WEBVTT 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:17.039 For those of you that were here last week, which I recognize a lot of faces, so that's awesome. 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:22.640 Evan opened us up last week and it was just absolutely phenomenal. 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:23.920 Absolutely phenomenal. 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:29.760 He opened us up in Ephesians, like Pastor just said Ephesians chapter six. 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:34.640 Evan started with verse 10, talking about strength in the Lord. 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:37.600 Give me a second as I get that pulled up here. 00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:43.359 Verse 10 says, Finally be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:47.840 And uh I did ask Evan before I shared this, but I I gotta share it with you all. 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:49.280 I work with Evan. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:53.679 I get the opportunity to work with him, so I get to see him a lot, which is awesome. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:58.159 Um Tuesday last week, he came to me. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:03.280 He's like, Man, I don't know if I can preach on strength. 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:05.120 I just I feel so weak. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:08.079 And I'm like, dude, like you of all people. 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:09.680 You of all people. 00:01:09.760 --> 00:01:12.640 Like, that's exactly why God has you speaking on this. 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:15.760 Because you have to rely on his strength to get that message out. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:22.319 He's like, man, I'd much rather be listening to a message about the strength of the Lord than giving a message. 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:24.480 And he just did an awesome job. 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:27.840 I mean, Evan truly walks that out every single day. 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:30.719 Who he is at work is the guy you see here. 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:32.239 And I mean that. 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:34.879 Um, so, anyways, thank you for last week. 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:37.359 It was absolutely, absolutely phenomenal. 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:38.159 It was very rich. 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:45.599 And we're just gonna keep moving right along in Ephesians chapter six, verses 11 and 12. 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:51.599 Now, before we read that, I do want to give you a quick little story, personal story. 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:55.439 This verse means a little bit more to me. 00:01:55.680 --> 00:02:00.319 Ephesians 6, 11 is kind of my life's verse, if you will. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:10.800 And so when I was a little boy, about six or seven years old, my grandmother, who has passed away now, she bought me a painting. 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:15.199 And I was gonna bring it tonight, but it's kind of big, it's kind of heavy, so I decided against it. 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:17.759 But I'm gonna do my best to explain it to you. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:23.840 Um, it's this painting, and it's this little boy, which this is really why she bought it. 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:31.520 She thought the boy reminded her of me, which I think it's just because he had a bowl cut, and every kid, every boy in the 90s had a bowl cut. 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:35.199 Why our parents did that to us, I have no idea. 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:36.560 It's terrible. 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:37.680 I'm just kidding. 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:39.439 But seriously, bowl cuts are bad. 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:44.159 So it's this picture of this boy, this little boy, he's on his knees and he's praying. 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:50.000 He's got his hands clasped really tight, his eyes closed, and he's on his knees. 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:55.039 And to his right is a sword and a shield. 00:02:55.280 --> 00:03:03.680 And behind him is a massive angel, beautiful, and he's placing a helmet on the boy's head as he's praying. 00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:10.240 And below it, on this plaque, is this verse, Ephesians 6, 11. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:12.879 So if you guys are there, we're gonna read that together. 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:20.000 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:35.759 Verse 12 for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:41.120 So, like I said, we're just gonna continue this series tonight, equipped to stand. 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:48.879 And the title of this message in particular is A Christian's Call to Arms. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:51.840 A Christian's Call to Arms. 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:55.120 We're gonna walk through this verse together and just kind of pick it apart. 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:57.120 Put on the whole armor of God. 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:04.719 So, right off the bat, right at the beginning of these verses, it started last week with be strong. 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:09.599 This week we're talking, or Paul is writing, put on. 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:14.960 If you notice, these these are commands, these aren't suggestions. 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:18.720 Paul is talking to believers here, right? 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:22.800 He's writing to the believers in Ephesus. 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:30.079 And he is this this isn't if you feel like it, this isn't if you have time for it. 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:34.160 This is put on, be strong. 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:37.759 Okay, so first and foremost, he is commanding. 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:40.959 He's commanding, he's telling us this is an order. 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:53.680 Put it on, and not just part of the armor, not just a couple pieces, but the whole armor, right? 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:59.839 It's very crucial that we understand it's the entire armor, it's the whole armor. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:11.759 Could you imagine a soldier going into battle with just a few pieces of armor, just a couple pieces? 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:14.720 I mean, that could be tragic, right? 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:26.480 You're immediately vulnerable, you're open to getting yourself hurt, yourself killed, and your brothers and sisters around you. 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:30.160 And it's the same for us Christians. 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:35.040 If we don't put on the whole armor, we're vulnerable. 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:36.959 We're vulnerable. 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:41.600 Because there is an enemy. 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:48.480 There is an enemy, he's real, and he's gunning for you. 00:05:49.040 --> 00:06:05.759 He is, he's coming for us, and if we're not equipped, if we're not ready, if we're not wearing the whole armor, see the Bible says the devil roars around, roams around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he can devour. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:10.079 He's just looking for someone, he's waiting, he's watching. 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:13.120 He's crafty, he's crafty. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.959 And he's roaring, I keep saying that. 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:26.639 He's roaming around like a roaring lion, just waiting, just waiting for just a slip-up. 00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:29.920 So that's why it's so important that we put on the entire armor. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:37.120 It's not enough to just have a piece or a couple pieces, but the entire armor of God. 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:49.439 Like I was saying, I mean, bringing it into our world, reality, a police officer would never dream of going out into the field without putting on his uniform first thing. 00:06:49.680 --> 00:07:01.199 When he wakes up first thing in the morning, those pants, that belt with his weapon, his shoes, his boots, his bulletproof vest, he's ready. 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:02.480 He's ready. 00:07:02.720 --> 00:07:05.920 And like that, Christians, it's the same. 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:12.319 We have to get ready every single day, every morning, first thing. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:16.160 Because the enemy is persistent. 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:18.480 He doesn't take a break. 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:24.240 And he doesn't care whether you're in a good mood or a bad mood or what's going on, he's coming. 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:28.800 So it is important that we understand this is a daily thing. 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:36.399 There is an enemy, and there is a battle, and the battle is every day, every single day. 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:41.360 Your story has a villain. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:42.639 We know that. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:44.879 We know that. 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:49.920 It's the devil, but the good news is it also has a hero, and his name is Jesus. 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:54.959 And he's also already won the war, right? 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:56.319 He's already won. 00:07:56.480 --> 00:08:00.879 When he died on the cross and rose again, he won. 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:04.560 He covered all the ground that needed to be covered. 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:14.959 It's our job to stand firm, it's our job to hold it and not let the enemy get a foothold any further. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:22.319 But we can't do it unless we are equipped with the whole armor. 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:27.120 Again, it's not enough to just have a couple pieces. 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:29.680 That is where we're at, chapter six. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:30.319 That's really good. 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:31.519 Thank you for that. 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:32.960 Like that. 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:34.879 That's awesome. 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:39.759 It's also important to understand whose armor it is, where it comes from. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:45.600 Scripture tells us that it's the whole armor of God. 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:47.919 It's his armor. 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:49.440 He crafted it. 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:54.559 No human, no man, no devil, no demon, God himself. 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:56.399 This is his armor. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:59.440 This is what he equips us with, believers. 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:01.519 It's his. 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:03.840 And it's important that we understand that. 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:07.279 It's his that he gives to all those that believe in him, right? 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:11.519 And I and why I think it's so important to make this point. 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:19.919 It's his that he gives to us, but it's not enough for us to rely on someone else's armor. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:33.679 You can't go into battle relying on your parents' armor or your pastor's armor or someone else's armor, which so often in my own life, I mean, that's what I did, right? 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:37.759 I'd hide behind their relationship with Jesus. 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:41.279 It's not enough. 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:51.759 And going through this, these scriptures and praying about this, as I was preparing, I couldn't help but think of King David. 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:55.360 I know Evan referenced him last week as well. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:57.600 I'd be remiss if I didn't as well. 00:09:57.759 --> 00:09:59.679 The story of David and Goliath. 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:03.039 David understand armor. 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:06.879 David understood the battle. 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:09.200 He understood there was an enemy. 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:13.600 And you guys, I'm sure everyone in here knows the story, but I'm gonna go through it anyways. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:15.519 I'm gonna give the Cliff Notes version. 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:20.000 So we all know David, little boy, little little shepherd boy, right? 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:22.080 Little shepherd boy. 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:27.759 We know that David's three older brothers were serving in the army with Saul. 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:37.039 And Saul, Saul, Goliath, has got an entire army cowering. 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:47.519 This giant standing up before a nation, just pouring blasphemies and hatred. 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:50.639 I mean, this is a real enemy, and he's got a lot of people scared. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:11:08.000 The Bible says 40 days, 40 days, Goliath went on, taking his stand in the day and in the evening, twice a day for 40 days, which by the way, 40 in Hebrew is the number of trial, right? 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:11.919 40 days or 40 years in the wilderness. 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:17.039 Jesus was tempted or went out in the desert for 40 days, represents trial. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:30.639 So Goliath for 40 days is just pouring out these blasphemes and these this hatred towards God, towards Israel, and had everyone, here comes David, just being obedient, listening to his father. 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:32.960 Hey, go take some food to your brothers. 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:34.399 So he does it. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:36.720 I imagine he walks in, hey guys, what's going on? 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:38.000 You know, all happy and giddy. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:42.240 Everybody's terrified, shaking in their boots of this giant, right? 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:50.320 Basically saying, just send one person, just give me one person to fight, and we'll be your slaves if you win, and vice versa, right? 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:54.639 David is just, the Bible says, ruddy and handsome. 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:56.000 Kind of odd, but whatever. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:59.840 So he's just coming in there and he's just like, hey guys, what's happening? 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:03.759 You know, they're like, dude, what's don't you realize what's going on here? 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:05.440 So they explain the situation to him. 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:07.600 Of course, David's like, What? 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:09.440 That's it? 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:16.000 Like that guy starts to make a scene, so much so that he gets brought before King Saul. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:21.759 And so King Saul is questioning David, what are you doing here, boy? 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:22.960 What are you doing here? 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:23.919 We know David was young. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:27.519 He's probably in his teens, maybe 15 to 19-ish. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:37.279 I'm no historian, but we know that because in the book of Numbers, the age for men to go to war was 20 years old. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:42.639 And we know that his three older brothers were there, and he had eight brothers total, and he's the youngest. 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:45.360 So we know he's not the age of war. 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:46.720 This is a boy. 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:49.200 Imagine just some teenage boy. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:51.919 Saul's looking at him, what are you gonna do? 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:54.480 What could you possibly do? 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:58.240 But David understood the enemy. 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:04.559 He knew who the enemy was, he knew the battle, and he knew the battle belonged to the Lord. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:08.159 He told Saul, he said, Hey, he's not coming against you. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:11.919 He's not coming against me, he's coming against our God. 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:14.399 He's coming against our God. 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:18.080 And so Saul says, Okay, fine, you know what? 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:19.200 Go ahead. 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:21.679 I got nothing to lose if you you get killed. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:23.440 But here, take my armor. 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:25.200 Take my armor. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:28.559 So they dress David in Saul's armor. 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:32.639 David wasn't having it. 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:34.240 He wasn't having it. 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:37.360 It didn't fit right, it didn't feel right. 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:38.720 Because it wasn't his. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:40.559 It was someone else's armor. 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:42.320 It wasn't meant for him. 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:47.279 He wasn't meant to go step out in battle with Saul's armor, so he took it off. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:50.480 And you might say he went out there with no armor. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:58.720 But he went out there in the Lord's armor because the Lord's armor is spiritual armor, it's not physical. 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:02.080 David understood this. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:04.159 David understood this. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:09.200 He took Saul's armor off and he grabbed five stones and he put them in his pouch. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:14.000 He grabbed his staff and he grabbed his sling and he walked out to that battlefield. 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:21.200 And he walked straight up to his enemy, Goliath, towering over him, just towering over him. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:24.720 Goliath continues to mock him, belittle him. 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:25.840 What are you gonna do, little boy? 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:26.639 Are you guys serious? 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:29.039 You send a kid to fight me? 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:31.759 Like Saul said, you're just a youth. 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:34.159 Goliath's been fighting since his youth. 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:35.519 You have no chance. 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:38.879 Goliath's saying the same thing, but he understood the battle. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:43.679 He understood the enemy, and he had his strength. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:46.399 His strength was in God. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:49.440 It came from God, like his armor. 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:54.000 So he was able to look his enemy dead in the eyes and say, Not today. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:55.440 Not today. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:58.799 I'm gonna conquer you. 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:03.039 God's gonna give you into our hands, Goliath. 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:06.000 And sure enough, we know the story, right? 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:10.960 Puts that stone in the sling, snipes him right in the head. 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:15.039 Goliath comes down, and it's a glorious victory, right? 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:21.600 All because David followed these steps. 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:25.840 He was strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:29.840 And he had on the whole armor of God. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:31.039 I love what David said. 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:34.080 He said, the battle belongs to the Lord. 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:36.159 The battle belongs to the Lord. 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:40.159 And it's no different than it was then, as it is now. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:48.879 Every battle we face, every trial we come up against, God knows. 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:50.480 He knows. 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:59.120 And he's giving you everything you need to be fully equipped to face that enemy. 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:02.559 To overcome the battle. 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:03.519 Right? 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.200 You guys good? 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.480 It's really quiet. 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.759 Are you okay? 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:10.720 All right. 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:12.559 Sinking in? 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:13.120 Okay. 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:14.879 Very good. 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:22.399 So, like David, our strength needs to be in the Lord first and foremost. 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:23.519 That was last week. 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:26.480 This week we need to put on the whole armor of God. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:29.919 That you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:40.399 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against cosmic powers over present darkness, against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:42.320 The battle is spiritual. 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:45.679 The armor is spiritual. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:54.960 I think it's safe to say that it's very important that we understand the spiritual realm as believers. 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:57.679 We have to understand. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:04.319 We have to be equipped in the spirit in order to fight in the spirit. 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:07.599 And we don't have a chance. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:15.839 You're kidding yourself if you think you have the slightest chance of heading into battle without your armor. 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:26.240 There's a real enemy, there's a real battle, and God has given us everything we need to stand firm. 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:32.079 You may have heard it said that if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:34.640 I want to push that a little further. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:43.920 If you don't stand firm in Christ, you will fall prey to the enemy. 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:53.839 As believers, if you do not stand firm in Christ, you will fall prey to the enemy every single time. 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:59.039 So this is the Christian's call to arms. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:01.119 Get ready. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.839 Stay ready. 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:05.119 Armor up. 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:06.160 It's time. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:11.680 We can't just sit back and let things happen to us anymore. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:16.400 We can't just sit back and act like everything's okay. 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:18.079 Take the passive route. 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:20.799 There's a battle to be won. 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:27.920 There's ground that the enemy is just trying to take over, and we have to stand. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:32.000 As believers, do you believe it? 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.599 But God is so good. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:35.440 He's so faithful. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:40.640 And if we rely on his strength and put on that armor, we can stand. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:42.000 Amen. 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:45.839 Well, Heavenly Father, Lord, we just thank you so much. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.680 Thank you for your word. 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:50.160 God, thank you. 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:52.400 Man, for your armor. 00:18:52.559 --> 00:19:03.359 I pray that, God, right now, you would help us remember every single day, every single day, first thing when we wake up to put on this armor. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:05.839 God, we can't do it without you. 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:07.440 We need you. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:14.160 As believers, we need you just to make it through the day, let alone face the battles that every day holds. 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:16.880 And we know there's a real enemy. 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:19.519 But God, you have overcome. 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:20.799 You have overcome. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:26.319 And so we put our faith, our hope, and our trust in you, Jesus. 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:28.799 Lord, thank you for everyone here tonight. 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:31.359 I pray that you would just bless the rest of this evening. 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:33.039 We love you and we thank you. 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:34.799 And in your mighty name we pray. 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:35.519 Amen.