Oxford Bible Church - Living in the Last Days

Derek Walker describes the Millennial Temple drawing from many scriptures in Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah & Zechariah. Discover how the concept of God's dwelling with man is central to biblical revelation, from the original earthly Temple in Eden to its ultimate fulfilment in the Millennial reign of Christ - the times of restoration of all things, when the Land of Israel will be restored to be like the original Eden. The Millennial Temple, at the peak of the Mountain of the Lord, in Israel, will be at the heart of the restoration of God's Kingdom on earth at Christ's Return. Christ will reign over the whole earth from its Holy of Holies, and a River of Life will flow from it into Jerusalem, and then divide into 2 rivers to the west and to the east. This episode provides God's vision for the climax of human history in the Messianic Kingdom and the greatest of the earthly Temples, the closest image of the heavenly Temple, which therefore also provides deep insights into the nature and operation of redeemed Man in Christ - God's ultimate, eternal Temple.

Derek Walker explores the significance of Temples, focusing on the first 3 Temples on the earthly Mount Zion, pointing out the connections between the heavenly and earthly Temples. After God moved into the Tabernacle, He promised He would lead them to a holy Mountain of His choosing where His Sanctuary would be established. God had already set apart Mount Moriah, later called Mount Zion, when Abraham offered up Isaac on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22) and God promised that He would offer up His Son in that place (v8,14). From that time Mt. Moriah was God's ordained place of Sacrifice. Later David establish his capital in Jerusalem, and God revealed to him the location and plans for the Temple, especially the Holy of Holies, and the Altar (on Ornan's threshing floor) on Mount Moriah, to the north and above the City of David (1Chronicles 21-22). Later Solomon build the Temple there (2Chronicles 23:1) and it was filled with God's glory at its Dedication. It was destroyed by the Babylonians 432 years later because of Israel's idolatry, and rebuilt 70 years later in the same place as the 2nd Temple, which was later beautified by Herod the Great. This was the Temple in the time of Jesus, but was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70, because of Israel's rejection of Christ. There will also be a 3rd Temple of God on Mount Zion in the future (the Tribulation Temple), which God will use as a final outreach to Israel as well as the world, especially through the 2 witnesses. After 3.5 years the antichrist will desecrate it with the Abomination of Desolation (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, 2Thessalonians 2, Revelation 11). There will also be a 4th Temple on Mount Zion in the Millennium (Isaiah 2:1-4, Ezekiel 40-48).

Join Pastor Derek Walker from the Oxford Bible Church as he continues his enlightening series on the Temples of God. In this episode, explore the spiritual significance of Mount Sinai and the Tabernacle, delving into their roles as divine dwellings and reflections of the heavenly Temple. We study how Mount Sinai was an earthly Temple of God for a year, before God's Presence moved into the Tabernacle (God's portable Temple).

Join Pastor Derek Walker of the Oxford Bible Church in this enlightening series exploring the concept of the Temples of God. Discover how Eden was the original earthly Temple, reflecting God's heavenly Temple, and learn about the restoration of God's Presence through biblical history. Delve into the symbolic significance of Temples across cultures and how they relate to God's ultimate plan for humanity. This episode highlights how God's original plan to establish His Kingdom and Presence over the whole earth, which He began in Eden (His original Temple), will be fulfilled in His Millennial Kingdom, when Christ will reign from His Millennial Temple on the top of Mountain of the Lord (Mount Zion) over the whole earth, and His glory will cover the earth, with Israel being the restored Garden of Eden.

Join Pastor Derek Walker of the Oxford Bible Church as he delves into the fascinating study of the Temples of God, exploring the concept of Eden as the original earthly temple. Discover how Eden, the Garden of God, was the sacred ground where God intended to dwell with man. This video examines biblical narratives, comparing Eden to the heavenly Jerusalem and revealing profound insights into the spiritual significance of these divine structures. Learn about the heavenly blueprint that influenced the creation of Eden and how it served as a sanctuary for mankind. This educational journey offers a deeper understanding of the spiritual connections between the earthly and heavenly temples.

Join Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church as he delves into the profound series on the Temples of God. In this episode, explore the concept of Eden as the first earthly Temple, mirroring the heavenly Eden. Discover the theological insights into the heavenly City, New Jerusalem, and its significance as the dwelling place of God. Learn about the symbolic structures of Temples and their relation to us as tripartite beings —spirit, soul, and body (1Thess 5:23). Uncover the biblical parallels between the Garden of Eden and the Heavenly Temple, reflecting God's design and purpose for mankind.

Join Pastor Derek Walker of the Oxford Bible Church as he explores the profound theme of God's Temples throughout the Bible. This episode delves into the concept of the Heavenly Temple, the New Jerusalem, and how it serves as the everlasting dwelling Place of God, the blueprint for the temporary earthly Temples of God. Discover the significance of earthly temples as copies of their heavenly counterpart and the spiritual insights they offer into our identity as Temples of the living God (redeemed man being the ultimate Temple of God). Learn about the biblical blueprint for these sacred spaces and how they reflect God's divine order.

Join Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church as he continues the enlightening series on the Temples of God. This video delves into the concept of the heavenly City, the New Jerusalem, as the eternal dwelling of God with His people. Explore biblical insights on the heavenly temple, its significance, and how believers are seen as Temples of the living God. The session also touches on the transformative power of the new covenant and the role of Jesus Christ in granting believers access to the heavenly kingdom.

Join Pastor Derek Walker of the Oxford Bible Church as he explores the biblical significance of the four blood moons occurring in 2014-2015. Delve into prophecies from Joel and Acts, and historical events linked to blood moon tetrads. Discover the potential divine messages these celestial events may hold for Israel and the world.

Join Pastor Derek Walker from the Oxford Bible Church as he delves into the signs of the times, focusing on celestial events like the four blood moons. Discover their biblical significance and what they could mean for the future. This video explores prophetic interpretations and the connection of these signs to historical and future events, urging viewers to be watchful and prepared for the times ahead.

Join Derek Walker, Pastor of Oxford Bible Church, as he explores the concept of being 'in Christ' and its foundational importance in the Christian faith. Discover the blessings and promises that come with this spiritual position, as well as how to build a strong Christian life based on the unchanging truth of God's Word. Learn about the transformation from being in Adam to being in Christ and how to live out this reality through grace.

Explore the profound concept of being 'In Christ' through biblical teachings. This video delves into the spiritual blessings, identity transformation, and foundational truths of Christianity. Discover the significance of transitioning from being in Adam to being in Christ and how it impacts your faith journey.

Join the Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker as they explore a Christian perspective on elections. Discussions include the role of prayer, moral values in politics, and the potential for revival. The show also touches on theological topics such as the end times, Israel's significance, and the role of prophets today. Viewers are encouraged to send in their questions and engage in this insightful discussion on faith and politics.

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church, with a special discussion on the life and impact of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving British monarch. The show delves into her faith, leadership, and the unity she fostered across nations. Viewers are invited to share their thoughts and questions in this heartfelt tribute.

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

A Debate on Revelation TV hosted by Tim Vince between Derek Walker arguing for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture and John Campbell arguing for the Post-Tribulation Rapture.

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Bible Q&A Show with Pastor Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church

Q&A Show with Pastor Derek

Psalm 83 is a Prophetic Prayer describing by name a confederacy of nations, which surround her, who all want to destroy Israel in the end-times. Derek and Tim explain how this Prophecy has been fulfilled in detail in the wars that Israel has faced since her rebirth in 1948, including the present Israel war with Hamas. The Psalm is an inspired prayer that God would give Israel military victory, as in her ancient victories by Gideon and Deborah, with the help of God. God has answered this prayer again and again by giving Israel victory against her enemies, even when it was against all odds. This prayer also gives a blueprint for how we should pray in the present situation. The stated purpose of this victory is to glorify the Name of the true God, the God of the Bible, the God of Israel, so that Israel's enemies, who worship and trust in a false god, may repent and trust in the true God instead, and so be saved.

Pastor Derek explains how a number of theological paradoxes can be resolved, in particular, the difference between relationship (positional truth) and fellowship (temporal truth) scriptures. Understanding these 2 distinct realms allows us to receive both scriptures fully, and apply them correctly, especially in the area of forgiveness.

Pastor Derek reveals the origins of the Gospel in the Year of Jubilee, which took place on the Day of Atonement, when the Jubilee trumpeters proclaimed forgiveness, release and restoration for all, throughout all the land, on the basis of the great sacrifice made on that day (Leviticus 25). Jesus initiated the preaching of the Gospel, and commanded us to continue preaching this same Gospel. In Luke 4, Jesus claimed that His preaching of the Gospel was the fulfilment of Isaiah 61, a prophecy of the Messiah fulfilling the Type of Jubilee for all men by preaching Good News to the poor, proclaiming the Acceptable Year of the Lord, on the basis of God's acceptance of His great final Sacrifice (Isaiah 53).

A key to knowing God's Times and Seasons is 1 DAY = 1000 years. Examples of this are the Passover Lamb, Hosea 6:2, the Resurrection of Lazarus, the Transfiguration and the Good Samaritan. It's almost 2 DAYS from the Cross!

God's Structure of Time is based on the Blueprint of Creation Week, where 1 DAY = 1000 years of human history (Psalm 90:4, 2 Peter 3:8), with the 7th DAY being the Millennium (Revelation 20:1-6).

Derek shares 2 Keys to Victory: (1) Come to God in humility to receive His grace. (2) Once you know His will, do it with all your heart. Persist and refuse to quit, as illustrated in 2 Kings 13:14-25.

Joel's Prophecy was fulfilled by (1) the Signs in the Heavens (Dark Sun & Blood Moon) at the Cross, (2) Christ's glorious Resurrection, and (3) the Outpouring of His Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21).

Pastor Derek puts together clues from the Bible, ancient history and modern science to prove Tarshish is Britain. This matters, because 3 end-time prophecies about Tarshish give us hope for this nation.

Our eternal destiny (Heaven or Hell) depends on whether we love the Truth of God (we are created by God, accountable to Him), or the Lie of Satan, that we are our own gods, the product of evolution.

There are 2 apparently contradictory sets of Scriptures, one of which says we are already fully righteous (justified) and fully forgiven in Christ by His grace (Rom 5:1, 2Cor 5:21, Eph 1:7, 4:32, Col 1:14, ), but the other says that we are lacking in righteousness and so need to seek God for more of His righteousness (Matthew 5:6, 6:33), and that we need to ask for forgiveness, when we sin to be cleansed of all unrighteousness (1John 1:9, Matthew 6:12-15, Mark 11:25-26). How can both sides be true? Many take a simplistic approach of embracing the verses they like, and ignoring or explaining away the rest, for example by saying the teaching of Jesus no longer applies (in contradiction to Matthew 5:19, 7:24-27, 28:18-20). Derek shares that the full truth is found by embracing all the Scriptures as fully true, but there are 2 related realms of truth – relationship truth and fellowship truth. Relationship truth describes what God has done for us in Christ when we received Him as Lord and Saviour. This was all done by God's grace at the moment of salvation and is unconditional, absolute, and unchanging. All our sins are forgiven and we have been justified (declared righteous) before God. Before salvation, we had no relationship with God, we were in the realm of the Courtroom, guilty before the Judge, but when we trusted in Christ, who paid the penalty for us, we were not only forgiven and placed into right-standing with God, but also adopted into His family as His son. So, we now have a new relationship with God by His grace, which move us out of the realm of the Courtroom into the realm of God's Family, where the truths of family fellowship and forgiveness apply. As far as the Courtroom (and our salvation) is concerned there is no condemnation for us in Christ, but as far as our family life with God is concerned, when we sin, we need to confess our sins to God to receive His forgiveness (1John 1:9), in order to keep our heart right with God, and restore our fellowship with Him (see James 4:7-10). Whereas relationship is binary (you either have a relationship with God or you don't), your fellowship with God (the level of the Light of His Presence in your heart) is variable, depending on how close your heart is to God. Moreover, fellowship by its very nature is reciprocal, depending on the will of both people, and therefore variable if one of them is human. Thus, Fellowship Scriptures are conditional, unlike Relationship Scriptures. Relationship truth is foundational, as our fellowship with God is only possible on the grounds of our relationship with Him in Christ. But fellowship truths are also important, for God's purpose in establishing a relationship with us is so that He might have fellowship with us (Isaiah 43:25). Finally, Derek explains why the Relationship-Fellowship distinction is a fundamental part of reality because it originates in the nature of the Triune God, who has a 2-fold unity: (1) of relationship, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit being of one substance, and (2) of fellowship, since they fully give themselves to each other and interpenetrate each other in love (perichoresis).

We look at a number of apparent theological paradoxes that are resolved in the same way, according to the principle that: “the entirety of Your WORD is TRUTH” (Ps 119:160). In each case, there are a set of Scriptures that emphasise one truth and another set of Scriptures that emphasise a different truth, but it can seem hard to see how to hold both truths together as they don't seem to fit. Some examples are: (1) the Prophecies of the Sufferings and Glory of Christ (Luke 24:25), (2) the Goodness and Severity of God, (3) God's Sovereignty and man's free-will, (4) the fact that Christ is both God and man (the hypostatic union), (5) the Tri-unity of God, and (6) how we can be forgiven in Christ (as far as our relationship is concerned), and yet still need forgiveness (as far as our fellowship with God is concerned). In each of these cases, people can easily go into a ditch on either side of the road of truth by choosing the set of Scriptures they like, and then ignoring or explaining away the Scriptures on the other side. The answer is found in realising that both sets of Scriptures are fully true, because there are 2 distinct (but related) realms of truth (if you can try to reconcile the 2 truths by mixing them together, you end up compromising and destroying them both - for example, by saying Christ is a semi-god and a semi-man, whereas the truth is that He is fully God and fully man). On the basis that all Scripture is true, we should embrace both revelations of truth, then seek God for a deeper understanding of how both sides can be fully true. When we do this, we will be rewarded with a fuller revelation of God's truth.

When we are feeling empty or spiritually depressed, or when circumstances make us aware of our weakness, that is a great opportunity to grow in God by turning to Him and asking Him to fill our void. We must be thirsty for God before we drink of His living water (Isa 55:1, John 7:37, Rev 21:6, 22:17). When our soul is full of worldly things we have no room for God, but “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (God's Word and Spirit) Presence, for they shall be filled (with God's Presence)” (Matt 5:6). In Psalm 42 the psalmist is depressed and thirsty for the living God (v1-2), so He turns to God to fill him. Inspired by the local scenery, where the river Jordan flows out from Mount Hermon at Banias and tumbles down in waterfalls, he focuses on God, seeing these waters as a picture of God's river of life (v6), and then cries out from the depth of his heart (need) to the depths of God to fill him: “Deep calls unto deep at the noise (sound) of Your waterfalls (of grace)” (v7a). Through His Word, we hear the sound of His river of life flowing to us, and respond by calling out to Him to fill us. As a result: “all Your waves and billows (of love, peace and joy) have gone over me. The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime” (v7b-8). The Oil Miracle (2Kings 1-7), when God filled all the empty vessels that were presented to Him with His Oil (representing the Holy Spirit) reveals that He is willing to fill all the empty parts of our soul with His Spirit, if we turn to Him, present them to Him, and ask Him to fill us. The Oil only stopped flowing when there were no longer any empty vessels to fill. So our empty voids (our awareness of our weakness and need) are a great opportunity to turn to god and be filled.

Ps 27 continues with David concluding his confident declaration of faith (v1-6), saying: “And now my head shall be lifted up (in honour) above my enemies all around me” (v6a). God will exalt him to be king (v5). If we exalt Him in worship, He'll exalt us. Time in worship gives us confidence in God's protection & hope for the future. He sees beyond the present to God's victory, when he'll praise God with His people, thanking Him for manifested victory: “Therefore, I will offer sacrifices of joy in His Tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord” (v6b). God gave him victory over the immediate threat (v1-6), but he had to endure a hardness for 8 years, in constant danger & need for His help, so now he moves to humble entreaty for ongoing favour & deliverance (v7-12). Knowing himself as weak & sinful, dependent on God, he doesn't presume on His blessing, but urgently asks for continuing mercy & grace. v7: “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also on me, and answer me” (v7). Due to the wait time between promise & fulfilment, he battles negative thoughts of fear & condemnation. But as a worshipper (v4-6), rather than giving into fears, he gives them to God in prayer (v7-12) & comes into assurance (v13). “When You said: “SEEK My FACE (Presence)!” My HEART said to You: “Your FACE (Presence), Lord, I WILL SEEK” (v8). He reminds God, He initiated this relationship by inviting him to seek Him. This is God's command to all, for the first ‘seek' is plural. He graciously invites all to seek & find Him, to know Him personally. True prayer is our response to His gracious initiative. He reminds God he did respond by setting his will (heart) to seek & know Him. So, he was sure he'd find Him, for God reveals Himself & blesses all who seek Him (Deut 4:29, Jer 29:13, Matt 7:7). Those who don't find God have not set their heart to seek to know Him. Saying: “I WILL seek” shows intentionality. He was a man (who sought) after God's heart (v4, 1Sam 13:14, Acts 13:22). We need to pay attention to God, if we want Him to pay attention to us (hear our prayers). He realises he's not perfect & deserves condemnation, so has to deal with negative accusing thoughts, which he does in prayer: “Do not hide Your FACE from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger” (v9a). When His face shines on us, He's gracious toward us, but if He hides His face, He's displeased, and we need to confess our sin & turn back to Him. “You have been my help (in the past, so); do not leave (abandon) me (now) nor forsake me (in my time of need), O God of my salvation” (v9b). In his weakness, he abandons himself to God, expressing total dependence on Him. This is how to handle inner fears - bring them to God. When you sin don't run from God, but to God. He's the God of your salvation. Despite our failings, if we seek Him (v8), He'll not hide His face from us (v9). He knew God as His Saviour (v9) & perfect Parent: “When (even if) my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me (receive, gather me up as a father lifts up his son & provides for him)” (v10). Even if our strongest relationships fail, God will not forsake us. He has that assurance, for God is what every parent should be (merciful, faithful, loving & forgiving). Having spent face to face time with God, he now prays for guidance, to walk in His will: “(1) TEACH me Your WAY, O Lord, and (2) LEAD me in a smooth (straight, level) path, because of my enemies (lit: watchful foes, looking for him to go wrong & take advantage)” (v11). (1) We need to know the WAY and (2) be LED step by step in it. “Do not deliver me to the will (desire) of my adversaries (v3, including demons); for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out (threats & acts of) violence.” Having faced his inner fears, he prayed through into the light of assurance: “I would have lost heart, UNLESS I had (firmly) BELIEVED that I would SEE (look steadfastly on, as in v4) the (manifest) goodness (promised provision) of the Lord in the land of the living (in this life)” (v13). Thus, it finishes as it starts with confidence God's plan will come to pass (he'll be king). If we look on the Lord in worship (v4) & wait on Him in faith (v14), His glory will change us and bring God's will to pass in our life. v14: “WAIT (in FAITH) on (set your HOPE on) the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. WAIT, I say, on the Lord!” WAIT is repeated for emphasis. He speaks to himself, then us. YLT: “LOOK to Jehovah, be STRONG, and He will STRENGTHEN your HEART, yea, LOOK to Jehovah!” When God promises, its time of fulfilment is in His hands. Sometimes there's a delay, as with David. The danger is to lose heart. So, in this time, we must stand strong in faith, believing He'll bring it to pass. Wait patiently & expectantly in faith for Him, looking to Him for directions. Then His Spirit strengthens, encourages, enlightens our heart & empowers us to obey (v14).

In the Olivet Discourse Jesus referred to the Parable of the Fig Tree, and said the appearance of the Fig Tree bearing leaves (but not fruit) was the major sign of the end-times, with the 2nd Coming to establish His Kingdom taking place within a man's lifetime of this event (Matthew 24:32-35, Luke 21:29-32). By studying the origin of the Parable of the Fig-Tree in Luke 13:6-9, Derek shows the Fig Tree is the nation of Israel planted in her land, but because she bore no fruit of faith (leaves only) and rejected Christ when He came to her, she was cut off spiritually in AD 33, 6 months after the Cross (Acts 7), and cut down and removed from her land (AD 70). Later, Jesus acted this out prophetically when He cursed a Fig Tree for not bearing fruit (Mark 11:12-21). The very same day that the disciples witnessed that the Tree had withered up from its roots, and at the very same location (the Mount of Olives), Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse in which He declared that the Fig Tree would rise again in the end-times as the major sign that the 2nd Coming was near (Matthew 24:32-35, Luke 21:29-32), for Israel must be re-established as a Nation in her Land in order for the end-time prophecies to be fulfilled – the stage must be set for the final scene to take place. Moreover, the Parable of the Fig Tree predicts Israel will initially be regathered in unbelief (leaves only), which was fulfilled in 1948, and affirms that this is the necessary prelude to her bearing fruit (faith), for all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26).

We are commanded to put on the whole Armour of God in order to stand our ground in the victory of Christ (Ephesians 6:13). Then Paul describes 6 pieces of Armour in v14-17: (1) the Belt of Truth, (2) the Breastplate of Righteousness, (3) the Gospel Shoes, (4) the Shield of the Faith, (5) the Helmet of Salvation, and (6) the Sword of the Spirit. Then v18 describes a 7th item of our Armour – the Lances of Prayer: “praying always with all kinds of prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” Standing firm in our defensive Armour means that we are ready to launch our offensive long-range weapons – the Lances of Prayer. First, we study the Lance of Praise, which binds and silences the enemy (Psalm 8:1-2, Matthew 21:16, Psalm 149:6-9). Secondly, we study the Lance of the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving - thanking God in advance for the fulfilment of His promises and the manifested victory, based on His revealed character (faithfulness). This should be our lifestyle (Hebrews 12:15), and it prepares the way for God to show (manifest) His salvation (Psalm 50:23). Derek then illustrates the place and power of this Sacrifice in (1) the Feeding of the 5000 (John 6:11,23), (2) Jonah's deliverance from the great fish (Jonah 2:9-10), (3) Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16:23-34), and (4) God fighting for Israel in the time of Jehoshaphat (2Chronicles 20). Finally, we study the Lance of the Prayer of Binding and Loosing in the Name of Jesus, where we use the Keys of the Kingdom to enforce Christ's finished work and completed victory on earth (Matthew 16:18-19, 18:18). We can bind and loose on earth, whatever Christ has already bound or loosed in Heaven through the New Covenant.

An essential piece of our spiritual Armour is the Helmet of Salvation (Ephesians 6;17, Isaiah 59:17) or more fully: “the Helmet of the HOPE of SALVATION” (1Thessalonians 5:8). The Helmet protects our mind in the battle, from negative, discouraging thoughts, which try to cause us to cause depression and give up hope, so we give up. HOPE is the vision of future manifested salvation, the final outcome of all God's promises fulfilled in our life. Hope comes from our faith in the promises of God (Romans 15:4). Derek explains how to put our Helmet of Hope on, by speaking the Scriptures to ourselves (to our own souls), as in Psalm 103, and Psalm 42:5: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? HOPE in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His Presence.” In the context: “the Helmet of the HOPE of SALVATION” (1Thessalonians 5:8) is referring to our blessed Hope (Titus 2:13), our future salvation at the Rapture (1Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:10).

The Armour of God is described in Ephesians 6:14-17. The GOSPEL SHOES: "having shod your feet with the (shoes of) preparation (readiness) of the Gospel of Peace (another aspect of God's Word)” (v15). To be ready for battle, you need the right shoes to give you a firm footing, so you can stand your ground on God's Word and the completed victory of Christ. These are the shoes of the Gospel, which declares His finished work over sin and every enemy, thereby bringing us into peace with God (peace comes after victory). We put on the Shoes by knowing and embracing the Good News that He has won the victory and we stand firm in that truth, ready for action. We standing in His victory, rather than trying to get the victory. Then v16 says: “above (covering) all, taking (up) the SHIELD of (the) FAITH, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts (arrows) of the wicked one (God's Word is powerful).” The Shield that protects us is not our faith, but God's Word (the Faith), we need to trust in God's Word rather than our faith, but it is by faith that we take up the Shield and put it in front of us. The Word must not just wrapped around our heart, but lifted up in front of us, where it can cover every area of our life, by confessing His Word and thanking God for His promises and who He is to us (Heb 13:5-6). The roman shield was like a door covering the whole body, made of 6 layers of animal hide, anointed with oil (the Spirit) and drenched with water (Eph 5:26), able to protect even against fiery arrows filled with combustible liquid designed to explode on impact. Likewise, the anointed Word of God is empowered to protect us, even against the worst weapons of the enemy. These fiery arrows are words (thoughts) set on fire by hell (Jam 3:6), with spiritual power to penetrate our soul and set it on fire (with bitterness, anger, fear, discouragement etc) if our Shield is not up. But if we activate our Shield, by declaring: "The Lord is my Strength, Stronghold, Light, Peace, Provider Shield, Victory..." then the fiery darts will not be able to penetrate our heart and mind and emotions. Derek concludes by giving a classic example of how to put up the Shield of Faith as demonstrated by Paul in Romans 8:28-39, where he says we must not be passive in the face of the things (attacks) of life, but we must declare God's truths (Christ's love for us and His finished work) in response to these things. he asks: "what shall we say to these things?" (v31), and then tells us what we should say (v31-39). In this way, we activate our Shield of God's Word, which quench the evil thoughts (words), sent from the enemy to hurt and destroy us.

In Ephesians 6:14-18, Paul describes the 7 pieces of God's Armour of God, which He provides to us through His Word for our spiritual warfare. The Breastplate of Righteousness (Isa 59:16) is necessary for guarding the heart. To enter into spiritual warfare, it is vital our heart is under the protection of God's Righteousness (it is the Armour of God). It does not consist of our own righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ. In spiritual warfare, pride is fatal. Instead, we must submit to God and His righteousness, which He gives us by grace (Job 41:34, Luke 10:17-20, Jam 4:6-7), through the Great Exchange (2Cor 5:21). To put on His Breastplate of Righteousness so that it covers and protects our heart, we must submit to His righteousness (Rom 10:3, Phil 3:9). It is attached to the Belt, for it is God's Word which imparts the faith we need to trust in His gift of righteousness. It had 2 parts, a breast and back plate, which correspond to (1) the imputed righteousness of Christ, through which we were justified by faith (Rom 3:28,4:1-8, 5:1, 8:1, Gal 2:16), and (2) the imparted righteousness of Christ (His life and nature) through the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5, 14:17, Gal 5:22-23, 1Cor 1:30). (1) Through FAITH in Christ and His finished work we are justified, declared forgiven and righteous in Christ. This protects the heart from satan's main weapon – condemnation (Rev 12:10-11, Isa 54:17). (2) The LOVE of Christ filling our souls with His love (Rom 8:4) protects our hearts from evil thoughts. We see these 2 parts of the Breastplate in 1Thess 5:8: “putting on the breastplate of (1) FAITH and (2) LOVE.” We see these 2 kinds of righteousness in: Romans 1:17: “For in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from (1) justifying faith to (2) living faith; as it is written: “The just (by faith) shall live by faith.”

In Ephesians 6:11,13, Paul commands us to put on the whole Armour of God (which God provides to us through His Word). Then in v14-18 he describes the 7 pieces of the Armour of God. Derek shares about the Belt of Truth and how to put it on (v14), and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the spoken word (rhema) of God (v17), and how they work together. The Belt of Truth consists of God's Word (John 17:17), which we are to put on tight by wrapping our heart around with His commands and promises, bringing our thoughts into alignment (1Pet 1:13). Our Belt consists of the Word of God that we know and have embraced until it is part of us. It is the foundational piece of Armour, which is why it is mentioned first (the sword, shield and breastplate were attached to it). If loose, the whole armour falls apart. The Sword of the Spirit fits in the Belt. In a fight, a soldier pulls his sword from his belt. Likewise, in a spiritual fight, we pull a Scripture-Sword from our Belt of Scriptures as quickened by the Spirit, and put in our mouth and speak it. It will then go forth in the power of the Spirit against the enemy. God's Word is like a sharp sword (Hebrews 4:12). Jesus used His Sword 3 times to defeat Satan, saying: "it is written" (Matthew 4:3-10). For the Sword to work we must first have our Belt on tight (know the Word well). We also see the Sword in action in Revelation 12:11, Isaiah 54:17, and Psalm 149:6-9.