Standing Firm: The Power of Spiritual Armor

• Imitating Christ in Relationships 00:05:23 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains that Ephesians 6 continues the theme of being 'followers of God' (imitators) by applying it to specific relationships: children obeying parents, fathers nurturing children, and servants/masters treating each other with fear, trembling, and goodwill as if serving Christ directly.
• Servant Leadership and Work Ethic 00:07:44 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor argues that believers should serve their earthly masters with excellence and goodwill, not for human approval but for the Lord, noting that God is the true provider and rewarder, unlike human bosses who may be indifferent.
• Spiritual Warfare vs. Physical Strength 00:12:42 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor emphasizes that spiritual strength comes from the Lord's power and Spirit, not physical might or weapons, citing Zechariah 4:6 to contrast spiritual warfare with physical capabilities like lifting weights or owning guns.
• The Seriousness of the Christian Life 00:10:53 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor warns against a casual relationship with Jesus, defining the Christian life as 'life and death' and 'heaven or hell,' urging believers to take their faith seriously rather than treating it as a hobby.
• Strength in the Lord 00:12:38 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor emphasizes that strength comes from the Lord and His Spirit, not human power or physical means, citing Zechariah 4:6.
• Spiritual Warfare vs. Physical Warfare 00:13:29 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor clarifies that the battle is spiritual, not physical, rendering physical defenses like guns or locked doors ineffective against spirits.
• The Armor of God 00:14:05 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains that the armor believers wear is the same armor Christ wore, derived from Isaiah 59, signifying that salvation and victory come from God's righteousness.
• Christ as the Intercessor 00:18:31 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor highlights that since no human could stand in the gap, God sent Christ, who put on righteousness and salvation to defeat the devil.
• The Posture of Sit, Walk, Stand 00:22:23 ▶️ 📄
  > Using Watchman Nee's commentary, the pastor outlines the Christian life as sitting in heavenly places, walking worthy of the calling, and standing against the devil.
• The Wiles of the Devil 00:24:01 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor defines 'wiles' as deceptive tricks, comparing the devil's strategy with Eve to his current attempts to deceive the church, the bride of Christ.
• Spiritual Warfare and Position 00:27:52 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains that the Christian fight is spiritual, not physical, and emphasizes that believers are seated in heavenly places above all principalities and powers.
• Absolute Truth vs. Relative Truth 00:35:15 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor argues against relative truth, asserting that Jesus is absolute truth and that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, warning against those who doubt Scripture to justify sin.
• Obedience and Standing 00:33:52 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor connects the ability to 'stand' against the devil with prior obedience and walking in the light, warning that unconfessed sin weakens one's spiritual stance.
• Armor of Light 00:39:40 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor connects the 'armor of light' in Romans 13 to putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and walking honestly as children of the day.
• Feet Shod with the Gospel of Peace 00:40:28 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains that 'feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace' refers to the church's mission to share the good news, citing Isaiah 52 and Romans 10.
• Jesus as the Source of Peace 00:45:37 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor identifies Jesus as the one who preached peace and whose 'feet were beautiful,' linking this to the church's role in preaching the gospel.
• Shield of Faith 00:47:34 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor discusses the shield of faith as a means to quench the fiery darts of the wicked, noting that faith grows through hearing the Word.
• Helmet of Salvation 00:49:13 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains the helmet of salvation as guarding the mind against attacks, referencing 2 Corinthians 10 and the need to know one's identity in Christ.
• Sword of the Spirit 00:50:02 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor identifies the sword of the spirit as the Word of God, emphasizing that prayer adds potency to the Word in spiritual warfare.
• Christ's Victory over Satan 00:51:58 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the example of Jesus overcoming Satan's temptations by quoting Scripture to illustrate the power of the Word.
• Prayer as Spiritual Warfare 00:50:49 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor identifies prayer as a key component of spiritual warfare, specifically linking it to the 'sword of the Spirit' which is the Word of God being prayed.
• David and Goliath as a Type of Christ 00:53:44 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the story of David defeating Goliath to illustrate spiritual warfare, noting that David rejected Saul's armor to rely on God, just as Christ defeated Satan.
• [Colossians 2](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+2&version=KJV) and the Spoiling of Principalities 01:00:06 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains Colossians 2, defining 'spoiling' principalities as disarming them and taking away their claimed authority, paralleling David taking Goliath's sword.
• Golgotha and the Fulfillment of Prophecy 01:02:42 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor connects the location of Jesus' crucifixion (Golgotha/Place of the Skull) to the burial of Goliath's head, symbolizing Christ's victory over Satan.
• The Lord's Supper and Rest 01:04:13 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor contrasts the original Passover command to eat standing and ready to go with the New Testament practice of reclining, explaining this signifies entering into God's rest.
• The Passover and the Lord's Supper 01:04:13 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor contrasts the standing, ready-to-go posture of the original Passover with the reclining, resting posture of the Lord's Supper, indicating a shift from preparation to rest in the promised land.
• The Marriage Supper of the Lamb 01:07:19 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor describes the future eschatological reality where the church is espoused to Christ, wearing fine linen (righteousness) rather than armor, signifying the end of spiritual warfare and the beginning of eternal rest.
• Prayer and Praise 01:09:32 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor transitions to the topic of prayer, using a hymn verse to illustrate that while prayer is essential now ('sweet hour of prayer'), it will be replaced by pure praise in heaven.

• Sermon Illustration 00:01:01 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about his recent illness and a plumbing issue to illustrate that even in pain or difficulty, he continues to preach, citing Paul's words 'When I am weak, then am I strong' to show that God gets the glory when the message is a blessing despite the preacher's condition.
• Sermon Illustration 00:11:21 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the analogy of a church sign that changes messages to 'hit' people with the urgency of the gospel, illustrating his point that many people have a casual, non-existent relationship with Jesus and need to get serious about Him.
• Sermon Illustration 00:15:36 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references Isaiah 59 to describe the state of Judah and Israel 700 years before Christ, noting their wickedness and separation from God, which parallels his view of America today.
• Sermon Illustration 00:22:05 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor cites Watchman Nee, a Christian persecuted in communist China, who wrote a commentary on Ephesians titled 'Sit, Walk, Stand' to summarize the believer's posture.
• Sermon Illustration 00:24:05 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the analogy of Wile E. Coyote to explain the concept of 'wiles,' defining them as sneaky and deceptive tactics used by the devil, similar to how he deceived Eve.
• Sermon Illustration 00:32:19 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses an analogy of snake handling to illustrate that Christians are not called to actively seek out or provoke the devil ('go chase every devil behind every tree'), but rather to stand firm in their position.
• Sermon Illustration 00:34:16 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor describes a hypothetical scenario of a person who lives sinfully during the week ('at the bar') and then tries to act spiritual in church, illustrating how unaddressed sin gives the devil an accusation against the believer.
• Sermon Illustration 00:41:15 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor mentions Angelo, a colleague who shares his faith, noting that while some neighbors might react negatively, the goal is to be like the 'beautiful feet' that bring good news.
• Sermon Illustration 00:44:01 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references Isaiah 52 and 53 to describe Jesus' suffering on the cross, noting his visage was so marred he was almost unrecognizable, yet this suffering brings salvation.
• Sermon Illustration 00:51:14 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness, where Satan claimed authority over all kingdoms and offered them to Jesus if he would bow down, but Jesus overcame by quoting Scripture.
• Sermon Illustration 00:53:40 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts the biblical account of David rejecting Saul's heavy armor to fight Goliath with only a sling and stones, illustrating reliance on God's power rather than human strength.
• Sermon Illustration 01:02:57 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references the tradition that Golgotha (Place of the Skull) was named because Goliath's head was buried there, linking David's victory to Christ's ultimate victory on the cross.
• Sermon Illustration 01:06:10 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the biblical account of Elijah and Elisha, where Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah's spirit, to illustrate how Christ's 'mantle' (armor/power) falls back to the church upon his ascension.
• Sermon Illustration 01:09:32 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references the hymn 'Sweet Hour of Prayer' and its third verse, which speaks of dropping the 'robe of flesh' and rising to seize the everlasting prize, to illustrate the transition from earthly prayer to heavenly praise.

• Pastoral Charge 00:14:33 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor requests the congregation to physically or mentally turn their attention to a specific biblical passage for study.
• Pastoral Charge 00:33:39 ▶️ 📄
  > Put on the complete spiritual armor provided by God to endure spiritual attacks.
• Pastoral Charge 00:33:49 ▶️ 📄
  > Ensure personal obedience and repentance from sin before attempting to stand firm in faith.
• Pastoral Charge 00:39:40 ▶️ 📄
  > Abandon sinful behaviors and adopt the spiritual protection of Christ.
• Pastoral Charge 00:39:48 ▶️ 📄
  > Live ethically and clothe oneself in Jesus Christ.
• Pastoral Charge 00:46:50 ▶️ 📄
  > Share the gospel without fear of offending others.
• Pastoral Charge 01:10:57 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor invites the congregation to pray and then stand to sing a hymn.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:00:00] Thanks. Thank you all for being here, especially those of you who've come for all of the services.
[00:00:07] I hope it's been a blessing. I'll just say, Steve Burdett, who is not here, he had to go be with his family from out of town. Pastor Andy, who was here, but I don't see him. He'll
[00:00:20] be back, I'm sure. And some others have taken note that as we are preaching on Ephesians, And as we've had this series set for some time, spiritual warfare has been taking place this week.
[00:00:35] I've been sick since Tuesday.
[00:00:38] We had a plumbing issue of some significance on, what, Wednesday, Thursday?
[00:00:46] And then the plumber came and made it about 10 or 15 times worse, actually.
[00:00:52] That's true.
[00:00:55] And, you know, look at the weather and different things.
[00:00:59] And so I think it's interesting.
[00:01:01] Here we are preaching on spiritual warfare.
[00:01:04] And though these things are relatively small, if I was, as I said to someone earlier, if I was up here coughing and sneezing, I would, Pastor Andy, please take over.
[00:01:15] Because I don't want to cough on you, sneeze on you.
[00:01:17] But, you know, I've been preaching with a good bit of pain.
[00:01:21] But so what?
[00:01:24] So what?
[00:01:25] You think you're going to die for Jesus and you can't preach or serve or do anything with a little bit of pain?
[00:01:33] So praise God.
[00:01:35] Like the Apostle Paul says, When I am weak, then am I strong.
[00:01:40] To God be the glory.
[00:01:41] If the message is a blessing tonight, God gets all the praise.
[00:01:45] He should always.
[00:01:46] But especially when I'm sick.
[00:01:48] It's not me.
[00:01:50] If it's good, it is the Lord.
[00:01:51] Amen?
[00:01:52] Ephesians chapter 6, verse 1.
[00:01:55] Children, obey your parents and the Lord, for this is right.
[00:01:59] Honor thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
[00:02:07] And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
[00:02:14] Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters, according to the flesh, with fear and trembling and singleness of your heart, as unto Christ, not with eye service as men pleases, but as the servants of Christ,
[00:02:28] doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill, doing service as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord,
[00:02:40] whether he be bond or free. And ye masters do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening, knowing that your master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him.
[00:02:54] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God. You may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. We wrestle not against
[00:03:06] flesh and blood, but against principalities and against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, you may be able to withstand in the evil day, having
[00:03:22] done all to stand.
[00:03:24] Stand, therefore, having your loins got about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked,
[00:03:41] 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
[00:03:55] and for me that utterance may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in bonds that therein I may speak boldly
[00:04:10] as I ought to speak but that ye also may know my affairs and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things, whom I have sent unto you for the
[00:04:24] same purpose, that ye might know our affairs and that he might comfort your hearts. Peace be to the brethren and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with
[00:04:38] all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, help us now as we try to understand, receive, walk, and grow in this, your wondrous word.
[00:04:54] As faith cometh by hearing, hearing by the word of God, open our ears, open our hearts, that we might hear, receive, and grow, being more conformed to the image of your precious Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
[00:05:14] The first nine verses of chapter 6 really continue the theme of chapter 5, and what was the theme of chapter 5?
[00:05:23] Well, remember 5.1, be ye therefore followers of God as dear children.
[00:05:28] The Greek word is mimete, from which we get our word imitate, and chapter 5 tells us what does it look like to live like Christ, to be godly.
[00:05:37] And so that is continuing now in the first nine verses, in particular, how that looks with different and several relationships that we have in this life.
[00:05:50] And so it begins with children obeying parents, and he quotes from the fifth commandment, honor thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise, the idea that Paul understands that we are still under the Ten Commandments in the sense that they are
[00:06:06] moral, and the moral law has not been annulled. The ceremonial law has, that is, there's no more temple, there is no more animal sacrifice, but not the moral law. And so children, to be Christ-like,
[00:06:19] are to obey their parents. Even Christ, Jesus, grew up in the submission to his earthly parents as a child. And then, of course, we have, as I mentioned this morning, what my children remind me of, verse four, fathers provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the
[00:06:38] nurture and admonition of the Lord. And now this section, verse five through nine, deals with servants, or it could even deal with slaves. Now, I want you to understand that the Bible does not approve of slavery. As a matter of fact, men stealers are to be executed. However, the recognition
[00:06:59] in that slavery was all over the place in that day, was there, and servitude in different degrees, some outright slavery, some with payment, some Jews with other Jews that are able to be released at the Jubilee or whatnot, and so Paul is emphasizing, he's not saying
[00:07:19] go and fight for your freedom, he's emphasizing that whatever state you're in, you honor the Lord. You serve the Lord. And that's what he's saying here. He says in verse 5, servants be obedient to them who are your masters, according to the flesh, with fear and trembling and sickness
[00:07:38] of your heart as unto Christ. You serve whoever it is you're serving as you would serve Christ.
[00:07:44] This should make you the best employee anybody's got. You say, well, I don't really like my employer. That's okay. You serve them as you serve Christ. That's what we're called to do.
[00:07:54] And then when they're overbearing and they're, you know, strange or doing things that aren't fair, whatever, and you're still like Christ sooner or later, that's going to make a difference one way or another for God's glory.
[00:08:05] And again, verse six, not with eye service, in other words, hypocrisy as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.
[00:08:14] And so finally, it says in seven and eight, with goodwill, doing service to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. When you are serving the Lord, you know, you may have a boss
[00:08:29] who doesn't care how hard you work. That's okay. You still work harder because you're serving the Lord and your reward is in heaven. You see, he's not your provider, the boss or the U.S. government,
[00:08:42] God forbid. The Lord is our provider. We work for the Lord. This is part of our testimony, a huge part of our testimony, of how to walk like Christ.
[00:08:52] And so, you know, did Christ just say, well, I know that all these Jews are not going to, they're just going to spit upon me and make fun of me, so I'm just not even a fool with them.
[00:09:03] No, he is faithful, faithful to do all that the Father has called him to do, do everything with excellence, everything in perfection, everything to the glory of God, and leave the results in God's hands.
[00:09:17] Verse 8 and 9, knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive from the Lord, of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
[00:09:25] And ye masters, do the same thing unto them, forbearing threatening, knowing that your master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him.
[00:09:33] If you were a master of servants, or in years past, slaves, which is not good, but if this existed in Roman society, it was pervasive.
[00:09:44] If you have people under you, servants or whatever, You are not to lord it over them.
[00:09:51] You are to do this in grace, understanding that you are a servant to the Most High God.
[00:09:57] Really, we are slaves and servants, and yet, in God's grace, as we have seen, he has predestined us not to be slaves and servants, but to the adoption of children.
[00:10:09] And as we saw this morning in Ephesians chapter 5, not only do we become the child of God, but he's got a son that needs a wife.
[00:10:18] needs a wife in the sense that he chose.
[00:10:22] From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride.
[00:10:26] Does that sound familiar?
[00:10:27] That's what we sing, right?
[00:10:29] Yeah?
[00:10:30] And he gave his life for us.
[00:10:34] That's the payment, the dowry.
[00:10:36] And so that's what he's done for us.
[00:10:38] And that's the example, both for servants as well as masters.
[00:10:42] Now, the rest of the story.
[00:10:44] Verse 10 and following.
[00:10:46] Be strong in the Lord and the power of his might.
[00:10:49] Now, he says, finally, my brethren, finally.
[00:10:53] So this business of the Christian life is not a playground.
[00:10:57] It's not a nursery.
[00:10:58] It's not just some kind of thing that I do as a hobby or something that I'll dabble a little bit into it.
[00:11:04] The true Christian life, as we have been seeing from chapter 1 through 5, is life and death.
[00:11:13] Heaven or hell, there is nothing more important.
[00:11:15] There is nothing more urgent, there is nothing more serious than this.
[00:11:21] One of the signs that we have out on the street, and people say, why does he keep changing the sign?
[00:11:26] Well, sooner or later, that one person that keeps passing and won't pay attention, maybe we'll hit him with one of them.
[00:11:33] One of them says, it's time to get serious about Jesus.
[00:11:38] I think a lot of people have a casual relationship with Jesus.
[00:11:41] At least they think they do.
[00:11:43] That's no relationship at all.
[00:11:45] It's either a life and death relationship or there is no relationship.
[00:11:50] He didn't come to hang out with you.
[00:11:52] He came to die on the cross for you, to suffer, to live a life of suffering for you, to take the huge and tremendous penalty, the very wrath of God, something far greater than we can even begin to get our minds around,
[00:12:07] on the cross for you and for me, that we might have eternal life in heaven with him.
[00:12:11] And so finally, finally, my brethren, so it's no coincidence that this admonition about spiritual warfare comes at the end.
[00:12:21] Remember, he's saying this is not a playground.
[00:12:24] This is not just a hobby.
[00:12:26] This is what you need to understand in order to walk this Christian life.
[00:12:32] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
[00:12:38] Interesting.
[00:12:39] Might, the power of his might, strong in the Lord.
[00:12:42] We are to be strong, but not in and of ourselves.
[00:12:46] It says in the book of Zechariah, chapter 4, verse 6, Be strong in the Lord, it says, not by power nor by might, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
[00:12:57] That is how the temple of God will be built.
[00:12:59] That's the context of Zechariah, chapter 4.
[00:13:02] Remember in Ephesians 2, we are the temple, and we're growing up unto the Lord in 1 Peter, chapter 2.
[00:13:08] And as Pastor Andy preached in Ephesians chapter 4, we're growing up into the head.
[00:13:13] And so this idea, how do we do it?
[00:13:17] How are we strong?
[00:13:18] We're strong in the Lord, not in our own strength.
[00:13:21] We're strong in the Spirit of God.
[00:13:25] Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
[00:13:29] And that's important because after all, this is talking about spiritual warfare, not physical warfare.
[00:13:36] And so it doesn't matter how much weight you can lift, what kind of guns you have at home.
[00:13:42] When you come up against spirits, so what?
[00:13:45] Doesn't mean a thing.
[00:13:47] You can lock as many doors and do as much of that as you want.
[00:13:50] But the spirits have no problem getting in and afflicting you.
[00:13:54] Okay?
[00:13:55] This is spiritual warfare.
[00:13:57] We need to understand.
[00:13:57] So finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of his might.
[00:14:02] Put on the whole armor of God.
[00:14:05] that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
[00:14:10] This is interesting.
[00:14:12] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
[00:14:17] Well, the implication, of course, is if you don't have the armor of God, you will not be able to stand.
[00:14:22] Now, why is it called the armor of God?
[00:14:27] Well, God gives it to us, right?
[00:14:30] But there's even more than that.
[00:14:33] Turn with me, if you would, to Isaiah chapter 59.
[00:14:35] In Isaiah chapter 59, we kind of see a summation of the whole redemptive history from the fall of man in Genesis all the way up to the cross.
[00:14:48] Isaiah 59, written some 700 years before our Lord Jesus was born, verse 1, Isaiah 59, 1, Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have separated between you and God.
[00:15:05] Your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear.
[00:15:09] Isn't that interesting?
[00:15:11] That's the story of Adam and Eve at the garden, right?
[00:15:15] How did they get kicked out and separated from God?
[00:15:17] By their iniquities, their sin.
[00:15:20] And isn't it interesting that it says here that he will not hear.
[00:15:27] There's a separation.
[00:15:28] Verse 3 all the way down through verse 13 or so, 14.
[00:15:36] are descriptions of how wicked God's people had become, Judah and Israel, in the day of Isaiah, 700 years before Christ. I'm going to read some of it and see if it doesn't hit home with the way
[00:15:50] America is today. Take a look, verse 3, for your hands are defiled with blood, your fingers with iniquity, your lips have spoken lies, your tongue have muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleaded for truth. They trust in vanity. They speak lies. They conceive mischief
[00:16:07] and bring forth iniquity. Notice verse 8, the way of peace, or verse 7, their feet run to evil.
[00:16:16] They make haste to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity.
[00:16:23] Wasting and destruction are in their past. The way of peace they have not known. There is no judgment in their goings. They have made them crooked paths. Whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us. We wait for
[00:16:42] light, but behold obscurity. For brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind. We grope as if we had no eyes. We stumble at noonday as in the night. We are in
[00:16:53] desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, mourn sore like doves. We look for judgment, but there is none for salvation, but it's far off from us.
[00:17:05] For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us.
[00:17:11] Look down here at verse 14.
[00:17:13] And judgment is turned away backward.
[00:17:15] Justice standeth far off.
[00:17:18] Truth is fallen in the street.
[00:17:22] Does that sound anything like America today?
[00:17:25] And equity cannot enter.
[00:17:27] Yea, truth faileth, and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey.
[00:17:35] And the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
[00:17:41] God sees the sinful, wicked mess that we've made of this earth, and he's displeased.
[00:17:49] And then he also, verse 16, and he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor.
[00:18:00] Isn't that something? None were righteous. No, not one. There was not one that was perfect and holy.
[00:18:06] There is not one who could stand in the gap. There is not one who could fully complete and fulfill the Old Testament law. And so that Old Testament law continues to condemn us to hell.
[00:18:17] There is no one to stand in the gap. And so what does God do? Notice, he wondered that there was no intercessor versus thing. Therefore his own arm brought salvation unto him and his righteousness it sustained him.
[00:18:31] So God sees this horrible morass of sin that his people who he gave free will in the very beginning turned away from him and they continue to turn away even after the destruction of the
[00:18:44] world and Noah almost and a new beginnings if you will. They've still turned away. No one is able to stand in the gap no one is righteous but in his mercy and in his grace and in his love oh from heaven he
[00:18:58] came and sought her to be his holy bride jesus says i'll go i'll go you're gonna go you're gonna go down there to earth you're gonna go down and all of that i don't know if angels said that to
[00:19:10] him or not we don't have that recorded but you're gonna go how are you gonna go of course he's god he can do what he want and let me show you how he went the bible tells us for he put on righteousness
[00:19:21] as a breastplate. Who? Jesus Christ. And a helmet of salvation upon his head. Who? Jesus Christ.
[00:19:30] Does that sound familiar to the armor that we're given in Ephesians 6? The armor that we are given is the armor of Christ. It's the very armor that Christ used in coming to earth and winning,
[00:19:42] if you will, our salvation in defeating the devil. He that had the power of death. We were all our lifetime subject to bondage by the fear of death, but he destroyed the works of the devil.
[00:19:55] He comes and he fights. He comes in the very armor of God. That's why it's called the armor of God, because it's his armor. And praise God, if we've got his armor, you can't have any better.
[00:20:06] And so that's why it says, for he put on righteousness as a breastplate and helmet of salvation on his head and put on garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad with zeal as a cloak according
[00:20:20] to their deeds. Accordingly he will repay fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies, to the islands he will repay recompense. So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west and his glory from the
[00:20:32] rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against it. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, Christ clothed in this great
[00:20:42] armor. And unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob saith the Lord, and as for me this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord, my spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I
[00:20:53] have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and forever. What this describes
[00:21:02] is God deciding, he's already decided eternity past, but in time for us to understand in the inspired word, this idea that God looks and there is no intercessor, there's no one to stand at the
[00:21:15] gap, Christ says, I'll go. And he's, of course, the only one that can, because he comes without sin. He has no father. He's virgin born. There is no sin of Adam and Eve to come upon him,
[00:21:25] the virgin birth. He alone is qualified from birth to be our sinless Savior. And he comes with the armor of God. And praise the Lord, the very armor that bought your salvation is the armor that Christ gives to us to keep it. Praise the Lord. The armor of God. What a gift
[00:21:45] from our triune God. There was one time a Christian named Watchman Nee. How many of you heard of him? He lived in a communist area and was persecuted for his faith. It wasn't New York
[00:22:05] City. It was communist China. And the Lord used him. And one of the things he did was write a little commentary on Ephesians. It's not real long, but it's rather profound. And the title of it
[00:22:23] was Sit, Walk, Stand. And that really is a great summary of the book of Ephesians. Because in chapter 1, we find that Christ has been ascended and raised up into heaven and sat down at the
[00:22:38] right hand of the throne of God. And then in Ephesians 2.6, we, 2.5, who've been, even when we were dead in our sins, he's made us alive together in Christ, Ephesians 2, 5, Ephesians 2, 6, and hath raised us up together and made us to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
[00:22:54] So there's this aspect that we need to first understand where we are seated, at the very right hand of God.
[00:23:01] Then in chapter 4, as Pastor Andy preached last night, in chapter 5, as I preached this morning, how then are we walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you're called.
[00:23:09] Chapter 5, now be ye followers after Christ, after God, and walk in this way.
[00:23:17] So in order to walk the right way, following God, we have to do it out of the posture of us already seated in heaven.
[00:23:26] Sit, now walk, and then finally, if you're going to stand against the devil, we have to do so in context of understanding where we are seated and where we have now walked.
[00:23:42] And finally, when we come against the devil, or he comes against us, we should say, we can now stand because of where we are seated at the very right hand of the throne of God.
[00:23:58] Stand against the wiles of the devil.
[00:24:01] What's a wile?
[00:24:05] Anyone remember Wile E. Coyote?
[00:24:07] always trying sneaky deceptive that's what the devil did with Eve right he didn't say hey look you should do this because then you'll fall and I'll be the god of this world no no you should do this because you'll be like God
[00:24:25] you know wily stand against the wiles of the devil now if you don't stand you will isn't it interesting that the sin of Adam and Eve is called the because she did not stand and he did not stand.
[00:24:45] But we are called to stand.
[00:24:50] That's why as we preach this morning, I think our last verse, we'll come one last time to it, 2 Corinthians chapter 11 verses 1 through 3.
[00:25:01] Would to God you could bear with me a little.
[00:25:03] This is Paul, the same one who writes Ephesians, both of course inspired by the same Holy Spirit.
[00:25:08] And indeed bear with me for I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy for I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
[00:25:18] But I fear less by any means as the serpent beguiled.
[00:25:23] There's the wiles.
[00:25:25] Beguiled, deceived, tricked.
[00:25:28] Beguiled Eve through his subtlety.
[00:25:32] So your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
[00:25:40] And that's why he goes on to say, For if he that cometh preaches another Jesus, whom we've not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted,
[00:25:52] ye might well bear with him.
[00:25:55] And so he goes on to talk about how this is spiritual warfare, that you can easily be deceived.
[00:26:00] You need to be ready.
[00:26:01] God has chosen us to be his bride, and Paul has espoused us to be a virgin, chased without heart affections for things other than Christ until that time. And we need to be careful because just as
[00:26:15] the bride Eve with Adam, which was of course connected as we saw in Ephesians 5 today with Christ and the church, was deceived by the devil, so too the same devil tries to deceive the
[00:26:27] bride now, which is who? The church.
[00:26:32] Isn't that something? He didn't go to Adam.
[00:26:36] I guess the devil's not tough enough.
[00:26:39] I guess the devil's not man enough to go to Adam.
[00:26:41] So he goes to Eve.
[00:26:45] He's not man enough to go to Jesus because Jesus already whipped him.
[00:26:50] In more ways than one, right?
[00:26:53] But he'll go to the bride.
[00:26:55] The same as he did with Eve.
[00:26:57] And that's why he attacked her.
[00:26:59] Because he's really trying to get at the husband, isn't he?
[00:27:02] Because in Adam we all fall.
[00:27:04] But he went through Eve.
[00:27:06] So too Satan wants to attack Jesus.
[00:27:08] he attacks us. Spiritual warfare. Now, continuing on, we find that in 2 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 3 through 6, it says, though we walk in the flesh, we war not after the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of
[00:27:30] strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience once your obedience is fulfilled.
[00:27:47] And so this parallel passage tells us that our fight is not with physical weapons.
[00:27:52] It is a spiritual fight.
[00:27:54] It has to do with imaginations and principalities and powers and ideas and thoughts that come in that need to be taken captive.
[00:28:01] and this idea that we need to make sure that we are walking in obedience.
[00:28:07] That's why it says, stand, therefore, having done all to stand.
[00:28:11] We'll see that in just a moment.
[00:28:13] And so this parallel passage backs up this idea.
[00:28:17] And it's a good thing that we're fighting spiritually instead of physically, right?
[00:28:23] And why is that?
[00:28:24] Well, because remember, in Ephesians chapter 1, we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings where?
[00:28:32] And then also, Christ, if you remember, if you go back to Ephesians chapter 1, we just alluded to it, but let's actually read it just a bit.
[00:28:41] Ephesians chapter 1, Paul is praying for the church that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened, that we would know what is the hope of our calling, what is the exceeding riches of His grace, the inheritance of the saints,
[00:28:53] and the exceeding great power that God has to us who believe, according to the resurrection power that God the Father used in raising Jesus from the dead, And where did he raise him to?
[00:29:04] Notice in Ephesians chapter 1, verse 20, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named,
[00:29:25] not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and has put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
[00:29:39] So Christ has been raised up far above principalities and powers, rules of darkness, spiritual wickedness, and high places.
[00:29:44] And we are his body.
[00:29:46] We are seated in him.
[00:29:47] And Ephesians chapter 2 verse 6 makes it clear again.
[00:29:50] And God hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
[00:29:55] So when we come to Ephesians 6 and we find out Who is it that we're fighting?
[00:30:00] Be strong in the law and the power of his might, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, right?
[00:30:06] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against what?
[00:30:10] Principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, spiritual wickedness in the highest places.
[00:30:13] Didn't we just talk about that in Ephesians 1?
[00:30:17] Well, where are we, if we're born again, in relation to principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness?
[00:30:26] We're far above.
[00:30:28] And they are under our feet.
[00:30:31] You see how you have to sit first.
[00:30:34] Know where you're seated before you can stand.
[00:30:37] But if you know where you're seated, it says we're far above.
[00:30:40] We are seated in Christ.
[00:30:42] And that's why he prays in Ephesians 3, that Christ may dwell in our heart, rooted in faith, that we might be empowered by might, the might and power of God in the inner man, that we might recognize in the eyes of our understanding
[00:30:57] and being enlightened in Ephesians 1 of where we already are, of what we already have.
[00:31:02] All spiritual blessings in heavenly places.
[00:31:04] We are far above all principality, power, far greater than Satan himself.
[00:31:08] Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.
[00:31:10] And so already we have a higher position, infinitely higher than all of our enemies.
[00:31:18] But if you're not walking in faith and you're walking in sight and the devil comes along, look out, it's time to run.
[00:31:25] But if you're walking in faith, or rather seated in faith, and you see the devil, his place is below us.
[00:31:36] Understand?
[00:31:38] And so here in Ephesians 6, these are some of the very same terms.
[00:31:43] It's very clear.
[00:31:45] Ephesians 6, 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.
[00:31:54] Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all to stand.
[00:32:03] Praise the Lord.
[00:32:03] We talked about this idea, you want to stand.
[00:32:07] Stand against the enemy.
[00:32:09] Notice it doesn't say, go out and chase the devil.
[00:32:13] You know, we don't have, Pastor Andy hadn't done it yet, and I haven't either.
[00:32:18] He and I hadn't really talked about this.
[00:32:19] I don't think we're going to do it.
[00:32:21] He and I hadn't been doing any snake handling lately.
[00:32:23] you know. Now, you know, you might find somebody up in the mountains and say, there ain't no real church if you ain't handling them there serpents, you know. And because the Bible says, you know, take up serpents, you'll take up serpents. Well, I don't think the idea
[00:32:39] is for us to go out and look for serpents and play with them. The idea is to stand against them and ultimately against Satan himself, you see. And so we are to stand. It doesn't say go chase
[00:32:51] every devil behind every tree.
[00:32:53] You know, we have some people, and I love them, and they're great, and they may very well be good Christians, but every, you know, behind every rock is a demon or a devil.
[00:33:00] Get out of here, Satan in the name of Jesus, you know, and that's okay, I'm not against that and all of that, but you don't have to go looking for the devil.
[00:33:11] We're not called to go fight the devil, he's already defeated.
[00:33:17] What we're called to do is to stand because we already have the high ground in Christ Jesus.
[00:33:27] All we're called to do is hold on to it.
[00:33:31] Hold on to the high ground that's been given us through the blood of Jesus Christ.
[00:33:38] Stand.
[00:33:39] Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all, to stand.
[00:33:45] And by the way, having done all, everything is in Ephesians 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
[00:33:49] Make sure you've done that before you try to stand.
[00:33:52] If you're walking in sin, it's going to be hard to stand.
[00:33:57] Because here comes the devil.
[00:33:59] Ah, what'd you do yesterday?
[00:34:01] Here you are wanting to stand against me.
[00:34:03] You think God's going to help you with that?
[00:34:05] You know?
[00:34:06] The helmet of salvation, all these things.
[00:34:08] The shield of faith to quench all the fiery...
[00:34:11] He's shooting fiery darts all the time.
[00:34:13] Having done all to stand.
[00:34:16] Don't be at the bar, you know, Sunday night through Saturday night.
[00:34:21] and show up in church and act goody-two-shoes and think you're going to be super spiritual.
[00:34:25] You know what I mean?
[00:34:26] You understand what I'm saying?
[00:34:28] Having done all to stand.
[00:34:33] Make sure that the devil has no accusation that he can bring against you that you haven't already dealt with with the Lord.
[00:34:41] Having done all to stand.
[00:34:44] And that's why it says in 2 Corinthians 10, 3-6, having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience once your obedience is fulfilled.
[00:34:54] Now, stand therefore, verse 14, having your loins girt about with truth.
[00:34:59] The belt of truth.
[00:35:01] If we do not have truth and focus on truth and are rooted and grounded in the truth of the word of God, then all of the armor is going to unravel and fall.
[00:35:13] This is so important.
[00:35:15] This is why, you know, these ideas of relative truth are satanic.
[00:35:19] There is absolute truth, and it is found right here in the word of God.
[00:35:23] Jesus didn't say, I'm one truth, I'm kind of a truth, I'm a relative truth.
[00:35:29] He is absolute truth incarnate, and his word is true, and we are not to doubt his word.
[00:35:36] And isn't it interesting that people who want to doubt certain parts of Scripture, you go look at their life and you find out, oh, well, you're trying to find a place to justify your sin.
[00:35:47] And the devil will help you do that.
[00:35:51] The devil can't quote Scripture.
[00:35:53] A lot of times he'll misquote it.
[00:35:55] He tries to use the armor of God, but he doesn't do so well.
[00:35:59] He perverts it.
[00:36:01] And so the truth of God's word is so important.
[00:36:04] And we cannot move to the right or to the left.
[00:36:07] We have to be very careful.
[00:36:08] This is why, you know, Pastor Joseph's kind of weird with this King James thing.
[00:36:11] It's not so much the King James.
[00:36:13] It's we believe that the word of God is inspired.
[00:36:16] Not just the ideas, but the very words.
[00:36:19] And if we give that up, we don't have the word of God.
[00:36:22] You just have what you think is somehow, you know, God trying to tell us something.
[00:36:26] And then you can make it say or not say whatever you want.
[00:36:29] This is the very Word of God.
[00:36:31] And we should seek to have the most accurate translation based on the Greek and Hebrew.
[00:36:37] And we have good reasons to believe that this is, in fact, the Word of God.
[00:36:42] It is the truth.
[00:36:43] And we are not to stray from it.
[00:36:45] And without ourselves being rooted and founded in love, and that love, as God is love, he is also truth.
[00:36:53] I am the way, the truth, and the life.
[00:36:55] No man comes to the Father in this pilgrim's journey, but by me, he is the truth.
[00:37:01] We must have the truth firmly girded around our lungs.
[00:37:07] Now, the next one, having the breastplate of righteousness.
[00:37:13] Remember, Christ puts on the breastplate of righteousness to come and to win our salvation, if you will.
[00:37:19] We say win because he did, in a sense, live the perfect life and defeat the devil and was victorious.
[00:37:29] We find that this is also referenced, by the way, in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5.
[00:37:35] 1 Thessalonians is also written by the Apostle Paul.
[00:37:39] 1 Thessalonians 5 gives us a little different take.
[00:37:42] In a previous message, I mentioned this in a message on love.
[00:37:48] 1 Thessalonians chapter 5.
[00:37:51] Interesting here.
[00:37:53] Remember we were talking today in Ephesians 5 about walk as children of light and not as the darkness.
[00:37:58] This theme comes up a lot in the New Testament and especially in Pauline epistles.
[00:38:02] Here we find in verse 5 of 1 Thessalonians 5.
[00:38:06] Ye are all the children of light and the children of the day.
[00:38:09] We are not of the night nor of darkness.
[00:38:12] Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober.
[00:38:15] For they that sleep, sleep in the night.
[00:38:17] They that be drunken are drunken in the night.
[00:38:19] But let us who are of the day be sober.
[00:38:22] Put it on the breastplate, not here righteousness, but of faith and love.
[00:38:29] And for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
[00:38:32] Why the difference here, faith and love?
[00:38:35] Where does righteousness come from?
[00:38:37] The love of God manifest in Christ who gives us his righteousness by faith.
[00:38:46] Faith and love together bring forth righteousness.
[00:38:51] And so this breastplate of love.
[00:38:53] Also, we find in Romans 13 that this armor that we've been given is called there the armor of...
[00:39:02] Anyone know?
[00:39:05] Let's turn there and find out since we don't know.
[00:39:08] Romans chapter 13, verse 10.
[00:39:24] Love worketh no ill to his neighbor.
[00:39:26] Therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
[00:39:29] And that knowing the time, that now it's high time to awake out of sleep.
[00:39:34] For now it is our salvation is nearer than when we believe.
[00:39:38] The night is far spent.
[00:39:39] The day is at hand.
[00:39:40] Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light.
[00:39:48] Amen.
[00:39:51] Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering wantonness, not in strife and in vain, but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. And he might as well
[00:40:00] have said, and put on his armor, because that's what he's saying, the armor of light. What is the armor of light? Put on Jesus Christ. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, make not provision for
[00:40:10] the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof. Now, back to Ephesians 6, verse 16, having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
[00:40:23] Now, this one is a little different, in a sense.
[00:40:28] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
[00:40:31] People wonder about this, you know, everything is a piece.
[00:40:33] Well, this is the sandal, or this is the boot, or this is the shoe, or whatever.
[00:40:37] And this idea that when you're fighting, you need to have good grounding and all of that.
[00:40:43] If you don't, you might slip.
[00:40:45] All of that is fine and nice, and sure, that's there.
[00:40:48] But the real purpose here is something far more sublime.
[00:40:53] This idea, your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
[00:40:56] Your feet, the idea, take you where you go.
[00:40:59] And so your whole persona, your life, everything you should be doing should be in the context of the gospel, the gospel of peace.
[00:41:09] You should be the aroma of Christ.
[00:41:12] Where you go, it shouldn't be like, oh, here he comes again.
[00:41:15] Angelo does a great job of sharing with everybody he meets you know and and but he can also tell you he's told me there's a few people in his neighborhood when they see his feet coming they
[00:41:27] go oh right you told me that yeah but in general they should be able to say oh how beautiful are the feet of him that brings good news and the idea of beautiful feet is they're seeing you come
[00:41:43] And that idea that is here, your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, really is coming back from the book of Isaiah.
[00:41:52] If you want to turn back there again, Isaiah chapter 52, verse 7.
[00:41:57] As you're turning there, let me first read something of interest because it's quoted by Paul also in Romans chapter 10.
[00:42:07] In Romans chapter 10, he says about preaching, about how we're to get saved.
[00:42:13] He says in Romans chapter 10, beginning in verse 13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
[00:42:22] Praise God.
[00:42:23] But how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
[00:42:26] And how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard?
[00:42:30] And how shall they hear without a preacher?
[00:42:32] And how shall they preach except they be sent?
[00:42:35] As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things.
[00:42:43] And so here, Paul is essentially saying, we, church, should be going with our feet, you know, the preparation of the gospel of peace and sharing the gospel.
[00:42:53] That's the picture there.
[00:42:54] That's how God has ordained people to be saved.
[00:42:57] Now, primarily by preachers and churches, but not just that.
[00:43:02] Every Christian is supposed to be sharing the gospel by word and by deed, okay?
[00:43:06] And that's why it says here, how beautiful are the feet of them.
[00:43:11] Who's the them?
[00:43:11] The church.
[00:43:13] and especially those who are called to preach.
[00:43:16] Now, that's a quotation of Isaiah 52, verse 7.
[00:43:19] Let's turn back there now.
[00:43:20] You may still be there, which is good.
[00:43:22] Isaiah 52, 7.
[00:43:24] How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him.
[00:43:28] Did you notice the difference?
[00:43:30] In Romans 10, 15, how beautiful are the feet of them.
[00:43:34] Here, how beautiful are the feet of Him.
[00:43:38] Who's the Him?
[00:43:41] Isaiah 52, 7.
[00:43:42] how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, thy God reigneth. And it is Jesus. Because look a little bit further in this context in verse 13.
[00:44:01] Behold, Isaiah 52, 13, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high as many were astonished or astonished at thee his visage his face was so marred more than any man and his form more than the sons of men so shall he sprinkle many nations the king
[00:44:23] shall shut their mouths at him for that which hath not been told them shall they see and that which they had not heard shall they consider that's talking about Christ that's talking about Christ on the cross. That's talking about his suffering, the disfigurement from all of the beating and the
[00:44:40] blows and the crown of thorns and the stripes in the back. He was almost unrecognizable. And yet, in the very next verse in Isaiah 53, the most famous passage in all of the Old Testament,
[00:44:52] written 700 years before Christ was born, that talks extensively about his suffering for us on the cross, about his atonement, about his bearing our sins, begins with verse 1, who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Turn back to Romans
[00:45:12] chapter 10, and you'll find that it's no coincidence that right after Paul quotes Isaiah 52, and he changes the pronoun, Romans chapter 10, verse 15, and how shall they preach except they be sent?
[00:45:31] As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them.
[00:45:33] See, the preparation of the gospel of peace, that's Jesus' armor.
[00:45:37] Jesus came preaching peace.
[00:45:38] His feet were beautiful.
[00:45:40] He came preaching the gospel of peace.
[00:45:43] Now we have been given that armor.
[00:45:45] That's why Paul, by the Holy Spirit, changes the pronoun from him, how beautiful are the feet of him, Jesus, Now, how beautiful are the feet of them, the church.
[00:45:55] For what?
[00:45:56] How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings for good things.
[00:46:02] And notice how he makes it absolutely clear that this is talking about Jesus before and the context, because the very next verse that he quotes is what we just read in Isaiah 53, verse 1.
[00:46:13] But they have not all obeyed the gospel, for Isaiah said, Lord, who hath believed our report?
[00:46:22] So this is a great part of the armor of God.
[00:46:26] The armor that Christ used, if you will.
[00:46:29] The feet being prepared to bring the gospel of peace.
[00:46:33] And that is our foundation.
[00:46:35] When we go, we say, oh, people aren't going to like this.
[00:46:37] It's going to be offensive.
[00:46:38] No, no, this is a gospel of peace.
[00:46:41] Whether they like it or not, this is the only way they can have peace with God.
[00:46:44] When we go to Dearborn, and we know some people are nice, most people will tolerate you, and then others turn up their noses.
[00:46:50] ah, they're not going to like it. That's okay. They need it. This is the gospel of peace. This is your standing. This is your context. Don't be afraid to share. Don't think you're going to offend people.
[00:47:00] You know you're going to offend people. It's the gospel. But you have a grounding and a standing in the gospel of peace. You alone as the church, true born again believers, brothers and sisters in Christ, have the only thing that can save these lost people. It is the gospel of peace.
[00:47:16] It is one of the most powerful things in our panoply of armaments that God has given us.
[00:47:23] And it scares the devil to death, if he could die.
[00:47:28] Praise God.
[00:47:30] The gospel, the feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
[00:47:34] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
[00:47:42] It's very important.
[00:47:43] The devil is constantly sending darts our way.
[00:47:46] And they're usually subversive.
[00:47:50] You don't really see them kind of, you know, coming off from the side, the periphery.
[00:47:55] And our shield of faith will quench them.
[00:47:58] The question is, how big is your shield?
[00:48:00] And I think the shield can grow.
[00:48:03] And we should desire it to grow.
[00:48:05] As our faith grows, it should also grow.
[00:48:08] Faith, how does our faith grow?
[00:48:10] Faith cometh by hearing by the, and that is also part of our armor.
[00:48:17] So, the shield of faith, so very important.
[00:48:21] And by the way, throughout the book of Ephesians, we are saved by grace through, and he is called that we might be filled, filled with, that Christ may dwell in our hearts by, by faith.
[00:48:40] In faith, if you will, is the victory.
[00:48:43] 1 John chapter 5.
[00:48:45] We're not ready to sing that song just yet, John Taylor.
[00:48:48] but we will. We will. In 1 John, Lord willing, chapter 5, verse 4 is this beautiful verse.
[00:48:56] For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Praise God. Praise God, the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation.
[00:49:13] Christ puts this on, if you will, and the idea, too, is guarding our mind against the attacks of the enemy.
[00:49:21] Remember 2 Corinthians chapter 10, 3 through 5, taking every thought captive, casting down imagination, the high thing that exalts itself against knowledge.
[00:49:33] Where do thoughts and imaginations reside?
[00:49:36] We need the helmet of salvation.
[00:49:40] Know who you are and don't allow these things in.
[00:49:43] and then the sword of the spirit, which is what? The word of God. Now, I believe that a good case can be made, and I generally make it, that the sword of the spirit is the word of God, but it's
[00:50:02] actually more than that. Verse 17 of Ephesians 6, and take the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication. Though it's a
[00:50:13] different verse, there is no difference. It's to continue. The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God praying always. Remember, it's a double-edged sword, isn't it, according to Hebrews chapter 4? The Word of God and prayer. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, but what more
[00:50:34] potency can you imagine than the Word of God being prayed? And so I believe we need to recognize that prayer, wouldn't you say that prayer is a key to spiritual warfare?
[00:50:49] It would be strange if it was not included.
[00:50:53] I believe it is included in the sword of the Spirit.
[00:50:55] The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, and especially the Word of God being prayed.
[00:51:02] And by the way, when Jesus and Satan met on earth, there was quite a challenge.
[00:51:11] And Satan tempted him a few times.
[00:51:14] He actually tempted him with things that we wonder, does he really have it?
[00:51:19] Satan claimed to have all authority of all of these principalities, of all of these nations, and all of these kingdoms, and all of this.
[00:51:28] All of this is mine.
[00:51:30] It's all been delivered unto me.
[00:51:33] Just bow down to me and you can have it.
[00:51:36] That's an interesting thing.
[00:51:38] Is it really Satan's?
[00:51:39] Well, there was enough truth in it, however not quite right it is.
[00:51:47] There was enough truth in it to be a temptation.
[00:51:50] But Christ, just in all three temptations, overcomes Satan by doing what?
[00:51:58] Get thee behind me, Satan.
[00:52:00] It is written, and he quotes the word of God.
[00:52:04] Thou shalt worship the Lord God, and him only shalt thou serve.
[00:52:07] It is written, man doth not live.
[00:52:10] by bread alone.
[00:52:12] It is written, Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to the test.
[00:52:15] Every time he quotes the word of God, the very word that we have, all of those texts are in Deuteronomy.
[00:52:21] And it should be because we have his armor.
[00:52:26] Praise God.
[00:52:27] Well, I have a question for you.
[00:52:29] Just as Paul was praying for us to be empowered with might in the inner man, and that we would be filled with the fullness of God, that Christ might dwell in our hearts by faith,
[00:52:41] that we might be able to understand all of these things.
[00:52:45] But remember, I kept asking you the question, what are you doing with it?
[00:52:50] God has given you the very armor that he used to defeat Satan himself.
[00:52:58] What are you doing with it?
[00:53:04] Now, this is spiritual armor.
[00:53:07] Before we end, and since it's our last message, and you all are so faithful to be here this evening, and I'm sure you all feel probably better than I do, bear with me, if you would, a little bit longer.
[00:53:20] Turn with me to 1 Samuel chapter 17, and what famous story do we find there?
[00:53:31] Pastor Andy, of course, knows.
[00:53:33] Anyone else?
[00:53:35] David and Goliath, well done.
[00:53:38] 1 Samuel chapter 17.
[00:53:40] Now, I'd like to mention something here.
[00:53:44] Goliath is seen as a symbol of the devil.
[00:53:48] If you go and study, David, certainly we know, is a type of Christ.
[00:53:54] We understand that.
[00:53:56] and Goliath is seen as a symbol of the devil, and there are many reasons for that.
[00:54:03] You can go and do some research in that.
[00:54:05] It's very interesting, some of the different things and aspects that seem to bring that out.
[00:54:10] I'm not going to read the whole story.
[00:54:12] You know most of it, I think.
[00:54:14] I just want to remind you of certain points here.
[00:54:16] 1 Samuel 17, verse 37.
[00:54:18] so when uh goliath is defying the uh the armies of israel nobody wants to fight goliath right big giant just send out one just one and we can settle this this way nobody wants to go
[00:54:36] even saul and saul's taller than anybody else in all of israel uh shoulders and above and he's not going because the spirit of the lord has departed from saul at this point and gone upon who david
[00:54:48] interesting. So David comes just to supply his older brothers who are there with some food and other things. And he hears about Goliath defying the armies of the Lord. And David gets a righteous indignation on this thing. And he goes to Saul and says, I'll fight him. Let me do it. Well,
[00:55:07] here's little old David, a small fella, just a youth. Nobody believes he can do it. But there's something special in David and very persuasive. Here in 1 Samuel chapter 17, beginning in verse 37, David said, moreover, the Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw
[00:55:28] of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, go and the Lord be with thee. Well, and Saul armed David with his armor and he put on a helmet of
[00:55:41] brass upon his head. He armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armor, and he assayed to go, for he had not yet proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with
[00:55:55] these, for I have not proved them. And David put them off of him. So here's David getting ready to go. Well, he's not that much, but maybe if he goes with my armor, the armor of the king, maybe he can
[00:56:06] do something. David tries to put it on. He says, I can't do anything with this. Takes it all off.
[00:56:10] to go against the giant, take off all the armor?
[00:56:14] Because ultimately, this is a spiritual fight.
[00:56:18] And that's to teach us.
[00:56:20] Now, you know, some of us carry guns, legally, of course.
[00:56:25] And there's a reason for that.
[00:56:26] But ultimately, it's a spiritual war, isn't it?
[00:56:31] It's a spiritual war.
[00:56:33] And this is the case here.
[00:56:35] He says, I don't need the, I can't, I'm not used to these things.
[00:56:38] I don't want any of them.
[00:56:40] You're going to go against Goliath completely unarmed?
[00:56:43] Yeah.
[00:56:44] Why? Because he believed the Lord is going to be strong in the, and the power of his.
[00:56:52] That's what David did. And here's the picture for us. And so, notice it says in verse 40, and he took his staff in his hand and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook. Now,
[00:57:06] what kind of boots did he have on? I don't know. Maybe sandals. Maybe he didn't have any shoes at all. He's in the brook getting some stones. He didn't have armor, physical armor. And he put
[00:57:17] them in a shepherd's brag, the stones which he had even in a script, and his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine. The Philistine came on and drew near unto David, and the man that
[00:57:27] bare the shield went before him. Everybody's terrified of this Goliath. David's not terrified at all. And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, it's like he's got to look down. Oh, who are you? He disdained him for he was but a youth and ruddy and of a fair countenance. And
[00:57:43] the Philistine said unto David, am I a dog that thou comest to me with sticks or staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, come to me and I will
[00:57:55] give thy flesh into the fowls of the air and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield, physical arms.
[00:58:05] But I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
[00:58:12] This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand, and I will smite thee and take thine head from thee, and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air,
[00:58:27] and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
[00:58:32] and all the assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword nor with spear, that is physical, for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands.
[00:58:47] It came to pass when the Philistine arose and came and drew nigh to meet David that David hasted and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
[00:58:55] He wasn't afraid or trying to figure this thing out.
[00:58:57] He's running. Let's go. Come on. I'm ready.
[00:59:00] Because of the armor of God.
[00:59:02] And David put his hand in his bag, took thence a stone, and slung it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead.
[00:59:12] He fell unto his face unto the earth.
[00:59:15] So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him.
[00:59:21] But there was no sword in the hand of David.
[00:59:23] Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew out of the sheath thereof and slew him and cut off his head therewith.
[00:59:33] And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled and they run.
[00:59:39] And here in verse 54, and David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.
[00:59:49] I guess that's the armor of Saul that he didn't use because he used the armor of God.
[00:59:55] The armor of God always overcomes the enemy.
[00:59:59] Notice he didn't have a sword, but he used the devil's own weapons against him.
[01:00:05] Isn't that interesting?
[01:00:06] In Colossians chapter 2, we find this picture of Christ defeating Satan.
[01:00:11] In Colossians chapter 2, beginning in verse 13, And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened, made alive together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses, trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
[01:00:27] contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.
[01:00:31] There's the context of victory.
[01:00:33] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
[01:00:40] Principalities and powers, have we heard that before?
[01:00:43] That's who our spiritual enemies are.
[01:00:45] But he triumphed over them, and he spoiled them.
[01:00:48] What does it mean to spoil them?
[01:00:49] He didn't, you know, give him steak and prime rib and, hey, you know, here's silk luxury.
[01:00:55] I'm going to spoil you.
[01:00:56] No, no.
[01:00:57] Spoil like the spoils of war.
[01:01:00] He disarms.
[01:01:01] He takes away whatever they claim to have.
[01:01:04] Like Satan, all of this is mine.
[01:01:07] No, Jesus says when he raised him, all authority in heaven and earth has been given unto me.
[01:01:14] Now, therefore, you go.
[01:01:16] You go in what?
[01:01:16] that authority in the name of of all names the armor of God the blood of Christ and he spoiled principle just like David the type of the Messiah spoils Goliath he don't have a he takes his sword
[01:01:33] and cuts his head off praise the Lord praise the Lord and so we see Christ our Savior in the very place of apparent weakness and defeat, yet this is the very instrument of the greatest victory
[01:01:55] in the history of the world.
[01:02:00] And there, as he is languishing on the cross and finally commits his spirit unto the Father, those feet that were prepared with the gospel of peace, those nail-scarred feet, Nailed, no doubt, there was blood.
[01:02:25] From the head, the crown of thorns.
[01:02:28] From the hands, from the side, and from the feet.
[01:02:34] And as that blood fell, it's very interesting, the place where Jesus was crucified was called what?
[01:02:42] Golgotha, Golgotha.
[01:02:44] What does that mean, that word?
[01:02:47] Place of the skull.
[01:02:51] What skull?
[01:02:54] You read back what we read in 1 Samuel?
[01:02:57] It says, and David took Goliath's head to Jerusalem.
[01:03:03] Well, Jerusalem is where Jesus, right there.
[01:03:07] And tradition tells us, that's why it's called Golgotha, because Goliath's head, Goliath being a symbol of Satan, was buried right there.
[01:03:20] So here's Christ, and the blood is falling down, those feet are prepared with the gospel of peace, and the devil is under his feet in that place of victory.
[01:03:38] And so this is what we are called to.
[01:03:42] The armor of God.
[01:03:45] To walk as Christ walked.
[01:03:48] As Pastor Andy preached last night in Ephesians 4, in all lowliness of mind, in humility, because the power is not of us.
[01:04:00] It's of God.
[01:04:02] The armor is not ours.
[01:04:04] It's God's.
[01:04:06] I want to close with a thought.
[01:04:13] The Passover.
[01:04:14] I've always been fascinated with the Passover.
[01:04:16] Those of you who have been a while here know I like to teach on the Passover.
[01:04:20] Interestingly enough, the Passover, if you read the institution of the Passover in Exodus chapter 12, there was a certain way they were supposed to eat it.
[01:04:29] One of it was with your shoes on your feet.
[01:04:34] And standing.
[01:04:36] And girded about.
[01:04:37] and essentially ready to go.
[01:04:43] Because guess what?
[01:04:44] By daybreak, you're going.
[01:04:46] And you're going a long way.
[01:04:48] And that's the way you're supposed to eat it.
[01:04:50] But when we come to the Lord's Supper and they're eating the Passover, is that the picture that we get?
[01:04:56] They're all standing with their shoes on, girded and eating and ready to go out.
[01:05:01] That's not the picture at all.
[01:05:03] Why? Were they being disobedient?
[01:05:06] No.
[01:05:06] As a matter of fact, there was a the teaching of those who were in the leadership in Israel says now that we are in the promised land we have come into a place of rest
[01:05:21] and now instead of standing with your shoes on you take your shoes off that's why Jesus is washing feet and you sit down you recline because we are in a place of rest promised land is like going to heaven
[01:05:37] You don't stand ready to go.
[01:05:40] You recline and enjoy this blessing.
[01:05:44] This armor of God that we have, Christ used it until the very last.
[01:05:54] He needed it here.
[01:05:56] Satan was in close quarters.
[01:05:58] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken?
[01:06:00] But now that he's ascended, he doesn't need it in heaven anymore, does he?
[01:06:05] That's why he's given it to us.
[01:06:07] I rather think of it somewhat like Elijah.
[01:06:10] as Elisha is following him and, you know, let me go.
[01:06:14] I got some business over here.
[01:06:16] No, no, I'm not going to leave you.
[01:06:18] And then finally, what blessing do you want?
[01:06:21] He says, well, I want a double blessing.
[01:06:22] Well, if you see me when I go up.
[01:06:24] And as he's going up, Elijah, chariot of fire up to heaven, here comes the mantle that God used in him as a symbol of power coming down on Elijah, on Elisha.
[01:06:36] So too as Christ ascends, Ten days later, he sends his spirit, and it's as if he rises and the armor falls back to the church.
[01:06:47] And so at this time, we are called the church militant.
[01:06:52] That's why that beautiful hymn that we sing every first Sunday, and then the church militant shall be the church in heaven.
[01:07:03] Now we need the armor, but a day is coming when we don't need the armor anymore.
[01:07:10] Look at Revelation chapter 19, this is where we're in.
[01:07:14] We talked about this several times in our study on Ephesians.
[01:07:19] This idea that we are children of God and now we are espoused to Him and there is going to be this wonderful marriage supper of the Lamb.
[01:07:30] In Revelation 19 verse 1, After these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven saying, Hallelujah, salvation and glory and honor and power unto the Lord our God, for true and righteous are his judgments for he hath judged the great whore which did corrupt the
[01:07:44] earth with her fornication and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand and again they said hallelujah and her smoke rose up forever and ever and the four and twenty elders and the four
[01:07:54] beasts fell down and worshiped god that sat on the throne saying amen hallelujah and a voice came out of the throne saying praise our god all ye his servants and ye that fear him both small and great
[01:08:07] And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the voice of many waters, as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
[01:08:16] Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him.
[01:08:19] For the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
[01:08:24] And do we come into the wedding feast with our armor stained with blood and dents from the devil?
[01:08:31] I'm ready to get married. Let's go.
[01:08:33] No, no.
[01:08:34] Let us be glad, verse 7, and rejoice and give honor to him.
[01:08:39] For the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
[01:08:43] And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white.
[01:08:52] For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.
[01:08:57] And he saith unto me, Write, blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.
[01:09:03] And he saith unto me, These are the true saints of God.
[01:09:06] We don't need our armor anymore, but robes of fine linen, the righteousness of the saints.
[01:09:13] Because now the church militant is the church at rest, the very presence of God forever and ever.
[01:09:20] You know, I love this hymn.
[01:09:23] And we're getting ready to sing Faith is the Victory in just a moment.
[01:09:26] But before we do, I want to just read you this last verse of Sweet Hour of Prayer.
[01:09:32] In our hymnal, there's only two verses.
[01:09:36] But we've put the third verse on the screen when we do it because I think the third verse, as Pastor Andy said one time, well, that's the best verse.
[01:09:44] It's not in the hymn.
[01:09:46] But it says this.
[01:09:47] I think this is a great place for us to end.
[01:09:49] Because remember, we said that the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God praying always.
[01:09:58] Prayer is part of that sword, right?
[01:10:00] Sweet hour of prayer.
[01:10:01] Well, we need to pray when we get to heaven.
[01:10:06] No more need for prayer, just praise, right?
[01:10:09] And so this last verse.
[01:10:12] Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, may I thy consolation share.
[01:10:21] Till from Mount Pisgah's lofty height I view my home and take my flight.
[01:10:30] This robe of flesh I'll drop and rise And seize the everlasting prize And shout while passing through the air Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer To God be the glory. Amen.
[01:10:57] The victory is fate.
[01:10:59] the faith of Jesus Christ given to us through his grace why don't we pray and then stand and sing unto the Lord dear Heavenly Father thank you for your marvelous word your wonderful word Lord God for this tremendous armor
[01:11:12] this privilege of living this life as your children as your bride espoused to you oh Lord help us we pray for the eyes of our understanding to be enlightened to know the hope of our calling
[01:11:26] the power working in us the exceeding riches of your grace, Lord, that we might be filled with all the fullness of God, that you might dwell, Lord Jesus, in our hearts by faith, that we might recognize that you are
[01:11:38] able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we hope, ask, or think, in and through your Son, Christ Jesus, for your glory, that we might walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, that we might be followers of you, Lord God, as dear children, and that we might stand against
[01:11:56] the devil and stand in the victory that you have won, bought and paid for with the lifeblood of your Son, Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. By his faithfulness and by the faith that you have
[01:12:13] given us, a gift not of ourselves, lest any one of us should boast. To you be the glory, honor, praise now and forever. Amen.
[01:12:24] Faith is the victory. Is it 71, John?