Memory Text: Ephesians 6:18 NRSV “Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.”

Sunday, December 25 The Word and the Spirit
Ephesians 6:17 NKJV “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”
Ephesians 6:17 Clear Word “Then put on the helmet of salvation and take the sword of the Spirit, which is given you in the Word of God.”
Ephesians 6:17 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES The sword was an essential part of the armour of an ancient soldier. His other weapons were the bow, the spear, or the battle-axe. But, without a sword, no soldier would have regarded himself as well armed. The ancient sword was short, and usually two-edged, and resembled very much a dagger.
1 Corinthians 2:10 NRSV “these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”
2 Peter 1:21 NRSV “because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

Monday, December 26 The Sword and the Battle
Matthew 4:1-11 MKJV “1 ¶ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit up into the wilderness, to be tempted by the Devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterwards hungry. 3 And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If You are [the] Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But He answered and said, It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of [the] mouth of God." 5 Then the Devil took Him up into the holy city and set Him upon a pinnacle of the Temple. 6 And [he] said to Him, If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down. For it is written, "He shall give His angels charge concerning You, and in [their] hands they shall bear You up, lest at any time You dash Your foot against a stone." 7 Jesus said to him, It is written again, "You shall not tempt [the] Lord your God." 8 Again, the Devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And [he] said to Him, All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. 10 Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship [the] Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve." 11 Then the Devil left him. And behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”
Deuteronomy 8:3 KJ21 “And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know, that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”
Psalm 119:9 KJ21 “<<BETH>> How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.”
Psalm 119:11 KJ21 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.”
Matthew 4:4 KJ21 “But He answered and said, "It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’"”
Hebrews 4:12 KJ21 “For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES The sense is, that the truth of God is all-penetrating and searching, and that the real thoughts and intents of the heart will be brought to light; and that if there is insincerity and self-deception, there can be no hope of escape.
2 Peter 1:4 KJ21 “Thereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Tuesday, December 27 Prayer and Christian Warfare
Ephesians 6:18 ESV “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.”
Ephesians 6:18 Clear Word Finally, pray constantly, as if your life depended on it. Keep alert to the needs of your brothers and sisters and prayer for them too.
Ephesians 6:18 John Wesley Notes With all sort of prayer, public, private, mental, vocal. Some are careful in respect of one kind of prayer, and negligent in others. If we would have the petitions we ask, let us use all. Some there are who use only mental prayer or ejaculations, and think they are in a state of grace, and use a way of worship, far superior to any other: but such only fancy themselves to be above what is really above them; it requiring far more grace to be enabled to pour out a fervent and continued prayer, than to offer up mental aspirations.
Ephesians 6:18 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE Supplication however seems to mean prayer continued in, strong and incessant pleadings, till the evil is averted, or the good communicated.
Mark 13:33 ASV “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”
1 Corinthians 16:13 ASV “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
Colossians 4:2 ASV “Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;”
1 Peter 5:8 ASV “Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,”

Wednesday, December 28 Prayer and Christian Victory
Ephesians 6:18-20 God’s Word to the Nation “18 Pray in the Spirit in every situation. Use every kind of prayer and request there is. For the same reason be alert. Use every kind of effort and make every kind of request for all of God’s people. 19 ¶ Also pray that God will give me the right words to say. Then I will speak boldly when I reveal the mystery of the Good News. 20 Because I have already been doing this as Christ’s representative, I am in prison. So pray that I speak about this Good News as boldly as I have to.”
Ephesians 6:18-20 Clear Word Finally, pray constantly, as if your life depended on it. Keep alert to the needs of your brothers and sisters and pray for them too. 19 Also, pray for me, that God will give me the right words to say when I stand before Caesar and that He’ll help me share the gospel fearlessly to all who are there, even if it leads to my conviction. 20 I’m an ambassador in chains because of the gospel. Pray that I will defend it boldly.”
Ephesians 6:19 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES He was in Rome. He was almost alone, he was surrounded by multitudes of the wicked. He was exposed to death. Yet he desired to speak boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to invite sinners to repentance. A Christian in chains, and surrounded by the wicked, may speak boldly, and may have hope of success--for Paul was not an unsuccessful preacher ever when a captive at Rome.
Ephesians 6:20 COMMENTARY BY JAMIESON, FAUSSET, AND BROWN an ambassador in bonds--a paradox. Ambassadors were held inviolable by the law of nations, and could not, without outrage to every sacred right, be put in chains. Yet Christ's "ambassador is in a chain!" The Greek is singular. The Romans used to bind a prisoner to a soldier by a single chain, in a kind of free custody.

Thursday, December 29 Christian Character
Ephesians 6:21-23 NKJV “21 But that you also may know my affairs [and] how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; 22 whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and [that] he may comfort your hearts. 23 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 6:21-23 Clear Word “I decided to send Tychicus to you to tell you about the conditions I face here and how I am doing. 22 He’ll not only tell you about me but will encourage you by telling you what God has done for us. 23 Peace to all of you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Tychicus,” Easton’s Revised Bible Dictionary – “Chance, an Asiatic Christian, a "faithful minister in the Lord" #Eph 6:21,22 who, with Trophimus, accompanied Paul on a part of his journey from Macedonia to Jerusalem #Ac 20:4 He is alluded to also in #Col 4:7 Ti 3:12 2Ti 4:12 as having been with Paul at Rome, whence he sent him to Ephesus, probably for the purpose of building up and encouraging the church there.”
Ephesians 6:22 COMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES The churches where Paul had preached, would feel a great interest in his welfare. He was a prisoner at Rome, and it was doubtful what the result would be. In this situation, he felt it proper to despatch a special messenger to give information about his condition; to state what was doing in Rome; to ask the prayers of the churches; and to administer consolation to them in their various trials. The same sentiment, in regard to the embassy of Tychicus, is expressed in the epistle to the Colossians, Col 4:7,8.
Ephesians 6:23 COMMENTARY BY WILLIAM BURKITT Our apostle being now come to the close and conclusion of this excellent epistle, he shuts it up with very fervent and affectionate wishes and prayers for them.
Matthew 4:23-25 NKJV “23 ¶ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Great multitudes followed Him——from Galilee, and [from] Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.”
Galatians 6:2 NKJV “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Philippines 2:4 NKJV “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
1 John 3:16 NKJV “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.”
1 John 3:16 COMMENTARY BY WILLIAM BURKITT It is not needful that we live, but needful and necessary that we glorify God, both in life and death.