WEBVTT 00:00:25.969 --> 00:00:29.729 If you want to click, flip in your Bibles, we're going to bounce around a little bit. 00:00:29.890 --> 00:00:34.369 We are in a series and we're going to start in Ephesians 6 if you want to get there. 00:00:34.609 --> 00:00:37.089 We're in a series called Winning the War. 00:00:37.329 --> 00:00:40.769 And today's sermon is entitled Get Strapped. 00:00:41.489 --> 00:00:42.689 Get strapped. 00:00:42.929 --> 00:00:46.129 Now, I grew up in a different generation. 00:00:46.289 --> 00:00:47.649 Maybe some of you did. 00:00:48.450 --> 00:00:53.329 I grew up in a generation where my parents did not ask me what I felt like doing. 00:00:54.369 --> 00:00:56.689 My parents told me what I was going to do. 00:00:56.929 --> 00:01:00.450 And they just let my feelings catch up to it somewhere along the way. 00:01:01.250 --> 00:01:07.090 I grew up in a generation that there was this thing called the belt of truth. 00:01:08.689 --> 00:01:16.609 Every lie got exposed when you heard that leather belt go whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, through each buckle on the pair of jeans, right? 00:01:16.769 --> 00:01:19.010 Some of you guys know what I'm talking about. 00:01:19.329 --> 00:01:23.010 You're like, I can't believe you're condoning assaulting your kids. 00:01:23.090 --> 00:01:26.849 Listen, if you consider physical discipline assaulting your kids, you're doing it all wrong. 00:01:26.929 --> 00:01:27.250 Okay. 00:01:27.489 --> 00:01:35.890 Like there is a way, that's a parenting seminar in another time that we'll go back to, but there is a way to physically discipline your kids out of love and not assault them. 00:01:36.450 --> 00:01:38.370 Another day, another time. 00:01:38.769 --> 00:01:46.450 But man, when the belt of truth came off, I was real quick to start confessing every sin I had done at home that I knew my dad was about to find out anyway. 00:01:46.689 --> 00:01:47.329 It was my fault. 00:01:47.409 --> 00:01:48.370 I picked on my brother. 00:01:48.450 --> 00:01:49.329 It was me. 00:01:51.329 --> 00:01:57.329 It had this neck of bringing out and lining everything out. 00:01:57.570 --> 00:01:58.290 Anyone else with me? 00:01:58.450 --> 00:02:01.329 Anyone else grow up in a home where you had the belt of truth that kept you straight? 00:02:01.409 --> 00:02:02.450 I'm so thankful for it. 00:02:02.609 --> 00:02:03.490 Praise God. 00:02:06.049 --> 00:02:13.009 That the reality is in our life we have these moments where we need truth to keep our life in alignment with what God wants. 00:02:13.169 --> 00:02:16.289 And maybe you've had these moments where you've ever felt like this. 00:02:16.449 --> 00:02:21.009 Maybe you've questioned yourself and said, Man, why is my life such a mess? 00:02:21.490 --> 00:02:23.569 Where has my peace gone to? 00:02:23.810 --> 00:02:26.530 Why can't I find victory in my life? 00:02:26.849 --> 00:02:30.449 I think part of this conversation is why we're in this series. 00:02:30.530 --> 00:02:31.889 It's called Winning the War. 00:02:32.129 --> 00:02:37.009 The reality is for some of us, if we acknowledge it or don't acknowledge it, it won't change it. 00:02:37.250 --> 00:02:38.849 We are in a fight. 00:02:39.330 --> 00:02:42.129 And in fact, we talked about last week in week one. 00:02:42.289 --> 00:02:46.129 If you want to go back and listen to it, they they we're actually in a God ordained fight. 00:02:46.289 --> 00:02:49.650 That Paul said in scripture, he said, fight the good fight. 00:02:49.890 --> 00:02:53.890 And I think so many times we're running from something God's called us to engage in. 00:02:54.849 --> 00:03:00.689 And we've been called to engage in a spiritual battle for our lives, for our kids' lives, for the people around us. 00:03:00.770 --> 00:03:02.530 And that's why we're here doing what we're doing. 00:03:02.689 --> 00:03:07.650 And we have these moments where we need to be willing to have these kind of conversations. 00:03:07.890 --> 00:03:12.530 And truth shapes everything that we do in this church. 00:03:13.170 --> 00:03:20.770 And if there's one thing that the enemy has tried his hardest in today's world to fight against, it is truth. 00:03:22.129 --> 00:03:25.490 We have tried to make truth a few things. 00:03:25.729 --> 00:03:27.890 We've called truth relative. 00:03:29.330 --> 00:03:34.289 What is your truth may not be my truth, but you live your truth, I'll live my truth. 00:03:34.610 --> 00:03:38.610 We like to say there's not a universal truth that guides what we do. 00:03:40.210 --> 00:03:44.210 Beautiful life from the enemy, not the truth of God's word. 00:03:45.170 --> 00:03:51.170 So then what we do honestly is we start to make truth this thing where we want to say it's offensive. 00:03:52.050 --> 00:03:54.129 Your truth offends me. 00:03:54.370 --> 00:03:58.530 And so I can't share the truth because I'm afraid I might hurt your feelings. 00:03:58.849 --> 00:04:01.090 Anybody else ever had one of those moments? 00:04:04.210 --> 00:04:11.810 And so we try to change or soften truth because we're afraid I might hurt somebody's feelings when I share the truth. 00:04:11.969 --> 00:04:18.529 Or that becomes the other part is we just don't want to talk about things that are true because somebody's feelings may get hurt. 00:04:18.610 --> 00:04:20.930 And so we do the opposite. 00:04:21.170 --> 00:04:28.849 We're afraid of somebody's feelings getting hurt, so we let them run headlong into danger without saying anything because I don't want to hurt their feelings. 00:04:29.490 --> 00:04:36.449 Listen, if my kids were about to run into a busy street, the last thing I would be worried about was my kids' feelings. 00:04:37.009 --> 00:04:48.530 I would be yelling at them in the most dad tone that I could get as loud as I had to to get their attention, that what you're about to do is dangerous and you don't want to go there. 00:04:48.769 --> 00:04:52.209 And that would be the most loving thing that I could do in that moment. 00:04:54.050 --> 00:05:04.129 And so we live in a world where the fight we're fighting against is the enemy trying to keep you from living in the victory that God has called you to, because when we live in God's truth, we walk in God's freedom. 00:05:04.290 --> 00:05:08.689 That is the reality that Jesus has told us in John 8, 31 and 32. 00:05:08.769 --> 00:05:09.569 You can jot this down. 00:05:09.649 --> 00:05:11.410 I promise we're going to Ephesians 6. 00:05:11.569 --> 00:05:24.050 Jesus said this: He said to the people who believed in him, You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings, and you will know the and the will set you free. 00:05:24.209 --> 00:05:25.490 What sets you free? 00:05:26.129 --> 00:05:26.689 Truth. 00:05:26.930 --> 00:05:32.050 And so if I was Satan, what is the one thing I would target in this world to keep people enslaved? 00:05:34.530 --> 00:05:44.689 Well, it would be the one thing I would try to do to make as confusing as possible for people so they could not know how to follow Jesus and live in the victory that God created them to live in. 00:05:44.930 --> 00:05:48.050 I would create as much confusion around truth as I could. 00:05:50.530 --> 00:05:55.170 And thus, while we live in the world we are, this is the spiritual battle we're up against. 00:05:55.329 --> 00:05:58.850 One of my core values here is I will be uncomfortably real. 00:05:59.089 --> 00:06:09.170 And so we're gonna step into truth and trust that the love and grace of God is big enough that we can talk about true things and still navigate in love and grace simultaneously. 00:06:09.649 --> 00:06:11.569 This is the battle that we're up against. 00:06:11.649 --> 00:06:14.209 And so we're gonna read Ephesians 6 every week. 00:06:14.370 --> 00:06:18.050 We read some of this last week, but we're gonna throw one more verse on and read it out loud. 00:06:18.129 --> 00:06:19.490 I think it's so important here. 00:06:19.730 --> 00:06:25.410 Ephesians 6, starting in verse 10, says, A final word be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. 00:06:25.649 --> 00:06:31.889 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. 00:06:32.129 --> 00:06:43.329 For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 00:06:43.569 --> 00:06:49.970 Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so that you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. 00:06:50.129 --> 00:06:52.769 And then after the battle, you'll be standing firm. 00:06:53.009 --> 00:06:54.610 This was the piece we talked about. 00:06:54.689 --> 00:06:56.129 I'm gonna get to verse 14. 00:06:56.209 --> 00:06:57.329 You can leave it up there for a second. 00:06:57.490 --> 00:07:02.050 But those were the verses we looked at last week that we're in a fight and God's preparing us for a fight. 00:07:02.129 --> 00:07:03.089 And so how do we do that? 00:07:03.250 --> 00:07:04.530 He said, be strong. 00:07:04.850 --> 00:07:09.810 We got to do stuff to gain some spiritual strength so that we can win the battle that we're in. 00:07:10.530 --> 00:07:13.009 We don't wait for the battle to come and then get strong. 00:07:13.170 --> 00:07:15.329 You get strong, so when the battle comes, you're ready. 00:07:15.410 --> 00:07:16.370 That's what we talked about. 00:07:16.449 --> 00:07:22.129 We talked about changing the right mindset because God says when you finish the battle, you will be standing firm. 00:07:22.290 --> 00:07:26.290 The right mindset is no matter what battle you face, you can't lose. 00:07:26.689 --> 00:07:34.290 The only way you can lose is if you get the enemy to get you to surrender the victory God's already given to you because we're overcomers. 00:07:35.730 --> 00:07:37.089 That's the right mindset. 00:07:37.329 --> 00:07:43.170 The right mindset that he gave us was to recognize so many times we want to make people the enemy, but people are not the enemy. 00:07:43.329 --> 00:07:44.370 Satan is the enemy. 00:07:44.530 --> 00:07:50.930 And he's often pulling strings on people, and he gets us to make a person the enemy, and we don't even recognize what he's doing. 00:07:51.170 --> 00:07:53.649 People are the mission, they are never the enemy. 00:07:53.970 --> 00:07:55.170 Let me say that again. 00:07:55.410 --> 00:07:57.649 People are the mission, they are never the enemy. 00:07:57.810 --> 00:07:59.810 The enemy is always the enemy. 00:08:01.569 --> 00:08:03.089 And then we got to stand firm. 00:08:03.250 --> 00:08:04.449 And so, how do we stand firm? 00:08:04.610 --> 00:08:10.689 Verse 14, stand your ground, he said, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. 00:08:10.850 --> 00:08:13.170 This week we're gonna look at the belt of truth. 00:08:13.410 --> 00:08:19.810 How many of you guys walked in today and was looking around at people's belts to see what they were wearing? 00:08:20.769 --> 00:08:22.129 Nobody, right? 00:08:22.370 --> 00:08:28.530 Like they're probably one of the more obscure pieces of articles of clothing that we might wear, right? 00:08:28.610 --> 00:08:30.370 Like I don't go around checking out somebody's belt. 00:08:30.449 --> 00:08:32.289 Like, I like that belt. 00:08:32.610 --> 00:08:33.970 I see some boots sometimes. 00:08:34.049 --> 00:08:35.649 I'm like, man, I like those boots. 00:08:35.970 --> 00:08:42.129 I see somebody's hat, I'm like, man, I could get down with that hat, but I don't usually look at the belt. 00:08:42.449 --> 00:08:46.850 It may seem like a piece that does not carry much value. 00:08:47.089 --> 00:08:58.049 But if you understand what a Roman soldier would wear and the armor that they would wear that Paul is describing, you would begin to realize why he said the belt first. 00:08:58.609 --> 00:09:06.769 Because the belt may seem like it's an obscure article of clothing, but it's actually one of the more crucial pieces to what they wore. 00:09:06.929 --> 00:09:12.529 And so truth plays a big part in us walking in the victory that God wants us to walk in. 00:09:12.929 --> 00:09:23.729 2 Timothy 3:15 says this says, You've been taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you wisdom to receive salvation that comes by trusting in Jesus Christ. 00:09:23.969 --> 00:09:29.329 If we want to gain truth, we have to understand it requires us to be taught. 00:09:29.729 --> 00:09:37.169 Like there are things that God is trying to teach us so that we can walk in the truth that He wants to guide us in. 00:09:37.729 --> 00:09:40.529 And there's always room for us to learn more. 00:09:41.489 --> 00:09:45.329 The beauty about the Bible, so many people want to make it a rule book to follow. 00:09:45.569 --> 00:09:47.809 I love what was said in that scripture there. 00:09:47.969 --> 00:09:50.769 He said it's it's wisdom to be gained. 00:09:51.329 --> 00:09:56.689 If you look at the Bible as a rule book, you're missing the heart of what the Bible really is. 00:09:57.489 --> 00:10:02.609 It is godly wisdom to lead your life in the victory that God wants for you. 00:10:03.169 --> 00:10:06.449 If you want rules to follow, I'm not gonna be your pastor. 00:10:08.449 --> 00:10:10.449 Because rules don't change us. 00:10:10.689 --> 00:10:13.250 The wisdom and heart of God changes us. 00:10:14.769 --> 00:10:16.369 And we have to be taught that. 00:10:16.529 --> 00:10:22.209 And sometimes to gain truth, here's the other reality for some of us: we have to unlearn some things. 00:10:22.689 --> 00:10:28.769 Anybody ever recognize that there's some moments where like you're trying to do something and the way you keep trying to do it isn't working? 00:10:29.089 --> 00:10:30.609 So what do you have to do? 00:10:30.929 --> 00:10:36.129 Go back to square one and start over and learn a different way to do this because it isn't working. 00:10:36.689 --> 00:10:45.809 Maybe you have a hard-headed kid or a spouse, and you keep trying, but nothing's changing. 00:10:46.129 --> 00:10:50.689 The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expect a different result, right? 00:10:50.849 --> 00:10:52.609 Sometimes you have to go backwards. 00:10:52.849 --> 00:11:00.449 We had one kid that you could have spanked till you broke the belt, and she was just going to grit down and bare her teeth and say, It didn't bother me. 00:11:01.889 --> 00:11:05.729 I had to relearn how to parent a strong-willed child. 00:11:08.289 --> 00:11:17.889 Truth is something we have to learn, and sometimes it means we have to unlearn some things that aren't true so we can learn the truth that God wants for us in our life. 00:11:18.129 --> 00:11:22.769 That the enemy is the master of planting lies in our hearts and minds. 00:11:23.489 --> 00:11:29.329 And when he plants those lies, so many times we miss the enemy speaking those lies to us. 00:11:29.489 --> 00:11:30.049 You want to know why? 00:11:30.209 --> 00:11:32.049 Because it sounds like your voice. 00:11:32.529 --> 00:11:37.889 He gets you to repeat the lie, he gets you to believe the lie. 00:11:39.969 --> 00:11:41.169 And we miss the truth. 00:11:41.250 --> 00:11:46.929 And so there's some things we gotta unlearn so we can learn what God is trying to teach us in these moments. 00:11:47.009 --> 00:11:47.569 Because why? 00:11:47.729 --> 00:11:54.769 He's trying to give us a truth that gives us the ability to trust Jesus no matter what, so that we can find the salvation that he has for us. 00:11:55.089 --> 00:11:58.129 This is the heart that he wants for us. 00:12:00.609 --> 00:12:02.849 And so part of this becomes this reality. 00:12:03.009 --> 00:12:08.449 If you're taking notes, I would encourage you to take some time to write some of these things down if you want to. 00:12:09.089 --> 00:12:11.569 Truth holds the armor together. 00:12:12.209 --> 00:12:26.449 For a Roman soldier, the belt that they wore was weaved through all the plates of armor that they wore, so that as they went into battle, it held everything together to protect them. 00:12:27.809 --> 00:12:34.609 The belt that they wore became the place where the sword that they were going to engage in battle with would hang from. 00:12:34.929 --> 00:12:39.569 At times it would be a spot where the shield they would carry could hang from. 00:12:39.809 --> 00:12:49.409 And so the belt was an incredibly crucial piece to what they did, even though it didn't look as good as everything else, because without it, the armor wouldn't stay together. 00:12:49.569 --> 00:12:57.889 And the moment you start moving and the moment you start fighting, all those pieces of armor are flopping around and they're getting in your way instead of protecting you. 00:12:58.049 --> 00:13:01.409 And then as that armor flops around, guess what happens? 00:13:01.649 --> 00:13:07.969 Suddenly, vital parts of your body are exposed where the enemy that you're fighting against can get you. 00:13:09.009 --> 00:13:13.409 You want to understand why the enemy is doing all he can to undermine truth. 00:13:13.729 --> 00:13:21.409 Because he's trying to weaken you and expose you in a way that he can get to you and harm you. 00:13:22.129 --> 00:13:32.049 And if that is the case, then the most loving and graceful thing that Jesus could ever do for you and I is to present us with the truth. 00:13:32.289 --> 00:13:39.169 So that we could strap up our armor to protect us as we go into battle. 00:13:40.369 --> 00:13:47.409 So that as we strap up, we've got a place to hang the weapons that He's given us to fight because He's called us to a good fight. 00:13:47.489 --> 00:13:51.489 And everybody knows if you're gonna win a fight, you can't play defense the whole time. 00:13:51.649 --> 00:13:53.489 Somewhere you got to start playing offense. 00:13:53.569 --> 00:13:55.089 And so I need that sword. 00:13:55.250 --> 00:13:59.729 I need that spear, I need the belt that's holding all those things with me. 00:13:59.809 --> 00:14:03.409 So when I get to the place, I don't have to just play defense against the enemy. 00:14:03.569 --> 00:14:06.769 I can start playing offense so I can overcome and win. 00:14:07.809 --> 00:14:15.889 And so the enemy does all he can to destroy the one thing that God is trying to give to you so you and I can live in the victory that He's promised you. 00:14:16.689 --> 00:14:18.689 It affects everything else that we know. 00:14:18.849 --> 00:14:21.889 If you go on, he talks about the breastplate of righteousness. 00:14:22.049 --> 00:14:25.969 You want to know you got to understand God's truth to understand God's righteousness. 00:14:26.209 --> 00:14:29.089 I'm gonna give you a list of scriptures real fast as we go. 00:14:29.169 --> 00:14:31.409 So if you want to jot these down for later on, you can. 00:14:31.489 --> 00:14:39.009 But 1 Peter 2 24 says he personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we could be dead to sin and live for what is right. 00:14:39.169 --> 00:14:41.169 By his wounds, you are healed. 00:14:42.049 --> 00:14:45.809 So that we could live to what is right, God's righteous standard. 00:14:45.969 --> 00:14:49.969 Righteousness is just a big fancy word for living by what God says is right. 00:14:50.129 --> 00:14:54.289 And if you don't know the truth of God, you can't live by what God says is right. 00:14:54.449 --> 00:15:05.889 And if I know the truth of God, for every person that wants to justify choosing sin instead of following Jesus, he's reminding us in this scripture that if you're gonna live by God's righteousness, then we're dead to sin and we live to what's right. 00:15:06.049 --> 00:15:07.169 We don't live in sin. 00:15:07.329 --> 00:15:09.969 We're dead to sin and we live by what's right. 00:15:12.929 --> 00:15:15.489 I gotta have the truth to understand this, though. 00:15:15.649 --> 00:15:17.809 To be able to strap this armor on and be prepared. 00:15:17.889 --> 00:15:21.089 If I don't have that truth, I'm not prepared for what's coming. 00:15:22.129 --> 00:15:23.169 Talks about peace. 00:15:23.409 --> 00:15:26.049 Anyone need a little bit more peace in today's world? 00:15:26.209 --> 00:15:26.849 I can. 00:15:27.009 --> 00:15:28.129 Oh my goodness. 00:15:28.289 --> 00:15:29.649 I'm going on vacation this week. 00:15:29.729 --> 00:15:30.289 I can't wait. 00:15:30.369 --> 00:15:30.769 I love y'all. 00:15:30.849 --> 00:15:33.409 I'm gonna shut off almost every notification on my phone, though. 00:15:33.809 --> 00:15:36.369 I'll talk to you in about six or seven days, all right? 00:15:37.009 --> 00:15:43.169 I just need a little peace, a little separation from everything the world wants to use to pull at us. 00:15:43.329 --> 00:15:43.649 Why? 00:15:43.889 --> 00:15:51.729 Because Isaiah 26, 3 says, You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. 00:15:51.889 --> 00:15:58.369 You want to learn how to live in peace in your life, know the truth, and let that affect your life. 00:15:59.569 --> 00:16:06.609 If I don't have the truth of God's word, it's impossible for me to have the peace that He's called me to walk in. 00:16:07.250 --> 00:16:08.529 That we want to have faith. 00:16:08.609 --> 00:16:09.969 And he talks about the shield of faith. 00:16:10.049 --> 00:16:15.409 Well, Romans 10:17 says, so faith comes from hearing, that is hearing the good news about Jesus. 00:16:15.569 --> 00:16:18.449 You want to have faith in your life, then you got to know the truth of God. 00:16:18.529 --> 00:16:25.009 And one of the best ways we learn the truth of God is by hearing somebody teach us and help us understand God's truth. 00:16:25.169 --> 00:16:26.369 You want to have more faith? 00:16:26.609 --> 00:16:28.129 Learn more truth. 00:16:31.809 --> 00:16:35.889 We have these moments where we want to experience the salvation that God wants for us. 00:16:35.969 --> 00:16:41.969 And then we run into Ephesians 2, 8, and it says, God saved you by his grace when you believed, and you can't take credit for this. 00:16:42.049 --> 00:16:43.089 It's a gift from God. 00:16:43.250 --> 00:16:44.929 I'm gonna free some of y'all up today. 00:16:45.089 --> 00:16:48.609 I love one of the things that Jonathan Pakluda does when he talks about salvation. 00:16:48.769 --> 00:16:51.409 See, most of the time, if I would say, Are you saved? 00:16:51.489 --> 00:16:58.609 and give me a scale from zero to ten on how confident you are that you're saved, I'm gonna just skip to the end, okay? 00:16:58.849 --> 00:17:00.849 The answer should always be ten. 00:17:02.929 --> 00:17:11.410 But the majority of the time, even for people that have come to church for years, sometimes the answer might be six or seven at best, maybe an eight. 00:17:13.890 --> 00:17:21.650 Man, if I understand the truth of God and what it means that I'm saved by grace, not by my works, because if I'm saved by works, then I've earned wages. 00:17:21.809 --> 00:17:31.970 And Romans 6 tells us the wages of sin is but the free gift of God is so you can either take the wages of sin you've earned or you can take God's free gift. 00:17:32.049 --> 00:17:36.049 But if it's God's free gift, you can't earn it, which means you've not done anything to deserve it. 00:17:36.210 --> 00:17:39.569 It means he's given to you because he loves you and he cares for you. 00:17:39.889 --> 00:17:46.129 And so why can't I say I have a 10 out of 10 confidence that I'm going to be in heaven with Jesus one day? 00:17:46.289 --> 00:17:48.849 Because it's got nothing to do with Jason Mock. 00:17:49.490 --> 00:17:57.490 It's got everything to do with Jesus Christ dying on the cross for my sins and me putting my faith in him. 00:17:57.970 --> 00:18:05.730 And because I have believed in him, I can say with confidence one day, 10 out of 10, baby, I'm gonna be in heaven. 00:18:05.889 --> 00:18:08.849 And you and I should walk in that same confidence. 00:18:09.089 --> 00:18:11.329 And anything less than that is not God. 00:18:11.490 --> 00:18:15.889 That's the enemy trying to keep you from walking in the victory that he wants for you. 00:18:17.889 --> 00:18:19.569 Can you tell I'm a little fired up? 00:18:19.649 --> 00:18:24.929 I'm tired of the enemy defeating us, and I want God's victory for us. 00:18:25.490 --> 00:18:29.169 The sword of the spirit, man, we talk about being able to have a sword to fight back. 00:18:29.250 --> 00:18:33.250 Hebrews 4 12 says, For the word of God is alive and powerful. 00:18:33.409 --> 00:18:35.970 And we're going to study this more as we go on and we get to this. 00:18:36.129 --> 00:18:45.089 It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow, it exposes the innermost thoughts and desires. 00:18:45.250 --> 00:18:55.490 You want to equip yourself to be able to fight the fight offensively, know the truth of God, because it's able to discern through every set of circumstances what it is we're called to do. 00:18:56.929 --> 00:19:02.369 And when there's a knife that sharp, you realize real fast it will separate the good from the bad. 00:19:02.849 --> 00:19:05.569 If you ever, let me just give you a warning. 00:19:05.730 --> 00:19:11.250 If you ever ask to borrow my brother-in-law's knife, just understand. 00:19:11.409 --> 00:19:13.250 It's like the sword of the spirit, man. 00:19:13.409 --> 00:19:16.849 That dude knows how to sharpen a knife that I can shave my head with. 00:19:20.529 --> 00:19:21.809 The word of God. 00:19:22.769 --> 00:19:30.049 You want to learn how to have confidence in your life and how to navigate from what He has called us to walk in and not called us to walk in? 00:19:30.210 --> 00:19:34.289 Know the truth of God because it's able to separate those moments. 00:19:35.889 --> 00:19:42.769 Without the truth, we're exposed and we're exposing ourselves in very dangerous ways to the enemy. 00:19:43.009 --> 00:19:46.769 With the truth, we understand how to fight back. 00:19:46.929 --> 00:19:50.849 And so, why would we as a church talk about doing a Bible reading playing together for the year? 00:19:51.009 --> 00:19:58.210 Because I'm trying to help you learn the truth of God so you can gain confidence in your life to walk in the victory that Jesus wants you to walk in. 00:19:58.369 --> 00:20:00.849 And if you don't ever open up your Bible, hear me. 00:20:00.929 --> 00:20:02.849 I love you with as much love as I can say. 00:20:03.009 --> 00:20:09.250 You're giving away the victory Jesus wants for you when you never take the time to open up scripture and know the truth of God. 00:20:10.289 --> 00:20:13.009 And so many times we want to blame the enemy. 00:20:13.490 --> 00:20:15.409 I got some bad news. 00:20:15.889 --> 00:20:18.769 If you don't know the truth of God, that's not Satan's fault. 00:20:18.849 --> 00:20:22.129 It's your fault for not taking the time to do your homework and learn it. 00:20:23.089 --> 00:20:30.690 And the sooner we can accept responsibility for that and then start putting in the work, the sooner we can start moving in the victory that God wants for us. 00:20:30.929 --> 00:20:33.009 Don't tell me the Bible's too hard to understand. 00:20:33.089 --> 00:20:35.329 There's 101 versions that are easy to read. 00:20:35.490 --> 00:20:37.889 Why do I pick the new living translation in church? 00:20:37.970 --> 00:20:39.409 Because it's easy to understand. 00:20:39.569 --> 00:20:42.129 And I don't want anybody give me excuses why I can't. 00:20:42.289 --> 00:20:45.809 Well, my grandpa said you can only read the King James Version. 00:20:46.049 --> 00:20:46.769 That's okay. 00:20:46.849 --> 00:20:53.490 Then pick a version other than that, because Jesus did not read the King James Version, even though people tell us that, all right? 00:20:55.169 --> 00:20:57.490 Pick a version you can understand, start there. 00:20:57.649 --> 00:21:03.250 We're gonna have groups coming up in August that you can sign up for where you can grow in your relationship with Jesus and grow stronger. 00:21:03.329 --> 00:21:04.289 Why would we do that? 00:21:04.450 --> 00:21:07.490 Because we're trying to help people walk in the victory that Jesus wants for them. 00:21:07.649 --> 00:21:13.730 And one of the best ways to do that is to surround ourselves with other people who can encourage us and help us grow. 00:21:15.329 --> 00:21:17.329 We want victory for you. 00:21:17.649 --> 00:21:19.569 Jesus has already given it to you. 00:21:19.730 --> 00:21:24.210 It's up to us to prepare for the fight so we can walk in the victory that he wants. 00:21:26.609 --> 00:21:29.409 Satan is such a master manipulator, though. 00:21:29.490 --> 00:21:30.529 He does this. 00:21:31.490 --> 00:21:36.769 Satan would assault truth because he's trying to take away your freedom and mask it as freedom. 00:21:37.329 --> 00:21:38.690 I've been listening to this book. 00:21:38.769 --> 00:21:39.809 It's really interesting. 00:21:39.889 --> 00:21:41.889 Um, and you're like, I don't know. 00:21:42.049 --> 00:21:47.809 Like it's not a Christian book, but it's talking about the ways that we're we're deceived and the way the world works to deceive us. 00:21:47.889 --> 00:21:52.210 And if you understand gambling at all, like there's a really cool story to gambling. 00:21:52.289 --> 00:21:53.970 Like slot machines used to be worthless. 00:21:54.049 --> 00:21:55.009 Just track with me for a minute. 00:21:55.089 --> 00:21:55.490 I promise. 00:21:55.569 --> 00:21:58.529 I'm not gonna tell you to go to the slot machines so we can buy some land for the church. 00:21:58.609 --> 00:22:00.129 Okay, I'm not about to do that. 00:22:00.289 --> 00:22:03.169 I am not, hear me, about to do that, okay? 00:22:03.490 --> 00:22:19.409 But the slot machines used to be the worst thing in the casinos, made them no money because people got tired up and gave up on them until they figured out how to digitize it and create a program so that it would suck you in to keep spending money even though you were losing. 00:22:19.809 --> 00:22:24.849 They call it making a win, uh making a loss feel like a win. 00:22:26.690 --> 00:22:28.450 Satan is so good at that. 00:22:28.769 --> 00:22:29.649 And how does it work? 00:22:29.730 --> 00:22:32.929 Man, you let's say you just take 10 bucks to a slot machine in today's world. 00:22:33.169 --> 00:22:34.529 Cha-ching, one dollar, nothing. 00:22:34.690 --> 00:22:35.970 Cha-ching, one dollar, nothing. 00:22:36.129 --> 00:22:37.649 Cha-ching, I won 25 cents. 00:22:37.809 --> 00:22:38.210 No, you didn't. 00:22:38.289 --> 00:22:39.889 You lost 75, but you think you won. 00:22:39.970 --> 00:22:40.849 So we hit the button again. 00:22:40.929 --> 00:22:43.409 Cha-ching, lost a dollar, cha-ching, two dollars. 00:22:43.569 --> 00:22:44.289 Woo! I won. 00:22:44.369 --> 00:22:45.169 No, you're still behind. 00:22:45.329 --> 00:22:48.450 Cha-ching, another dollar I lost, cha-ching, another dollar I lost. 00:22:48.609 --> 00:22:51.250 15 minutes later, that 10 bucks is still gone. 00:22:51.569 --> 00:22:56.129 But you kept pulling because it lets you feel like you won something a time or two. 00:22:56.289 --> 00:23:01.089 But in the end, anybody that's ever played them long enough knows you generally don't walk out ahead. 00:23:01.169 --> 00:23:02.769 You always walk out behind. 00:23:03.889 --> 00:23:13.409 But we keep playing because the machines have catered to our emotional desire to feel and make us feel like we're winning, even though we're losing. 00:23:14.369 --> 00:23:17.970 Satan wants you to not understand the truth of God. 00:23:18.609 --> 00:23:24.289 Because if you don't understand the truth, he can make sin feel like a win. 00:23:24.609 --> 00:23:27.409 And in the end, you still lose. 00:23:29.730 --> 00:23:31.490 That is the way he works. 00:23:33.009 --> 00:23:36.289 And so truth becomes critical and pivotal in these moments. 00:23:36.450 --> 00:23:39.329 Hebrews 11, 3 goes on to say this. 00:23:39.649 --> 00:23:40.849 Track with me for just a second. 00:23:41.009 --> 00:23:51.730 By faith, we understand the entire universe was formed at God's command, and that we now see what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. 00:23:52.129 --> 00:23:53.250 What does the scripture mean? 00:23:53.409 --> 00:23:54.609 Truth produces life. 00:23:55.009 --> 00:23:59.809 If you understand the story of Genesis at all, there was a moment where God was at the very beginning. 00:23:59.970 --> 00:24:16.929 If you're reading Genesis 1, it says this it said, and God said, Let there be, and there was the word of God created a reality that came into existence. 00:24:17.329 --> 00:24:20.129 The truth of God produced life. 00:24:20.929 --> 00:24:23.329 God said, Let us make man in our image. 00:24:23.490 --> 00:24:26.529 He formed up some dust on the ground, whether you believe it or not, like that's okay. 00:24:26.609 --> 00:24:28.769 Like, like let's just, it's the story there. 00:24:29.009 --> 00:24:32.129 He breathed his life into it and created life. 00:24:32.529 --> 00:24:37.089 The word of God, the truth of God, is made to create life. 00:24:38.369 --> 00:24:44.609 And the enemy doesn't want you to have the truth of God because he understands it creates life for you. 00:24:44.929 --> 00:24:48.929 Because that is what we are designed to do, is to be creatures that create light. 00:24:49.089 --> 00:24:50.049 Where are you going with this? 00:24:50.210 --> 00:25:03.889 So when the Roman soldiers wore a belt, they had this thing that were leather straps that used to hang down right here to protect the nether regions since we have little kids here, all right? 00:25:04.049 --> 00:25:08.450 It would be the Roman version of a cup before there was a cup, all right? 00:25:10.289 --> 00:25:15.730 It was there to protect the ability to continue to produce life. 00:25:17.089 --> 00:25:23.169 And underneath that, there was leather or heavy cloth around the entire waist area to protect it. 00:25:23.250 --> 00:25:27.889 That should something try to harm you in that area, there was something there to cushion and protect. 00:25:27.970 --> 00:25:35.970 And as the armor would move around, it was there to keep it from digging into you so that you wouldn't get injured and you could keep doing what you needed to do. 00:25:37.169 --> 00:25:39.009 Why would you say that, Pastor? 00:25:42.049 --> 00:25:48.929 Because the truth of God comes to our life to produce life inside of us. 00:25:50.049 --> 00:25:56.690 And the enemy is trying to remove truth from our life because he is trying to create death in our life. 00:25:58.129 --> 00:26:02.289 That is why in the very beginning, God said these words, be fruitful and multiply. 00:26:02.609 --> 00:26:07.649 And so many times we just read that and we think, man, God was just have a lot of sex and so you can have a lot of kids. 00:26:07.809 --> 00:26:09.889 Like, yeah, that's a cool benefit of it. 00:26:10.450 --> 00:26:16.450 But the point was God created us as his creation to be fruitful and multiplied. 00:26:17.970 --> 00:26:20.049 He created us to create life. 00:26:20.369 --> 00:26:23.569 The enemy tries to do all he can to take away life. 00:26:26.609 --> 00:26:29.970 And so anything that destroys life is not from God. 00:26:32.529 --> 00:26:34.769 Anything that creates life is from God. 00:26:38.769 --> 00:26:40.529 Why does God want you to have his truth? 00:26:40.609 --> 00:26:43.409 Because he's trying to multiply his life in your life. 00:26:44.450 --> 00:26:50.769 He's trying to do a work inside of you to begin to create this life that he has designed for you. 00:26:50.929 --> 00:27:00.609 He wants life for your marriage, he wants life for your children, he wants life for your finances, he wants life for your mind and your heart. 00:27:00.929 --> 00:27:02.849 He wants life for you. 00:27:03.809 --> 00:27:06.210 The enemy wants to take away life. 00:27:09.409 --> 00:27:15.009 And so one of the things we have to be careful of is because we have been created to be fruitful, multiply. 00:27:15.889 --> 00:27:23.809 Sometimes, if we're not careful, the things that we try to create in our life will multiply bad things too, instead of good things. 00:27:24.929 --> 00:27:32.690 That's why we need the truth of God to shape us, to work in us, to move inside of us so that we can produce the life that He's created us to produce. 00:27:32.849 --> 00:27:37.889 Not just the bad things the enemy wants to destroy us, but the good things that God wants to create for us. 00:27:37.970 --> 00:27:39.169 And how does God do that? 00:27:39.329 --> 00:27:41.889 He guides us in his truth. 00:27:43.730 --> 00:27:45.889 He guides us in his truth. 00:27:46.129 --> 00:27:54.929 That he is trying to shape and to create the ability inside of us to live out the life that he's created for us. 00:27:55.889 --> 00:27:59.009 And so, for me, here's the reality. 00:27:59.250 --> 00:28:04.210 We're so shallow in today's world that the depth of God's word intimidates us. 00:28:04.529 --> 00:28:12.690 If we can just be honest, we're so shallow in today's world that the depth of God's word intimidates us. 00:28:13.169 --> 00:28:14.369 And it shouldn't. 00:28:14.609 --> 00:28:22.049 Because God didn't give scripture to intimidate us, he gave scripture to lead us into wisdom so that we could experience the life he wants for us. 00:28:22.450 --> 00:28:23.889 Here's what it's like. 00:28:28.690 --> 00:28:32.609 And they have this really shallow version called the kiddie pool. 00:28:35.569 --> 00:28:38.289 I don't know about you, but I can't get in there, man. 00:28:39.009 --> 00:28:44.129 I just have this feeling the water's warm for other reasons than just because it's shallow. 00:28:47.169 --> 00:28:52.289 Sure, it's nice to be in warm water, but the thought of what made it warm, like I just don't know. 00:28:55.169 --> 00:29:09.250 But for some of us, spiritually, we we just seem to love to play in the kiddie pool without any thought of the mess that it took to make the water warm. 00:29:10.049 --> 00:29:37.009 When God is trying to call us out to a spot that is by far uncomfortable, and to go out in the deep end to trust him, understanding that I can trust God because he loves me and he wants what's best for me, and he's trying to lead me to the victory that he has, and so I can trust him to go do what he's called me to do. 00:29:37.569 --> 00:29:43.250 We get the opportunity in the fall sometimes to go with some friends to Alabama and go deep sea fishing. 00:29:43.490 --> 00:29:43.970 You know what? 00:29:44.129 --> 00:29:47.970 It's not bad when you can see the shore from wherever you're fishing. 00:29:48.210 --> 00:29:50.609 One time we went 50 miles out. 00:29:51.169 --> 00:29:59.089 You want to feel small, go 50 miles out into the ocean and realize the only thing you see is the boat right there by you. 00:30:00.129 --> 00:30:06.129 And then the person that was guiding the boat is like this 20-year-old girl who's maybe 110 pounds dripping wet. 00:30:06.210 --> 00:30:08.769 She's like, Y'all hot, you can hop in here and go for a swim. 00:30:08.929 --> 00:30:10.210 She jumps off the back of the boat. 00:30:10.289 --> 00:30:11.409 I'm like, oh heck no. 00:30:11.490 --> 00:30:12.690 Like, I am not. 00:30:13.169 --> 00:30:15.089 I mean, we just pulled in a barracuda. 00:30:15.250 --> 00:30:16.289 Thank you, but no, thank you. 00:30:16.369 --> 00:30:17.490 Like, I'm good. 00:30:18.769 --> 00:30:21.009 I trust you, but not that much. 00:30:23.490 --> 00:30:27.889 And so it's kind of this moment with Jesus. 00:30:28.210 --> 00:30:34.129 Do we trust him enough to learn his truth and step off into the deep end of things? 00:30:35.569 --> 00:30:43.169 I may not understand marriage and it may be scary to do it the way you God, you want God, but I'm gonna step off into the deep end and trust you. 00:30:43.490 --> 00:30:53.970 Raising my kids to follow you, Jesus, may not be easy in today's world, but I'm gonna trust you and your way, God, and I'm gonna try to follow the way you've called me to raise my kids. 00:30:56.369 --> 00:31:01.329 To use my finances in a way as much as I think I should use them for my benefit. 00:31:01.490 --> 00:31:05.169 I'm gonna trust you, God, and be generous with my finances instead of greedy. 00:31:05.250 --> 00:31:11.169 And I'm gonna trust as I give more, you can trust me with more, and I'll be a good steward of what you've given to me. 00:31:12.690 --> 00:31:23.250 Because here is the reality: God has called us to multiply what He wants to do, He wants to produce life in you and me, but we've got to get strapped for the battle that's coming. 00:31:23.730 --> 00:31:27.970 If you wait for the fight to get here, you're already lost. 00:31:28.529 --> 00:31:29.889 How do you win a fight? 00:31:30.049 --> 00:31:31.649 You get ready before the fight. 00:31:31.809 --> 00:31:34.129 So that when it comes, I'm prepared. 00:31:36.769 --> 00:31:38.529 Learn the truth of God. 00:31:39.649 --> 00:31:47.970