Ephesians, the sixth chapter. I guess it was a day or two ago this thought come to my mind and it would come and I'd think a little bit on it and then it would sort of leave me. But this morning it was there and I started looking up some definitions to some of this. It's things that we all figure we know. But you know, when you put it into context with the Bible, sometimes it takes on new meanings. And you and I today, if there's ever been a time that a person needs to really get down to business with God, that we might grow in the things of the Lord, it's today. And young Christians, you know, You need to spend as much time as you can reading God's word and letting it abide in your mind and in your heart of what God's asking of you. But in Ephesians, the sixth chapter, and we're gonna start reading at the 10th verse. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Now there's a whole lot in that verse right there. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Now that spiritual wickedness in high places can mean everything from the top of our government to the standing in the pulpit. Because there's not a higher place in the things of God than being in a pulpit. And yet, that's where we got so much today that's not being preached the way it ought to be. To where people can see and know what God's required. Then it comes back again on the 13th verse, as some of it was in the 11th. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand and fight. Stand therefore, having your loins girded about with truth. Now, the loins, it says, the hips and the lower abdomen regarded as a part of the body to be clothed, or as the region of strength and power. Now you and I, he said, having your loins girded about with truth, you and I, if you see anybody that's a weightlifter or anything like that, what do they, they have something around them there, why? Because if they strain too hard and lifted something, they can rupture their cell. Because all of your strength would be a push to that very part. and God's telling me and you, we need to strengthen ourself, we need to be ready to stand and fight against the things of this world. And there it said, about with truth, truth, a vital fact, a true statement or position, an established principle, a fixed law, the real or true statement of things. You know, you and I, when we see what it's asking here of us, girded about with truth, I realize as we go on down through this, it's gonna be talking about the word of God. But you and I, there's not a place where we can find more about God than in his word and find out about the truth that God required each and every one of us to live by. I realize we're living in a day and a time when people don't want to hear it. They find all kinds of ways to try and get around what the Bible says and don't apply to us today. But always just like it was today's news And we need to come back to it. And make sure that we are fascinating ourself with the things of God. There, as it says, stand therefore having your loins girded about with truth. And having on the breastplate of righteousness. As I was looking this up, the breastplate, I realized in warfare back when it was hand-to-hand combat, they had sort of a breastplate on them to protect them somewhat, but this went back and referred to the breastplate that the priest was wearing. And he had on that breastplate stones for each one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Why? Because they was to be before him at all times. That was something that was going to be important to him. You and I today, I believe we're talking about that breastplate of righteousness. He's talking about the very core of man. That's me and you. That we're dwelling upon the things of God. We're digging in to find out And no matter who it is that No matter what we're talking about out in the world, it should not be conflicted with the things of God. They should see after our conversation that God is still important to us more than anything else. But here he said, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. You and I, Coming back there again, every bit of this armor of God that he wants me and you to wear, every bit of it, it originates from the word of God. It's what's feeding us. It's what's giving us each one of these that we might be able to stand. You and I today, there's no other place we can find the answer to the things that we're facing. But in the word of God, I don't care what it is you're facing. And God right here in this was telling me and you that we need to put on the whole armor of God. Not just part of it. You know, as I heard Daryl preach messages on people's faith and faith, they believe something and they're dependent upon that to get them through instead of an experience of being born again with God. Because I believe something, that's gonna get me through. Well, you and I, I can take the Bible and show you what the devils believe, but they wasn't born again. They recognize who Christ was. You and I, we can recognize he was the son of God, but unless we recognize he also died for us and accept him as our redeemer, we're gonna stand before him undone. But there again, your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. You and I, no matter where we travel or go, back then they traveled mostly walking or riding some donkey or whatever, but you know, you and I, if wherever we go, our feet is shod with the preparation of the gospel. When somebody comes up to talk to you about the things of God, you're going to know how to answer them. They come up and ask you a question. If you've really been prepared by reading and studying the word of God, you're going to have an answer there for that the devil just has never been able to figure out a way to overcome it. Then the next he said, above all, take the shield of faith wherewith you shall be able to quench all the foreign darts of the wicked. This was the thing that kept getting to me this week, that shield of faith. Oh, I heard so much from some of you We'll come at him with that shield of faith. Take him back to where he made it with God. I've always felt that's a place the devil don't want to be remembered about. Reminded of where I'm from. He lost the battle that day. And you and I, we can take him back. And he'll still keep losing. And we put our faith in him. know that God's God is prepared to stand against anything that he's got. He said, above all, take the shield of faith. You know, back in the days when they had this kind of armor A shield was to help them divert darts, or even spears, arrows. It was something to help protect them. You and I today, that shield of faith, that is our protection. Because the Bible says if we can believe, all things are possible. And he said, right there at the starting of where I read this, so he said, and having done all to stand, stand therefore, you and I. Don't back up, but stand there. Depend upon God. David, he went out to face the giant. The giant had his shield, he had his sword, he had his spear, he had everything. And David come at him with a sling and five little stones But what did David say? The battle's on mine, it's God's battle That I'm here fighting you and I today We're still fighting that same battle That David will fight for Against God All that made David look small But David knew who his God was And you and I today The world will try to make us look small small, that they want to make us look small, but we got one on our side that's never lost a battle. David told him, I'm going to kill you, and he dealt with a sword and a stone and then took the giant sword to take off his head with. Didn't even come out there with a weapon to behead the giant. But yet, God supplied him with one, and he carried it away from a battlefield. Because you'll find later on when it was given back to David. You and I today, we might think, well, how am I ever going to overcome this? putting your faith and trust in God, using that shield of faith, and if we will, said, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. You and I, none of this, you read down through this, none of this is dependent upon our power, ourself, every bit of it is talking about that armor of God that's to protect us. Every bit of it is putting the position of our protection in the hands of God. If we've took on the whole armor of God, then it's there. It's our protection. But do you notice there's nothing to protect you back? We're supposed to be facing the enemy, not turning and running. And if we're facing the enemy, there's no way, if we've really done our part with God, there's no way that they can really hurt and damage us. Only with those that wants to believe something bad about you. Why? Because the devil, that's his job to try and destroy, but you and I, if we'll stand by faith, hold on to the things of God, then we can overcome that shield. A broad piece of defensive armor carried in the hand or worn on the forearm. You and I today, and then faith. Unquestioning belief in God. You and I, you know, that's where If we've got the word of God in our hand and we're putting our faith in God unquestioning, believing, you know, I come back so many times to that, and I have to remind the devil of it quite often, where God put veins on my heart. Just me and God was all that was there in the yard at that time, and God answered my prayer in a moment. each and every one of us. That's what faith can do. I didn't know God was going to do it. I just said, God, I know you can, but if you can't, if this is the end of my life, then okay. I put my life in his hands. You and I today, God is still able to do that that we can't if we're willing to believe and put our faith and trust in him. and said, take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. You and I, you know, the helmet is something to protect their head. In construction now, people's gotta wear hard hats. I don't know if they're better than what they had back then in the armies or not. but the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. You and I, you know, if we got God's word filling our mind, we got a weapon there that it's hard for the devil to come at us. because God's word shuts him down. What did Christ do when the devil come at him with all his temptation? He gave him the word of God. So it works for me and you if we start doing that too. I don't care if you're out there by yourself and you think ain't nobody else around. Sometimes it does good to speak in an audible voice when you're fighting the devil. Just tell him no. No, I've said no and shook my head before to try and get thoughts cleared out of my mind that the devil was trying to put there that wasn't right. And you've got to be more persistent than he is. And start praying. Whatever it takes, come back to that faith, believing in the one that saved you. The very one that forgave you of your sin. Then there it said, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. That's one thing that the devil has never been able to get a defense against. Look back in the Bible, they were men that paid for their stand on the Bible and the gospel with their life, but they didn't lose. If this life was over, every one of us knows it's gonna be over sooner or later anyhow. But whether we go out of this life right with God is what makes a difference. That's whether we win or we lose. And you and I hear the 18th verse. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching there unto with all preservance supplication for all saints. You and I, you know, I've fought some battles in my life that it took me a long time to overcome, and I know there's young people in this church, some of them fighting the same battles, and because I've been there, I can pray for you in ways that maybe somebody else can't, But God is the one, I'm telling each and every one of you to put your faith and trust in. You're an individual, and God's got the individual answer that you need. Come, anchor your faith in the things of God. You know, if the devil knocks you down on Monday, don't wait till Sunday to go to the altar. Get on your knees and pray, and if you're in something you can't even get on your knees and pray. You can start praying just in your mind. You can start wording it out, or you can pray silently. Oh, when I worked at Forbes Steel and Water Corporation, there's a minute time they owned my machine. I would pray and they'd cry and sing and heal. There were people laughing at me at the machine when they'd see me standing there crying. And I noticed that I just smiled way back and it go on for a while. But God was doing what I needed from Him. He was answering my prayer. He was feeding me right there in the presence of the Lord that knew nothing about God. But when it come a time that they needed a God, they needed an answer. He may be trying to tear you down, but the people he's using to try and get to you may be the very ones that makes it turn into a great blessing when they come to you asking you to pray for them because of something that they're facing in their life. You and I, you know, The helmet, a protective covering for the head. You know, each and every one of us, if we've got the whole armor of God on, we're protected. And if we've got the faith, to believe in that armor. You know, if you're not believing in what you've got, I can remember years ago seeing a story, I can't remember if it was something that was showed to us in school, but it was a movie about this guy that he had been given all of this to try and protect himself. Danger arose. He was scared. And he threw all of that down and went running off because he was afraid it wouldn't protect him. You and I, we can have faith in the things of God that they will protect us if we're doing our part. He said, put on the whole armor of God. So each and every one of us, that's something we've got to do. And if you've got faith to believe, in the trials that's coming your way. God's got the deliverance for you. Each and every one of us, God loves us and he's proved it so many times. Every time he answers a prayer, he's proven to you that he loves you. Every time that you're praying or reading the Word of God or just singing a hymn and God blesses you, He's proven that He loves you. You and I today, God proved Himself time and time and time again. Are we proving ourselves to Him that we care for Him and that we love Him? Do we actually, truly, even attempt to have on the whole armor of God? You know, it's the whole armor. The helmet don't do you any good if you don't have the shield. You don't have the sword. None of it does you any good if you only got one piece. But if you got it all, it makes the difference. And that includes having head knowledge of the things of God. Believe them from the very depths of your heart. What God has said is true. that it makes a difference in your life. And you and I today, God is reaching out to prove himself to every Christian, every person on the face of the earth, if they will only believe and accept it. You know, we got people in Washington. Some tragedy happened and they talk about praying, but prayer is so unnecessary, so useless, we don't want our kids doing it in school. Bible reading is so useless, we don't want them doing it in school. I wish somebody, it's in the news, would go back and do a study. Back when I was in school, we had Bible and prayer every day in school. And I could remember where we was given parts of the Bible, mostly in Psalms, where we had to memorize a whole Psalm and be able to say it in front of the class. Today, boy, they'd be in a lot of trouble if they did that. But, you know, back then, it was unheard of, mass shootings. They took Bible and prayer out where kids, where they taught it at home, where they went to church or not. They read it and seen it in the school. Life was valuable. God was willing to die for you and me because our life was worth that much. But when they quit teaching it to the kids, now they got a hat. And those that's going around doing all these mass shootings, hat. They never was exposed to that, hat. So they don't know anything about it, hat. They don't realize they're coming face to face, hat. With a God that knows everything they've done, hat. And they're going to be judged, hat. By exactly what they've done, hat. They may get away with it here, hat. From the law, but they're not going to get away with it, hat. From God, you and I, today, hat. God's looking at each one of us and he's judging us. But what we do and how we accept his word, and I hope and pray each and every one of you, we read this today, that you'll anchor yourself in the things of God. And if you're lacking in some of this points of armor, you'll strengthen it up. Get the faith behind it to believe. Read God's word till you got that sword to fight with. You know, how many times you heard Darrell preach or, you know, people when he first started out working and everything, he'd say, well, I believe so and so. Well, that didn't mean much. But when you go give them the scripture, oh, this is what the Bible says, they don't have a whole lot to say back about it. That's that sword. It cuts to the very mar of the bone. And you and I today, that is our only defense against the things of this world, is having the armor of God. Why don't we get some song to sing? Will you come? If God spoke to you today, I beg you, please, just remember, God's word is true and we're gonna face it. And what we do with it is gonna make a difference. Whether we accept the plan of salvation for ourself or reject it. When we stand before God, it's gonna make all the difference of where we spend eternity. You and I today, while we sing, will you come? God has proven himself to us time and time again. He's waiting for me and you to be willing to stand. That was one of the questions, who will go for me? And the old prophet, he finally said, here am I, send me. You and I today, that's what we gotta be willing to do. Be willing to go and stand for the Lord, no matter what he's asking of us. Because if he ask it, he can equip you to do what he's asking. While we sing this, one verse, will you come? Jesus