but understanding
what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is
excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart
to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 5:17-20). "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" (Eph. 6:13). "If ye then be
risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ
sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above,
not on things on the earth" (Col. 3:1, 2).

These requirements are evidently heavenly in character, and demand
nothing less than that which is becoming to that sphere. They are,
therefore, beyond human strength; for what human power is able to "give
thanks always for all things"? Or to avoid grieving the Holy Spirit? Who
can be filled with the Spirit, or rejoice in tribulation? In fact, these
demands are often treated as impractical ideals, rather than present
requirements; while in reality they are binding on every child of God.
To fail in them at any point, will not unsave one (Ps. 130:3; Rom. 4:5);
but that failure will profane the heavenly citizenship, dishonor God in
whose grace he is standing (Rom. 5:2), and give the enemy occasion to
accuse the brethren before God; for Satan judges the Christian on the
basis of the heavenly ideals rather than the standards of earth. No one
can contemplate these impossible responsibilities without a sense of
utter helplessness and insufficiency.

Again, the believer must not only meet the impossible demands of a
heavenly position, but he is called upon to face a world-ruling foe,
who, with all his kingdom and power, is seeking to break and mar that
life into which the Divine nature has been received. The revelation
that Satan is going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour,
presents a truth that should disarm the believer of all self-confidence
and cause him to dread, above all things else, the subtle devices of
this foe. In this connection Eph. 6:10-12 may well be restated:
"Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put
on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood,
but against the principalities, against the pow