Praying On The Armor Part 1
PRAYING ON THE ARMOR
EPHESIANS 6:14-18 (NIV)
THE TOP 10 REASONS
YOU ARE TOO BUSY TO PRAY TODAY:
1. YOU WAKE UP FEELING RESTED, THEN REALIZE YOUR ALARM SHOULD'VE GONE OFF AN HOUR AGO.
2. YOUR SPOUSE IS AWAY ON A TWO-DAY BUSINESS TRIP THAT'S LASTED ALL WEEK.
3. NONE OF THE CLEAN CLOTHES YOU WERE ABLE TO FIND MATCH.
4. YOUR TEENAGER SHAVED…THE LEFT HALF OF HIS HEAD.
5. YOUR BILLS ARE DUE, AND YOUR TODDLER HID THE CHECKBOOK.
6. A STRANGE FLUID IS DRIPPING FROM YOUR CAR.
7. YOU ACCIDENTALLY DELETE YOUR QUARTERLY REPORT TEN MINUTES BEFORE A MEETING WITH YOUR BOSS.
8. YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF GAMES FOR THE CHURCH YOUTH NIGHT TONIGHT.
9. YOUR DOG IS THROWING UP.
10. YOUR TOILET'S OVERFLOWING,
BUT AT LEAST YOU FOUND THE CHECKBOOK.
THE FACTORY CHRISTIAN
THE WHOLE STORY: EPHESIANS 6:11 –18
EPHESIANS 6:11-13 (NASB95) 11 PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD, SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STAND FIRM AGAINST THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL. 12 FOR OUR STRUGGLE IS NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST THE RULERS, AGAINST THE POWERS, AGAINST THE WORLD FORCES OF THIS DARKNESS, AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES. 13 THEREFORE, TAKE UP THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD, SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RESIST IN THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE EVERYTHING, TO STAND FIRM.
THERE ARE FORCES IN THIS LIFE THAT ARE OF A SPIRITUAL OR SUPERNATURAL NATURE. SATAN IS OUT TO TRIP UP AND BRING DOWN EVERY CHRISTIAN THAT HE CAN. ONE OF THE TACTICS HE USES IS WHAT I CALL ‘MIND GAMES’ HE WANTS TO GET US TO THINK ABOUT THINGS WE SHOULDN’T BE THINKING ABOUT. IF WE ALLOW THESE THOUGHTS TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN OUR MIND AND HEART THEN IT WON’T BE LONG BEFORE THEY BECOME THE THINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY DO.
SO HOW DO WE KEEP FROM THINKING ABOUT ‘WRONG THINGS’?
HERE IS SOMETHING THAT I DO EVERY MORNING. I HOPE IT WILL BE OF HELP TO YOU TOO. I PRAY THESE WORDS;
I PRAY ON THE HELMET OF SALVATION. I PRAY ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BY WHICH I CAN LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE. I PRAY ON THE BELT OF TRUTH, JESUS YOU ARE THE TRUTH. I PRAY ON THE SHOES OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. I PRAY ON THE SHIELD OF FAITH BY WHICH I CAN EXTINGUISH THE FIERY ARROWS OF THE DEVIL. I PRAY ON THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT EACH PIECE OF ARMOR THAT FOCUS’ MY MIND ON THE PROTECTION THEY GIVE AND TAKES MY MIND OFF OF THE OTHER THOUGHTS. THERE IS ALSO SPIRITUAL POWER IN BEING DRESSED IN SPIRITUAL ARMOR. THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS IN YOUR LIFE AND HELPS YOU TO LIVE ABOVE THE TEMPTATIONS THAT SATAN WOULD TRY TO FOOL YOU WITH.
PRAYING ON THE ARMOR IS ONLY ONE SOURCE OF POWER TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE. BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ALSO VITALLY IMPORTANT. MY DESIRE IS TO PLEASE GOD IN EVERYTHING I DO.
I KNOW THAT I MAKE MISTAKES SOMETIMES, BUT I NEVER WANT TO MAKE A CONSCIOUS CHOICE TO PURPOSELY SIN AGAINST MY LORD AND MY GOD. I BELIEVE THAT YOU AS A CHILD OF GOD, FEEL THE SAME WAY TOO.
THIS MORNING WE'RE GOING GET DRESSED.
WE'RE GOING TO GET DRESSED FOR BATTLE,
AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT BY PRAYING,
SO CLOSE YOUR EYES AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
O LORD GOD
I PRAY ON YOUR ARMOR.
I PRAY ON THE HELMET OF SALVATION,
BY WHICH I CAN PROTECT MY MIND FROM ALL THE THINGS SATAN WOULD PUT IN IT.
I PRAY ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
SO THAT I CAN LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE BEFORE YOU LORD.
I PRAY ON THE BELT OF TRUTH,
JESUS YOU ARE THE TRUTH, THE WAY AND THE LIFE.
I PRAY ON THE SHOES OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
THAT I MAY BE READY TO GO AND SHARE YOUR SALVATION.
I PRAY ON THE SHIELD OF FAITH
BY WHICH I CAN EXTINGUISH THE FIERY ARROWS OF THE DEVIL.
I PRAY ON THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.
I WILL HIDE YOUR WORD IN MY HEART THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU O LORD MY GOD.
AMEN!
WHEN PAUL WAS WRITING THIS LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS,
HE WAS IN PRISON. HE WAS GUARDED EVERY DAY
BY A ROMAN GUARD.
HE HAD TO STARE AT THE ROMAN SOLDIER'S ARMOUR
DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY.
SO, HE HAD A GOOD PICTURE IN HIS MIND
OF THE ARMOUR THAT THE ROMAN SOLDIERS WORE.
THEREFORE IT WAS AN EASY THING FOR HIM
TO CROSS OVER THE ROMAN ARMOR
TO THE ARMOR THAT WE CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS NEED
TO COMBAT THE FORCES OF EVIL IN THIS WORLD.
EPHESIANS 6:14-18 (NIV)
14 STAND FIRM THEN, WITH THE BELT OF TRUTH
BUCKLED AROUND YOUR WAIST,
WITH THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN PLACE,
15 AND WITH YOUR FEET FITTED WITH THE READINESS
THAT COMES FROM THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
16 IN ADDITION TO ALL THIS, TAKE UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH, WITH WHICH YOU CAN EXTINGUISH ALL THE FLAMING ARROWS OF THE EVIL ONE.
17 TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION
AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.
18 AND PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ON ALL OCCASIONS WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS.
WITH THIS IN MIND, BE ALERT
AND ALWAYS KEEP ON PRAYING FOR ALL THE SAINTS.
PRAYING ON THE HELMET
THERE IS A QUARTERBACK IN THE NFL MANED
BEN ROETHLISBERGER.
BEN LOVED TO RIDE HIS MOTOR CYCLE.
ONE DAY IN JULY OF 2005, HE WAS INTERVIEWED,
THE ESPN REPORTER ANDREA KREMER ASKED BEN TO EXPLAIN WHY HE NEVER WORE A HELMET WHEN HE RODE HIS MOTORCYCLE.
BEN SAID: IT'S BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
IT'S NOT THE LAW. IF IT WAS THE LAW,
I'D DEFINITELY HAVE ONE ON EVERY TIME I RODE.
BUT IT'S NOT THE LAW AND I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO.
YOU'RE JUST MORE FREE WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE WITH NO HELMET ON.
IN JUNE OF THE NEXT YEAR,
BEN WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
A 62-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY
AT A PITTSBURGH INTERSECTION.
BEN WAS THROWN INTO THE WINDSHIELD
OF HER CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY.
HIS BIKE WAS TOTALED,
AND EMERGENCY SURGEONS SPENT OVER SEVEN HOURS
REPAIRING HIS BROKEN JAW, FRACTURED SKULL, MISSING TEETH, AND SEVERAL OTHER FACIAL INJURIES.
AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL, BEN ROETHLISBERGER APOLOGIZED TO THE FANS, HIS FAMILY,
AND HIS TEAM FOR RISKING HIS HEALTH (AND LIFE) UNNECESSARILY.
LATER, IN ANOTHER INTERVIEW,
HE SAID HE WAS NO LONGER FOCUSED
ON TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIS INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM:
"IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, I'VE GAINED A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE.
BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I'M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE."
HE ALSO ADDED THAT, IF HE EVER DOES RIDE A MOTORCYCLE AGAIN, "HE'LL WEAR A HELMET."
THERE'S A REASON TO WEAR A HELMET WHEN YOU RIDE A MOTOR CYCLE,
AND THERE'S A REASON THAT WE CHRISTIANS,
WEAR THE HELMET OF SALVATION.
FIRST, IF WE DON'T HAVE SALVATION,
WE'RE LOST AND GOING TO HELL.
KEN CUATT SUE'S DAD PUT THE HELMET OF SALVATION ON LAST TUESDAY.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!
THE SECOND REASON WE WEAR THE HELMET IS TO PROTECT OUR MIND.
IF WE DON'T PROTECT OUR MIND, SATAN WILL PLAY MIND GAMES WITH US.
IF WE AREN'T PROTECTED,
HE'LL CONVINCE US THAT WE'RE A SPECIAL CASE,
AND GOD WON'T PUNISH US
AS LONG AS WE ONLY SIN LITTLE SINS.
------
WE'VE GOTTA PROTECT OUR MIND
OR SATAN IS GOING TO DO HIS LEVEL BEST
TO PUT THINGS IN OUR MIND THAT WILL
HINDER, ROB AND STEAL OUR CLOSENESS TO GOD.
SATAN CAN'T DIRECTLY GRAB YOU AND HAUL YOU BACK OVER THE BORDER INTO HIS TERRITORY.
HE HAS TO CONVINCE YOU TO DO IT.
AND SO HE DOES ALL HE CAN TO FOOL YOU
INTO MAKING STUPID DECISIONS
DECISIONS THAT WILL HURT OR RUIN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
DON'T GO OUT WITHOUT YOUR HELMET OF SALVATION ON.
THIS IS HOW HE WORKS.
HE'LL MAKE YOU COURIOUS ABOUT SOMETHING.
HE'LL WHISPER TO YOU THAT IT WON'T HURT TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT.
YOU'RE JUST DOING SOME RESEARCH.
AND WHEN YOU DO FIND OUT ABOUT IT (WHATEVER IT IS) YOU THEN NOW KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT DOING IT.
THIS KNOWLEDGE HAS NOW BECOME A HANDLE FOR SATAN TO HOLD ONTO.
HE CAN USE THIS KNOWLEDGE TO ENTICE YOU TO JUST TRY IT OUT.
HE'LL SAY "A LITTLE BIT WON'T HURT".
YOU'RE STRONG, AND YOU CAN HANDLE IT.
YOU WON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN IT LIKE OTHER PEOPLE.
BESIDES THOSE PEOPLE ARE HAVING ALL THE FUN,
AND YOU'RE BEING LEFT OUT.
_________________________________________________________
THE HELMET OF SALVATION WILL HELP YOU KEEP YOUR MIND FOCUSED ON YOUR LEADER, JESUS CHRIST.
JESUS WANTS US THINKING ABOUT
HOW WE CAN REACH THE WORLD
WITH THE GOOD NEWS THAT MEN CAN LIVE FOREVER.
THE HELMET PROTECTS THE MIND OF THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER.
UNLESS A MAN HAS BEEN SAVED,
HIS MIND CAN'T BE PROTECTED.
WITHOUT THE HELMET OF SALVATION,
THE FIERY ARROWS OF TEMPTATION WILL INFLAME A MAN'S HEART
AND HE WILL DO THINGS THAT WILL HAVE LASTING,
AND EVEN ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES.
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THE NEXT PIECE OF ARMOR THAT WE PRAY ON IS...
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
DURING THE TIME OF THE TWELVE CAESARS,
THE ROMAN ARMY WOULD CONDUCT MORNING INSPECTIONS.
AS THE INSPECTING CENTURION WOULD COME IN FRONT OF EACH LEGIONNAIRE,
THE SOLDIER WOULD STRIKE HIS ARMOR BREASTPLATE WITH HIS RIGHT FIST.
THIS WAS WHERE THE ARMOR COVERED HIS HEART.
IT HAD TO BE STRONGEST THERE TO PROTECT THE HEART
FROM THE SWORD THRUSTS AND FROM ARROW STRIKES.
AS THE SOLDIER STRUCK HIS ARMOR,
HE WOULD SHOUT "INTEGRITAS" [IN-TEG-RI-TAS],
IN LATIN THIS MEANS
MATERIAL WHOLENESS, COMPLETENESS, AND ENTIRETY.
THE INSPECTING CENTURION WOULD LISTEN CLOSELY FOR
THIS WORD
AND ALSO FOR THE RING THAT WELL KEPT ARMOR
WOULD GIVE OFF.
IF THE INSPECTING CENTURION WAS SATISFIED
THAT THE ARMOR WAS SOUND
AND THAT THE SOLDIER BENEATH IT WAS PROTECTED,
HE WOULD THEN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT MAN.
THIS KIND OF ARMOR
CONTINUED TO SERVE THE LEGION WELL.
FOR OVER FOUR CENTURIES THEY WERE ABLE TO HOLD THE LINE
AGAINST THE MARAUDING GOTHS AND THE VANDALS,
BUT BY 383 A.D., SOCIAL DECLINE HAD INFECTED
THE ROMAN REPUBLIC.
BECAUSE OF NEGLIGENCE AND LAZINESS,
THE PARADE GROUND DRILLS WERE ABANDONED,
SINCE THE SOLDIERS RARELY, IF EVER, WORE THE ARMOR.
IT BEGAN TO FEEL HEAVY
SO THEY ASKED THE EMPEROR FOR PERMISSION
TO SET ASIDE THE BREASTPLATES AND MAIL
THEN THEY ASKED PERMISSION TO NOT WEAR THEIR HELMETS.
__________________________________________________________________
WHEN THE GOTHS CAME AND THE SOLDIERS FOUGHT THEM,
THEY HAD NO PROTECTION FOR THEIR HEART ORTHEIR HEAD.
THEY WERE OFTEN KILLED BY THE ARCHERS ARROWS.
EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE MANY CASUALTIES
AND LOST BATTLES,
NO ONE TRIED TO RESTORE THE ARMOR TO THE INFANTRY.
THEY TOOK THEIR ARMOR OFF
AND WHEN THE ARMOR CAME OFF—THEIR INTEGRITY LEFT TOO.
IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF A FEW YEARS
UNTIL THE LEGION ROTTED FROM WITHIN
AND WAS UNABLE TO SECURE THE FRONTIER AREAS.
THEN THE BARBARIANS WERE AT ROME'S CITY GATES.
ON DECEMBER 8TH, 2004,
THERE WAS A YOUNG SOLDIER
WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE 278TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM
HIS NAME WAS SPECIALIST THOMAS WILSON
AT AN OPEN MEETING BETWEEN THE SOLDIERS
AND THE SECRETARY OF DEFENCE, DONALD RUMSFELD.
THOMAS WILSON ASKED A SINGLE QUESTION
HIS QUESTION
TOUCHED OFF A MEDIA FIRESTORM IN THE UNITED STATES.
AS THE CAMERAS ROLLED,
ARMY SPECIALIST THOMAS WILSON ASKED MR. RUMSFELD,
"WHY DO WE SOLDIERS HAVE TO DIG THROUGH LOCAL LANDFILLS FOR PIECES OF SCRAP METAL AND COMPROMISED BALLISTIC GLASS TO UP-ARMOR OUR VEHICLES?"
________________________________________________________________
THE SOLDIERS WERE VULNERABLE,
WHEN THEY WENT INTO BATTLE
WITHOUT THE PROPER PROTECTION.
________________________________________________________________
AS CHRISTIANS, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THAT FEAR.
BECAUSE...
OUR SUPREME COMMANDER GENEROUSLY EQUIPS US WITH
THE BELT OF TRUTH,
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
THE GOSPEL OF PEACE,
THE SHIELD OF FAITH,
THE HELMET OF SALVATION,
AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.
HE PROVIDES US WITH ALL THE ARMOR WE NEED,
BUT IT'S UP TO US TO PUT IT ON AND USE IT.
THE BREASTPLATE COVERED THE BODY OF THE SOLDIER FROM THEIR NECK TO THEIR THIGHS.
IT'S MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION WAS TO PROTECT THEIR HEART.
_________________________________________________________
THE HEART OF THE BELIEVER MUST BE FOCUSED
ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,
AND THAT FOCUS MUST BE PROTECTED.
THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER MUST BE RIGHTEOUSNESS.
WHEN A MAN IS SAVED,
GOD GIVES THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST TO HIM,
OR TO SAY IT ANOTHER WAY,
GOD COUNTS HIM AS RIGHTEOUS
BUT, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO STAND IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST.
THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER MUST PROTECT HIS HEART.
HE PROTECTS IT BY LIVING RIGHTEOUSLY.
RIGHTEOUSNESS KEEPS THE HEART FROM BEING WOUNDED AND LOSING FOCUS.
THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER IS...
· TO GIVE IT ALL HE HAS TO ATTAIN
THE VERY RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST.
· WE ARE TO LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY
IN THIS PRESENT WORLD.
PRAY ON THE BELT OF TRUTH
KIMBERLY SHUMATE TELLS HOW SHE BECAME A CHRISTIAN AFTER LIVING SOME 30 YEARS AS A WITCH.
SHE TELLS HOW SHE FINALLY CAME TO THE END OF HERSELF,
AND WALKED INTO A CHURCH:
AS SHE SAT DOWN,
SHE SILENTLY SHOT UP A DESPERATE PRAYER TO HEAVEN:
SHE SAID
GOD, PLEASE GIVE ME SOMEONE IN THIS CRAZY CROWD
THAT I CAN RELATE TO.
IF YOU DON'T GIVE ME SOMEONE,
I'M WALKING OUT OF HERE.
JUST THEN,
THE PASTOR TOLD THE CONGREGATION TO STAND UP
AND SHAKE HANDS WITH EACH OTHER.
KIM INTRODUCED HERSELF TO LISA,
LISA'S DYED-RED HAIR AND NOSE RING
SUGGESTED THAT THEY MIGHT BE AT A SIMILAR PLACE IN LIFE.
KIM'S OWN BLACK-AND-WHITE HAIR
AND SPIKED BELT TOLD HER THEY WERE THE SAME.
LISA WAS A FELLOW SPIRITUAL SEEKER,
AND THE TWO OF THEM BECAME FAST FRIENDS.
LOOKING BACK, SHE WONDERS HOW THE CHURCH MEMBERS EVER STOOD HAVING HER IN THEIR MIDST FOR SO LONG.
SHE WAS ANGRY AND EXASPERATED
AS SHE WOULD SIT LISTENING TO THEIR "GOOD NEWS."
HOW COULD THERE BE ONLY ONE WAY TO GOD?
AT THE END OF EACH MESSAGE,
SHE WOULD MARCH RIGHT DOWN THE AISLE TO THE PASTOR
AND BEGIN FIRING OFF AN ONSLAUGHT OF QUESTIONS.
AFTER THREE OR FOUR WEEKS OF VERBAL SPARRING,
HE HUMBLY OFFERED HER THE EAR, OF THEASSOCIATE PASTOR.
__________________________________________________________________
KIM MADE HER ROUNDS FROM ONE ELDER TO ANOTHER,
FINALLY ENDING UP AT A FRIDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY
LOOKING FOR ANSWERS TO HER QUESTIONS.
AS SHE SAT ON THE FLOOR IN THE LEADER'S LIVING ROOM,
SHE FELT A PEACE IN THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE
WHO SEEMED TO CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.
AFTER THE BIBLE STUDY, WITH LISA SITTING BESIDE HER, SCOTT, THE LEADER,
PATIENTLY LISTENED TO HER NEW-AGE ARGUMENTS.
BUT ONE BY ONE,
THE VERY SCRIPTURES SHE'D CAREFULLY PREPARED
TO PUNCH HOLES IN THE GOSPEL
CAME BACK AT HER WITH THE FORCE OF A HURRICANE.
THE BIBLE'S WORDS—CONFOUNDED HER COSMIC VIEW.
AFTER THEY'D BEEN THERE FOR AN HOUR DEBATING,
KIM WAS EXHAUSTED.
HER HARDENED HEART AND ARGUMENTATIVE NATURE
HAD FINALLY HAD ENOUGH.
AS LISA DROVE HER HOME, THAT NIGHT
HER MIND ACHED AS SHE REPLAYED THE WORDS
THAT SCOTT HAD SAID,
AND THE BIBLE VERSES SHE HAD READ.
ALL THE OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW TESTAMENT VERSES
HAD ONE FAMILIAR VOICE—ONE TONE, ONE HEART.
SHE WONDERED,
HOW COULD A BOOK WRITTEN BY SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE
OVER THE COURSE OF HUNDREDS OF YEARS
FIT TOGETHER SO PERFECTLY AS IF ONE AMAZING STORYTELLER HAD WRITTEN THE WHOLE THING?
THE HOLY SPIRIT MELTED HER VANITY AND ARROGANCE
WITH A POWER THAT WAS STRONGER THAN ANY HEX, INCANTATION, OR SPELL SHE'D EVER USED.
SUDDENLY, THE BLINDFOLD WAS STRIPPED AWAY,
AND INSTANTLY SHE KNEW WHAT SHE'D BEEN SEARCHING FOR:
IT WAS JESUS!
THE SAME GOD...
SHE'D NEGLECTED,
WHOSE NAME SHE'D USED AS PROFANITY,
WHOM SHE'D FLAT-OUT REJECTED,
WAS THE ONE WHO'D SENT HIS SON TO SUFFER FOR HER,
HE WAS THE ONE WHO'D TAKEN THE GUILTY VERDICT
SO SHE COULD BE FOUND INNOCENT.
HER EYES FILLED WITH TEARS AS SHE EXCHANGED
THE DARKNESS WITH WHICH SHE'D GROWN SO ACCUSTOMED TO
FOR THE LIGHT OF GOD'S TRUTH.
IT WAS SUCH A PERSONAL MOMENT BETWEEN THE LORD AND KIM THAT EVEN LISA,
SITTING NEXT TO HER IN THE CAR,
HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.
SHE QUICKLY REALIZED HER LIFE WAS FILLED WITH EMPTY PROPS,
AND IT WAS TIME FOR HER TO CLEAN HOUSE.
HER FIRST ACT OF OBEDIENCE WAS TO THROW OUT ALL HER BOOKS ON WITCHCRAFT -- THE PARANORMAL,
AND HER TAROT CARDS.
BUT THERE WAS ONE POSSESSION THAT SHE VALUED MOST OF ALL—
IT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT FOR HER TO GET RID OF—
WAS HER CRYSTAL BALL.
SO SHE CALLED LISA.
LISA CAME RIGHT OVER,
AND THEY DROVE TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
KIM'S HEART WAS POUNDING
AS IF THE DEMONS WERE RIGHT THERE, BEHIND THEM.
AS THEY STOOD AT THE END OF MALIBU PIER,
THEIR FACES REFLECTING THE RADIANCE OF THE SETTING SUN.
SHE UNWRAPPED THE BLACK VELVET COVER FROM THE CRYSTAL BALL.
THE LIGHT FROM THE SETTING SUN
REFRACTED THROUGH THE CRYSTAL BALL
CREATING A RAINBOW FROM THE SUN'S FLEETING RAYS.
______________________________________________________________
THEN SHE DROPPED THE CRYSTAL BALL INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
AS IT FELL TO THE WATER BELOW,
SHE KNEW HER FUTURE WAS SECURE.
SHE HAD THE SAVIOR AND HE WOULD ALWAYS BE WITH HER.
SHE STILL WEEPS SOMETIMES
WHEN SHE THINKS ABOUT HOW HE WASTED
ALL THOSE YEARS OF ANGER, DISAPPOINTMENT, FEAR,
AND BAD CHOICES.
BUT NOW, ALL THOSE MISTAKES THAT SHE'D MADE
HAVE BEEN WIPED CLEAN.
JESUS SAID IN JOHN 8:32 (NIV)
32 THEN YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.”
KIM MET THE TRUTH
AND THE TRUTH MADE HER FREE.
1. THE BELT OF TRUTH.
THE BELT WAS USED TO HOLD THE SOLDIER'S CLOTHING UP CLOSE TO HIS BODY.
THIS KEPT HIS CLOTHING FROM FLAPPING ABOUT
AND ALLOWED HIM FREEDOM TO MOVE.
ALSO, THE BELT WAS USED TO STRENGTHEN
AND SUPPORT THE SOLDIERS BODY.
_____________________________________________________
A. WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS THE BELT OF TRUTH?
WHAT IS GOD'S TRUTH THAT THE BELIEVER IS TO PUT ON?
FIRST, CHRIST IS THE TRUTH.
THE BELIEVER IS TO PUT ON CHRIST JUST LIKE KIM DID.
SECOND, THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUTH.
THE BELIEVER IS TO PUT ON THE WORD OF GOD EVERY DAY, BY READING IT.
THE BELIEVER IS SANCTIFIED BY THE WORD OF GOD.
THIRD, SPEAKING AND LIVING A LIFE OF TRUTHFULNESS IS THE TRUTH.
WE SHOULD BE KNOWN AS A PEOPLE WHO SPEAK THE TRUTH.
AND WE SHOULD BE KNOWN AS A PEOPLE WHO LIVE THE TRUTH.
B. TRUTH DOES SEVERAL THINGS FOR THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER.
IT KEEPS HIM FROM FLAPPING ABOUT FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER,
FROM BEING TOSSED TO AND FRO
BY EVERY ATTACK OF THE ENEMY.
IT KEEPS HIM FROM BECOMING ENTANGLED WITH THE AFFAIRS OF THIS LIFE.
IT SUPPORTS HIM IN THE BATTLES AND TRIALS OF LIFE.
MY FRIENDS,
IT'S JUST SMART TO PRAY ON
THE HELMET OF SALVATION,
TO PRAY ON
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
AND TO PRAY ON
THE BELT OF TRUTH.
OUT MAIN GOAL IS TO GET TO HEAVEN AND TO TAKE AS MANY PEOPLE WITH US AS WE CAN.
THIS SERMON IS TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.
BE SURE TO TUNE IN FOR THE EXCITING FINALLY.