberstson , Gurret…
Jesus wants us to receive more and mmore grace through teh HOly Spirit and prayer is how
Jesus commands this , Be persistent Pray for all
CONCLUSION: Communication … People who don’t talk drift apart - Prayeris necessary so our lives are directed towared God!
Alistair Begg, DA Carson, just take the way Paul prays in this letter, copmare it how you pray - What is missing in Paul’s prayer - he is sick, but not praying for healing, in prison… in fact though asking for prayer - his prayers are full of requests for other people and their spiritual emotinoal phyisical condition - prayer are for the advance of God’s will. In our passage so well known on the armour of God, the reason we need to put that on is in
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.