May 6 – Giving from a Generous Heart

By Spally TaylorMay 1, 2018

Sunday School Lesson

May 6

Giving from a Generous Heart

Devotional Reading: Psalm 112

Background Scripture: Exodus 25:1-7; 35:4-29; Leviticus 27:30-33; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Crossing the read sea

Exodus 35:20-29

20 And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.

21 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the Lord.

23 And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers’ skins, brought them.

24 Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the Lord ’s offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it.

25 And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.

26 And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair.

27 And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;

28 And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

Key Verse

This I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.—2 Corinthians 9:6

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Recall how the Israelites demonstrated generosity in funding the tabernacle’s construction.

2. Compare and contrast the Old and New Testament texts in today’s study with regard to giving.

3. Identify one way that he or she can better express generosity in giving and make a plan to do so.

Introduction

1. “Giving While Living”

In 2012, Chuck Feeney made a remarkable and highly publicized announcement: he had decided to stop giving. That marked the end of a 30-year campaign to give away the large majority of his considerable fortune. The son of Irish-American immigrants, Feeney was born during the Great Depression and served as a radio operator in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict (1950-1953). To make extra money, he started a small side business selling duty-free alcohol to American soldiers; by 1960, at the beginning of the travel boom, Feeney had begun to build an international empire of duty-free shops.

But in 1984, Feeney changed course, deciding to give rather than receive. After selling his share in his company, he established a foundation to promote global education, public health, care for the elderly, and peace efforts. Feeney’s foundation closed in 2016 after fulfilling its objective of distributing $8 billion (U.S. currency).

In many ways, this low-key approach reflects the biblical perspective. Feeney’s foundation used the slogan “Giving While Living” to summarize his view that people should not simply amass wealth to leave to their heirs, but instead use what they have to do good while they are alive and well. God consistently calls us to give while living, viewing the financial resources we have as assets to be used for His purposes.

1. Lesson Background

The exodus from Egypt and the receiving of the law at Sinai marked the beginning of the nation of Israel. We should remember Abraham’s descendants had lived in Egypt for many generations, and over time they had become quite familiar with the religious views of their Egyptian overlords. Perhaps for this reason, the first two of the Ten Commandments stressed that God’s people were not to worship like the Egyptians, who believed in many gods. The Israelites were to serve no gods other than the only true God and were not permitted to make idols or other physical representations of Him (Exodus 20:1-6).

To further assist in the religious reeducation of the people, God commanded Moses to construct a sanctuary, a national center of worship. That large, semiportable tent-complex came to be called the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8, 9; 26:1). Significantly, God did not miraculously provide the construction materials for the project. Instead, He called for an offering “of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart” (25:2). That challenge takes us to the result.

1. Old Covenant Giving

(Exodus 35:20-29)

The Old Testament passage of our lesson takes us into a whole-community assembly of the Israelites at Mount Sinai, with Moses in charge. He has just finished specifying in some detail the material needed for construction of the tabernacle, its furnishings, and the nature of the garments to be worn by priests (Exodus 35:4-19).

1. Willing Givers (vv. 20-22a)

20, 21. And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

These two verses and the next set the tone for the remainder of the passage. Two points are particularly notable. First, all those who give do so willingly, as they are moved in their hearts. This theme is repeated several times to emphasize not only the personal commitment of individuals but also the spirit of national unity that emerges around the project (Exodus 35:22, 29; 36:2, 3).

Second, the people’s response addresses all areas of God’s instructions given through Moses regarding construction of the tabernacle proper (see Exodus 36:8-38), its furnishings (for all his service; see 37:1-38:8; etc.), and the priestly holy garments (see 39:1-31).

22a. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted.

Another theme that runs throughout this passage is that contributors are not limited to a select group since both men and women give (compare 1 Chronicles 29:1-9). God’s call does not go out only to the wealthy but to everyone. The people respond as their hearts move them.

1. Valuable Gifts (vv. 22b-28)

22b. And brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the Lord.

God has instructed that many of the fixtures and furnishings in the tabernacle are to be gold-plated, while the priestly garments are to be gold-embroidered and covered with precious gems (examples: Exodus 25:11-13, 24-28, 38-40; 26:6; 28:11-28). Such costly materials call attention to the majesty of God and symbolize the significance and the sacred privilege of worship.

What Do You Think?

How do we decide when “going first class” on church furnishings is worth the extra cost?

Points for Your Discussion

Considering beauty and functionality

Considering life-cycle cost

In handling designated gifts

Considering interest on borrowing to do so

Considering ministry opportunities lost by doing so

We may find it surprising that the Israelites, who had left Egypt as slaves, are able to provide the necessary gold and gems primarily through donations of personal jewelry. But God had made a way for the Israelites to give, even before they realized it would be necessary to do so. When God first appeared to Moses in the burning bush to announce delivery of the Israelites from slavery, He also promised to “give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians” so that “when ye go [out of Egypt], ye shall not go empty” (Exodus 3:21). The Hebrew women were to acquire “jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment” from the Egyptians just before the exodus, with the result that the Hebrews would “spoil the Egyptians” by escaping with their personal goods (Exodus 3:22)!

These instructions were followed (Exodus 11:2, 3; 12:35, 36), and the Israelites left Egypt with a substantial amount of gold, silver, and precious gems. Now, having experienced God’s deliverance in crossing the Red Sea, the people realize that this plunder was not for their personal benefit, but for the good of the people as a whole. Thus they willingly contribute as God, through Moses, requests.

Hearts Moved

Bill and Melinda Gates, one of the wealthiest couples in the world, established the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000. Through it the couple has given billions of their own dollars to, among other things, improve health and well-being in developing countries. The couple knows that not all of their projects will be successful. But they continue to try because they have a heart to “help all people live healthy, productive lives.”

To have a heart that is willing is where true giving begins, as today’s text makes clear. That willingness is founded in realizing that one is involved in something greater than self. Bill and Melinda Gates give so people have the best chance possible to live their best lives. The Israelites were generous in constructing something that would help everyone in their community lift eyes to God: the tabernacle.

What thing bigger than yourself motivates you to give? Perhaps you know of children whose only daily meal is provided in school. Perhaps you see homeless people living in deplorable conditions. People are often more receptive to the gospel when their physical needs are met. Not having the wealth of Bill and Melinda Gates is no excuse for not giving. See Luke 21:1-4.

—S. K.

How to Say It

acaciauh-kay-shuh.

GoshenGo-shen.

JudeaJoo-dee-uh.

MacedoniaMass-eh-doe-nee-uh.

ShittimShih-teem.

SinaiSigh-nye or Sigh-nay-eye.

tabernacletah-burr-nah-kul.

ThummimThum-im (th as in thin).

UrimYou-rim.

23a. And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.

The word every stresses again the broad participation in the special offering. The precious fabrics mentioned here include various colors of cloth. Such fabrics are an expensive commodity in the ancient world, where all fabrics are hand-dyed (compare Proverbs 31:22; Acts 16:14). Dyes are produced from natural elements, usually shellfish harvested from the Mediterranean Sea.

Fine linen refers to a bright white, high-quality Egyptian cloth spun from flax fibers. Extant samples recovered from ancient Egyptian tombs are so finely woven that they resemble silk in appearance and texture. The blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen will be used to make the hanging curtains of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:31, 32) as well as priestly garments (39:1, 2).

23b. And goats’ hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers’ skins, brought them.

Use for the material we see here is found in Exodus 26:14; 36:14, 19. Red skins of rams are created by tanning and dyeing, producing a look and texture similar to modern Moroccan leather.

24a. Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the Lord’s offering.

Many of the tabernacle’s fixtures are to be fashioned from silver or brass (Exodus 26:11, 19-21; 27:2, 3, 6, 10, 11, 17-19). Such material is likely obtained by melting down jewelry and other household items that the Israelites acquired from the Egyptians.

24b. And every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it.

Shittim wood refers to what is now called acacia, a thorny tree common in the Sinai Peninsula. No doubt the Israelites harvest this locally. Acacia is an exceptionally durable building material, harder than oak and highly resistant to wood-boring insects. Perhaps for this reason, the wooden sections of the tabernacle itself and all its furnishings, including the altar and the ark of the covenant, are to be made of shittim wood (see Exodus 25:10, 23, 28; 26:15-30, 32; 27:1, 6-8).

25. And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.

Wise hearted refers not to intellectual wisdom but rather to technical skill, in this case the skill of weaving (see Exodus 28:3). The larger flow of the passage suggests that men, who work primarily outside the home and have oversight of flocks and fields, bring natural resources (lumber, skins, dyes) to their wives and daughters, who in turn work to produce the needed fabrics. The overall impression is that entire families are involved in responding to the call to give.

26. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair.

The fabric mentioned here is doubtless obtained from the Hebrews’ herds of long-haired goats. These produce a coarse, black cloth often used for making tents (such as the tabernacle will be).

What Do You Think?

What steps can you take to serve God generously with your talents?

Points for Your Discussion

Regarding talents that don’t seem to have much spiritual applicability

When time is tight

When your church isn’t sure how to make use of your talents

Other

27. And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate.

Not surprisingly the leaders of the people, being generally wealthier, provide the more costly items that others might not easily obtain. The ephod and the breastplate are garments worn by the high priest during his service in the tabernacle. The ephod is a large vest worn as an outer garment; onyx stones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel are attached to the shoulders of the vest to serve as a symbol of the people when the high priest appears before the Lord (Exodus 25:7; 28:6-14).

The breastplate is a woven garment worn over the ephod and is also mounted with twelve precious stones in gold settings, one for each of the tribes. The breastplate contains pockets that hold the Urim and Thummim, which are used to determine the Lord’s will on serious matters (Exodus 28:15-30).

28. And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

Specific amounts and kinds of spice will be used along with olive oil to create the anointing oil. The recipe for preparing this is found in Exodus 30:22-25; its use—and penalty for misuse—is specified in 30:26-33.

Oil for the light refers to another use for olive oil: that being fuel for the flame of the tabernacle’s lampstand (Exodus 27:20, 21; 35:14; 39:37). Burning of the sweet incense will happen concurrently with tending to the lamps (30:7). As with the anointing oil, instructions for creating and using this incense are provided (30:34-36); the penalty for misuse is identically severe (30:37, 38). Doubtless God intends that this unique scent will communicate a special sense of His presence to the Israelites in their worship.

1. Obedient Givers (v. 29)

29a. The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work.

This verse summarizes the persistent theme of the passage. First emphasized is the involvement of every man and woman in this undertaking. One senses that people at every social level contribute to ensure that God’s house is completed as planned.

29b. Which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

Also noted is that the master plan for this tabernacle is not of human origin; it has been commanded by the Lord, to be supervised by Moses. That leader will eventually inspect the finished effort and bless the people for having done as the Lord commanded (Exodus 39:43).

What Do You Think?

What steps can we take to remind ourselves that all good things come from God?

Points for Your Discussion

Regarding helpful Scriptures to memorize

Considering prayer patterns that should change

Considering how doing so serves as a witness

1. New Covenant Giving

                                                               (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

About 15 centuries pass as we reach the New Testament passage of today’s lesson. The apostle Paul is on his third missionary journey as he pauses to write to his beloved Corinthians. As today’s text opens, he has just reported on the generous financial gifts that the churches of Macedonia have sent to help meet the needs of Christians in Judea/Jerusalem who are suffering severely (2 Corinthians 8:1-15).

Assuming that the Corinthians will follow suit, Paul plans to send several of his associates to collect their contributions to this worthy cause (2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5).

1. Law of the Harvest (v. 6)

6. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Paul uses a common-sense principle from the world of agriculture to illustrate a spiritual truth. The person who sows few seeds will get little yield, whereas those who invest more aggressively will gain a larger and more profitable harvest.

Applied to the situation at hand, those who give generously to help others in need will receive a larger reward than those who give less. This verse is not promising that those who give to others will necessarily receive a financial bonus in return; Paul’s own experiences, which he recounts in some detail in 2 Corinthians 11 and 12, prove that God does not operate that way. There’s a fine line to walk here. We must not doubt that our giving will be rewarded, but we must not give with the attitude that God “owes” us something as we tap our foot impatiently waiting for the blessing to show up.

Sowing for Hope

Born to a teenage mother and living in the worst parts of town, basketball superstar LeBron James is grateful for his great fortune. So he is giving back. Drafted into the NBA right out of high school in 2003, LeBron founded the LeBron James Family Foundation in 2004 to help single parents and their children who are in need.

LeBron has also donated $41 million to pay college tuition for 1,100 youth in Ohio. Those who enroll in his “I Promise” program at the University of Akron will be eligible to receive this scholarship. LeBron states that the young people are “the reason I do what I do. These students have big dreams, and I’m happy to do everything I can to help them get there.” He notes that many African-American children can only dream of attending college because of the expense. The more LeBron earns, the more he gives to provide hope to many for a better life. He is sowing into lives generously and will reap generously the joy of helping improve lives.

It is often said that we get out what we put in. Athletes become superstars by constant practice. Great inventors spend countless hours creating new products. Great chefs suffer many failures on their way to prepare food as no one else does. Sowing involves risk. But so does failure to sow. See Jesus’ parables about servants entrusted with resources (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27).

—S. K.

1. Decision of the Giver (v. 7a)

7a. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity.

Paul’s counsel to potential givers echoes the attitude of the actual givers who supported the construction of the tabernacle. That giving was “willing hearted” (Exodus 35:22), and Paul insists that true giving must come from the heart. To give from the heart is the opposite of giving grudgingly (example: “I’d rather keep the money, but I guess I’ll give”) or of necessity (example: “It’s my duty to give a certain percentage”).

1. Love of God (v. 7b)

7b. For God loveth a cheerful giver.

This statement does not suggest that we earn God’s love by giving, of course. It simply communicates that God is pleased when His people give out of a genuine desire to do so, rather than from a sense of obligation.

What Do You Think?

How do you make sure that your attitude about giving honors the Lord?

Points for Your Discussion

During lean times

During bountiful times

1. Ability of God (v. 8)

8. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

This verse indirectly addresses the unspoken thought that often lies behind contemplated acts of generosity: “If I give away what I have, what will happen if I myself need it back someday?” Paul’s answer shows that the question is misguided. God owns everything, is concerned about all His people, and shows abundant grace to those who follow Him.

This being the case, we can be confident that He will always supply what we need. As Paul writes elsewhere, “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Our future need might even by met by those whose needs we meet now (see 2 Corinthians 8:13-15)!

What Do You Think?

How do these passages impact you?

Points for Your Discussion

Regarding how they affirm your attitude and practice of giving

Regarding how they challenge or correct you

Conclusion

1. Common Factor

The challenges of Moses to the Israelites and of Paul to the Corinthians were for different reasons. The Israelites were challenged to give to construct a place of worship by which they, the givers, would benefit. The end result could be seen and touched as a physical reminder of God’s presence. By contrast, the Corinthians were challenged to give to meet the needs of people they had never seen and might never see.

Although the anticipated outcomes of the two giving plans were different, they shared a common factor: willingness—actual on the part of the Israelites; anticipated on the part of the Corinthians. When we find ourselves faced with an important and valid opportunity to give to meet a need, we should examine our attitude before we examine our bank account (2 Corinthians 8:12). A good place to start to test for a proper giving attitude is to recall the ultimate example of having a willingness to give: Jesus. “Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (8:9).

1. Prayer

Heavenly Father, sometimes it’s hard to let go of what we have in order to help others. Teach us to trust You enough to give cheerfully. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who gave His all for us. Amen.

1. Thought to Remember

A proper attitude about giving

trumps the size of the gift.

Crossing the read sea

 “When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.” Jonah 2:7-10 KJV
“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
Micah 4:1-3 KJV

“The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.”
Psalms 24:1-6 KJV

Ephod challenge...... who what when where and how. Find and study Ephods in the Bible. Where are the Ephods today?
“And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed. But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor. And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water; And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights. And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick. We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire. And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company. And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah. And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled. And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives. And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all. And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil. And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them. Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart. Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the Lord hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand. For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike. And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day. And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the Lord;”
1 Samuel 30:1-26 KJV Contrast and Compare

“And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim. And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the Lord commanded Moses. And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the Lord commanded Moses.” Leviticus 8:6-13 KJV
V/S

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
Ephesians 6:12-18 KJV