WEBVTT 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:26.960 We are not a battle with people. 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:35.759 But it's a war with the devil and his spiritual army of darkness. 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:38.079 It's a war over the truth. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:47.679 You may remember the devil fired the first shot in Genesis chapter 3 when he said, Did God really say? 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:55.119 And he brought doubt and sin and guilt into the world. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:01:04.879 Last week we began to talk about this battle, and we looked at Paul's sort of rallying cry to be strong. 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:08.879 Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:15.359 We talked about having courage for the fight and where that strength comes from, where that courage comes from. 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:26.239 We talked about the fact that we have a strong enemy who has certain tactics that he wants to employ against us, tactics of deception and temptation and accusation. 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:35.280 And we looked at the fact that we are weak, even powerless to stand against his onslaught. 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:45.599 And yet we find courage not in anything that we do, but in what Christ has done for us in winning the battle in the cross. 00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:55.200 Well, this week we come to another command, not the command to be strong, but the command to put on the whole armor of God and stand. 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:08.960 And I think our temptation as we talk about the armor of God and standing, our temptation is to fall back on ourselves. 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:14.159 Our temptation is to begin to think that, okay, now I'm gonna do this. 00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:16.960 I'm gonna put on the armor, I'm gonna fight. 00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:26.240 And I want us to remember as we begin to talk about this, that we are weak. 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:32.080 And God's power is made perfect in our weakness. 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:44.000 All that we're about to talk about does not require your strength, but it requires God's strength shining forth in your weakness. 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:49.439 We're gonna look at it again at Ephesians 6 this morning. 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:56.879 We're gonna focus in really just on the next verse, verse 11, but we're gonna look at the whole section in light of that. 00:02:57.919 --> 00:03:00.400 We're gonna look at two things primarily. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:02.800 One, uh, what does it mean to stand? 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:05.680 What is he even talking about when he calls us to stand? 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:08.319 We'll look at that pretty briefly. 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:12.960 And then we'll talk for the majority of our time on how can I do it? 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:14.400 How can I stand? 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:16.639 So, what does it mean to stand? 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:18.960 How can I do it? 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:23.039 So, what does it mean to stand? 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:32.240 What does it mean to stand as weak people in the face of the evil one, in the face of his lies and temptations and accusations? 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:33.759 What does it mean to stand? 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:44.800 Well, simply put, I would say to stand for Paul is to maintain your faith in the face of Satan's lies. 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:47.120 Fairly simple. 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:50.159 To maintain your faith in the face of Satan's lies. 00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:54.639 So 1 Peter 5.8-9, Peter says, be sober-minded, be watchful. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:04:00.080 Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 00:04:00.240 --> 00:04:05.759 And then he adds, resist him, firm in your faith. 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:12.080 And that word resist there in 1 Peter is actually the same root word as in Ephesians 6. 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:13.919 It means to stand against. 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:16.879 Peter says, stand against him. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:20.240 What does it mean to stand against Satan? 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:21.360 What does it mean to resist him? 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:25.759 According to Peter, it means to remain firm in your faith. 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:31.120 It means to not give in, to not give up, but to stand firm in what you believe. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:35.920 You might ask, well, why pick out faith? 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:39.360 In particular, when Satan's strategies are so varied, right? 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:43.040 I mean, he has lies on the one hand, but he also has temptations and accusations. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:44.240 Why pick out faith? 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:49.600 Well, remember that Satan tempts us and he accuses us through his lies. 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:52.480 He uses lies to get us to sin. 00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:56.079 He uses lies to get us to wallow in our guilt. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:11.439 And so when I'm tempted to get angry with my kids, as I was just yesterday, and I give in and I yell at them, in that moment I'm believing a lie, or multiple lies. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:16.319 In that moment, I'm believing the lie that I'm at the center of the universe. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:17.759 That's a lie. 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:24.000 I'm believing the lie that children should be perfect without the need for patient parenting. 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:25.360 That's a lie. 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:32.319 See, the way Satan tempts us, the way he accuses us, is through lies. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:54.720 And hence what it means to stand firm, to maintain our faith in the face of the opposition, in the face of Satan's strategies, to continue believing in the God that we know, to continue believing in the God who saved us, continue believing in the God who is working in us so that we might stand. 00:05:55.360 --> 00:06:01.279 It's to not to buy into Satan's lies and give in to doubt and disobedience and despair. 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:12.720 It means to stay firm in your faith, to keep believing in the God who is there. 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:15.360 Well, how can we do that? 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:19.360 How can we do that when we hear his lies so often? 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:25.120 Well, Paul actually gives us the answer in this verse. 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:26.959 It's pretty straightforward, isn't it? 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:30.399 He says, put on the whole armor of God that you may stand. 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:34.079 Put on the whole armor of God that you may stand. 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:38.480 And as we look at this, I want to break it down into three smaller questions. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:41.680 And those are, what is the armor of God? 00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:43.279 Okay, put on the whole armor of God. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:44.079 What does that even mean? 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:45.519 What is the armor of God? 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:50.240 What does it mean to put it on, and how can I do that? 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:52.319 What is the armor of God? 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:54.079 What does it mean to put it on? 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:55.839 How can I do that? 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:59.120 So, first, what is the armor of God? 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:11.120 What's interesting, as we think about the armor of God, the armor of God is first and foremost the armor that God himself wears. 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:12.959 It's God's own armor. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:19.199 Now that may seem like a funny statement, but if you have your Bible with you, flip to Isaiah 59. 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:25.920 There in Isaiah, we're told, verses 15 through 17. 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:34.879 The Lord saw it, that is all of the sin in Israel at the time. 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:38.319 The Lord saw it, and it displeased him. 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:40.319 That there was no justice. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:45.759 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede. 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:52.399 Then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:59.519 He put on righteousness as a breastplate and a helmet of salvation on his head. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:03.759 See, the armor of God is God's armor. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:08.560 It's the armor that God uses when he goes into battle for his people. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:14.560 And in one sense, it's really just God's own character, isn't it, that he arms himself with. 00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:18.000 I mean, what righteousness is there, but God's righteousness? 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:23.839 When it says that God puts on righteousness as a breastplate, it's just talking about his own character. 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:27.120 God is righteous, a righteous God. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:30.800 And he comes in righteousness to save. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:35.200 And so, in one sense, when we think about the armor of God, it's just God Himself. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:40.799 So God says to Abraham in Genesis 15, I am your shield. 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:54.240 So the armor of God is the armor that comes from God, certainly, because we're told to put it on, but that's because it's the armor that God himself first wears to do spiritual battle for us. 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:59.039 As he clothes himself in his own character to fight on our behalf. 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:04.399 And so, in one sense, the armor of God is the gospel. 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:11.679 It's the good news of who God is as he fights for his people. 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:13.600 That's the armor of God. 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:17.200 Who God is as he fights for his people. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:20.480 When we think of the armor, don't think of yourself first. 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:21.440 That's normally what we do. 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:25.440 We think of the armor of God, we think who we need to be and what we need to do. 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:33.759 But when we read about the armor of God, we need to think about who God is and what he has done for us already. 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:39.600 And of course, it's not just about God in general, but it's also about God's Messiah, isn't it? 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:46.240 When Isaiah says God will come and bring salvation, who is it who comes to bring salvation? 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:47.759 It's Jesus. 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:55.679 He's the one who puts on the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation to do battle with sin for us in the cross. 00:09:57.279 --> 00:10:05.440 Isaiah tells us as well that righteousness shall be the belt of his waist and faithfulness the belt of his loins concerning the Messiah. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:10.960 He's the one who came to fight for us and was armed for battle. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:15.919 This is why Paul in Romans chapter 13 can say this. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:19.279 He says, The night is far gone, the day is at hand. 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:23.519 So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:26.320 So there's the same image, the armor of light. 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:42.960 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:49.600 You see, for Paul to put on the armor of light is the same thing as to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:59.039 So Paul could have said here in Ephesians 6, he could have said, put on the Lord Jesus Christ that you may stand against the schemes of the devil. 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:01.600 Think about it. 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:04.879 I mean, what will enable you to stand against the devil? 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:06.879 I mean, your own strength? 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:08.080 Clearly not. 00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:10.000 Your own character? 00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:10.639 No. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:13.440 An armor of your own making? 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:15.120 Not at all. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:18.960 The gospel alone allows us to stand. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:25.519 God's work for us in and through Jesus, that's what allows us to stand. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:32.879 So God's armor is God's character and his saving work for sinners. 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:38.080 Especially God's character and work as it's displayed in the gospel. 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:43.279 Okay, so that's his armor. 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:46.080 It's God's character, God's saving work. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:48.960 What does it mean to put the armor on? 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.679 What does it mean to put it on? 00:11:52.480 --> 00:12:02.799 Well, simply put, to put on the armor of God is to work God's character and saving work into your heart. 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:08.639 How do we put the armor on? 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:21.519 Well, Paul is saying, take the character of God, take God's work and work it more and more into your heart and life and thoughts so that it shapes you until you become like Him. 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:27.039 And so really, you know, this isn't a new theme for Paul. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:29.279 This is something he's been saying throughout Ephesians. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:39.279 So in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 32, he says, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:54.080 And he goes on, therefore, Ephesians 5, verse 1, be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:13:02.960 See, we are to be so shaped by who God is and what he has done that we become like him. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:25.759 Or Ephesians chapter 4, verse 22 to 24, Paul says, He tells us to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner and life, and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:34.480 You see, for Paul to put on the armor of God is the same thing as to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and it's the same thing as to put on the new self created to be like God. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:36.399 It's all the same reality. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:41.279 It's being conformed to the image and likeness of God through the gospel. 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:48.799 So the armor of God is God's saving work, his character and saving work. 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:54.559 And as we don't God's armor, we begin to look like him. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:11.440 So Paul wants us to let the reality of the gospel sink in and seep in to every part of you so that it transforms you into his image, so that you become like him. 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:13.279 Well, what does this look like? 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:18.399 Let me give you some examples using the armor that Paul has here in Ephesians. 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:20.480 Think about the belt of truth. 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:30.080 What does it mean to let the belt of truth, right, to let the truth of God sink into our heart and mind so that it changes the way you view life? 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:32.480 Well, it might mean this. 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:42.080 When Satan tempts you to look at others and all that they have, when he says, you know, look at what they own and look at how they dress and look at their talents and abilities. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:53.679 When he tempts you to judge people because of those things, when he tempts you to condemn them, you instinctively respond with God's truth. 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:57.600 Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:02.960 You see, your instinctive response is the truth of God to Satan's lies. 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:03.919 That's what we want. 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:12.000 We want the truth of God, the truth of the gospel to be such a part of our life, our instinctive reflex to life. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:16.960 That's the first thing that comes out when we hear Satan's lies. 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:19.679 Well, what about the breastplate of righteousness? 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:32.159 Well, remember first, this is about God's righteousness in bringing salvation through Jesus in the cross, but as we grow to be like our Father, we will reflect that righteousness in our own lives. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:39.360 And so when Paul talks about the new self, he says it's created after the likeness of God and true righteousness. 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:45.679 We must reflect righteousness, the righteousness of God in our lives. 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:54.320 It's not self-righteousness, that's not what he's talking about here, but he is talking about the renewed character of the one who belongs to Jesus. 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:59.919 We will begin to reflect the righteousness of our Father in our lives. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:03.679 And this is part of our defense against Satan. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:10.320 Think about it, as we disobey God, we we open the door to further attacks, don't we? 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:16.559 So in Ephesians 4, again, 26 and 27, Paul says, be angry and do not sin. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:22.000 Do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:24.000 You see what he's saying there? 00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:35.360 He's saying when you are, when you have sinful anger, you give the devil an opportunity to tempt you to further sin. 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:39.120 Or to tempt the person you're mad at to further sin. 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.399 You know how it is? 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:54.399 Even giving in to a little irritation can lead to a greater anger, can lead to bitterness, can lead to speaking harshly, can lead to snubbing another person, can lead to judging them, right? 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:59.279 A little irritation can begin to blow up and blow up and get bigger and bigger. 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:03.759 And so Paul says, give no opportunity to the devil. 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.920 Don't give in to these little things. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:07.680 Don't give in to petty jealousy. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:09.519 Don't give in to a lustful glance. 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:18.480 Whatever it is, we must begin to obey God in the small things if we are ever to stand against the larger attacks of Satan. 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:31.200 This is why in Romans 13, verse 14, when Paul says, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, he then goes on to say, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:36.799 He's saying, Give sin not one inch in your heart and life. 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:39.519 Cut it off at the very start. 00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:48.160 Well, what about the next piece of armor described the preparedness of the gospel? 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:50.240 The preparedness of the gospel. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:18:00.160 It's interesting, Paul doesn't say, shod your feet with the gospel of peace, but with the preparation of the gospel of peace. 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:07.759 And I think what Paul means there is that we must be prepared to share the gospel of peace. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:09.039 I actually think that's what he means. 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:13.359 Part of the reason I think that is because, again, I think Paul is echoing Isaiah. 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:21.359 Isaiah 52, 7 that says, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace. 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:30.960 Paul's echoing that language of our feet, making us prepared with the gospel of peace, ready with the gospel of peace. 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:34.240 We are to be a people who proclaim peace. 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:37.440 A people, again, in imitation of Jesus. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.720 Ephesians chapter 2. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:42.079 Jesus himself is the one who brings us peace. 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:44.240 Peace with God, peace with men. 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:47.759 Ephesians 2.17, Christ came and preached peace. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:51.119 Peace to you who are far off, and peace to those who are near. 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:54.880 You want to be ready for the battle with Satan? 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:55.359 Right? 00:18:55.519 --> 00:19:02.240 Let the gospel of peace, peace with God through Jesus, sink deeply into you. 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:06.880 So that you're ready to preach it to yourself and to others. 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:10.079 What about the shield of faith? 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:20.319 When Satan throws his lies and his temptations and his accusations at you, when he tries to lead you to disobedience and doubt and despair, where do you turn? 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:24.559 Well, you don't cling to faith. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:26.079 That's not what he's saying here. 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:28.319 You don't cling to your faith. 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:34.640 Because if you cling to your faith, you might look at your faith and think, man, my faith is pretty weak at the moment. 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:36.480 My faith is pretty small. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:38.559 How am I ever going to stand? 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:40.480 You don't cling to your faith. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:42.960 Your faith clings to God. 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:49.519 The psalmist says in Psalm 28, the Lord is my strength and my shield. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:53.920 In him my heart trusts, and I am helped. 00:19:55.359 --> 00:20:04.880 See, the problem is not when Satan attacks that God ceases to be our God or something like that, but we forget to take up our shield. 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:08.720 We forget to exercise faith in God and the gospel. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:21.599 So what we should be doing, when Satan comes and when he accuses you and he says, look at your sins, you filthy sinner, we take up our shield, the shield of faith, the shield that faith takes up of God and the gospel. 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:24.720 And we say, Jesus died on the cross for my sins. 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:32.000 When Satan says, Oh, but you're a worse sinner than everybody else, you take up the shield and you say, Jesus died for Paul. 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.920 He was the chief of sinners. 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:36.240 Certainly he died for me as well. 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:44.720 When he tempts you and he says, Oh, oh, look at this house or this car or this game or this food, it will make you feel good. 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:46.480 It will make your life worthwhile. 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:52.559 You take up the shield and you say, At God's right hand are pleasures forevermore. 00:20:56.640 --> 00:21:05.680 When he tempts you and says, This grade or this degree or this job or this promotion will make you more important. 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:08.799 It'll make you special, it'll make you a somebody. 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:14.480 You take up the shield of faith and you say, Not to us, not to us, O Lord, but to your name, give glory. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:21.200 And besides that, I am of more value to my Father already than many sparrows. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:25.200 I don't need this job or this promotion for that. 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:28.960 What about the helmet of salvation? 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:35.599 Well, Paul stresses in Ephesians 2 that by grace we have already been saved. 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:39.039 But we need to remember that. 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:40.640 We need to take it up. 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:46.400 You know, what's going to protect you when you are most vulnerable to the evil one's attacks? 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:52.960 In your areas where you are most tempted, when you have sinned and you really are guilty, right? 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:59.440 When you are experiencing trouble in life, which the devil uses to attempt to undermine your faith, where will you turn? 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:02.400 Well, this thought. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:04.240 God has saved me. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:09.599 Not me, not my hand, not my strength, not my power, not anything that I have done. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.200 God has saved me. 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:17.119 His mighty right hand has saved me from sin's guilt and sin's punishment and sin's power. 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:20.400 That's where I need to run again and again and again. 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:22.480 I need to remember what God has done for me. 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:23.680 I need to meditate on it. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:25.440 I need to let it sink in. 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:30.640 Let that thought permeate your heart and your mind, and you will stand. 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:36.000 Well, what about the sword of the Spirit? 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:40.799 Again, the Messiah first takes up this sword, doesn't he, on our behalf. 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:45.519 The Bible tells us that the Messiah's word is his weapon. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:48.319 Says it in Isaiah chapter 11. 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:51.599 It says the Messiah will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth. 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:55.839 In Revelation, a sharp two-edged sword comes out of the mouth of Jesus. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:04.640 But right now, Jesus' word is doing his work in us. 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:08.079 Hebrews chapter 4 talks about it. 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:22.960 Hebrews 4 says, let us, uh let's see, verse 12, for the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:30.559 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:40.880 See, Jesus' sword, his word is even now showing us our sinful thoughts, the motives of our hearts. 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:49.920 In our battle with Satan, Jesus' word shows us who we are, so we can do the hard work of confession and repentance. 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:56.799 See, the armor of God is God's character and saving work in the gospel. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:57.519 That's what it is. 00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:05.839 It's not anything we do, it's not what we have done or what we will do or who we are, it's who God is and what He has done in the gospel. 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:17.119 And we put that on as we allow the gospel to seep into our heart so that our knee-jerk reaction to life is shaped by the gospel. 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:31.039 So that what we do and what we say, how we respond to situations and people, how we respond to Satan's lies and temptations and accusations, is with the gospel. 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:37.200 Okay, well, how can I do this? 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:40.240 I mean, how can I obey this command? 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:42.480 How can I put the armor on to stand? 00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:45.839 How can I let the gospel sink deeply into me? 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:47.599 I mean, what does that look like? 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:51.200 Of course, that's the big question, isn't it? 00:24:53.440 --> 00:25:09.519 Essentially, I think, what it comes down to is knowing yourself well and knowing God in the gospel well, so that you can repent and believe moment by moment. 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:12.480 Second by second. 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:15.920 You know, we could say, well, what does it look like? 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.559 How do you do this? 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.519 Well, read your Bible. 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:22.559 But you know, reading your Bible, and that's true, but reading your Bible is a means to an end, isn't it? 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:28.720 We read our Bibles so that we know ourselves well and know God well. 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:29.200 Right? 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:32.319 The Bible shows us our hearts and it shows us our God. 00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:36.079 I could have said, well, you do this by prayer, right? 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:38.559 By praying every day. 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:42.640 And that's true, that's good, but prayer is a means to an end too, isn't it? 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:49.279 Prayer is the means to the end of knowing our God well and knowing ourselves well, of communing and having fellowship with our God. 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:54.559 Both of those things are just means of drawing near to Jesus. 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:58.319 Because only Jesus can make us like Jesus. 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:03.599 So then what do we do? 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:06.079 We repent and believe. 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:09.599 You know, the same way you start the Christian life is the way you continue the Christian life. 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.960 It doesn't change. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:13.759 You repent and believe moment by moment. 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:23.680 You know, repentance is not a one-time thing, but it's something we do daily, every second, as we notice the thoughts of our heart throughout the day. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:34.480 As we see the little thoughts come up in our minds, the sinful temptations, the little lies, we repent. 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.519 What does that look like? 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:38.079 It means three things, I think, simply. 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:40.960 Uh seeing, owning, and confessing our sin. 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:54.160 Seeing it, taking note, taking note of those little lies and those little lusts of our heart, recognizing them for what they are, being aware of what's going on in our mind and heart, owning them before God, right? 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:56.400 Saying, These things are mine, God. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:59.599 I make no excuses for them. 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:02.960 I can't blame anyone, I can't minimize them. 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:04.559 They're mine. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.240 This is my sin. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:12.720 This is my anger, this is my lust, this is my selfishness, this is my pride, whatever it is. 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:22.480 And then confessing it to God, telling him about your heart, seeing it, owning it, confessing it, and then believing in Jesus in light of it. 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:24.400 And you may say, well, I do believe, right? 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.359 What more do you want me to do? 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:26.160 I believe in Jesus. 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:28.160 I trusted in him, I trust in him. 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:33.200 But like repentance, faith, or but believing in Jesus is something we do daily. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:36.559 Trusting in Jesus, we have to exercise every moment. 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:39.200 Again, what does that look like? 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:41.759 Well, in some ways, it's it's the same kind of thing. 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:45.200 It's seeing, owning, and embracing your Savior. 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:55.759 Seeing him for who he is, in what he has done for you in the cross, in bearing sin, in praying for you now, in defeating the devil, owning him as true. 00:27:56.400 --> 00:28:00.160 This is the Savior, and then embracing him as your own. 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:01.839 This is my Savior. 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:03.680 He died for my sins. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:06.079 He's defeated the devil on my behalf. 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:09.920 He's seated at the right hand of the Father right now, praying for me. 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:17.039 So we constantly draw near to God in Jesus through repentance and faith. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:17.920 That's what we do. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.759 We're going to God with our sin. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:23.839 We're going to God to trust in Jesus in the midst of our struggles. 00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:24.319 Right? 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:35.359 As you see your selfish temptation, as you see you're tempted to worry or to impatience or to self-indulgence or to unbelief or to despair. 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:42.960 You incline your heart away from self and to Jesus by saying, Oh Lord, look at my sin. 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.480 Look at my sin. 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:45.680 I hate my sin. 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:47.519 Forgive me for this sin. 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:50.559 Let me trust in Jesus. 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.839 Let me believe in him. 00:28:52.240 --> 00:29:00.400 You know, in some ways, repentance and faith is just another way of talking about a lifestyle of dependence, active, ongoing dependence on grace. 00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:02.640 It's moment-by-moment confession. 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:05.440 I am weak, but he is strong. 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:12.160 And it may be all that we can say is, Jesus, I actually do want to do these things. 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:13.440 I want to sin. 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:15.359 Change my desires. 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:17.200 Start with step one. 00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:18.720 Jesus, I want to do this. 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:19.440 I really do. 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:21.680 Change this desire, Jesus. 00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:23.440 Help me, Jesus. 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:26.480 I can't do it in my own strength. 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:34.079 Prayer and Bible reading, as I mentioned, are important in this, but they're just tools. 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:49.359 Tools not that we use to make ourselves strong, but tools that we use to commune with God in Christ, to draw near to Him, to get hold of Christ, that His strength might shine forth in our weakness. 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:53.200 That having done all, we might stand. 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:55.200 Let's pray. 00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:03.759 Our Father in heaven, we confess again that we are weak, but you are strong. 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:12.000 And we know that you have done everything for us in the cross. 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:29.039 You, by your wisdom and power and might and righteousness and truth, came into the world and bore sin in the cross and defeated sin and conquered the devil and rose again that we might be freed from him and become like you. 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:34.960 Jesus, let us look to you to that end. 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:37.359 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.240 Amen.