Standing Firm in the Truth
Notes
Transcript
This week has been one that will live on in the hearts and minds of many.
Not only did we remember the tragedy that occurred on 9-11-2001 but we have also experienced the assassination of a public figure and a school shooting in the same day.
How do we respond to this?
My first thought is, we need to pray.
We pray because God is at work in all that is taking place.
And through our prayer, we are partnering with God in what He is doing.
Prayer also helps us to process for ourselves what God is doing.
With the overwhelming flood of information it can be easy to get swept away, but prayer helps us to anchor ourselves to the Lord.
For many of you, if you did not know who Charlie Kirk was before Wednesday, you do now.
Charlie Kirk was a man seeking to share conservative values, and more than that Biblical truth with the younger people of our country.
He would travel to places where college age people were with a simple sign that read “prove me wrong” in order to have conversations.
More importantly than that though was that Charlie Kirk knew the gospel and clearly stated what Jesus had done for him.
From what I have seen, read, and listened to, he was a man who grew over the years from a conviction of conservative values, into a man who’s values flowed from a relationship with Christ.
Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary does a daily podcast during the week called The Briefing where he covers world events from a Christian worldview.
It is a podcast I would recommend if you want to learn how to think about big things happening in the world around you.
In his podcast Thursday he spoke of how he met Charlie at a conservative conference they were both speaking at a number of years ago and since then saw the transformation in his life from simply a man of conservative principle, to a man with a Biblical worldview shaped by a relationship with Jesus.
I think you can see that as well when you watch videos put out as well.
As with many of you, this event has weighed heavily upon my heart for the last few days.
This is not the first time a public figure has been murdered in our country.
It is not the first time a persons death has been mourned by one group and celebrated by another.
The difference today, I feel, is the closeness of the matter.
I think of civil rights leaders in the 60’s, that news came across the newspapers, radio, some television.
I am sure there were some who celebrated that MLK Jr was killed, but it was not seen all over.
The difference today is that it is in everyone’s pocket.
Gruesome images and everyone feels they need to comment about the situation and share.
We must begin with the understanding that ultimately, these images are a result of sin in the world.
Murder is a sin - think of Genesis, Cain and Abel, God asked Cain -
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.
What we have witnessed this week is another example of why we so desperately need Jesus.
The event that unfolded this week should cause Christians to all the more stand firm for Biblical truth and share the love of Christ with lost and hurting individuals.
But it can also spark fear.
Fear is natural.
But Scripture does not call us to live paralyzed by fear.
Instead, it calls us to stand firm in the truth of God’s Word,
to develop convictions rooted in Christ, and to live boldly and gracefully in a world that is often hostile to truth.
All of this has caused me to think, what do we do with this?
While getting here a little sooner than I had planned, it falls right in with what it means to be a Christian in our world today.
To be a Christian is to develop firm biblical convictions, to stand courageously in a spiritual battle, and to speak truth with both boldness and grace.
That is what we are going to look at this morning.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
The ESV Study Bible Theme
There are two main themes of Ephesians: (1) Christ has reconciled all creation to himself and to God, and (2) Christ has united people from all nations to himself and to one another in his church.
Chs. 1–3 present the foundational story of how the church must understand its identity within God’s vision of cosmic unity in Christ.
Chs. 4–6 exhort the church to conduct itself in light of its calling within God’s plan of peace and unity in Christ.
These verses we begin with today are specifically calling believers to stand together against a common enemy, that enemy being Satan.
1. The Reality of the Battle (Ephesians 6:10–12)
1. The Reality of the Battle (Ephesians 6:10–12)
Paul is concluding this book with a final call to be strong.
Not in their own strength, but in the Lord and the strength of His might.
Strength is not self-generated.
This is not a call to grit our teeth and fight harder in our own resolve.
We need strength, because the reality is that the Christian life cannot be lived on neutral ground but in a world marked by sin and spiritual opposition.
As Christians, we are made holy - the Greek word is hagios - set apart - made different.
Part of that being made holy is to live with courage and strength, not our own, but our Lord’s.
To do that, we need help, as verse 11 says we are to
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
This really is the key, our struggle is not primarily with people or politics, but with spiritual forces of evil.
The spiritual forces are seen through people and politics but there is a deeper root to the matter.
One radio host I heard said this of the events this week
The reason you feel Charlie’s death so deeply is because grief doesn’t measure itself by proximity. It measures itself by meaning. You didn’t have to know him personally to feel the sting of his absence, because when a voice like his goes silent, something in the atmosphere shifts.
The reason it feels heavier than so many other tragedies is because your spirit recognizes that this is not just about a man, it is about a battle. Scripture says eternity is written on our hearts, and when someone who carried truth with boldness is suddenly gone, eternity aches within us. It’s like our souls know instinctively that the darkness celebrated, and that strikes us at the core.
The reason you can’t shake it is because psychologically, we don’t only attach ourselves to people…we attach ourselves to symbols. Charlie became a symbol of conviction in a time of compromise, courage in a time of fear. And when a symbol is struck down, it rattles something primal and eternal inside us.
That’s why even those who never met him feel it. There is a strange thread pulling at us, and it is not imagined. It is real. We are bound together by shared purpose, by shared longing for truth, by the Spirit of God Himself weaving us into a fabric that cannot be torn apart. This loss pulled at that fabric, and every one of us felt the tug.
So if you’ve wondered why this hits so hard, it’s because your soul knows. This is bigger than news. This is bigger than politics. This is about eternity, about truth, and about the weight of a man whose life carried both. - Chad Prather
Our struggle is not ultimately against people, but against the spiritual forces of evil.
The devil’s goal: distort truth, sow fear, and silence the gospel.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
This list of spiritual rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers (see 3:10) gives a sobering glimpse into the devil’s allies, the spiritual forces of evil who are exceedingly powerful in their exercise of cosmic powers over this present darkness.
Our fight is not ultimately with people.
Even when evil men act violently or unjustly, they are not the final enemy.
The real battle is spiritual.
Behind human evil lies a darker, more sinister reality—Satan and his forces.
That is hard for us to remember in a polarized culture.
The person who disagrees with you politically is not the enemy.
The unbeliever mocking your faith is not the enemy.
The true enemy is unseen—Satan and his forces who want to keep men and women in darkness and bondage.
As believers we must recognize the battle so we are not surprised by hostility or shaken by tragedy.
So that we can stand firmly.
As Christians we must have an understanding that opposition is not a surprise—it is expected.
When we see turmoil in society, we should not panic but remember the deeper battle at play.
Our enemy is real, but he is not flesh and blood.
People are not the problem—sin and Satan are.
The battleground is not the ballot box or the internet thread, but the human heart.
The amazing thing is that while God is the only one who can change the human heart, he uses us in the process!
So we must be ready for that mission.
Which is why Paul goes on to show us the resources we need for that mission we get to partake in.
2. The Resources for the Battle (Ephesians 6:13–18)
2. The Resources for the Battle (Ephesians 6:13–18)
Paul moves from the reality of the battle to the resources God provides.
Here in our passage he is equating our life to that of a soldier fully equipped with divine armor.
Each piece is essential; to neglect one is to leave a vital part exposed.
It is something that we are commanded to take up - YOU have to put it on in order to stand firm.
Paul begins with the Belt of Truth
A Roman soldier’s belt was the piece that held everything together.
Truth does the same for the believer.
God’s truth gives stability in a world of lies.
Without truth, everything else comes loose.
Without a firm grasp on the truth, we can be tossed about by every wave that comes.
Breastplate of Righteousness
The breastplate protected the heart and vital organs.
Spiritually, righteousness guards us.
This is not our righteousness but the righteousness of Christ given to us by faith (2 Cor. 5:21).
Yet it also calls us to practical holiness, because sin always leaves us vulnerable to attack.
To put on the righteousness is to know and understand that I have been made right in God’s eyes through Christ.
And when I have a firm grasp on God’s truth, I can hold fast no matter what comes.
Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
Roman sandals were fitted with studs to provide firm footing in battle.
The gospel gives believers stability and readiness.
We are not shaken because we stand in the peace of Christ and we are prepared to move forward, bringing that peace to others.
Peace remember is not the lack of conflict either, if you think of a pair of cleats, they are not just to give you better grip to stand your ground, but better traction to move forward as well.
In all circumstances we take up the Shield of Faith
The Roman shield was large, covering the whole body, and often soaked in water to extinguish flaming arrows.
Faith protects us from the enemy’s attacks—
his lies, accusations, temptations, and fears.
Faith looks beyond the visible to the God who is faithful.
Helmet of Salvation
The helmet protects the head, the mind, the control center.
Assurance of salvation guards us against despair and doubt.
Knowing that we belong to Christ keeps us from losing heart in the battle.
That’s why we began this series with the truth that we are called by grace.
Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God
The only offensive weapon listed.
A short sword used in close combat.
God’s Word is living and active (Heb. 4:12), sharper than any two-edged sword.
Jesus Himself used Scripture to resist Satan’s temptations (Matt. 4:1–11).
God’s word is what must determine every conviction we hold.
Finally each piece of armor must carefully be put on with prayer
Which is also our posture for battle.
Prayer is the atmosphere in which the armor is worn and the fight is fought.
To neglect prayer is to enter battle without calling on the Commander’s strength and guidance.
That prayer is also meant to be for one another - keeping alert and making supplication for all the saints.
God has not left His people defenseless.
Every resource is provided in Christ.
Notice that this armor is not something we create—it is the armor of God.
The Christian fights clothed in Christ—protected by His righteousness, secured by His salvation, armed with His Word, and strengthened through prayer.
Each piece of armor represents a conviction we must hold firmly.
Truth: Scripture, not opinion, defines right and wrong.
Righteousness: Holiness matters in a culture of compromise.
Faith: Faith roots us in the truth of who God is.
Word of God: We need Scripture in our hearts, not just on a shelf.
Without convictions shaped by Scripture, we are like a soldier without armor—easy prey.
This is something we must learn how to do though.
If you were handed a set of armor with no instruction, you might be able to get it on, but it would likely not be on correctly.
It might be too loose, creating vulnerabilities.
A strap misplaced.
Pieces not attached in the correct places.
We must learn to actually put on the armor daily through faith, prayer, Scripture, and community.
This is what Paul taught Timothy to do put on the armor and form convictions that hold us.
3. Convictions that Hold Us (2 Tim. 1:6–8, 2 Timothy 3:14–17)
3. Convictions that Hold Us (2 Tim. 1:6–8, 2 Timothy 3:14–17)
Paul taught Timothy -
Timothy is told not to be ashamed, but to fan into flame the gift God gave.
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
The picture we have of Timothy was that he was young, timid by nature, and facing opposition.
But he had the gift of faith, and a calling to lead others.
Paul tells him to “fan into flame” his spiritual gift—not let it die down.
He tells him
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Timothy must “continue” in the truth he has learned, because it came from trustworthy sources (Paul, his mother, his grandmother taught him from the sacred writings - scripture!
Scripture which is able to make people wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Scripture is “God-breathed.”
Its origin is divine, and its purpose is to equip us fully for life and ministry.
Convictions shaped by Scripture anchor us when culture shifts or pressure mounts.
Biblical convictions are settled beliefs rooted in God’s Word.
They are not mere opinions or political leanings, but truths anchored in the authority of Scripture.
Convictions give courage.
Boldness flows from clarity.
If you know what you believe and why, you can stand without shame.
As Christians, our convictions must be shaped by Scripture, not society.
Opinions shift with the winds of culture.
Convictions rooted in God’s Word remain when everything else shakes.
Boldness flows out of clarity.
If we know what we believe and why, we can speak without shame.
Boldness is not going around blasting people though either.
Paul also says, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6).
Truth and grace go together hand in hand, always
A harsh tone can ruin a good message; but silence robs people of hope.
A truth that Charlie Kirk knew and shared for example was that “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
We need both courage and kindness.
Application: We need to cultivate convictions shaped by Scripture so we can stand when the winds of culture shift.
We must be salt and light to the world around us, changing the things we come in contact with rather than being changed ourselves.
All of this needs to be rooted in prayer.
Paul already had mentioned the need for individual prayer in putting on the armor.
But we also need to be praying for one another.
4. The Spirit-Given Boldness to Speak (Eph. 6:19–20)
4. The Spirit-Given Boldness to Speak (Eph. 6:19–20)
19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Paul asks for prayer to boldly proclaim the gospel, even in chains.
He is in chains (a prisoner of Rome), yet he sees himself not as Rome’s captive but as Christ’s ambassador.
His concern is not for release, but for faithfulness to speak the gospel clearly and courageously.
He asks for words.
He does not assume boldness is automatic, even for himself, an apostle.
He depends on God’s grace for clarity and courage.
Twice he repeats the word “boldly.”
That word means fearlessly, openly, without hesitation.
Paul, though bound by men, speaks on behalf of the King of Kings.
Paul asks for boldness to proclaim the gospel—even while in chains.
Boldness is not harshness; it is Spirit-filled courage combined with grace.
Christians are called to speak truth with conviction and compassion.
In our homes, workplaces, and community, people should see both the courage of truth and the gentleness of Christ.
All of this can be done with -
5. The Confidence of Victory (Rom. 16:20; 2 Tim. 1:12; Rev. 12:10–11)
5. The Confidence of Victory (Rom. 16:20; 2 Tim. 1:12; Rev. 12:10–11)
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Satan has been defeated through Christ’s cross and resurrection.
His end is sure.
We can endure boldly because Christ holds us, not because we are strong.
Victory in Christ frees us from fear.
This makes us gentle with others, even opponents (2 Tim. 2:24–25).
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
Standing firm is not about winning arguments, but about bearing faithful witness until the end.
When tragedy strikes, remember: Satan’s time is short.
Christ reigns, and His people will share in His triumph.
We must remember for ourselves and teach our children that the Christian life is not about avoiding hardship but trusting that Jesus has already overcome the world (John 16:33).
As a church, we do not need to shrink back in fear of cultural hostility. Christ’s victory frees us to speak the truth with courage and compassion.
To be a Christian is to be alive in Christ, abiding in Him, and—yes—standing firm in His truth with courage, conviction, and grace.
Charlie Kirk wanted to be remembered for his courage and his faith.
What about us?
