Not so Vital Organs

Build Connection

If I sound congested this morning it’s because I am. I’m not sick, this is something that happens to me almost every year at harvest time. It starts with a soar throat for a day or so, then a runny nose for a day or so then congestion for a couple days…

Appendix

This organ is about the size of your little finger and hangs from the lower right side of your colon. For reasons that aren't clear, this part of the intestinal tract sometimes becomes blocked, infected, or inflamed. Aptly enough, the word appendicitis means inflammation of the appendix. While it may settle down with antibiotic treatment, emergency surgical removal (an appendectomy) is often necessary.

Tonsils

A network of lymph nodes throughout the body is part of the immune surveillance system that helps trap dangerous invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Consider your two tonsils as larger, specialized lymph nodes watching out for these intruders. They are located at the back of the throat just to the sides of and behind the uvula, the dangling piece of tissue above them.

Now, removing the tonsils (a tonsillectomy) is only recommended for people with repeated bouts of bacterial throat infections such as strep throat, a condition common in children. Once removed, other lymphoid tissue, including the actual lymph nodes, can take over the job of the tonsils.

Create Tension

Although theses organs we could live without, there are organs we can not live without…

That is one reason why the breastplate is so important, it protects many of our vital organs.

Provide Solution

We have been looking at how to be Equipped as warriors for God, soldiers for the Cross.

We know we are in a fight for Eternity

We know we have to prepare our feet so we can stand our ground

We know we have to live with the truth fastened around our waist

New we are going to look at how righteousness plays a part in our armor.

Ephesians 6:10–17 (NLT)

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

We see here that righteousness is a breastplate that covers our vital organs. The parts of our body that we can’t live without.

So what exactly is righteousness?

One dictionary says it is the quality of being morally correct, acting in accordance with moral or divine law.

Righteousness is simply rightness according to God.

The armor of God in Ephesians is related to the armor we read about in Isaiah 59:17 “17 He put on righteousness as his body armor ( or breastplate) and placed the helmet of salvation on his head. He clothed himself with a robe of vengeance and wrapped himself in a cloak of divine passion.”

The Bible talks about two Kinds of righteousness.

First is God’s righteousness

God’s righteousness is the standard that is acceptable to God. Something we can not achieve on our own.

God’s standard is unchanging, unmatched, and unyielding. When we think we are achieving it, we have fallen further away from it!

It is also God’s righteousness that is required.

We we not be able to reach that standard.

Romans 3:23 “23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

James 2:10 “10 For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.”

This sounds bad, but there is good news. We can receive God’s righteousness.

Philippians 3:9 I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,* so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

This is not the kind of righteousness that is the breastplate. This righteousness is given to you, you already have it, you don’t have to put it on.

The second kind of righteousness is man’s righteousness.

Man’s righteousness is faulty, imperfect, and utterly worthless. It will gain us nothing in regards to acceptance by God.

Isaiah 64:6 “6 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.”

To put on the breastplate of righteousness means that Christians are to reflect the righteous character of God in their actions.

It is important to note that the breastplate of righteousness is not a weapon…

Jesus will judge our deeds not our salvation!

Matthew 16:27 “27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.”

Encourage Change