September 24, 2025 • 47 mins
The spiritual battlefield demands proper protection, and the breastplate of righteousness serves as our shield against the enemy's most cunning attacks. Discover how this crucial piece of God's armor guards your heart and mind—the most vulnerable parts of your spiritual being.
Drawing from Ephesians 6, we explore what it truly means to stand in righteousness before God. This isn't about perfect behavior or religious performance; it's about embracing your position in Christ through faith. Romans 3:22-24 reminds us that righteousness comes as God's gift, not through our striving but through Christ's sacrifice.
The power of this teaching becomes vividly clear as we journey through Psalm 106, examining Israel's cycle of rebellion and God's unfailing mercy. Their story mirrors our own struggles and reveals the devastating consequences of abandoning righteousness while highlighting God's enduring grace toward those who return to Him.
Satan's ambush tactics take center stage as we uncover how the enemy targets believers through fear, accusation, and discouragement. His primary goal? To prevent effective prayer and keep us bound by shame. But James 4:7 provides our counter-strategy: "Submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." This two-part approach—humble submission followed by active resistance—forms the foundation of spiritual victory.
Pride emerges as one of our greatest vulnerabilities, creating openings for spiritual attack while humility positions us to receive God's grace. Through practical examples and scriptural wisdom, you'll learn to identify prideful behaviors before they compromise your spiritual protection.
Whether you're facing intense spiritual warfare or simply seeking to strengthen your daily walk with God, this teaching equips you with practical tools for standing firm against the enemy. Remember—your righteousness is already within you through Christ. It's time to walk confidently in that truth and experience the protection God has provided.
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Speaker 1 (00:37):
Off.
Hello, okay, I'm back.
I'll stay with Ephesians 6, 10.
The Word of God says the wholearmor of God.
Finally, my brethren, be strongin the Lord and in the power of
His might.
Put on the whole armor of Godthat you may be able to stand
(00:57):
against the wills of the devil,for we do not wrestle against
flesh and blood, but againstprincipalities, against powers,
against rulers of darkness ofthis age, spiritual host of
wickedness in the heavenlyplaces.
Therefore, take up your wholearmor that you may be able to
(01:19):
withstand in the evil day.
And having done all but stand,I always say stand some more.
Stand, therefore, having girdedup your waist with truth and
having put on your breastplateof righteousness and had shodded
your feet with the preparationof the gospel of peace.
(01:39):
And, above all, take the shieldof faith with which you will be
able to quench all the fierydarts of the wicked one.
Take the helmet of salvationand the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God,praying always, with all prayers
and supplications in the Spirit, being watchful to this end,
(02:02):
with all prayers andsupplications in the Spirit,
being watchful to this end, withall perseverance and
supplications for all the saints.
Amen, amen.
And so today we are going to goto Philippians 6, I believe it
(02:22):
is.
We're still in 14, having puton the breastplate of
righteousness, and so, chris,you want to open us in prayer
dear heavenly father, we thankyou for this beautiful day that
(02:43):
you have given us.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I thank you for the people that have gathered to
come and learn more about yourword and the armor of God.
Father, I ask that, whateverPastor Holly is teaching us,
that it is of you and not ofthis earth, brother God, I ask
that it penetrates our heart andhelp us understand more.
I thank you for the people.
(03:04):
In Jesus' name, I pray Amen.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
So the breastplate of righteousness, to be in right
standings with Christ, a giftreceived through our faith,
access as a shield againstspiritual warfare.
Right standing with Christ ispossible through our faith and
(03:31):
his sacrifice, believing thatJesus died for our sins and that
he is the only way to be maderight with God.
So God's word says there's onlyone way to the Father, and that
is through the Son.
That is, the road to salvationis through Jesus Christ.
(03:54):
Right standings with God is agift.
It's not earned through goodworks.
God is a gift.
It's not earned through goodworks.
So there's nothing you and Ican do on this earth that will
buy our salvation, because oursalvation is a free gift given
unto us.
We can look at Romans 3, 22through 24.
(04:18):
God has declared us righteousby his grace, through faith in
Jesus Christ.
This grace is available to allwho believe, for we are made
right in God's sight not by whatwe do, but because of what
Christ did for us.
(04:38):
Romans 5.1 says since we havebeen made Right with God Through
faith in Jesus Christ, we havepeace with God Through the Lord
Jesus Christ, romans 10.10.
For it is by believing in yourheart that you are made right
(05:01):
with God, and it is my.
It is by confession with mymouth that you are saved.
2 Corinthians 5.21.
God made him, who had no sin,to be sin for us, so that in him
we might become therighteousness of God.
(05:24):
Another scripture onrighteousness Philippians 3.9,.
To be found in him.
Not having righteousness of myown, that comes from the law,
but that which comes throughfaith in Christ, the
righteousness from, but thatwhich comes through faith in
(05:44):
Christ, the righteousness fromGod, that depends on my faith,
and so there's nothing you and Ican do to be in right standings
with Christ.
That all comes directly throughour faith.
Okay, we'll talk about the giftof grace.
(06:06):
God's gift of righteousness isgiven freely through faith.
It's not earned.
We cannot become righteousthrough good works, because
works are dead.
That's the law.
We become righteous through ourfaith.
Asking Jesus to live big in ourhearts and then doing our very
(06:30):
best to be all we can be likeChrist.
Jesus sacrificed His death onthe cross is the base for our
reconciliation with God.
Because of what Adam and Evedone, it caused us to not stand
(06:51):
in righteousness, but Christcame with the New Testament and
made a way for you and I to haveeverlasting life and salvation.
Having faith, trusting in Jesusand accepting his sacrifice is
(07:13):
a key to having right standingswith Christ, and so to operate
in our faith is the key to beingin right standings with Christ.
So, oh, we forget our man.
The second piece of the armor ofGod that Paul discusses in
(07:35):
Ephesians 6 is the breastplateof righteousness In the armor of
a Roman soldier.
The breastplate ofrighteousness In the armor of a
Roman soldier.
The breastplate serves toprotect some of the very most
important parts of our body.
The breastplate protects theirhearts.
It protects the lungs and othernecessary organs that we have
(08:02):
to live.
Therefore, if a soldier did notwear his breastplate, he is
very vulnerable to the attacksthat could result in his
physical death.
So why does Paul call it thebreastplate of righteousness?
If we do not protect ourselveswith righteousness, we are
(08:28):
opening ourselves up to anattack from the enemy that can
cause us to fall into sin.
To be righteous means to obeyGod's commandments and to live
in a way that honors him in allthat we do.
(08:50):
Now we're going to look at Psalm6, psalms 106.
The key verse is how blessedare those who keep justice, who
practices righteousness at alltimes.
So let's look at that.
I'm going to read out of thePassion Translation, psalms
(09:15):
106.3, but we're going to startwith 1.
Now the irony of this is thisgoes right back to Sunday's
message.
Ain't that cool?
Okay, so we'll start with verseone.
The title of 106 is God is goodand God is good all the time.
(09:42):
Okay, my Bible says in thistranslation Hallelujah, praise
the Lord, everyone, thank God,for he is good and easy to
please.
Your tender love for us, lord,continues on forever.
Who would ever fully describeyour gracious miracles, yahweh?
(10:03):
Who would ever fully describeyour gracious miracles, yahweh?
Who could ever praise youenough?
Verse 3.
The happiest ones on earth isthe ones who keep your word and
clings to your righteousnessevery moment.
So remember me, lord, as youtake joy in your people, and
when you come to bring blessingsof salvation, don't forget me.
(10:26):
So remember me, lord, as youtake joy in your people, and
when you come to bring blessingsof salvation, don't forget me.
Let me share in the wealth andthe beauty of all your devoted
lovers.
Rejoice with your nations inall of their joy, and let me
share in the glory you give toyour chosen ones.
We have all sinned so much,just like our fathers, guilty is
(10:50):
written over our lives.
Our fathers, who were deliveredfrom Egypt, didn't fully
understand your wonders, andthey took you for granted.
Over and over, you showed themsuch tender love and mercies,
yet they were barely beyond theRed Sea when they rebelled
(11:15):
against you.
Nevertheless, you saved themmore than once, so that they
would know how powerful you are,showing them the honor of your
name.
You roared over the waters ofthe Red Sea, making the dry path
for your people to crossthrough.
You fed them from, you freedthem from the strong power of
(11:39):
those who oppressed them, andyou rescued them from bondage.
Then the waters rushed overtheir enemies and drowned them
all.
Not one survived.
Seeing this, the peoplebelieved your word and they all
broke out in song and praisedyou.
Yet how quickly they forgotyour miracle powers.
(12:02):
They wouldn't wait for you toact when they were hungry, but
they demanded you satisfy theircravings and give them food.
They tested you to the breakingpoint.
So you gave them what theywanted to eat, but their souls
starved after a way to nothing.
(12:24):
They became.
I don't know this word, is it?
It's E-N-V.
Envious, envious, envious ofMoses and Aaron, your holy ones.
You split open the earth and itswallowed up.
(12:44):
Is it Dahan and Abaran?
Along with their followers,fire fell from heaven and burnt
up all the bands of rebellion,turning them to ashes, and made
an idol of a calf and bowed toworship their man-made structure
(13:13):
.
They preferred the image of agrass-eating ox to the presence
of the glory filled God.
They totally forgot it was youwho saved them.
But they wandered an awesomemiracle.
You worked in Egypt.
(13:33):
So you decided to destroy them.
But Moses, your chosen leader,stood in the gap between you and
the people and madeintercession on their behalf to
turn away your wrath fromkilling them all.
Yet they still didn't believeyour words and they despised the
land of delight you give them.
(13:55):
They grumbled and they foundfault with everything and closed
their hearts to your voice.
So you solemnly swore to themthat they would all die in the
desert and you scattered theirchildren to distant lands.
Then our fathers joined theworshipers and the false gods
(14:19):
named Lord of the Pit.
They even ate the sacrificedoffering to the dead.
All they did made you burn withanger.
It made you so angry that theplagues broke out among them.
It continued until thePharisees intervened and
(14:44):
executed the guilty for causingjudgment to fall upon them,
because this deepunrighteousness is that Pharisee
Will be remembered forever.
Your people also provoked you towrath at the steam called
(15:05):
strife.
This is where Moses gets intoserious trouble.
Because the people wererebellious against you, moses
exploded his anger and spoke tothem out of his bitterness.
Neither did our fathers destroythe enemies in the land as you
(15:26):
have commanded them, but theymingled themselves with their
enemies and learned to copytheir works of darkness.
They began to serve their godsand bow before their idols.
All of this led them away fromyou and brought about their
downfall.
(15:47):
They even sacrificed theirlittle children to the demon
spirits, shedding the innocentblood of their sons and
daughters.
These dark practices greatlydefiled the land and their own
souls, through the murder andthe bloodshed of their own
babies.
Their sins made themspiritually adulterers before
(16:12):
you.
This is why you were furious,as your anger burned hot against
them.
You couldn't even stand to lookat your very own people any
longer, so you turned them overto the crashing hands of other
nations and those who hated thembecause of tyrants over them.
(16:36):
Oppressive enemies subdued them, ruling over them with their
tyranny.
Many times you would have cometo rescue them, but they
continued in their rebelliousways, choosing to ignore your
warnings.
Then they shrank lower andlower, destroyed by their I
(17:07):
don't know Yet.
Even so, you waited and waited.
Now listen, even though they'ddone all that, god waited and
waited and watched to see ifthey would turn and cry out to
you for Father's help.
And then, when you heard theircry, you relented and remembered
(17:35):
your covenant and you turnedyour heart towards them again,
according to your abundant,overflowing and limitless love.
Then you caused even theiroppressors to pity them and show
them compassion.
(17:55):
Do it again, lord.
Save us.
O Lord, our God, gather us upand unite us together again, so
that we will give our great andjoyous thanks to you again and
bring you glory by our praises.
Blessed be our Lord, godforever and ever, and let
(18:20):
everyone, every world, sayHallelujah, amen.
Faithful is the king Now.
Faithful is the king Now.
Faithful is the king.
You see, when you ain'ttrusting God, you ain't walking
in faith, you are not inrighteousness.
But thank God for his mercy andhis grace upon each and every
(18:44):
one of us.
Those were our forefathers thatoperated in that rebellion.
You know, every day we need tobreak that rebellious spirit off
of us.
Amen, because we all operate init.
We all rebel against something.
It's just a fact Because we areflesh.
(19:06):
It's just a fact Because we areflesh and our flesh does not
like to listen.
Our flesh likes its way.
Is there any truth to that?
So Psalms 106 is the history ofthe Israels Repeated
(19:30):
disobedience and rebellionagainst God.
Alongside God, continued withmercy and faithfulness, even in
the face of their failing.
It began with praise andthanksgiving, acknowledging God
and all of his goodness,enduring love, acknowledging God
and all of his goodness,enduring love.
(19:54):
And then it went to Psalms 106.
It went from passion todestruction for the Israelites,
but then passion arose again.
(20:15):
So here's a breakdown of 106.
It began with praise andthanksgiving.
It was a declaration ofthanksgiving to God, recognizing
him for all of his goodness.
Then there came a confession ofsin, recognizing him for all of
his goodness.
(20:35):
Then there came a confession ofsin, then the despair of human
unfaithfulness.
Because they were unfaithful.
When you're going to melt downevery piece of gold, you have to
make yourself a false idol toworship instead of worshiping
the one true God.
Rebellion and idolatry theconsequence of their
(21:02):
disobedience.
God scattered their childrenall over so that they wouldn't
be united as family, god's mercyand deliverance.
God came and delivered them outof their rebellion.
(21:22):
But, just like us, sometimes wehave to hit rock bottom before
we'll say Lord Jesus, help me.
Psalms 106 serves as a powerfulreminder of both God's
unwavering love and the need forrepentance and obedience,
encouraging us to have gratitudefor God's forgiveness even in
(21:48):
the face of our human failure.
When we decide to live based onour own desires rather than
God's, we make decisions out ofour flesh and we want it our way
.
You know, I remember one time Iwas just preaching.
(22:13):
I was just preaching and I said, and let's pray for God's
perfect will.
And this woman stood right upin the crowd and she said no, I
want my will.
I'm telling you, she about tookme back ten steps and I was
like, well, at least she washonest, you know.
But you know, I know that welike our own way, but in order
(22:35):
to be in right standings withGod, we need to obey to his will
and have his will reign in ourlives.
I lost my place.
(22:57):
And so when we take up ourbreastplate of righteousness, we
are covering our heart and ourminds because they are the most
vulnerable right heart and ourminds because they are the most
vulnerable.
Right the breastplate is meantto protect them from the
(23:22):
spiritual attacks and theattempts of the enemy.
You know, we have to be aware.
We have learned about hisschemes, we have learned about
his tricks, but tonight we'regoing to learn about how he
ambushes us.
Okay, let me see where it's at.
(23:48):
Beware of Satan's ambush.
Satan desires and this is outof the spiritual warfare bible
by Joyce Meyer Satan desires toambush our souls and to cause us
to be afraid.
So that's where Satan wants usfearful.
His only chance of victory sothat's where Satan wants us
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fearful.
His only chance of victory isto keep us from praying.
And if he can't do that, thenhe wants to keep our prayers
short and ineffective.
He pulls out his weapons oftemptation deception.
(24:34):
He's the accuser of thebrethren and causes us to have
empty hope.
So we will cowl down in acorner and not even enter into
prayer.
He wants to keep us downcasted,discouraged, full of doubt.
(25:00):
The importance of prayer.
However, our fight in prayerhas no boundaries.
As God's word takes upresidence in us, there is no
doubt that it has the power totransform the way we see the
(25:22):
world.
It becomes clear that the besttactics of the enemy are to
convince us we should not answerthe bell the next time for the
next round.
Did you ever watch them?
Fighters?
And you know.
(25:43):
They fight, and they fight, andthey fight.
And the bell rings andeverybody runs to their corner
and they pour water on theirheads.
But see, we run to our cornerwith victory, knowing that when
that bell rings again, we'reready to take the enemy out
through our prayers.
It will not be so for you.
You will answer every challenge.
(26:04):
You must pray fearlessly andrelentlessly, knowing that it is
God who wars on our behalf.
It is God who teaches yourhands to war.
It is God to whom the ultimatevictory will go.
You can pray fearlessly becauseyou have nothing to lose,
(26:28):
because everything you havebelongs to God and will return
to him.
He is the Lord of all and isworthy of the people who trust
him and will fight without fear.
This is a realm of prayer thatchanges things on earth, a place
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where you have so much faith inGod that nothing, even the fear
of death on the battlefield towhich you are called, can keep
you from your God-given mission.
You will become like Paul,taking the fight to the gates of
hell, rather than standing atyour own gates and praying that
(27:15):
the devil can't get in.
And so you're going to stand.
And when you've done all butstand, you're going to stand
some more with the breastplate,where you're guarding your mind
and your heart, the two mostvulnerable things that we have.
When he gets in our thoughtpattern, you know, joyce Meyer
(27:35):
tells us that our mind is thebattlefield.
That is where the battle is.
How many times do you haveconversation with that person
that you're upset with In yourhead?
In your head?
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
But when we take I'm just to me this Bible.
This is my breastplate ofrighteousness.
Put it on my head.
I've done it and done it anddone it in my life.
I walk around with the Bible onmy head because this is where
my power is.
(28:27):
This is where the word is.
This is where the truth is.
This is where the word is.
This is where the truth is.
This is where freedom is.
As long as Satan can keep youwrapped up in fear, you are not
walking in freedom.
Beware of Satan's ambushes.
(28:50):
Romans 8 6.
So let your sinful naturecontrol the mind will lead to
death.
Now, that is a spiritual deathwhen we let our minds be led by
Satan.
You know that's what happenedto Adam and Eve in the garden.
(29:11):
Surely, you will die.
He says no, you won't.
No, they didn't die physically,they died spiritually.
But letting the spirit controlyour mind, that will lead to
peace and a healthy life.
(29:32):
How can we put our breastplateof righteousness?
How can we put on thebreastplate of righteousness
Number one?
To resist the devil with theplate of righteousness, a
believer needs to trust inChrist, live a life of obedience
and actively resist temptation.
(29:53):
The breastplate ofrighteousness is a piece of
God's armor that causes you andI to rely on Christ's
righteousness for protection,for standing firm against the
enemy's schemes, putting on thebreastplate of righteousness and
(30:17):
allowing our faith in Christ togrow.
If you and I didn't, if all ofour life all we had was sunshine
and sprinkles, we would nevergrow spiritually.
Because we do not grow in themountaintops, we grow in the
valley.
That is where the absolute mostbeautiful flowers are.
(30:37):
It's down in that deep, richsoil, deep down in the valley,
because you know we're eithercoming into an issue, going
through an issue, or coming out.
Then we're on the mountaintop.
How long are we up there?
Not very long.
(30:58):
And there we go Back down inthe valley, and so we have to be
able to learn how to resist theenemy and tell him to go.
You have no authority here.
I am in right standings withChrist and you have to know that
in your knower.
Do you know what your knower is?
(31:20):
These two things work righttogether.
I know in my knower.
I know in my knower.
I know in my knower that I'msaved Without a shadow of a
doubt.
Ain't one person could evertake that victory from me.
I know in my knower that I'mthe apple of his eye.
(31:42):
I know in my knower that I'mblessed coming in and blessed
going out.
I'm the head and not the tail,above, only not beneath.
You know that the head ispretty far from the tail.
I'm not the tail, you're notthe tail.
God says we're the tail, you'renot the tail.
God says we're the head.
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We're blessed beyond measure.
So, trusting in his sacrificeand acknowledging that his
righteousness is put in you,it's in there.
It's like Pareko.
You know God's like Pare.
You, it's in there, it's likeParego.
You know God's like Parego,it's in there.
Remember Parego's spaghettisauce?
(32:26):
You know Parego.
Yes, the spaghetti sauce.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Oh, okay, I said remember, I was like oh, we use
that every day, like what we use.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
Yeah, it's, you know.
You know where the commercialused to be.
It's in there.
It used to be a commercial.
It's probably a good spaghettisauce.
Huh, it's old.
It's old.
Yeah, they probably don't evenhave it no more, I don't know,
(32:59):
that's what I use.
You do.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
There we go.
That's what I'm saying.
When you said used to, I'm likeI use Prego.
When I use, yeah, they sell it.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
It's the commercial.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
I think the Regu or whatever that is.
It's not gross, but it's adifferent taste.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
I'm just going to pray Because it's in there.
Whatever you need's in there,like Jesus Christ, it's in there
.
Now I'm going to sing that one.
You betcha, okay, when walkingin obedience, we are not giving
the devil any opportunity toattack us.
(33:39):
That's what I want.
I don't want him to have anyopportunity.
I'm telling you guys, it grindsmy gears when he sets me up, I
trip and I fall into his mess.
It makes me so angry Because heset me up, he ambushed me Right
(34:01):
, and then, when you know heambushed you, it's like you,
dirty devil, amen.
So keeping our focus on Christand his love and devotion can
help us resist the temptations.
You know what I think ourbiggest temptation is?
And devotion can help us resistthe temptations.
(34:21):
You know what I think ourbiggest temptation is?
Keep your mouth shut.
I think that is a hugetemptation.
Whenever we can step back andsay, uh-uh-uh, this ain't my
battle, I ain't diving into that, and walk away.
But there's something inside ofus that makes us just not to
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say it.
Even when we don't, we gottasay it.
And then after we say itbecause this is how the enemy
works, the very thing he uses totrip you up.
The moment he trips you up, hebegins to pound you over the
head with it.
Why'd you do that?
You shouldn't have done that.
Trip you up.
The moment he trips you up, hebegins to pound you over the
head with it.
Why'd you do that?
You shouldn't have done that.
Is that the truth?
(35:06):
So what we need to learn?
Turn the key, throw it away anddon't say it.
It's called self-control, oneof the fruits of the Spirit.
Keeping our focus on Christ andHis love and His devotion can
help us resist temptation.
James 4, 7 says Submit yourselfthen to God.
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Resist the devil, and he willflee from you.
Resist the devil requiresactively coming against
temptation and evil influences.
This includes standing firm inyour faith, knowing your
spiritual weapons, like prayerand scripture.
(35:54):
I'm telling you, guys, I've doneso good on not eating stuff
that I shouldn't have.
I've been so good and lastFriday, me and Melody went out
and had pancakes and I've beenoff the wagon ever since.
But see, he tempted me.
I should have had egg whitesand I should have had turkey
(36:18):
bacon and I should have had alittle bit of fruit and been
happy.
But oh, no, no, no, no.
I had to have not one, three,three pancakes.
She's going to take it.
But you know, I'm a big girl, Idid it all by myself, but I
(36:40):
should have resisted the enemyand he would have fled.
But now then comes Saturdaymorning.
I make big breakfast, we alleat, and there I was again
tempted and fell into it.
That might not be a temptationto everybody, that is a great
temptation for me.
(37:01):
But I'm telling you, I'mclimbing up out of the pit, I'm
getting back on my feet and I'mgoing through James 4, 7.
I'm going to submit myself untoGod and resist the devil, that
donut demon, and he will leavein the name of Jesus, in the
(37:22):
name of Jesus.
Resisting the devil requiresactively coming against
temptation and evil influences.
This includes standing firm inyour faith and knowing your
spiritual weapon.
Tell me your spiritual weapon,dave.
The Word, the Word.
(37:45):
How about you, chris?
Speaker 2 (37:47):
Spiritual weapon, pastor Holly.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
Oh, how about you, mel?
What's your spiritual weapon?
The Word, the Word.
How about you?
T weapon, the word.
How about you?
Speaker 2 (38:04):
Tanya the word how about you.
Speaker 1 (38:09):
Faith, faith.
Yeah, we're getting it, guys,we're getting it.
Submit to God and draw close tohim helps us resist it ever.
This means surrounding his willand trusting his guidance.
Now, one of the main things Ithink that Satan throws at us is
(38:39):
pride.
Pride can make us vulnerable tothe devil's attacks, while
humility allows us to receivegrace from God.
Prideful behaviors include wecan't admit that we've made a
mistake boasting about ourachievements, feeling
(39:01):
spiritually superior.
We can't admit that we've madea mistake boasting about our
achievements, feelingspiritually superior, rejecting
spiritual guidance from others.
Pride can also be manifested inappearances.
You know, you ever see somebodyyou could tell in a heartbeat
that they walk in a spirit ofpride?
Have you ever seen that?
You just know in a heartbeat,like you know, I got it all
(39:24):
together and I'm all that andI'm a bag of chips, got the
milkshake Right or whatever.
You get around that person.
The moment you start talking tothem about something and they
say, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm done,I ain't even going to entertain
(39:44):
that.
The minute I start trying toshare with you the gospel, try
to talk to you about things ofGod and oh, yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah.
See, they're not even listeningand then I'm done Because I'm
not entertaining that spirit, Ihave nothing to do with it.
Close that book.
When you can get down off yourhigh horse, come back and I talk
(40:06):
to you and you would say, oh, Iunderstand, oh, I see that now.
But yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,yeah.
That don't fly with me.
That's because what's the wordsay about being abased Pride
comes right before the fall.
So when you yeah, yeah, yeah me, and you fall flat on your face
(40:32):
, I'll be the first one there topick you up.
But I ain't entertaining itwhen I'm trying to minister to
it.
So let's see here.
So, seeking God's strength,prayer and asking God to empower
us to resist the enemy, stayalert, stay alert.
(40:56):
We have to be aware of histactics, we have to be aware of
his ambushes.
You know we have to be ahead ofhim to say the breastplate of
righteousness protects ourhearts from the devil's
accusations.
(41:16):
The first thing he wants to dois to remind you my phone's
dying Is to remind you that yousinned.
It's not plugged in.
I think it is that you'vesinned, that you're not worthy,
(41:44):
that you're shameful.
Those are things that he wantsto keep us in the forefront of
our mind and then that keeps usshut off from what God wants,
because he puts thoughts in ourhead Don't really put thoughts
in our heads.
We speak it, he gathers it andthen he makes it grow.
(42:07):
He don't have no influence overus unless we give it to him,
and we give that to him with ourmouths.
Oh, I don't feel good today.
I'm so sick I can't hardlymotivate.
Well, before the day's over,you'll be pretty sick.
You know, I'm so tired.
(42:31):
What was it Dave used to say?
Every Monday he would say thisSick and tired, I'm sick.
And you know what?
Every Monday he was Sick andtired, I'm sick.
And you know what?
Every Monday he was sick andtired.
He had to change.
It's a great day, I said Dave,it's a great day.
This is a day the Lord has made.
Let's rejoice and be glad in it.
But Mondays were hard for him.
When he worked, they were hardand that was his heart attitude
(42:57):
that he's sick and tired ofbeing sick and tired.
He's sick and tired of working,he's sick and tired of it.
But until you can change that,that is where you will dwell and
you can overcome that by thebreastplate of righteousness do
(43:17):
you believe that Amen?
so let's just look at James.
Do you believe that Amen?
So let's just look at James.
Was it 4-7?
James 4-7?
There's Timothy.
Speaker 2 (43:36):
I know.
Speaker 1 (43:37):
James is back here.
There's a people I don't thinkI'm ever going to find him.
(44:00):
He's hiding in here.
Did anybody find it?
Go ahead.
Speaker 2 (44:06):
Is it 4-7?
Humble yourselves before God.
Resist the devil, and he willflee from you.
Speaker 1 (44:11):
So, humble yourselves before God and resist the devil
and he'll flee from you.
That resist the devil, that isa promise.
But we have to humble ourselves, we have to submit ourselves
unto God, then the enemy willflee.
But if I keep living in myflesh, walking in my flesh,
(44:39):
operating in carnality, then theenemy is not going to flee from
me, because I'm inviting himinto my life, amen.
And so the promise is submityourself unto me and he will
flee.
And so when you are in themidst of warfare, stop and say I
(45:06):
commit myself unto you, god,and I thank you and praise you
that the enemy has to flee,because your word tells us that,
in James 4, 7, that when Isubmit unto you, the enemy will
flee.
Amen, amen.
(45:26):
Well, father, god, we thank youand we praise you.
We give you all the glory, allthe honor, all the praise,
father.
I thank you, lord, that we havelearned tonight, father, that
when we put on the breastplateof righteousness, father, that
when we put on the breastplateof righteousness, lord, that it
will protect our minds and ourhearts, father, it will protect
(45:47):
our innermost being.
I thank you, lord, that whenthe enemy tries to trip us up,
lord, that we will take thatstumbling block and turn it into
a stepping stone.
Father, god, we just give youthe glory, the honor and all the
praise.
Father, we just worship you.
Father, we thank you, lord, thatyou did deliver the Israelites
(46:10):
out of Egypt.
Father, god and Lord, that theydid enter into the promised
land.
We thank you, father, that keepus from grumbling and
complaining about all themiracles and the wonderful
things that you do in our life,big and small, lord.
Let us have hearts of gratitude, lord, even for the smallest
(46:32):
thing that you do in our lives.
Lord, I thank you and I praiseyou, lord, as we leave here
tonight.
Father, that you would give ustraveling mercies, and, lord,
that you would bless ourtomorrow.
Father, with the goodness ofGod, father, we just love you
and adore you.
We worship you, father, and wegive you the highest praise in
(46:53):
the mighty name of Jesus.
And everyone says Amen.
And did anybody need prayertonight?
Off.
Hello, okay, I'm back.
I'll stay with Ephesians 6, 10.
The Word of God says the wholearmor of God.
Finally, my brethren, be strongin the Lord and in the power of
His might.
Put on the whole armor of Godthat you may be able to stand
(00:57):
against the wills of the devil,for we do not wrestle against
flesh and blood, but againstprincipalities, against powers,
against rulers of darkness ofthis age, spiritual host of
wickedness in the heavenlyplaces.
Therefore, take up your wholearmor that you may be able to
(01:19):
withstand in the evil day.
And having done all but stand,I always say stand some more.
Stand, therefore, having girdedup your waist with truth and
having put on your breastplateof righteousness and had shodded
your feet with the preparationof the gospel of peace.
(01:39):
And, above all, take the shieldof faith with which you will be
able to quench all the fierydarts of the wicked one.
Take the helmet of salvationand the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God,praying always, with all prayers
and supplications in the Spirit, being watchful to this end,
(02:02):
with all prayers andsupplications in the Spirit,
being watchful to this end, withall perseverance and
supplications for all the saints.
Amen, amen.
And so today we are going to goto Philippians 6, I believe it
(02:22):
is.
We're still in 14, having puton the breastplate of
righteousness, and so, chris,you want to open us in prayer
dear heavenly father, we thankyou for this beautiful day that
(02:43):
you have given us.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I thank you for the people that have gathered to
come and learn more about yourword and the armor of God.
Father, I ask that, whateverPastor Holly is teaching us,
that it is of you and not ofthis earth, brother God, I ask
that it penetrates our heart andhelp us understand more.
I thank you for the people.
(03:04):
In Jesus' name, I pray Amen.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
So the breastplate of righteousness, to be in right
standings with Christ, a giftreceived through our faith,
access as a shield againstspiritual warfare.
Right standing with Christ ispossible through our faith and
(03:31):
his sacrifice, believing thatJesus died for our sins and that
he is the only way to be maderight with God.
So God's word says there's onlyone way to the Father, and that
is through the Son.
That is, the road to salvationis through Jesus Christ.
(03:54):
Right standings with God is agift.
It's not earned through goodworks.
God is a gift.
It's not earned through goodworks.
So there's nothing you and Ican do on this earth that will
buy our salvation, because oursalvation is a free gift given
unto us.
We can look at Romans 3, 22through 24.
(04:18):
God has declared us righteousby his grace, through faith in
Jesus Christ.
This grace is available to allwho believe, for we are made
right in God's sight not by whatwe do, but because of what
Christ did for us.
(04:38):
Romans 5.1 says since we havebeen made Right with God Through
faith in Jesus Christ, we havepeace with God Through the Lord
Jesus Christ, romans 10.10.
For it is by believing in yourheart that you are made right
(05:01):
with God, and it is my.
It is by confession with mymouth that you are saved.
2 Corinthians 5.21.
God made him, who had no sin,to be sin for us, so that in him
we might become therighteousness of God.
(05:24):
Another scripture onrighteousness Philippians 3.9,.
To be found in him.
Not having righteousness of myown, that comes from the law,
but that which comes throughfaith in Christ, the
righteousness from, but thatwhich comes through faith in
(05:44):
Christ, the righteousness fromGod, that depends on my faith,
and so there's nothing you and Ican do to be in right standings
with Christ.
That all comes directly throughour faith.
Okay, we'll talk about the giftof grace.
(06:06):
God's gift of righteousness isgiven freely through faith.
It's not earned.
We cannot become righteousthrough good works, because
works are dead.
That's the law.
We become righteous through ourfaith.
Asking Jesus to live big in ourhearts and then doing our very
(06:30):
best to be all we can be likeChrist.
Jesus sacrificed His death onthe cross is the base for our
reconciliation with God.
Because of what Adam and Evedone, it caused us to not stand
(06:51):
in righteousness, but Christcame with the New Testament and
made a way for you and I to haveeverlasting life and salvation.
Having faith, trusting in Jesusand accepting his sacrifice is
(07:13):
a key to having right standingswith Christ, and so to operate
in our faith is the key to beingin right standings with Christ.
So, oh, we forget our man.
The second piece of the armor ofGod that Paul discusses in
(07:35):
Ephesians 6 is the breastplateof righteousness In the armor of
a Roman soldier.
The breastplate ofrighteousness In the armor of a
Roman soldier.
The breastplate serves toprotect some of the very most
important parts of our body.
The breastplate protects theirhearts.
It protects the lungs and othernecessary organs that we have
(08:02):
to live.
Therefore, if a soldier did notwear his breastplate, he is
very vulnerable to the attacksthat could result in his
physical death.
So why does Paul call it thebreastplate of righteousness?
If we do not protect ourselveswith righteousness, we are
(08:28):
opening ourselves up to anattack from the enemy that can
cause us to fall into sin.
To be righteous means to obeyGod's commandments and to live
in a way that honors him in allthat we do.
(08:50):
Now we're going to look at Psalm6, psalms 106.
The key verse is how blessedare those who keep justice, who
practices righteousness at alltimes.
So let's look at that.
I'm going to read out of thePassion Translation, psalms
(09:15):
106.3, but we're going to startwith 1.
Now the irony of this is thisgoes right back to Sunday's
message.
Ain't that cool?
Okay, so we'll start with verseone.
The title of 106 is God is goodand God is good all the time.
(09:42):
Okay, my Bible says in thistranslation Hallelujah, praise
the Lord, everyone, thank God,for he is good and easy to
please.
Your tender love for us, lord,continues on forever.
Who would ever fully describeyour gracious miracles, yahweh?
(10:03):
Who would ever fully describeyour gracious miracles, yahweh?
Who could ever praise youenough?
Verse 3.
The happiest ones on earth isthe ones who keep your word and
clings to your righteousnessevery moment.
So remember me, lord, as youtake joy in your people, and
when you come to bring blessingsof salvation, don't forget me.
(10:26):
So remember me, lord, as youtake joy in your people, and
when you come to bring blessingsof salvation, don't forget me.
Let me share in the wealth andthe beauty of all your devoted
lovers.
Rejoice with your nations inall of their joy, and let me
share in the glory you give toyour chosen ones.
We have all sinned so much,just like our fathers, guilty is
(10:50):
written over our lives.
Our fathers, who were deliveredfrom Egypt, didn't fully
understand your wonders, andthey took you for granted.
Over and over, you showed themsuch tender love and mercies,
yet they were barely beyond theRed Sea when they rebelled
(11:15):
against you.
Nevertheless, you saved themmore than once, so that they
would know how powerful you are,showing them the honor of your
name.
You roared over the waters ofthe Red Sea, making the dry path
for your people to crossthrough.
You fed them from, you freedthem from the strong power of
(11:39):
those who oppressed them, andyou rescued them from bondage.
Then the waters rushed overtheir enemies and drowned them
all.
Not one survived.
Seeing this, the peoplebelieved your word and they all
broke out in song and praisedyou.
Yet how quickly they forgotyour miracle powers.
(12:02):
They wouldn't wait for you toact when they were hungry, but
they demanded you satisfy theircravings and give them food.
They tested you to the breakingpoint.
So you gave them what theywanted to eat, but their souls
starved after a way to nothing.
(12:24):
They became.
I don't know this word, is it?
It's E-N-V.
Envious, envious, envious ofMoses and Aaron, your holy ones.
You split open the earth and itswallowed up.
(12:44):
Is it Dahan and Abaran?
Along with their followers,fire fell from heaven and burnt
up all the bands of rebellion,turning them to ashes, and made
an idol of a calf and bowed toworship their man-made structure
(13:13):
.
They preferred the image of agrass-eating ox to the presence
of the glory filled God.
They totally forgot it was youwho saved them.
But they wandered an awesomemiracle.
You worked in Egypt.
(13:33):
So you decided to destroy them.
But Moses, your chosen leader,stood in the gap between you and
the people and madeintercession on their behalf to
turn away your wrath fromkilling them all.
Yet they still didn't believeyour words and they despised the
land of delight you give them.
(13:55):
They grumbled and they foundfault with everything and closed
their hearts to your voice.
So you solemnly swore to themthat they would all die in the
desert and you scattered theirchildren to distant lands.
Then our fathers joined theworshipers and the false gods
(14:19):
named Lord of the Pit.
They even ate the sacrificedoffering to the dead.
All they did made you burn withanger.
It made you so angry that theplagues broke out among them.
It continued until thePharisees intervened and
(14:44):
executed the guilty for causingjudgment to fall upon them,
because this deepunrighteousness is that Pharisee
Will be remembered forever.
Your people also provoked you towrath at the steam called
(15:05):
strife.
This is where Moses gets intoserious trouble.
Because the people wererebellious against you, moses
exploded his anger and spoke tothem out of his bitterness.
Neither did our fathers destroythe enemies in the land as you
(15:26):
have commanded them, but theymingled themselves with their
enemies and learned to copytheir works of darkness.
They began to serve their godsand bow before their idols.
All of this led them away fromyou and brought about their
downfall.
(15:47):
They even sacrificed theirlittle children to the demon
spirits, shedding the innocentblood of their sons and
daughters.
These dark practices greatlydefiled the land and their own
souls, through the murder andthe bloodshed of their own
babies.
Their sins made themspiritually adulterers before
(16:12):
you.
This is why you were furious,as your anger burned hot against
them.
You couldn't even stand to lookat your very own people any
longer, so you turned them overto the crashing hands of other
nations and those who hated thembecause of tyrants over them.
(16:36):
Oppressive enemies subdued them, ruling over them with their
tyranny.
Many times you would have cometo rescue them, but they
continued in their rebelliousways, choosing to ignore your
warnings.
Then they shrank lower andlower, destroyed by their I
(17:07):
don't know Yet.
Even so, you waited and waited.
Now listen, even though they'ddone all that, god waited and
waited and watched to see ifthey would turn and cry out to
you for Father's help.
And then, when you heard theircry, you relented and remembered
(17:35):
your covenant and you turnedyour heart towards them again,
according to your abundant,overflowing and limitless love.
Then you caused even theiroppressors to pity them and show
them compassion.
(17:55):
Do it again, lord.
Save us.
O Lord, our God, gather us upand unite us together again, so
that we will give our great andjoyous thanks to you again and
bring you glory by our praises.
Blessed be our Lord, godforever and ever, and let
(18:20):
everyone, every world, sayHallelujah, amen.
Faithful is the king Now.
Faithful is the king Now.
Faithful is the king.
You see, when you ain'ttrusting God, you ain't walking
in faith, you are not inrighteousness.
But thank God for his mercy andhis grace upon each and every
(18:44):
one of us.
Those were our forefathers thatoperated in that rebellion.
You know, every day we need tobreak that rebellious spirit off
of us.
Amen, because we all operate init.
We all rebel against something.
It's just a fact Because we areflesh.
(19:06):
It's just a fact Because we areflesh and our flesh does not
like to listen.
Our flesh likes its way.
Is there any truth to that?
So Psalms 106 is the history ofthe Israels Repeated
(19:30):
disobedience and rebellionagainst God.
Alongside God, continued withmercy and faithfulness, even in
the face of their failing.
It began with praise andthanksgiving, acknowledging God
and all of his goodness,enduring love, acknowledging God
and all of his goodness,enduring love.
(19:54):
And then it went to Psalms 106.
It went from passion todestruction for the Israelites,
but then passion arose again.
(20:15):
So here's a breakdown of 106.
It began with praise andthanksgiving.
It was a declaration ofthanksgiving to God, recognizing
him for all of his goodness.
Then there came a confession ofsin, recognizing him for all of
his goodness.
(20:35):
Then there came a confession ofsin, then the despair of human
unfaithfulness.
Because they were unfaithful.
When you're going to melt downevery piece of gold, you have to
make yourself a false idol toworship instead of worshiping
the one true God.
Rebellion and idolatry theconsequence of their
(21:02):
disobedience.
God scattered their childrenall over so that they wouldn't
be united as family, god's mercyand deliverance.
God came and delivered them outof their rebellion.
(21:22):
But, just like us, sometimes wehave to hit rock bottom before
we'll say Lord Jesus, help me.
Psalms 106 serves as a powerfulreminder of both God's
unwavering love and the need forrepentance and obedience,
encouraging us to have gratitudefor God's forgiveness even in
(21:48):
the face of our human failure.
When we decide to live based onour own desires rather than
God's, we make decisions out ofour flesh and we want it our way
.
You know, I remember one time Iwas just preaching.
(22:13):
I was just preaching and I said, and let's pray for God's
perfect will.
And this woman stood right upin the crowd and she said no, I
want my will.
I'm telling you, she about tookme back ten steps and I was
like, well, at least she washonest, you know.
But you know, I know that welike our own way, but in order
(22:35):
to be in right standings withGod, we need to obey to his will
and have his will reign in ourlives.
I lost my place.
(22:57):
And so when we take up ourbreastplate of righteousness, we
are covering our heart and ourminds because they are the most
vulnerable right heart and ourminds because they are the most
vulnerable.
Right the breastplate is meantto protect them from the
(23:22):
spiritual attacks and theattempts of the enemy.
You know, we have to be aware.
We have learned about hisschemes, we have learned about
his tricks, but tonight we'regoing to learn about how he
ambushes us.
Okay, let me see where it's at.
(23:48):
Beware of Satan's ambush.
Satan desires and this is outof the spiritual warfare bible
by Joyce Meyer Satan desires toambush our souls and to cause us
to be afraid.
So that's where Satan wants usfearful.
His only chance of victory sothat's where Satan wants us
(24:09):
fearful.
His only chance of victory isto keep us from praying.
And if he can't do that, thenhe wants to keep our prayers
short and ineffective.
He pulls out his weapons oftemptation deception.
(24:34):
He's the accuser of thebrethren and causes us to have
empty hope.
So we will cowl down in acorner and not even enter into
prayer.
He wants to keep us downcasted,discouraged, full of doubt.
(25:00):
The importance of prayer.
However, our fight in prayerhas no boundaries.
As God's word takes upresidence in us, there is no
doubt that it has the power totransform the way we see the
(25:22):
world.
It becomes clear that the besttactics of the enemy are to
convince us we should not answerthe bell the next time for the
next round.
Did you ever watch them?
Fighters?
And you know.
(25:43):
They fight, and they fight, andthey fight.
And the bell rings andeverybody runs to their corner
and they pour water on theirheads.
But see, we run to our cornerwith victory, knowing that when
that bell rings again, we'reready to take the enemy out
through our prayers.
It will not be so for you.
You will answer every challenge.
(26:04):
You must pray fearlessly andrelentlessly, knowing that it is
God who wars on our behalf.
It is God who teaches yourhands to war.
It is God to whom the ultimatevictory will go.
You can pray fearlessly becauseyou have nothing to lose,
(26:28):
because everything you havebelongs to God and will return
to him.
He is the Lord of all and isworthy of the people who trust
him and will fight without fear.
This is a realm of prayer thatchanges things on earth, a place
(26:50):
where you have so much faith inGod that nothing, even the fear
of death on the battlefield towhich you are called, can keep
you from your God-given mission.
You will become like Paul,taking the fight to the gates of
hell, rather than standing atyour own gates and praying that
(27:15):
the devil can't get in.
And so you're going to stand.
And when you've done all butstand, you're going to stand
some more with the breastplate,where you're guarding your mind
and your heart, the two mostvulnerable things that we have.
When he gets in our thoughtpattern, you know, joyce Meyer
(27:35):
tells us that our mind is thebattlefield.
That is where the battle is.
How many times do you haveconversation with that person
that you're upset with In yourhead?
In your head?
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
But when we take I'm just to me this Bible.
This is my breastplate ofrighteousness.
Put it on my head.
I've done it and done it anddone it in my life.
I walk around with the Bible onmy head because this is where
my power is.
(28:27):
This is where the word is.
This is where the truth is.
This is where the word is.
This is where the truth is.
This is where freedom is.
As long as Satan can keep youwrapped up in fear, you are not
walking in freedom.
Beware of Satan's ambushes.
(28:50):
Romans 8 6.
So let your sinful naturecontrol the mind will lead to
death.
Now, that is a spiritual deathwhen we let our minds be led by
Satan.
You know that's what happenedto Adam and Eve in the garden.
(29:11):
Surely, you will die.
He says no, you won't.
No, they didn't die physically,they died spiritually.
But letting the spirit controlyour mind, that will lead to
peace and a healthy life.
(29:32):
How can we put our breastplateof righteousness?
How can we put on thebreastplate of righteousness
Number one?
To resist the devil with theplate of righteousness, a
believer needs to trust inChrist, live a life of obedience
and actively resist temptation.
(29:53):
The breastplate ofrighteousness is a piece of
God's armor that causes you andI to rely on Christ's
righteousness for protection,for standing firm against the
enemy's schemes, putting on thebreastplate of righteousness and
(30:17):
allowing our faith in Christ togrow.
If you and I didn't, if all ofour life all we had was sunshine
and sprinkles, we would nevergrow spiritually.
Because we do not grow in themountaintops, we grow in the
valley.
That is where the absolute mostbeautiful flowers are.
(30:37):
It's down in that deep, richsoil, deep down in the valley,
because you know we're eithercoming into an issue, going
through an issue, or coming out.
Then we're on the mountaintop.
How long are we up there?
Not very long.
(30:58):
And there we go Back down inthe valley, and so we have to be
able to learn how to resist theenemy and tell him to go.
You have no authority here.
I am in right standings withChrist and you have to know that
in your knower.
Do you know what your knower is?
(31:20):
These two things work righttogether.
I know in my knower.
I know in my knower.
I know in my knower that I'msaved Without a shadow of a
doubt.
Ain't one person could evertake that victory from me.
I know in my knower that I'mthe apple of his eye.
(31:42):
I know in my knower that I'mblessed coming in and blessed
going out.
I'm the head and not the tail,above, only not beneath.
You know that the head ispretty far from the tail.
I'm not the tail, you're notthe tail.
God says we're the tail, you'renot the tail.
God says we're the head.
(32:04):
We're blessed beyond measure.
So, trusting in his sacrificeand acknowledging that his
righteousness is put in you,it's in there.
It's like Pareko.
You know God's like Pare.
You, it's in there, it's likeParego.
You know God's like Parego,it's in there.
Remember Parego's spaghettisauce?
(32:26):
You know Parego.
Yes, the spaghetti sauce.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Oh, okay, I said remember, I was like oh, we use
that every day, like what we use.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
Yeah, it's, you know.
You know where the commercialused to be.
It's in there.
It used to be a commercial.
It's probably a good spaghettisauce.
Huh, it's old.
It's old.
Yeah, they probably don't evenhave it no more, I don't know,
(32:59):
that's what I use.
You do.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
There we go.
That's what I'm saying.
When you said used to, I'm likeI use Prego.
When I use, yeah, they sell it.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
It's the commercial.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
I think the Regu or whatever that is.
It's not gross, but it's adifferent taste.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
I'm just going to pray Because it's in there.
Whatever you need's in there,like Jesus Christ, it's in there
.
Now I'm going to sing that one.
You betcha, okay, when walkingin obedience, we are not giving
the devil any opportunity toattack us.
(33:39):
That's what I want.
I don't want him to have anyopportunity.
I'm telling you guys, it grindsmy gears when he sets me up, I
trip and I fall into his mess.
It makes me so angry Because heset me up, he ambushed me Right
(34:01):
, and then, when you know heambushed you, it's like you,
dirty devil, amen.
So keeping our focus on Christand his love and devotion can
help us resist the temptations.
You know what I think ourbiggest temptation is?
And devotion can help us resistthe temptations.
(34:21):
You know what I think ourbiggest temptation is?
Keep your mouth shut.
I think that is a hugetemptation.
Whenever we can step back andsay, uh-uh-uh, this ain't my
battle, I ain't diving into that, and walk away.
But there's something inside ofus that makes us just not to
(34:43):
say it.
Even when we don't, we gottasay it.
And then after we say itbecause this is how the enemy
works, the very thing he uses totrip you up.
The moment he trips you up, hebegins to pound you over the
head with it.
Why'd you do that?
You shouldn't have done that.
Trip you up.
The moment he trips you up, hebegins to pound you over the
head with it.
Why'd you do that?
You shouldn't have done that.
Is that the truth?
(35:06):
So what we need to learn?
Turn the key, throw it away anddon't say it.
It's called self-control, oneof the fruits of the Spirit.
Keeping our focus on Christ andHis love and His devotion can
help us resist temptation.
James 4, 7 says Submit yourselfthen to God.
(35:31):
Resist the devil, and he willflee from you.
Resist the devil requiresactively coming against
temptation and evil influences.
This includes standing firm inyour faith, knowing your
spiritual weapons, like prayerand scripture.
(35:54):
I'm telling you, guys, I've doneso good on not eating stuff
that I shouldn't have.
I've been so good and lastFriday, me and Melody went out
and had pancakes and I've beenoff the wagon ever since.
But see, he tempted me.
I should have had egg whitesand I should have had turkey
(36:18):
bacon and I should have had alittle bit of fruit and been
happy.
But oh, no, no, no, no.
I had to have not one, three,three pancakes.
She's going to take it.
But you know, I'm a big girl, Idid it all by myself, but I
(36:40):
should have resisted the enemyand he would have fled.
But now then comes Saturdaymorning.
I make big breakfast, we alleat, and there I was again
tempted and fell into it.
That might not be a temptationto everybody, that is a great
temptation for me.
(37:01):
But I'm telling you, I'mclimbing up out of the pit, I'm
getting back on my feet and I'mgoing through James 4, 7.
I'm going to submit myself untoGod and resist the devil, that
donut demon, and he will leavein the name of Jesus, in the
(37:22):
name of Jesus.
Resisting the devil requiresactively coming against
temptation and evil influences.
This includes standing firm inyour faith and knowing your
spiritual weapon.
Tell me your spiritual weapon,dave.
The Word, the Word.
(37:45):
How about you, chris?
Speaker 2 (37:47):
Spiritual weapon, pastor Holly.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
Oh, how about you, mel?
What's your spiritual weapon?
The Word, the Word.
How about you?
T weapon, the word.
How about you?
Speaker 2 (38:04):
Tanya the word how about you.
Speaker 1 (38:09):
Faith, faith.
Yeah, we're getting it, guys,we're getting it.
Submit to God and draw close tohim helps us resist it ever.
This means surrounding his willand trusting his guidance.
Now, one of the main things Ithink that Satan throws at us is
(38:39):
pride.
Pride can make us vulnerable tothe devil's attacks, while
humility allows us to receivegrace from God.
Prideful behaviors include wecan't admit that we've made a
mistake boasting about ourachievements, feeling
(39:01):
spiritually superior.
We can't admit that we've madea mistake boasting about our
achievements, feelingspiritually superior, rejecting
spiritual guidance from others.
Pride can also be manifested inappearances.
You know, you ever see somebodyyou could tell in a heartbeat
that they walk in a spirit ofpride?
Have you ever seen that?
You just know in a heartbeat,like you know, I got it all
(39:24):
together and I'm all that andI'm a bag of chips, got the
milkshake Right or whatever.
You get around that person.
The moment you start talking tothem about something and they
say, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm done,I ain't even going to entertain
(39:44):
that.
The minute I start trying toshare with you the gospel, try
to talk to you about things ofGod and oh, yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah.
See, they're not even listeningand then I'm done Because I'm
not entertaining that spirit, Ihave nothing to do with it.
Close that book.
When you can get down off yourhigh horse, come back and I talk
(40:06):
to you and you would say, oh, Iunderstand, oh, I see that now.
But yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,yeah.
That don't fly with me.
That's because what's the wordsay about being abased Pride
comes right before the fall.
So when you yeah, yeah, yeah me, and you fall flat on your face
(40:32):
, I'll be the first one there topick you up.
But I ain't entertaining itwhen I'm trying to minister to
it.
So let's see here.
So, seeking God's strength,prayer and asking God to empower
us to resist the enemy, stayalert, stay alert.
(40:56):
We have to be aware of histactics, we have to be aware of
his ambushes.
You know we have to be ahead ofhim to say the breastplate of
righteousness protects ourhearts from the devil's
accusations.
(41:16):
The first thing he wants to dois to remind you my phone's
dying Is to remind you that yousinned.
It's not plugged in.
I think it is that you'vesinned, that you're not worthy,
(41:44):
that you're shameful.
Those are things that he wantsto keep us in the forefront of
our mind and then that keeps usshut off from what God wants,
because he puts thoughts in ourhead Don't really put thoughts
in our heads.
We speak it, he gathers it andthen he makes it grow.
(42:07):
He don't have no influence overus unless we give it to him,
and we give that to him with ourmouths.
Oh, I don't feel good today.
I'm so sick I can't hardlymotivate.
Well, before the day's over,you'll be pretty sick.
You know, I'm so tired.
(42:31):
What was it Dave used to say?
Every Monday he would say thisSick and tired, I'm sick.
And you know what?
Every Monday he was Sick andtired, I'm sick.
And you know what?
Every Monday he was sick andtired.
He had to change.
It's a great day, I said Dave,it's a great day.
This is a day the Lord has made.
Let's rejoice and be glad in it.
But Mondays were hard for him.
When he worked, they were hardand that was his heart attitude
(42:57):
that he's sick and tired ofbeing sick and tired.
He's sick and tired of working,he's sick and tired of it.
But until you can change that,that is where you will dwell and
you can overcome that by thebreastplate of righteousness do
(43:17):
you believe that Amen?
so let's just look at James.
Do you believe that Amen?
So let's just look at James.
Was it 4-7?
James 4-7?
There's Timothy.
Speaker 2 (43:36):
I know.
Speaker 1 (43:37):
James is back here.
There's a people I don't thinkI'm ever going to find him.
(44:00):
He's hiding in here.
Did anybody find it?
Go ahead.
Speaker 2 (44:06):
Is it 4-7?
Humble yourselves before God.
Resist the devil, and he willflee from you.
Speaker 1 (44:11):
So, humble yourselves before God and resist the devil
and he'll flee from you.
That resist the devil, that isa promise.
But we have to humble ourselves, we have to submit ourselves
unto God, then the enemy willflee.
But if I keep living in myflesh, walking in my flesh,
(44:39):
operating in carnality, then theenemy is not going to flee from
me, because I'm inviting himinto my life, amen.
And so the promise is submityourself unto me and he will
flee.
And so when you are in themidst of warfare, stop and say I
(45:06):
commit myself unto you, god,and I thank you and praise you
that the enemy has to flee,because your word tells us that,
in James 4, 7, that when Isubmit unto you, the enemy will
flee.
Amen, amen.
(45:26):
Well, father, god, we thank youand we praise you.
We give you all the glory, allthe honor, all the praise,
father.
I thank you, lord, that we havelearned tonight, father, that
when we put on the breastplateof righteousness, father, that
when we put on the breastplateof righteousness, lord, that it
will protect our minds and ourhearts, father, it will protect
(45:47):
our innermost being.
I thank you, lord, that whenthe enemy tries to trip us up,
lord, that we will take thatstumbling block and turn it into
a stepping stone.
Father, god, we just give youthe glory, the honor and all the
praise.
Father, we just worship you.
Father, we thank you, lord, thatyou did deliver the Israelites
(46:10):
out of Egypt.
Father, god and Lord, that theydid enter into the promised
land.
We thank you, father, that keepus from grumbling and
complaining about all themiracles and the wonderful
things that you do in our life,big and small, lord.
Let us have hearts of gratitude, lord, even for the smallest
(46:32):
thing that you do in our lives.
Lord, I thank you and I praiseyou, lord, as we leave here
tonight.
Father, that you would give ustraveling mercies, and, lord,
that you would bless ourtomorrow.
Father, with the goodness ofGod, father, we just love you
and adore you.
We worship you, father, and wegive you the highest praise in
(46:53):
the mighty name of Jesus.
And everyone says Amen.
And did anybody need prayertonight?
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