WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.519 I would like you to turn this morning in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 6, and in order 00:00:16.519 --> 00:00:21.359 ! to frame the text that we're going to look at together, I want you to follow along with 00:00:21.359 --> 00:00:29.980 ! as we read there in verse 10 down through to verse 15. Finally, be strong in the text 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:37.100 and the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand 00:00:37.100 --> 00:00:42.960 against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:50.299 the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, 00:00:51.519 --> 00:00:57.340 against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take on the whole 00:00:57.340 --> 00:01:03.020 armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:10.520 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate 00:01:10.520 --> 00:01:17.240 of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel 00:01:17.239 --> 00:01:29.619 of peace. Let us pray. Our Father, as we take the Word that You have given to us, we take it with humility, 00:01:31.319 --> 00:01:38.759 we take it with a confessed dependence upon Your Spirit, that the things that You have written for us, 00:01:38.760 --> 00:01:49.820 for our blessing and for our admonition, are things that will not really be applied profitably apart from Your work in our hearts. 00:01:49.819 --> 00:01:59.280 I pray for the Holy Spirit's work in my life, that I might preach with His enabling, 00:02:00.119 --> 00:02:05.280 and that Your dear people this morning who know You and have been blessed by salvation, 00:02:05.699 --> 00:02:15.379 and enjoy the ministry of the indwelling Spirit, would be quickened to hear, and to apply, and to grow, and to profit. 00:02:15.379 --> 00:02:23.699 We trust that the One that is preeminent in our thinking, the One that is lifted up, is the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:02:23.780 --> 00:02:30.759 who is our Savior, and who we look forward to seeing. We ask this in Your precious name. Amen. 00:02:32.079 --> 00:02:38.859 Now, this morning I have some of the regalia. I would get this fan here before it gets the best of things. 00:02:38.860 --> 00:02:43.260 Oops. I'm sure… 00:02:46.260 --> 00:02:56.700 I am honestly sorry. Who's singing on that side? Where are you ladies? I'm sorry, please. 00:02:57.180 --> 00:02:59.900 John, give them a couple seconds to get things back together again. 00:02:59.980 --> 00:03:07.220 A fan is a good thing for someone who overheats like I do, but a bad thing for people who want paper to stay in place. 00:03:07.219 --> 00:03:17.139 Okay, so now, I had Greg Bernard bring his gear that is for dealing with civil unrest. 00:03:18.079 --> 00:03:20.039 Thankfully, he's never had to use it in Columbus. 00:03:20.939 --> 00:03:25.099 And this is Seth Kirtland's gear that he wears regularly. 00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:29.219 I would just imagine just for a second that… 00:03:29.979 --> 00:03:32.460 Where's Seth? Where are you, Seth? You're out here somewhere. 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:34.900 Oh, right in the front. 00:03:34.900 --> 00:03:44.599 I want you to imagine that the alarm goes off at the fire station, and all the guys are suiting up, and they're heading down towards the fire truck, 00:03:44.819 --> 00:03:48.080 and Seth comes running out in shorts and a t-shirt. 00:03:48.819 --> 00:03:49.620 Hops in. 00:03:50.060 --> 00:03:54.200 What are they going to think, besides the fact that you may not be gainfully employed in the future? 00:03:54.259 --> 00:03:55.040 What are they going to say? 00:03:55.719 --> 00:03:56.840 Are you going to fire? 00:03:56.840 --> 00:03:58.340 I'm running the pump in my house. 00:03:58.420 --> 00:03:58.599 Yeah. 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:08.360 Neither of these suits, really, are something that Seth or Greg would wear when they're doing chores around the house. 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:09.039 I don't think. 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:10.560 Okay. 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:14.599 And they don't wear them when they're mowing the lawn. 00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:16.180 How much does your stuff weigh, Seth? 00:04:16.199 --> 00:04:16.600 Any idea? 00:04:16.899 --> 00:04:17.600 About 40 pounds. 00:04:17.699 --> 00:04:18.500 About 40 pounds. 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:20.560 Is it comfortable in the summertime? 00:04:21.620 --> 00:04:21.879 No. 00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:22.480 No. 00:04:22.839 --> 00:04:23.100 Okay. 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:26.980 Is this Nomex? 00:04:27.860 --> 00:04:28.079 Yeah. 00:04:29.579 --> 00:04:30.139 Yeah. 00:04:30.339 --> 00:04:33.060 And how hot can the suit get? 00:04:33.180 --> 00:04:34.939 Forget you, but how hot can the suit get? 00:04:36.100 --> 00:04:38.860 I think it was 350, 400 degrees. 00:04:38.920 --> 00:04:39.219 Yeah. 00:04:39.399 --> 00:04:40.459 That's, yeah. 00:04:40.459 --> 00:04:46.459 It's designed not as kind of, you know, leisure wear. 00:04:47.819 --> 00:04:53.399 It's designed for the survival of the individual who is wearing it. 00:04:53.399 --> 00:05:01.859 And I can assure you that the only time that any individual would wear this other than maybe for, you know, Halloween or something like that, 00:05:01.939 --> 00:05:03.919 is when there's a reason for doing it. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:15.560 Now, the passage that I read this morning is a passage that talks about the believer being involved in conflict, in warfare. 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:25.000 And as we look at this, I'm just curious how consistently you've taken God's Word and suited up for your spiritual survival. 00:05:25.520 --> 00:05:26.819 How often have you done that? 00:05:26.819 --> 00:05:38.159 Let me have you think just for a moment of the fact that every one of us here in this room recognize at various times that we've been caught, we've been snared, we've been harmed by the enemy. 00:05:38.759 --> 00:05:42.420 And in retrospect, that means after the fact, we kind of look back over things and say, 00:05:42.540 --> 00:05:50.920 Wow, I wish I'd paid more attention and I'd been more conscientious of how to protect myself against the attacks that I was going to endure. 00:05:50.920 --> 00:06:04.120 You know, behind the heartaches and the difficulties and the sorrows that we so often endure in this present life are the attacks that Satan brings on us and he harms us. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:12.020 And so I want you to think with me just for a moment, just kind of do a little bit of mental recap in your own heart and ask yourself this question. 00:06:12.019 --> 00:06:21.319 How often in this week did I consciously and deliberately pray, Lord, lead me not into temptation? 00:06:22.599 --> 00:06:24.959 Don't raise your hand and say, I did seven times. 00:06:25.039 --> 00:06:25.699 You know, that's not it. 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:34.339 But I'm curious, how many times this week did you consciously and deliberately pray, Lord, do not lead me into temptation? 00:06:34.339 --> 00:06:43.639 Another thing would be, how many of you found yourself midstream in watching Satan's devices play out in your life and you stopped and said, 00:06:43.719 --> 00:06:48.879 Oh, I know where this goes and this is going to hurt me if I keep on doing it. 00:06:48.919 --> 00:06:50.399 Lord, help me, protect me. 00:06:50.579 --> 00:06:51.259 Did you do that? 00:06:53.839 --> 00:07:01.079 How many times this week did you find yourself as you were on the Internet or you were involved in some public environment, 00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:04.139 and suddenly you stopped and said, Whoa, whoa, whoa, that's an attack from Satan. 00:07:04.379 --> 00:07:10.240 And if I indulge it, I'm going to harm myself and I'm going to create great turmoil in my soul. 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:12.019 And, Oh, no, Lord, I need your help. 00:07:15.060 --> 00:07:22.539 I want you to think with me just for a moment that this passage is one that brings to a conclusion 00:07:22.539 --> 00:07:27.159 this very, very significant book about the life of the believer. 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:35.340 And as Paul comes to a close in writing about the significance of our salvation and what it means to walk as a godly believer, 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:38.160 he says, Listen, the last thing I want to leave you with is this. 00:07:38.460 --> 00:07:43.220 You need to understand that there is a spiritual battle going on and you need to be well armed. 00:07:45.300 --> 00:07:48.820 Well, let's understand what the armor is that God wants us to put on. 00:07:49.620 --> 00:07:54.900 You look at the passage there, and I want you to pick up in verse 13 and just kind of tag the fact that he says, 00:07:54.899 --> 00:08:02.439 Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 00:08:03.239 --> 00:08:12.199 Just as an overview, I want to remind you that what the Scriptures teach us is that our conflict is one that is largely a defensive pattern. 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:19.319 It's not one with us going out and aggressively involved in being an adversarial attitude towards other things and people. 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:20.819 It is one of defense. 00:08:22.420 --> 00:08:30.659 And then in verse 14, he says, Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:32.600 So let's talk a little bit about putting on truth. 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:41.379 You guys have probably seen pictures of people in the Middle East dressed in flowing robes. 00:08:41.379 --> 00:08:59.419 I remember when I came back from India, I ended up in a boarding area in our college, and I thought the reasonable thing to do was after I got ready for the evening, I thought I'd go down and get a shower, and so I wear my lungi. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:03.039 Does anybody besides my brother and mother know what a lungi is? 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:05.879 Ah, Brian back there. 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:07.799 And I tied on my lungi. 00:09:08.100 --> 00:09:10.480 Lungi is a long, flowing robe tucked around. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:14.480 I was very spiffy, you know, and I was going down to take my shower with my lungi on. 00:09:14.800 --> 00:09:22.659 And my roommate, who was Middle Mr. Midwest, you know, and he saw me come back from the shower with my lungi on. 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:26.139 He says, I don't know where you came from, but you're not ever wearing that in here again. 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:28.340 It was a dress, you know. 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:29.600 It was just kind of around my… 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.720 And lungi was very comfortable. 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:36.720 But if you wanted to be involved in any kind of athletic activity, guess what you did with your lungi? 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:39.300 You had to belt it up. 00:09:39.300 --> 00:09:40.200 You had to tie it up. 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:45.140 You get it away from your legs because all that long, flowing robe, guess what it'd do when you started running? 00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:46.080 Does anybody have an idea? 00:09:47.400 --> 00:09:48.440 It would trip you up. 00:09:49.879 --> 00:09:53.540 And the ancient soldier, he wore a long coat. 00:09:53.700 --> 00:09:54.640 He wore a robe. 00:09:55.160 --> 00:09:57.320 And it served kind of as his blanket. 00:09:57.460 --> 00:09:59.860 It served as his coat in the wintertime. 00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:04.720 But it was something that he, if he was going to be involved in conflict, he had to belt it on. 00:10:04.800 --> 00:10:09.240 And he had wanted to get it in place because it was really critical that it didn't end up snaring him. 00:10:10.340 --> 00:10:19.159 And so I want you to understand this morning as you look at this passage, what it is telling us that we as believers need to be very careful that we have put on the truth. 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:21.519 And it is the thing that's holding us in place. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:27.539 The firmness and stability of the truth is the first piece of our armor. 00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:29.219 I want you to understand that. 00:10:29.819 --> 00:10:36.719 The firmness and the stability of the truth is the first piece of our armor. 00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:43.360 And if we are well anchored in the truth, the believer is not going to be as harmed by Satan as he would be otherwise. 00:10:44.439 --> 00:10:46.919 We live in a day and age where the truth is largely lost. 00:10:46.980 --> 00:10:47.779 Do you realize that? 00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:52.639 It is a day and age where relativism is the norm of our culture. 00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:58.899 And probably one of the most commonly accepted ideas is that truth really is pretty relative. 00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:02.000 Now forget the fact that 2 plus 2 equals 4. 00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:05.799 Everything else on the other side of that is a matter of relativism. 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:09.379 And everybody looks at it and says, well, that's your opinion or that's your idea. 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:18.659 And the statistical evidence indicates that even a majority of people that are professing believers, follow me carefully, 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:26.659 the majority of people that are professing believers today believe in moral relativism as the norm. 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:29.799 Josh McDowell. 00:11:29.939 --> 00:11:32.759 I did some research just to kind of double check the statistics. 00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:45.000 And I was shocked because I remember about 10, 15 years ago hearing when Barna's survey came out that there was higher than half of believers actually believed that truth was a matter of relativism. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:49.860 And today it's 90%, 90% of people that profess. 00:11:50.360 --> 00:12:01.279 What that means is that out of every 10 of you, 9 of you believe that truth is a changing, flexible thing that is determined by what seems to work 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:02.980 or where most people are. 00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:07.459 How many of you here know the name Peter Singer? 00:12:08.819 --> 00:12:11.059 Raise your name, hand if you know Peter Singer. 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:16.579 Peter Singer is a moral philosopher from Princeton. 00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:27.399 And about 10 years ago he said that the issue of same-sex marriage when you argue it in a moral relativistic approach is very easy. 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:28.679 He says it's not a problem at all. 00:12:28.939 --> 00:12:30.439 Guess where we are today on that subject? 00:12:30.439 --> 00:12:31.000 Where are we? 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:34.699 Society has pretty well accepted that. 00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:45.559 Peter Singer also said that not only is same-sex marriage something that is fairly easy to argue when you deal with it in a relativistic perspective, 00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:49.360 but he said so also is incest and bestiality. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:13:02.259 And if you want to know where things will go when you take a relativistic view of truth, it's not just the area of sexuality, it is also the value of human life. 00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:09.319 And I want you to understand that we live in a day and age where the truth is largely compromised. 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:11.480 A little bit like when Pilate said to Jesus, what? 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:12.700 What is truth? 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:17.679 He was asking in the same mindset that we have in the modern world. 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:25.699 Now, really, the whole thrust of the book of Ephesians rests on this central theme of the preeminence and the value of truth. 00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:34.720 And it's no accident that before Paul spends any time talking about marriage or talking about parenting or your role in the office, 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:41.800 what he has done is spent chapter after chapter making it clear what the truth is and where we stand on that truth. 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:46.399 Let me give you a couple ideas of that by having you just check on a couple different passages. 00:13:46.579 --> 00:13:49.299 Look at Ephesians chapter 1, verse 13. 00:13:51.199 --> 00:13:55.740 As he speaks about the matter of our salvation, he says, 00:13:56.219 --> 00:14:00.159 the message of the truth, that is the gospel of your salvation. 00:14:00.459 --> 00:14:02.799 Is the gospel a matter of truth? 00:14:02.899 --> 00:14:03.399 What is it? 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:05.199 It is absolutely true. 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:10.899 And apart from the truth of the gospel, do we have hope in the Lord Jesus Christ? 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:11.840 Not at all. 00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:18.419 Let me say that one of the things that is compromising the effectiveness of the gospel today 00:14:18.419 --> 00:14:27.539 is the progressive decline of the view that God has made Himself clear and that there are moral absolutes. 00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:32.279 If there are no moral absolutes, if there are no truths in the Word of God, 00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:36.179 then we really don't need salvation because what did Jesus come to save us from? 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:37.500 Sin. 00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:39.220 And what is sin? 00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:43.600 Well, it's not something that we decide today may change tomorrow. 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:48.040 Sin is that which God has clearly, explicitly said, 00:14:48.420 --> 00:14:50.580 Thou shalt not or thou shalt. 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:52.200 He says, here's what I want you to do. 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:56.519 And when we do not follow His counsel and His instruction, 00:14:56.660 --> 00:14:58.940 what we are doing is we're engaging in sin. 00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:01.840 And do you know what the Scripture says the consequences of sin is? 00:15:01.920 --> 00:15:02.399 What is it? 00:15:03.060 --> 00:15:05.120 The wages of sin are death. 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:09.560 Over in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 15 it says, 00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:15.879 Rather speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head into Christ. 00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:22.100 It is the truth that arms us against Satan's lies. 00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:29.279 And His first attack, if you were to go back into the book of Genesis and pick up in Genesis chapter 3, 00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:33.519 you'll find that Satan's first attack was to come along and say this, 00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:35.040 Did God really say? 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:37.500 It was a challenge to the truth. 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:44.860 Following that, what He did was He turned around and He kind of undermined the authority and the truth of God 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:49.220 and thereby led man and woman into sin and to great harm. 00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:54.340 It is the truth that frees you from the tyranny of sin. 00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:59.620 I love what Jesus said over in Romans, or in John chapter 8 verse 32, 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:01.220 and I want you to take a look at that just for a moment. 00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:06.240 He says, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. 00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:09.860 You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:15.840 You find yourself today dealing with all the baggage and the heartache that sin brings into your life, 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:16.460 and guess what? 00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:20.580 You're not going to get away from that baggage if you keep buying into the lie of Satan. 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:25.800 But when you submit yourself to the truth of God and what He has to say, 00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:29.860 and you recognize that He is the one that gives us the truth, 00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:32.700 then you walk in uprightness and freeness, 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:37.600 and you enjoy the blessing that comes with being where God wants you to be. 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:42.279 So how do you take on the truth, beloved? 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:42.860 What do you do? 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:45.019 It says there in that passage, it says, 00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:48.840 Stand therefore having fastened on the belt of truth. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:51.320 How do you get the truth into your life? 00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:56.960 Well, the simplest way I would encourage you to do it is open up His Word, which is His truth, 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:59.960 and allow it to inform you and lead you in every step. 00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:02.120 How do you get the truth into your life? 00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:03.480 How do you appropriate it? 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:05.240 How do you gain the benefit of it? 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:07.180 Listen to me carefully. 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:09.619 It is by reading it. 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:11.679 It is by studying it. 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:19.199 It is by prayerfully considering its authority and allowing it to be the thing that informs the path that you're on 00:17:19.199 --> 00:17:22.619 and the decisions that you make and the attitudes that you have. 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:30.299 It's the truth, and you have to have it, or you are going to be lunch for lions. 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:35.220 I want you to look at a second thing that we find here in this passage. 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:42.579 It says there, Stand therefore having fastened on the belt of truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:45.740 So put on righteousness. 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:52.599 The next part of the Christian's armor is the breastplate of righteousness. 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:56.159 Now, what did the breastplate cover? 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:57.119 You look at this here. 00:17:57.220 --> 00:18:00.039 This is different than Seth's. 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:07.279 Seth's armor, so to speak, is all about keeping him from being burned crisp. 00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:08.139 You follow that? 00:18:08.859 --> 00:18:14.159 Seth didn't bring it, but I'm going to guess that there's oxygen that attaches to this. 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:14.639 Am I right? 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:17.080 That's another, what, 20 pounds or so? 00:18:17.780 --> 00:18:18.620 There you go. 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:30.320 This is designed so that anybody throwing nasty things at Greg Bernard, if they hit the head, guess what happens? 00:18:30.780 --> 00:18:31.140 Bing! 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.400 You know, no big problem. 00:18:33.040 --> 00:18:37.220 And if they throw sticks and stones, you know, you've heard that saying, 00:18:37.280 --> 00:18:38.980 sticks and stones may break my bones, blah, blah, blah. 00:18:39.620 --> 00:18:41.800 This is designed to deflect those things. 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:49.000 Now, Sam, a couple weeks ago, he brought his battle armor on, and in his is, guess what's inside of it? 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:53.419 There are plates that are designed to stop bullets, right? 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.220 Okay? 00:18:54.519 --> 00:19:01.879 The breastplate covered your torso from here to here, and it was designed to protect your vitals. 00:19:03.859 --> 00:19:07.259 You know, hey, if you want to take a chunk of me, you can have an arm, 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:10.460 but just don't poke anything inside this part. 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:11.259 Do you understand that? 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:13.359 What happens when you poke anything in here? 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:15.879 It all goes downhill from there. 00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:19.440 And so, you look here in this passage, and it says, 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:22.200 put on the breastplate of righteousness. 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:29.440 Just as the soldier's heart and vitals were to be guarded by the breastplate in battle, 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:34.339 so the believer's heart needs to be guarded spiritually. 00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:37.179 I want you to look at a passage in relationship to this. 00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:41.019 Turn back in your Bible to Proverbs 4, verse 25. 00:19:41.439 --> 00:19:42.519 Proverbs 4. 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:45.899 I think it's verse 23, actually, but let's take a look. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:48.059 Proverbs 4. 00:19:48.059 --> 00:19:54.619 Proverbs 4.23. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:56.919 Proverbs 4.23. 00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:58.000 I have 25 up there. 00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:58.639 It's my mistake. 00:19:58.839 --> 00:20:04.159 But keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life. 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:11.500 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life. 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:18.799 The reason that our heart must be guarded is because the heart is the starting place of what we do and think. 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:26.759 And if Satan can undermine or cause you harm in your heart, he is going to lead you to places that you don't want to go. 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:30.879 So, what is the breastplate of righteousness? 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:34.940 Is it something that we earn? 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:38.160 Is it something that we manufacture ourselves? 00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:48.000 Is it kind of my righteousness that I kind of accrue or I build up over a period of time is what kind of protects me against Satan? 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:48.480 No. 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:55.440 I want you to understand that what we are speaking about here is the imputed righteousness of Christ. 00:20:56.759 --> 00:21:00.019 Over in Revelation 12.10. 00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:00.859 Don't need to turn there. 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:05.359 But in Revelation 12, it talks about Satan being the accuser of the brethren. 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:07.799 The accuser of the brethren. 00:21:08.940 --> 00:21:11.379 He brings accusations against us. 00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:18.160 And since we do struggle with sin, he comes in with one example after another. 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:20.019 And he attacks our conscience. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:21.920 He attacks us before the Savior. 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:28.100 And he brings up all of those failures and heartaches and difficulties that have been part and parcel of your life. 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.480 And he encourages. 00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:35.000 He wants to throw you down and destroy your confidence in the finished work of Christ. 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:46.320 Do we struggle in our daily life when we stop and consider our frailty and the easiness or the ease with which we fall into sin? 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:47.559 Yes, we get discouraged. 00:21:47.919 --> 00:21:54.539 And Satan is there accusing us and reminding us, hey, don't think that you have it because you don't. 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:57.579 I mean, after all, you've not succeeded in being perfect. 00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:05.799 And Satan attacks us incessantly trying to undermine our confidence in the finished work of Christ. 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:14.879 And one of the reasons that works religion is so popular is because it suggests to us, well, hey, how am I going to get to heaven? 00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:16.680 Well, I'm doing the best I can. 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:19.759 I'm working and I helped a cat across the street or whatever else. 00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:21.200 And, you know, I'm good. 00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:21.639 No. 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:26.359 Our conscience bears witness and says, no, no, no, you're not there yet. 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:41.299 But what also the Spirit of God reminds us of is what the Scripture teaches us, that our righteousness is that which we have received, given to us through the finished work of Christ. 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:48.699 So if God were to say to you, so why should I let you into heaven, would you say, well, I've been to communion every week? 00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:51.439 Or would you say, well, I've been baptized? 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:54.700 Or I'm a member of Maranatha Baptist Church? 00:22:54.840 --> 00:22:55.700 Is that what you're going to say? 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:56.380 No, no, no. 00:22:56.720 --> 00:23:04.440 I am going to be received into glory, not because of who I am, but because of who Jesus is and what He has done for me. 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:08.000 And He has placed His righteousness over on my account. 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:09.740 He has satisfied my debt. 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:13.259 And I enjoy salvation through His finished work. 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:17.559 I want you to understand that we live in a performance-based world. 00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:23.159 And we tend to judge ourselves and others on the merit of our effort. 00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:26.740 And Satan eats us for lunch on this one. 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:30.200 He's constantly reminding us of our failures. 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:35.759 And he implies that our sin really indicates that we're not a child of God. 00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:44.980 Why, if you were really His child and He had done this miracle of converting you, then why are you still having this problem? 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:51.440 And we're reminded of the fact that we have put on the breastplate of the righteousness of Christ. 00:23:51.900 --> 00:24:00.339 And when His arrows and His darts are thrown against us, we know He is the one who has paid for our sin and satisfied the debt. 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:02.900 And we stand secure in His finished work. 00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:11.160 The Bible makes it clear that our standing before God is not based on our own works, but on Christ's. 00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:15.200 I want you to turn just for a moment to a passage in 2 Corinthians 5. 00:24:16.140 --> 00:24:19.700 2 Corinthians 5, verse 21. 00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:25.360 2 Corinthians 5, verse 21 says, 00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:28.840 But for our sakes He made Him to be sin who knew no sin. 00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:32.460 Does that mean that God actually made Jesus a sinner? 00:24:32.860 --> 00:24:33.600 What's the answer? 00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:35.180 Listen carefully. 00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:40.900 The truth, which is important, is not that Jesus became a sinner. 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:46.200 But that Jesus was treated as a sinner in my place. 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:47.700 It says, 00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:53.920 He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 00:24:54.420 --> 00:25:03.660 Just as my sin was placed on Jesus, so His righteousness has been placed on me. 00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:13.140 And I am clothed or I am guarded by His righteousness and His finished work. 00:25:13.860 --> 00:25:17.100 Now there's another piece in this issue of righteousness. 00:25:17.360 --> 00:25:24.060 One is the matter of imputed righteousness in Christ, but the other part is a pursuit of righteous living in Christ. 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:33.379 It follows then that if I am thankful for His grace, and I am genuinely a convert of His mercy, 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:36.619 and I've been drawn to the cross, I've come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:39.779 then I would desire to please Him. 00:25:40.159 --> 00:25:51.119 And an indication of the authenticity or the genuineness of my salvation is I begin to see evidence of change and works that are right. 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:53.239 Listen to me carefully. 00:25:54.459 --> 00:26:01.419 I'm amazed at how often I run into people that are quite glib and quite quick in telling me that they're Christians, 00:26:01.619 --> 00:26:05.819 but there's no indication of godly living or interest in it. 00:26:06.419 --> 00:26:11.319 Living in immorality, living in dishonesty, living lives that are absolutely wicked and perverse, 00:26:11.379 --> 00:26:12.799 and you look at all that going on and you say, 00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:14.559 What's happening? 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:20.099 I want you to understand that when a person has come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.319 the Scripture says, 00:26:21.659 --> 00:26:23.899 If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new what? 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.639 He's a new creature. 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.179 We're different. 00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:33.000 And the thing that indicates our difference is not that we all change overnight completely, 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:37.339 but there is an interest in moving in the right path, in the right direction, 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:39.879 growing to be the person that pleases Christ. 00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:49.900 The way the believer pursues righteous living in Christ is an indication that he has been bathed 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:52.380 and he's clothed with the righteousness of Christ. 00:26:53.340 --> 00:26:55.780 I come to one more piece in the armor. 00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:59.580 Look there in verse 15. 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:01.480 It says, 00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:11.440 Generally, when we think about the gospel, what do we think about? 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:20.700 We think about something that we take to someone else who needs to hear the truth that salvation is in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.279 Isn't that right? 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:25.120 That's often how we think about the gospel, and that is true. 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:30.099 I think about the passage in Isaiah, and again recited in the book of Romans, 00:27:30.239 --> 00:27:31.379 where he says this, 00:27:31.479 --> 00:27:38.339 How blessed, how sweet are the feet of those who bring the gospel of good news. 00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:43.799 And we recognize that to the person who has been affected by sin 00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:49.039 and whose life is just trashed by the consequences of the heartache that sin creates, 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:51.619 the gospel is just a sweet and incredible blessing, 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:56.299 and you and I are to be involved in bringing that gospel to their lives. 00:27:56.759 --> 00:28:03.199 But listen, this picture is not about going out with the gospel. 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:07.939 This is about taking a defensive stance with the gospel. 00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:11.859 What is the defensive stance that we take with the gospel? 00:28:11.979 --> 00:28:14.019 Now remember, look at the passage again. 00:28:14.699 --> 00:28:17.359 It says that we are to be strong in the Lord, the strength of His might, 00:28:17.439 --> 00:28:18.479 put on the whole armor of God. 00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:20.739 Stand, stand, stand, stand. 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:23.359 You see that over and over again in the passage. 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:25.120 And then it says, 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:26.440 And shoes. 00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:31.720 The implication of this passage 00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:40.140 is drawn from the outfit that the ancient soldiers wore, the Roman soldiers. 00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:41.180 When they went into battle, 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:44.579 they wore a different set of foot gear 00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:47.599 than they wore for lounging around the camp. 00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:54.439 They were heavy leather sandals that had these metal studs in them. 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:56.819 Guess why they wore metal studs? 00:28:58.019 --> 00:29:02.079 Remember I told you that ancient warfare was a whole bunch of guys kind of locked together 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:06.659 trying to protect each other with a shield out here and a sword for sticking people. 00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:11.279 And one group of ugly, angry guys would run at the other group, 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:15.200 and it was like, boom, bang, you know, and then, you know, stick them. 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:18.940 Now what did you not want to happen when people were running at you, smashing into you? 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.900 What did you not want to happen? 00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:21.259 You didn't want to slip. 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:25.900 So you had these shoes that had these cleats in them. 00:29:28.180 --> 00:29:29.299 That's what protected you. 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:33.279 That's what kept you from being thrown over or thrown off. 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:40.680 And Paul says, hey, you've got to put on the shoes that are the gospel. 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:44.340 Well, what is the gospel? 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:49.799 For one, the gospel reminds me from where I came. 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.320 Do you know what? 00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:56.880 It is never wrong to remember where you used to be. 00:29:58.039 --> 00:30:05.820 And when you are in conflict with the enemy who is interested in throwing you down, 00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:13.019 how many of you realize that life has adversity and hardship and things don't go our way? 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:14.960 Hello? 00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:16.279 Right? 00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:17.500 That's the way it is, isn't it? 00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:19.299 And there is Satan. 00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:21.740 He's after me. 00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:27.099 Well, Tim, if Jesus really loved you, you wouldn't be having these problems. 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:31.480 If he was really real, I mean, I tell you what, 00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:36.360 I am so sick of the health and wealth gospel that proposes that, you know, 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:39.539 the only thing God is interested in me just having a bigger car, 00:30:40.140 --> 00:30:43.799 a nicer house, a quicker retirement, you know, blah, blah, blah. 00:30:44.120 --> 00:30:44.519 No! 00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:47.000 There's conflict going on. 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:52.319 And in the middle of that, what I need to remind myself is where I used to be. 00:30:53.860 --> 00:30:55.120 My life was a mess. 00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:57.640 I was on my way to hell. 00:30:57.640 --> 00:31:04.000 And God, in his infinite mercy, found me in my broken despair, 00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:07.860 and he let me know that there was hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:10.500 And he drew me to himself. 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:15.500 So the gospel reminds me of where I came from. 00:31:16.300 --> 00:31:20.100 The gospel also reminds me of my standing as his child. 00:31:22.600 --> 00:31:25.200 Does it benefit me to remember that I'm his child? 00:31:25.820 --> 00:31:26.300 Oh, yeah. 00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:27.839 Oh, yeah. 00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:29.720 Two ways. 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:33.519 Number one, because I'm his child, listen to me, 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:39.019 I can't get away with acting like a fool without him giving me a little licking to help me ticking. 00:31:39.919 --> 00:31:40.919 How many of you understand that? 00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:44.819 I can't tell you how many times I've said to people in my office, 00:31:45.099 --> 00:31:46.740 I don't know if you're a believer or not, 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:50.900 but I can tell you the way you're acting right now, involved in whatever sin it is, 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:54.799 is a dangerous way for a believer to live. 00:31:56.460 --> 00:32:00.640 Because if you're a child of God, you can't keep doing it. 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:05.920 If you're not his child, it's a little bit like the condemned man. 00:32:06.660 --> 00:32:08.960 You want that for your last supper? 00:32:09.140 --> 00:32:10.980 He'll let you get away, get away, get away. 00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:14.380 If you're his child, he won't let you have it. 00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:15.500 He'll stop it. 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.340 He'll intervene. 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:20.459 He'll cause you grief to bring you back. 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:25.639 Third, he assures me of why I have peace with God is through the blood of Christ. 00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:27.019 Why is it that I have confidence? 00:32:27.439 --> 00:32:29.039 Look at what it says there in verse 15. 00:32:29.399 --> 00:32:33.959 And as shoes for your feet, having on the readiness given by the gospel of peace, 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:36.679 I am at peace with God. 00:32:37.639 --> 00:32:38.579 He's my father. 00:32:39.179 --> 00:32:40.799 He's interested in my good. 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:44.319 He's at work for all that I need. 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:46.379 And I have confidence in that. 00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:51.019 Finally, he encourages me that his covenant love will bring me home to glory. 00:32:52.659 --> 00:32:56.200 He who has begun a good work in you will what? 00:32:57.619 --> 00:32:58.599 He'll finish it. 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.579 He'll finish it. 00:33:01.859 --> 00:33:06.460 Now, let me run over this sweet truth by a summary that I would pull out from the book of Romans. 00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:08.539 And I want you to turn to Romans chapter 8. 00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:12.379 Lay out for you in just a snap. 00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:19.839 First of all, Romans chapter 1 through 7 gives us a very careful argument about the issue of salvation. 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:24.920 And it begins, first of all, by convicting us that there is none righteous, no, not one. 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:27.639 There is not a single person who can say, 00:33:28.139 --> 00:33:33.019 I have a right to the acceptance of God on the basis of who I am. 00:33:34.200 --> 00:33:36.700 We all stand condemned before God. 00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:40.900 The Scriptures also, as Paul makes it clear in Romans, 00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:45.880 presents to us that salvation is through only through the finished work of Christ. 00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:50.539 He died and paid the penalty for my sins. 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:56.080 And the Scripture makes it clear that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. 00:33:56.079 --> 00:34:00.879 And so we come towards the close of those seven chapters. 00:34:00.879 --> 00:34:05.179 And Paul then steps into Romans chapter 8, verse 1, and he says this first. 00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:05.599 He says, 00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:11.019 There is now therefore, I love these words, no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. 00:34:12.299 --> 00:34:15.319 If those words, now listen to me and look at me. 00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:23.039 If those words do not resonate in your heart, no condemnation, one of two things is true. 00:34:23.660 --> 00:34:28.340 You have never come to appreciate what it means to be forgiven for all of your sins, 00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:35.760 and you're sitting here this morning desperately needing the Spirit of God to convict you of how horrible sin is. 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:40.940 Or you've become a little careless spiritually. 00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:47.680 Because when you as a believer hear the words of Scripture where God says, 00:34:48.120 --> 00:34:52.080 There is now therefore no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, 00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:54.420 you ought to get a cold chill run up your back. 00:34:54.540 --> 00:34:55.700 I can't believe it. 00:34:58.040 --> 00:35:01.600 There's no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. 00:35:02.600 --> 00:35:05.340 Verse 33, we're skipping a bunch, but here we go. 00:35:05.340 --> 00:35:08.059 Verse 33 says there's no accusation. 00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:13.360 No accusation. 00:35:14.340 --> 00:35:16.880 I want you to imagine that you show up in court, 00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:24.380 and you're standing there, and you know you're not innocent, 00:35:25.380 --> 00:35:29.320 but the prosecutor doesn't show up. 00:35:30.840 --> 00:35:32.380 Do you know what happens with the case? 00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:34.380 If the prosecutor doesn't bring it, what's the deal? 00:35:35.340 --> 00:35:36.100 Out. 00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:40.800 And 33 tells us no accusation. 00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:46.920 So it follows normally or naturally that verse 34 tells us no condemnation. 00:35:48.820 --> 00:35:50.820 The judge will not condemn us. 00:35:51.900 --> 00:35:55.980 And finally, in verse 35 through 39, we read that there is no separation. 00:35:55.980 --> 00:36:01.119 What shall separate us from the love of God? 00:36:02.119 --> 00:36:02.639 Nothing. 00:36:04.099 --> 00:36:05.519 And that's the gospel. 00:36:05.519 --> 00:36:15.019 And so this morning, as I think of you as God's people who are loved by the Lord Jesus Christ 00:36:15.019 --> 00:36:24.440 and are placed on this earth as his living, visible representatives of his glory and his salvation, 00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:31.220 I want you to understand there is a battle going on, and the enemy is interested in throwing you down. 00:36:31.300 --> 00:36:34.500 He wants to hurt you, and he wants to harm your testimony. 00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:39.179 How do you go about life? 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:48.340 You go about life with all humility, through the power of the Spirit of God and the work of the Spirit that abides within you. 00:36:48.460 --> 00:36:50.719 You put on the whole armor of God. 00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:55.619 I want to be in the Word every day. 00:36:57.099 --> 00:37:01.379 Not just a, I read three verses, and so I guess I'm good. 00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:02.879 How many of you understand what I just said? 00:37:03.819 --> 00:37:04.319 No, no, no. 00:37:04.759 --> 00:37:07.619 I want to be in the Word where I open up the book and I say, 00:37:07.719 --> 00:37:10.819 Open thou mine eyes that I might behold wondrous truth. 00:37:10.859 --> 00:37:13.079 I want your Word to speak to me. 00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:18.400 And then I want to put on the breastplate of righteousness. 00:37:18.679 --> 00:37:24.039 I want to remember that my standing in the court of heaven is settled in the blood of Christ, 00:37:24.199 --> 00:37:26.900 and there is now therefore no condemnation. 00:37:27.279 --> 00:37:36.340 And I also want to put on the feet, the shoes that anchor me in the stability I have in the gospel. 00:37:40.340 --> 00:37:42.380 Are you going to end up in warfare tomorrow? 00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:43.519 Well, what's the answer? 00:37:44.500 --> 00:37:44.860 Yes. 00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:50.619 And there are some of you, truthfully, that are going to get on the fire truck, 00:37:50.700 --> 00:37:52.000 and you're not going to be kitted out. 00:37:53.180 --> 00:37:55.200 Do you know what that's going to be an indication of? 00:37:57.599 --> 00:38:02.539 Spiritual indifference and heartache to come. 00:38:05.480 --> 00:38:06.420 Let's close in prayer. 00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:20.119 Father God, our heart cannot help but remember the words of the prophet that said, 00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:24.680 Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord. 00:38:24.679 --> 00:38:35.659 We live in a desperate day when believers are very quickly overthrown by an enemy that is so effective. 00:38:35.659 --> 00:38:45.779 And I would plead that you would take your word and drive it firmly into our lives, 00:38:45.859 --> 00:38:50.579 that we who are your people would be more careful to be armed and prepared 00:38:50.579 --> 00:38:57.739 against an adversary that hates the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:38:57.739 --> 00:39:04.839 and desperately wants his children to be compromised and wounded and sad and broken. 00:39:06.959 --> 00:39:11.919 And we want to take your word seriously and put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand. 00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:14.900 And that's our prayer. 00:39:16.380 --> 00:39:18.340 We ask this in your precious name. 00:39:18.659 --> 00:39:18.900 Amen.