1 00:00:03,100 --> 00:00:05,733 Thank you to our music ministers. 2 00:00:07,533 --> 00:00:10,099 Little video I made. 3 00:00:10,166 --> 00:00:12,733 Chrissy was coming to pick me up. 4 00:00:12,833 --> 00:00:15,533 We were running late to vote. 5 00:00:15,566 --> 00:00:17,433 Really meant what I said. 6 00:00:18,333 --> 00:00:21,100 I'm easily amused. 7 00:00:22,533 --> 00:00:25,600 Little things in life make me very 8 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,566 happy, and so it's always the 9 00:00:29,566 --> 00:00:32,566 great struggle to get the 10 00:00:32,566 --> 00:00:35,866 current book sermon finished, and boy. 11 00:00:35,966 --> 00:00:40,100 I started off with such a good start Monday. 12 00:00:41,133 --> 00:00:43,166 I was like, yeah, man. 13 00:00:43,233 --> 00:00:46,899 And then, life, 14 00:00:46,899 --> 00:00:50,066 hits, and 15 00:00:50,066 --> 00:00:53,200 Friday morning, I was like, I 16 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:54,399 don't see how this is gonna happen. 17 00:00:54,633 --> 00:00:56,366 And it happened. 18 00:00:56,433 --> 00:00:59,500 And I got it done Saturday evening. 19 00:00:59,666 --> 00:01:03,500 I can't tell you how exhilarating that is for me. 20 00:01:03,566 --> 00:01:06,633 It's just, I know that doesn't mean much to you, but it 21 00:01:06,633 --> 00:01:09,633 does, so, it fires 22 00:01:09,633 --> 00:01:13,299 me up to be able to tell you to turn to Ephesians 6. 23 00:01:13,766 --> 00:01:15,700 And verse 17. 24 00:01:16,433 --> 00:01:19,599 And we're back to 25 00:01:19,599 --> 00:01:22,766 this verse by verse study of Ephesians. 26 00:01:22,833 --> 00:01:28,466 And today, we're coming to the very last piece of 27 00:01:28,466 --> 00:01:31,599 the Christian's armor that 28 00:01:31,599 --> 00:01:34,733 Paul defines here in Ephesians 6, in verse 29 00:01:34,733 --> 00:01:36,166 17, 30 00:01:36,633 --> 00:01:40,466 Paul is giving us the final weapon 31 00:01:40,466 --> 00:01:43,599 that enables us to 32 00:01:43,599 --> 00:01:46,733 have regular victories in 33 00:01:46,733 --> 00:01:49,766 our daily battles and struggles with the world 34 00:01:49,766 --> 00:01:52,333 of flesh and the devil. 35 00:01:52,466 --> 00:01:54,333 Look at verse 17. 36 00:01:56,066 --> 00:01:59,200 After he lists the helmet of salvation, 37 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,066 which we looked at last time, he says. 38 00:02:02,433 --> 00:02:06,866 And the sword of the spirit, 39 00:02:06,866 --> 00:02:11,000 which is the word of God. 40 00:02:12,166 --> 00:02:15,233 One old commentator, Dr. 41 00:02:15,233 --> 00:02:18,400 Guthrie, wrote these words, 42 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,266 the Bible is an armory of heavenly weapons. 43 00:02:22,599 --> 00:02:24,566 A laboratory. 44 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:29,933 of infallible medicines, a 45 00:02:29,933 --> 00:02:33,400 mine of exhaustless wealth, 46 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:37,066 it is a guidebook for every road, 47 00:02:37,066 --> 00:02:40,533 a chart for every sea, a medicine for 48 00:02:40,533 --> 00:02:44,199 every malady, and a bomb for every wound. 49 00:02:45,099 --> 00:02:47,266 Rob us of our Bible. 50 00:02:48,033 --> 00:02:51,333 And our sky has 51 00:02:51,333 --> 00:02:52,833 lost its sun. 52 00:02:52,966 --> 00:02:55,199 People don't speak like that anymore. 53 00:02:55,233 --> 00:02:58,233 We're dumber now than they were in those days. 54 00:02:58,366 --> 00:03:01,966 One of my favorite quotes about 55 00:03:01,966 --> 00:03:05,699 the authorship of the Bible goes like this. 56 00:03:05,733 --> 00:03:07,833 And you can check this out. 57 00:03:07,833 --> 00:03:10,533 You can fact check this if you want to. 58 00:03:11,066 --> 00:03:14,966 There are words written, 59 00:03:14,966 --> 00:03:18,099 by kings, by 60 00:03:18,099 --> 00:03:21,099 emperors, by 61 00:03:21,099 --> 00:03:24,933 poets, by sages, by philosophers, 62 00:03:24,933 --> 00:03:29,000 by fishermen, by men 63 00:03:29,033 --> 00:03:32,733 learned in the wisdom of Egypt, educated 64 00:03:32,733 --> 00:03:35,900 in the schools of Babylon, and trained at 65 00:03:35,933 --> 00:03:38,266 the feet of rabbis in Jerusalem. 66 00:03:39,099 --> 00:03:42,099 It was written by men in exile in 67 00:03:42,099 --> 00:03:45,633 the desert, in shepherd's tents, in 68 00:03:45,633 --> 00:03:48,766 green pastures, and beside still waters. 69 00:03:49,300 --> 00:03:52,900 Among its authors, we find a tax gatherer, 70 00:03:52,900 --> 00:03:57,266 a herdsman, a gatherer of sycamore fruit. 71 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:00,633 We find poor men, rich men, 72 00:04:00,633 --> 00:04:03,766 statesmen, preachers, captains, 73 00:04:03,766 --> 00:04:06,466 legislators, judges, and exiles. 74 00:04:06,766 --> 00:04:09,099 The Bible is a library. 75 00:04:09,266 --> 00:04:14,433 filled with history, genealogy, 76 00:04:14,433 --> 00:04:18,466 law, ethics, prophecy, poetry, 77 00:04:18,466 --> 00:04:21,600 eloquence, sanitary 78 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,733 science, political economy, and 79 00:04:24,766 --> 00:04:27,933 the perfect rules for personal and 80 00:04:27,933 --> 00:04:31,366 social life, and behind every word. 81 00:04:32,366 --> 00:04:36,733 is the divine author of God himself. 82 00:04:36,833 --> 00:04:38,333 There is no book like this book. 83 00:04:39,566 --> 00:04:41,733 Nothing comes cooked. 84 00:04:42,533 --> 00:04:47,066 I am certain that 85 00:04:47,066 --> 00:04:50,733 we do not understand the 86 00:04:50,733 --> 00:04:53,966 fullness of what it means to 87 00:04:53,966 --> 00:04:56,533 have the sword of the Spirit in our hands. 88 00:04:58,433 --> 00:05:02,266 This incredible, matchless, 89 00:05:02,266 --> 00:05:05,733 incomparable book, infinitely 90 00:05:05,733 --> 00:05:09,866 beyond all other books, is the final weapon. 91 00:05:10,899 --> 00:05:14,433 The final piece of armor, 92 00:05:14,433 --> 00:05:17,600 given to the believer, in 93 00:05:17,633 --> 00:05:20,800 the daily battle against Satan. 94 00:05:21,699 --> 00:05:26,566 And the sad reality is, there 95 00:05:26,566 --> 00:05:29,566 are so many professing Christians who 96 00:05:29,566 --> 00:05:30,899 do not know how to use it. 97 00:05:32,333 --> 00:05:36,166 And they get beat down by 98 00:05:36,166 --> 00:05:40,899 our adversary on the regular because 99 00:05:40,899 --> 00:05:44,033 of their incompetence, with 100 00:05:44,033 --> 00:05:45,766 wielding the sword of the spirit. 101 00:05:46,366 --> 00:05:49,600 So, let me 102 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:53,500 give you a little glimpse of 103 00:05:53,500 --> 00:05:56,933 just what exactly it is that 104 00:05:56,933 --> 00:06:00,066 you hold in your hand this morning, 105 00:06:00,066 --> 00:06:05,000 and giving you some of the things that 106 00:06:05,033 --> 00:06:08,800 the Bible claims for itself, 107 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,933 starting with number one, the Bible claims that 108 00:06:11,933 --> 00:06:13,500 it is infallible. 109 00:06:14,133 --> 00:06:18,633 And that simply means that 110 00:06:18,633 --> 00:06:22,366 it is, without error, in total. 111 00:06:23,666 --> 00:06:26,733 The sum of it all, the 112 00:06:26,733 --> 00:06:29,066 whole Bible makes no mistakes. 113 00:06:29,133 --> 00:06:32,199 It is flawless, and it is without 114 00:06:32,199 --> 00:06:33,399 blemish. 115 00:06:33,466 --> 00:06:35,033 Look at Psalm 197. 116 00:06:35,733 --> 00:06:39,033 The law of the Lord is perfect. 117 00:06:39,100 --> 00:06:41,033 restoring the soul. 118 00:06:41,066 --> 00:06:44,300 The testimony of the Lord is 119 00:06:44,333 --> 00:06:47,866 sure making wise the 120 00:06:47,866 --> 00:06:49,366 symptom, the simple. 121 00:06:49,433 --> 00:06:52,066 So the Bible in its totality. 122 00:06:52,833 --> 00:06:56,199 is infallible. 123 00:06:56,266 --> 00:06:56,866 Number two. 124 00:06:57,766 --> 00:07:00,899 The Bible, in its 125 00:07:00,899 --> 00:07:04,100 specific parts, is inerrant. 126 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:08,866 And that means it has no era in any of its parts. 127 00:07:08,966 --> 00:07:11,600 Look at Proverbs 30, verse 5. 128 00:07:11,966 --> 00:07:15,566 Every word of God is tested. 129 00:07:15,933 --> 00:07:19,066 And that word tested literally 130 00:07:19,066 --> 00:07:22,133 means tried and found to be 131 00:07:22,133 --> 00:07:23,800 without dross or error. 132 00:07:24,699 --> 00:07:29,966 And just in case you're not clear about this, in 133 00:07:29,966 --> 00:07:33,399 the very next verse, in Proverbs 134 00:07:33,399 --> 00:07:36,533 30 6, do not add to his words, 135 00:07:36,533 --> 00:07:40,133 or he will reprove you, 136 00:07:40,133 --> 00:07:43,433 and you will be proven a liar. 137 00:07:44,199 --> 00:07:47,800 So, God's word is infallible 138 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,933 in total, and it is inerrant 139 00:07:50,933 --> 00:07:53,566 in all of its specific parts. 140 00:07:53,666 --> 00:07:57,333 Thirdly, the Bible is complete. 141 00:07:57,933 --> 00:08:00,633 At the very end of the Bible. 142 00:08:00,766 --> 00:08:04,133 In Revelation 22, 18 to 19, 143 00:08:04,166 --> 00:08:04,533 Look at it. 144 00:08:04,666 --> 00:08:07,899 John writes, I testify, to everyone who 145 00:08:07,899 --> 00:08:10,899 hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if 146 00:08:10,899 --> 00:08:14,199 anyone adds to them, God will add to him, 147 00:08:14,199 --> 00:08:16,533 the plagues which are written in this book. 148 00:08:16,666 --> 00:08:19,800 And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of 149 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:23,199 this prophecy, God will take away his part from 150 00:08:23,199 --> 00:08:26,366 the tree of life, and from the holy city, which 151 00:08:26,366 --> 00:08:28,533 are written in this book. 152 00:08:29,633 --> 00:08:33,666 In other words, you can't add to it. 153 00:08:34,666 --> 00:08:38,200 And you can't take away from it, 154 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,333 and that means it's complete. 155 00:08:42,100 --> 00:08:43,766 Number four. 156 00:08:44,033 --> 00:08:46,966 The Bible is authoritative. 157 00:08:47,500 --> 00:08:50,433 In Isaiah chapter 1, verse 2. 158 00:08:50,666 --> 00:08:53,966 It says, Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth, 159 00:08:53,966 --> 00:08:55,700 for the Lord speaks. 160 00:08:56,133 --> 00:08:58,066 When God speaks. 161 00:08:58,833 --> 00:09:01,000 Everybody had better listen. 162 00:09:01,533 --> 00:09:04,666 That's what it means when we say the Bible is 163 00:09:04,666 --> 00:09:05,733 authoritative. 164 00:09:05,799 --> 00:09:06,766 Number five. 165 00:09:07,733 --> 00:09:10,733 The Bible is sufficient. 166 00:09:10,766 --> 00:09:13,933 It says in 2 Timothy 3, 15 167 00:09:13,966 --> 00:09:17,133 17, and that from childhood, you 168 00:09:17,133 --> 00:09:20,366 have known the sacred writings, which are able to give you the 169 00:09:20,366 --> 00:09:23,366 wisdom that leads to salvation, through 170 00:09:23,366 --> 00:09:25,100 faith, which is in Christ Jesus. 171 00:09:25,166 --> 00:09:28,899 All scripture is inspired 172 00:09:28,899 --> 00:09:32,500 by God, and profitable for teaching, 173 00:09:32,500 --> 00:09:35,799 for reproof, for correction, for training and 174 00:09:35,799 --> 00:09:38,799 righteousness, so that the man of God may be 175 00:09:38,799 --> 00:09:42,833 adequate, equipped for every good work. 176 00:09:45,866 --> 00:09:49,100 This book can bring you to salvation and 177 00:09:49,133 --> 00:09:52,533 bring you to being fully 178 00:09:52,533 --> 00:09:55,366 equipped in your sanctification. 179 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,200 And there is nothing other than that, that 180 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:00,633 is more necessary for you, Christian. 181 00:10:01,766 --> 00:10:05,600 So the Bible is infallible in total, inerrant 182 00:10:05,633 --> 00:10:09,166 in its parts complete, authoritative, and sufficient. 183 00:10:09,233 --> 00:10:12,533 All those claims the Bible makes for itself, and 184 00:10:12,533 --> 00:10:15,466 number six, the Bible is effective. 185 00:10:16,666 --> 00:10:21,033 When it speaks, things happen. 186 00:10:21,766 --> 00:10:25,299 In Isaiah 5511, so 187 00:10:25,299 --> 00:10:28,466 my word, so will 188 00:10:28,466 --> 00:10:31,600 my word be, which goes forth from my mouth, it 189 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:35,799 will not return to me, empty without accomplishing what I desire. 190 00:10:35,966 --> 00:10:39,100 And without succeeding in the manner 191 00:10:39,100 --> 00:10:41,666 for which I sent it. 192 00:10:43,166 --> 00:10:47,366 If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't preach it. 193 00:10:47,866 --> 00:10:49,500 Not for a minute. 194 00:10:50,799 --> 00:10:54,633 The Bible changes 195 00:10:54,633 --> 00:10:56,433 things in people's lives. 196 00:10:57,533 --> 00:11:00,233 I'm number one example. 197 00:11:00,266 --> 00:11:01,466 of that. 198 00:11:02,033 --> 00:11:05,066 Lastly, number seven, and I could 199 00:11:05,066 --> 00:11:06,733 give you a bunch more, but we're just going to do seven. 200 00:11:06,833 --> 00:11:10,433 Y'all good with 7, 7, the Bible is divine. 201 00:11:10,666 --> 00:11:15,100 Second Peter, one, 20 to 21. 202 00:11:15,100 --> 00:11:16,833 But know this. 203 00:11:16,966 --> 00:11:20,266 First of all, that no prophecy of scripture 204 00:11:20,266 --> 00:11:23,666 is a matter of one's own interpretation, 205 00:11:23,666 --> 00:11:26,833 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of 206 00:11:26,866 --> 00:11:30,299 human will, but men moved 207 00:11:30,299 --> 00:11:34,100 by the Holy Spirit, spoke from God. 208 00:11:35,866 --> 00:11:39,633 Simply put, It's God's book. 209 00:11:40,899 --> 00:11:45,933 And on top of all that, it's determinative. 210 00:11:45,933 --> 00:11:48,566 We won't count that as a number. 211 00:11:49,533 --> 00:11:55,466 What a person does with the Bible reveals 212 00:11:55,466 --> 00:11:57,799 their relationship to God. 213 00:11:58,299 --> 00:12:02,133 The contents of this Bible is 214 00:12:02,133 --> 00:12:05,899 a determiner of man's eternal destiny 215 00:12:05,933 --> 00:12:08,700 and his relationship to God. 216 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:11,866 There is no book. 217 00:12:13,066 --> 00:12:16,433 In all of the existence of all 218 00:12:16,433 --> 00:12:19,966 literature that is anywhere like this book. 219 00:12:20,433 --> 00:12:23,866 No other book in existence can 220 00:12:23,866 --> 00:12:27,033 make just these claims I've given you and, at 221 00:12:27,033 --> 00:12:29,966 the same time, substantiate those claims. 222 00:12:30,100 --> 00:12:33,100 And there are many more factors that make the Bible 223 00:12:33,100 --> 00:12:36,166 like no other book, prophesy this come true, 224 00:12:36,166 --> 00:12:38,033 the archaeological, the textual. 225 00:12:38,433 --> 00:12:41,600 You've been through all those, but for time's sake, let's keep going. 226 00:12:43,066 --> 00:12:48,533 And I want to turn our attention to, what 227 00:12:48,533 --> 00:12:49,866 does the Bible offer us? 228 00:12:51,466 --> 00:12:54,533 What resources does it bring to us? 229 00:12:54,633 --> 00:12:56,600 Well, here's just a few. 230 00:12:56,666 --> 00:12:59,899 First of all, it's 231 00:12:59,933 --> 00:13:02,866 the source of truth. 232 00:13:03,466 --> 00:13:06,000 Jesus prayed for his disciples. 233 00:13:06,033 --> 00:13:09,266 Look there in John 17:17, sanctify 234 00:13:09,266 --> 00:13:11,433 them in the truth. 235 00:13:11,500 --> 00:13:13,533 Your word is truth. 236 00:13:13,766 --> 00:13:16,233 Now, I want you to think about that phrase. 237 00:13:17,866 --> 00:13:21,100 I want you to think about how 238 00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:24,566 far reaching that phrase is. 239 00:13:24,633 --> 00:13:27,799 If you can imagine for a minute Jesus saying, 240 00:13:27,833 --> 00:13:30,966 Your word is truth as dropping a 241 00:13:30,966 --> 00:13:34,700 rock in a pond, and then the ripples going out from that statement. 242 00:13:35,366 --> 00:13:38,200 It means it's the truth about life. 243 00:13:38,266 --> 00:13:40,366 It's the truth about death. 244 00:13:40,466 --> 00:13:43,000 It's the truth about time itself. 245 00:13:43,066 --> 00:13:44,799 It's the truth about eternity. 246 00:13:44,866 --> 00:13:46,966 It's the truth about heaven and hell. 247 00:13:47,033 --> 00:13:50,399 It's the truth about right and wrong, no other book comes to that. 248 00:13:50,933 --> 00:13:53,866 It's the truth about men and women. 249 00:13:53,933 --> 00:13:57,299 It's the truth about old people and young people and children. 250 00:13:57,333 --> 00:13:59,266 It's the truth about society itself. 251 00:13:59,333 --> 00:14:02,666 It's the truth about every relationship between 252 00:14:02,666 --> 00:14:04,033 man and man. 253 00:14:04,133 --> 00:14:07,299 Men and women, and between God and man. 254 00:14:07,899 --> 00:14:11,066 It's the truth about all the 255 00:14:11,066 --> 00:14:14,299 most important realities in the human experience. 256 00:14:15,833 --> 00:14:18,899 Secondly, the Bible 257 00:14:18,899 --> 00:14:21,933 is the source of happiness, and 258 00:14:21,933 --> 00:14:23,666 you know this to be the case. 259 00:14:23,666 --> 00:14:28,000 People in our world, especially our nation, 260 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,066 are on a relentless pursuit of 261 00:14:31,066 --> 00:14:34,133 happiness in their life, and they go 262 00:14:34,133 --> 00:14:37,200 through all manner of things trying to reach 263 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,466 it, and they never seem to achieve it, because 264 00:14:40,466 --> 00:14:43,466 they miss the one thing that can give it to them. 265 00:14:44,066 --> 00:14:47,200 And the simplicity of scripture 266 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:48,633 on this subject is so clear. 267 00:14:49,899 --> 00:14:53,066 For example, we can get it from Jesus himself 268 00:14:53,066 --> 00:14:56,200 in Luke 11:28, 269 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:58,966 Blessed, and you know what that word means. 270 00:14:59,033 --> 00:14:59,633 What? 271 00:14:59,666 --> 00:15:02,666 Happy, are those who hear 272 00:15:02,666 --> 00:15:06,733 the word of God, and observe it. 273 00:15:06,833 --> 00:15:07,433 Think about it. 274 00:15:07,466 --> 00:15:08,799 You hear it? 275 00:15:08,866 --> 00:15:12,033 You read it, you learn it, you observe 276 00:15:12,033 --> 00:15:13,533 it, you're happy. 277 00:15:13,533 --> 00:15:16,600 The Bible is 278 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,600 the source of truth, and the 279 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,833 source of truth, because no person is happier than 280 00:15:22,833 --> 00:15:26,000 the person who discovers the truth of the word of God, 281 00:15:26,033 --> 00:15:27,533 and then lives by it. 282 00:15:28,299 --> 00:15:31,533 Thirdly, the Bible 283 00:15:31,533 --> 00:15:33,466 is the source of growth. 284 00:15:33,633 --> 00:15:36,266 Look in 1 Peter 22. 285 00:15:36,766 --> 00:15:39,166 Like newborn babies. 286 00:15:39,866 --> 00:15:43,166 Long for the pure milk of 287 00:15:43,166 --> 00:15:46,633 the word, so that by it, you 288 00:15:46,666 --> 00:15:49,200 may grow in respect to salvation. 289 00:15:52,299 --> 00:15:52,899 four. 290 00:15:52,966 --> 00:15:56,566 The Bible is the source of power. 291 00:15:56,666 --> 00:15:59,899 Hebrews 4:12, for 292 00:15:59,933 --> 00:16:03,399 the word of God is living and active and sharper 293 00:16:03,399 --> 00:16:06,466 than any two edged sword, and piercing, 294 00:16:06,466 --> 00:16:09,600 as far as the division of soul and spirit of 295 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,733 both joints and marrow, and able to judge the 296 00:16:12,766 --> 00:16:15,166 thoughts and intentions of the heart. 297 00:16:16,766 --> 00:16:18,433 Fifthly. 298 00:16:18,700 --> 00:16:22,299 The Bible is the source of guidance, 299 00:16:22,299 --> 00:16:25,000 Psalm 119, 105. 300 00:16:25,233 --> 00:16:29,266 Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. 301 00:16:30,633 --> 00:16:33,866 Number six, the Bible 302 00:16:33,866 --> 00:16:35,600 is the source of encouragement. 303 00:16:35,666 --> 00:16:37,766 Romans 15, 4. 304 00:16:37,966 --> 00:16:41,100 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our 305 00:16:41,100 --> 00:16:44,233 instruction, so that through perseverance 306 00:16:44,266 --> 00:16:47,433 and the encouragement of the 307 00:16:47,433 --> 00:16:50,066 scriptures we might have hope. 308 00:16:50,566 --> 00:16:52,133 Lastly. 309 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:56,433 The Bible is the source, 310 00:16:56,433 --> 00:16:59,666 and the only source of victory 311 00:16:59,666 --> 00:17:02,433 over our enemy, our adversary. 312 00:17:02,500 --> 00:17:04,466 And guess what that does? 313 00:17:04,533 --> 00:17:06,866 That brings us back to our text for today. 314 00:17:06,866 --> 00:17:10,533 Ephesians 6:17, look 315 00:17:10,533 --> 00:17:13,533 at it at the end, and the sword of 316 00:17:13,533 --> 00:17:17,000 the spirit, the word of God, that 317 00:17:17,033 --> 00:17:20,066 is the primary weapon that we wield 318 00:17:20,066 --> 00:17:21,433 against our adversary. 319 00:17:22,366 --> 00:17:25,599 That is why I preach it, book 320 00:17:25,599 --> 00:17:28,833 by book, verse by verse. 321 00:17:28,900 --> 00:17:29,633 Now, listen to me. 322 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:33,700 Topical preaching, done correctly, 323 00:17:33,700 --> 00:17:36,866 does have its place, especially at, like, a conference 324 00:17:36,866 --> 00:17:40,033 where we have topics, as long as it's 325 00:17:40,066 --> 00:17:43,299 expositorily topical, if you get my meaning. 326 00:17:43,299 --> 00:17:46,433 We have a topic, but we're going to take a text about the 327 00:17:46,433 --> 00:17:48,299 topic, and we're going to unpack that text. 328 00:17:48,333 --> 00:17:51,333 But Sunday in and Sunday out, 329 00:17:51,333 --> 00:17:55,466 in season and out of season, rain, 330 00:17:55,466 --> 00:17:58,533 shine, sleet, snow, I am 331 00:17:58,533 --> 00:18:02,266 absolutely committed to verse my verse expositional 332 00:18:02,266 --> 00:18:05,266 preaching of the Word of God till I die, 333 00:18:05,266 --> 00:18:08,733 or I lose my mind, or my ability to preach. 334 00:18:08,799 --> 00:18:10,766 You can count on that. 335 00:18:11,500 --> 00:18:14,266 I'm not interested in giving you my opinion. 336 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:18,866 I'm not interested in giving you what 337 00:18:18,866 --> 00:18:20,200 this verse means to me. 338 00:18:20,266 --> 00:18:21,633 Okay? 339 00:18:21,766 --> 00:18:24,833 I'm only interested in giving 340 00:18:24,833 --> 00:18:28,066 to you to the best of my ability what the 341 00:18:28,066 --> 00:18:32,200 verse means, period, plumb, end of sentence. 342 00:18:32,566 --> 00:18:35,933 Because all of them only have one meaning, different 343 00:18:35,933 --> 00:18:37,799 applications, but one meaning. 344 00:18:38,366 --> 00:18:42,133 What in the world would 345 00:18:42,166 --> 00:18:45,333 that list about the Bible that I just gave you 346 00:18:45,333 --> 00:18:46,833 earlier do for you? 347 00:18:47,500 --> 00:18:50,433 If you never come here to learn the Bible. 348 00:18:52,166 --> 00:18:55,633 And you need to keep that at the top of your mind here. 349 00:18:57,033 --> 00:19:00,099 that we need, that we must 350 00:19:00,099 --> 00:19:03,333 have this sword of the spirit, because 351 00:19:03,333 --> 00:19:07,299 we are in a war, every day. 352 00:19:07,900 --> 00:19:09,833 Never forget. 353 00:19:09,833 --> 00:19:12,533 What we learned back in Ephesians 6:12, 354 00:19:12,566 --> 00:19:15,566 I want you to look at it again, for our struggle is not 355 00:19:15,566 --> 00:19:17,299 against flesh and blood. 356 00:19:17,366 --> 00:19:20,500 That means human beings, but against the 357 00:19:20,500 --> 00:19:23,866 rulers, against the powers, against the world forces 358 00:19:23,866 --> 00:19:26,933 of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of 359 00:19:26,933 --> 00:19:29,766 wickedness, in the heavenly places. 360 00:19:29,799 --> 00:19:33,166 That means we are at war struggling against Satan 361 00:19:33,166 --> 00:19:34,433 and his demon host. 362 00:19:34,466 --> 00:19:35,500 That's what that means. 363 00:19:35,966 --> 00:19:38,533 He hates our guts! 364 00:19:40,166 --> 00:19:43,166 He wants to make us miserable 365 00:19:43,166 --> 00:19:47,200 in this process of sanctification that God has us going through. 366 00:19:47,266 --> 00:19:50,700 At every turn, every day, he 367 00:19:50,700 --> 00:19:54,633 wants us to be stopped from 368 00:19:54,633 --> 00:19:58,533 living out in practical daily living who 369 00:19:58,533 --> 00:20:02,266 we are in position in Christ. 370 00:20:02,333 --> 00:20:04,566 He wants to stop that at every turn. 371 00:20:04,599 --> 00:20:07,766 And that's why every day we have to 372 00:20:07,766 --> 00:20:10,766 have the armor on the belt of truth, 373 00:20:10,766 --> 00:20:13,766 the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of 374 00:20:13,766 --> 00:20:16,833 the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, 375 00:20:16,833 --> 00:20:19,900 and if you miss the explanation of any of that, please go back and 376 00:20:19,900 --> 00:20:22,966 watch that, anything you missed, you need to 377 00:20:22,966 --> 00:20:24,333 know about all this armor. 378 00:20:25,166 --> 00:20:26,599 It's critical. 379 00:20:27,700 --> 00:20:30,933 And now we come, lastly, to the sword 380 00:20:30,933 --> 00:20:32,799 of the spirit. 381 00:20:33,566 --> 00:20:36,866 And all of the armor that we've looked at so 382 00:20:36,866 --> 00:20:39,866 far, if you think about it, in terms of a soldier has 383 00:20:39,866 --> 00:20:43,233 been primarily defensive, shield, helmet, 384 00:20:43,233 --> 00:20:44,299 right? 385 00:20:44,366 --> 00:20:47,533 But now we come to a piece of armor that is both offensive 386 00:20:47,566 --> 00:20:49,233 and defensive at the same time. 387 00:20:49,366 --> 00:20:52,599 The Greek word for sword here 388 00:20:52,599 --> 00:20:55,166 is machera. 389 00:20:55,833 --> 00:20:59,066 I't know how to pronounce it, neither do you, so just understand that's the Greek word, 390 00:20:59,066 --> 00:21:02,233 very commonly used in Greek and in the New Testament. 391 00:21:02,333 --> 00:21:08,166 The other word for sword in the Greek is romphaya, and what is that? 392 00:21:08,366 --> 00:21:11,366 That's that big, long, broad 393 00:21:11,366 --> 00:21:15,099 sword that I told you about last time we were talking about this. 394 00:21:15,166 --> 00:21:18,866 The machara was the normal, 395 00:21:18,866 --> 00:21:22,166 common sword that was carried by Roman soldiers all the time. 396 00:21:22,166 --> 00:21:25,533 It could be anywhere from, like, a six inch dagger 397 00:21:25,533 --> 00:21:28,666 to about an 18 inch sword, and 398 00:21:28,666 --> 00:21:31,233 that was put in the sheath at the Roman soldier's side. 399 00:21:31,299 --> 00:21:34,433 Remember, that's the sword that came out in 400 00:21:34,433 --> 00:21:35,700 the hand to hand combat. 401 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:40,166 This is what Peter used to cut off the ear 402 00:21:40,166 --> 00:21:42,033 of the high priest. 403 00:21:42,099 --> 00:21:45,833 Now, if he had used the broadsword, 404 00:21:45,866 --> 00:21:47,533 He probably would have cut more than his ear off. 405 00:21:47,633 --> 00:21:49,133 You get the picture. 406 00:21:49,533 --> 00:21:52,533 And this machara had to be 407 00:21:52,533 --> 00:21:55,466 used though, and this is what's important in the illustration. 408 00:21:55,599 --> 00:21:58,733 It had to be used in a very precise way 409 00:21:58,733 --> 00:22:01,299 to be effective. 410 00:22:01,366 --> 00:22:02,733 You think about the broadsword. 411 00:22:02,799 --> 00:22:03,933 Well, there was out there in the battle. 412 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:05,666 Man, they're just slinging that thing around. 413 00:22:05,799 --> 00:22:08,266 I mean, just whatever it hits, right? 414 00:22:08,366 --> 00:22:10,033 We're going to take something out. 415 00:22:10,133 --> 00:22:12,666 Maximum damage is what you were looking for. 416 00:22:12,700 --> 00:22:14,133 But notice in verse 17. 417 00:22:15,333 --> 00:22:19,366 It says the sword of the spirit. 418 00:22:19,433 --> 00:22:23,500 Now, that could also be translated literally by 419 00:22:23,500 --> 00:22:26,799 the spirit, or even in an adjective 420 00:22:26,799 --> 00:22:28,833 sense, spiritual. 421 00:22:28,900 --> 00:22:31,833 So follow this with me. 422 00:22:31,900 --> 00:22:34,900 In that sense, spiritual, it would be 423 00:22:34,900 --> 00:22:37,900 a small S, meaning that what we're talking about 424 00:22:37,900 --> 00:22:39,766 here is this is a spiritual sword. 425 00:22:39,866 --> 00:22:41,533 And it is. 426 00:22:41,633 --> 00:22:44,633 Like in 2 Corinthians 10, where Paul says, the 427 00:22:44,633 --> 00:22:47,633 weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual. 428 00:22:47,733 --> 00:22:51,099 In fact, in this sense, think 429 00:22:51,099 --> 00:22:53,966 of it, all of the armor is spiritual, right? 430 00:22:54,099 --> 00:22:57,466 I mean, we're not talking about literal shields 431 00:22:57,466 --> 00:22:59,799 and breastplates and swords. 432 00:22:59,866 --> 00:23:02,099 So all this armor is spiritual. 433 00:23:02,133 --> 00:23:05,299 But also, this can be translated, as I said, 434 00:23:05,333 --> 00:23:07,000 by the spirit. 435 00:23:07,133 --> 00:23:10,533 In other words, this is referring 436 00:23:10,533 --> 00:23:11,866 to where it comes from. 437 00:23:12,833 --> 00:23:16,000 The sword is given by 438 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,333 the Holy Spirit, and it is. 439 00:23:18,466 --> 00:23:22,466 So if you put those two together, our 440 00:23:22,466 --> 00:23:25,633 sword is a spiritual sword because it 441 00:23:25,666 --> 00:23:29,633 was given to us by the Holy Spirit, are you with me? 442 00:23:30,266 --> 00:23:34,833 Now, when you became a Christian, you 443 00:23:34,833 --> 00:23:39,333 received the sword in 444 00:23:39,333 --> 00:23:42,566 a very different way than just having a 445 00:23:42,566 --> 00:23:44,900 Bible, as an unbeliever. 446 00:23:45,833 --> 00:23:48,966 Everywhere I lived, and 447 00:23:48,966 --> 00:23:52,099 you would not believe how many different places I lived as 448 00:23:52,133 --> 00:23:55,133 a lost unbeliever, the number of apartments and rent 449 00:23:55,133 --> 00:23:58,533 houses that I lived in, I have to go back and count them, 450 00:23:58,533 --> 00:24:01,599 easily closer 451 00:24:01,599 --> 00:24:04,233 to 20 than to 10, maybe more than 20. 452 00:24:04,466 --> 00:24:07,599 But everywhere I went, I 453 00:24:07,599 --> 00:24:11,366 carried with me a little blue NIV 454 00:24:11,366 --> 00:24:15,500 that was about this big, and I think I got it at my confirmation, 455 00:24:15,533 --> 00:24:17,466 as a Roman Catholic, maybe, I think I did. 456 00:24:17,566 --> 00:24:21,333 I carried that thing everywhere with me, and 457 00:24:21,333 --> 00:24:25,066 I have no idea where it is to this day, like so many other things. 458 00:24:25,166 --> 00:24:28,599 There are whole cars I can't remember what happened to them that I had, okay? 459 00:24:29,799 --> 00:24:32,799 But even the very 460 00:24:32,799 --> 00:24:35,966 few, few, few times, I 461 00:24:35,966 --> 00:24:38,533 tried to read my little blue NIV. 462 00:24:38,666 --> 00:24:41,900 I really couldn't grasp, what 463 00:24:41,933 --> 00:24:45,000 I was reading, up to a point, but 464 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,799 I really couldn't get it, because as an unbeliever, 465 00:24:48,833 --> 00:24:51,833 I didn't have what 466 00:24:51,833 --> 00:24:54,000 I have now as a believer. 467 00:24:54,233 --> 00:24:56,766 And so do you have. 468 00:24:56,866 --> 00:25:00,633 Now, as a believer, that 469 00:25:00,633 --> 00:25:03,766 resident truth teacher inside 470 00:25:03,766 --> 00:25:06,900 of you, that illumines the meaning 471 00:25:06,900 --> 00:25:10,766 of scripture to every blood bought saint of God. 472 00:25:11,866 --> 00:25:15,299 Remember that 1 Corinthians 473 00:25:15,299 --> 00:25:18,866 2:14 is so explicitly clear, but 474 00:25:18,866 --> 00:25:22,099 a natural man, that is a lost man, does not 475 00:25:22,133 --> 00:25:25,133 accept the things of the Spirit of God, for 476 00:25:25,133 --> 00:25:26,700 they are foolishness to him. 477 00:25:26,733 --> 00:25:27,700 And look at this. 478 00:25:27,833 --> 00:25:31,133 He cannot understand them because 479 00:25:31,133 --> 00:25:34,299 they are spiritually appraised. 480 00:25:34,366 --> 00:25:37,433 And they are spiritually appraised through the 481 00:25:37,433 --> 00:25:40,566 power of the illumination of the Holy Spirit given 482 00:25:40,566 --> 00:25:44,000 to every Christian during their life on this earth. 483 00:25:44,066 --> 00:25:47,500 So I could have sat there while I was smoking weed 484 00:25:47,500 --> 00:25:50,066 and snorting coke, and read that Bible all night long. 485 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:52,733 I wasn't gonna understand what in the world was going on. 486 00:25:53,033 --> 00:25:57,700 I didn't have the resident truth teacher illumining the word to me. 487 00:25:58,466 --> 00:26:01,700 So the sword becomes ours, 488 00:26:01,733 --> 00:26:04,733 as believers, in this very 489 00:26:04,733 --> 00:26:09,033 special way, but after it does, it 490 00:26:09,033 --> 00:26:12,033 becomes a most critical matter, 491 00:26:12,033 --> 00:26:15,033 as to how we all 492 00:26:15,033 --> 00:26:18,566 learn to use the sword. 493 00:26:19,366 --> 00:26:21,400 Church, understand this. 494 00:26:24,466 --> 00:26:28,166 The Bible in your life is 495 00:26:28,166 --> 00:26:29,799 very much a weapon. 496 00:26:30,833 --> 00:26:33,833 That's why it's very critical 497 00:26:33,833 --> 00:26:36,599 that you learn how to use it. 498 00:26:36,833 --> 00:26:39,833 What good is it to have a 9 499 00:26:39,833 --> 00:26:43,133 millimeter handgun in your home for self defense if 500 00:26:43,133 --> 00:26:44,700 you don't know how to load it and shoot it? 501 00:26:45,633 --> 00:26:48,633 And learning how to use it, 502 00:26:48,633 --> 00:26:52,400 this Bible, is totally dependent 503 00:26:52,433 --> 00:26:55,666 upon how diligently you get 504 00:26:55,666 --> 00:26:58,433 involved in studying it. 505 00:26:58,533 --> 00:27:00,166 Reading it. 506 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:02,866 This is not rocket science. 507 00:27:02,933 --> 00:27:06,833 I'm going to put it real, real, plain to where we all live. 508 00:27:06,866 --> 00:27:09,933 Turn off the TV, turn off the phone, 509 00:27:09,933 --> 00:27:12,933 sit your butt in the chair, open the book, 510 00:27:12,933 --> 00:27:14,900 and read it, and study it. 511 00:27:15,033 --> 00:27:16,233 Is that hard? 512 00:27:16,466 --> 00:27:17,833 Huh? 513 00:27:17,966 --> 00:27:19,299 Shouldn't be. 514 00:27:19,433 --> 00:27:20,566 Not if you're a Christian. 515 00:27:21,033 --> 00:27:24,033 Remember, this is a 516 00:27:24,033 --> 00:27:25,966 letter to the church at Ephesus. 517 00:27:26,033 --> 00:27:28,133 Paul spent three years in Ephesus. 518 00:27:28,166 --> 00:27:28,700 You know what he said? 519 00:27:28,766 --> 00:27:32,666 I have not failed to declare unto you the whole council of God. 520 00:27:33,166 --> 00:27:34,533 Why? 521 00:27:35,266 --> 00:27:38,433 Because he wanted to teach them how to 522 00:27:38,433 --> 00:27:41,733 use the sword so that they could wield it effectively 523 00:27:41,733 --> 00:27:42,866 in their life? 524 00:27:43,833 --> 00:27:46,966 As I said, I'm telling you, 525 00:27:46,966 --> 00:27:50,700 we don't really fully grasp 526 00:27:50,700 --> 00:27:54,500 what a divinely, powerful, 527 00:27:54,533 --> 00:27:58,266 effective, amazing weapon this Bible is that we have. 528 00:27:59,033 --> 00:28:01,599 Nothing can overpower the Bible. 529 00:28:02,066 --> 00:28:04,166 A lot of people have tried. 530 00:28:05,366 --> 00:28:08,500 Spurgeon said something like it's 531 00:28:08,500 --> 00:28:10,533 an anvil, and they keep breaking hammers on it. 532 00:28:11,433 --> 00:28:14,566 I love Romans 116, for I 533 00:28:14,566 --> 00:28:17,566 am not ashamed of the gospel for it 534 00:28:17,566 --> 00:28:20,566 is the power of God for salvation to everyone 535 00:28:20,566 --> 00:28:21,633 who believes. 536 00:28:21,700 --> 00:28:23,333 And where does the gospel come from? 537 00:28:23,366 --> 00:28:27,133 Where is the gospel defined in the sword of the Spirit? 538 00:28:28,366 --> 00:28:33,766 You wield this sword properly, and guess what? 539 00:28:34,233 --> 00:28:38,500 People get rescued from eternal damnation when you do. 540 00:28:40,066 --> 00:28:43,433 Souls get torn away from 541 00:28:43,433 --> 00:28:46,500 the kingdom of darkness and transferred into 542 00:28:46,500 --> 00:28:50,000 the kingdom of Christ when you wield this sword properly. 543 00:28:50,333 --> 00:28:53,500 Take a look again in Hebrews 4:12. 544 00:28:54,700 --> 00:28:57,866 For the word of God is living, 545 00:28:57,866 --> 00:29:00,866 and active, and sharper than any 546 00:29:00,866 --> 00:29:03,933 two edged sword, and piercing, as far as 547 00:29:03,933 --> 00:29:07,533 the division of soul and spirit, of both joints 548 00:29:07,533 --> 00:29:10,599 and marrow, and able to judge the 549 00:29:10,599 --> 00:29:13,833 thoughts and intentions of the heart. 550 00:29:13,966 --> 00:29:17,633 That word for judge right there, can 551 00:29:17,633 --> 00:29:21,233 also be translated discerner, a discerner 552 00:29:21,233 --> 00:29:24,233 of the thoughts and intentions of the 553 00:29:24,233 --> 00:29:26,766 heart, which literally means this. 554 00:29:26,966 --> 00:29:30,733 To judge by sifting out the evidence. 555 00:29:32,033 --> 00:29:35,366 The word of God becomes 556 00:29:35,366 --> 00:29:38,200 that which people hate. 557 00:29:38,633 --> 00:29:40,299 judges people. 558 00:29:40,833 --> 00:29:45,033 And rightly so, and perfectly so. 559 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:48,700 When we preach the word, it brings to 560 00:29:48,700 --> 00:29:52,133 bear on people's lives the judgment 561 00:29:52,133 --> 00:29:53,633 of almighty God. 562 00:29:54,266 --> 00:29:56,366 It sifts. 563 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:00,633 It weighs their life in the balance of 564 00:30:00,633 --> 00:30:03,799 the authority of the word of God to show them the 565 00:30:03,833 --> 00:30:06,933 reality of their sinfulness, 566 00:30:06,933 --> 00:30:09,200 before a holy God. 567 00:30:09,566 --> 00:30:12,633 That's why in the very next verse, 568 00:30:12,633 --> 00:30:15,633 in Hebrews 4, look what it 569 00:30:15,633 --> 00:30:16,666 says in verse 13. 570 00:30:16,833 --> 00:30:19,599 And there is no creature. 571 00:30:19,733 --> 00:30:23,200 hidden from his sight, but all 572 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:26,733 things are open and laid bare 573 00:30:26,733 --> 00:30:30,766 to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 574 00:30:33,866 --> 00:30:37,766 God's word comes just like a sword, piercing 575 00:30:37,766 --> 00:30:39,566 into the hearts of people. 576 00:30:39,700 --> 00:30:41,566 splitting them open. 577 00:30:42,166 --> 00:30:45,466 Sifting the evidence and showing 578 00:30:45,466 --> 00:30:49,000 them their own sin and guilt before 579 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:50,066 a God who is holy. 580 00:30:51,466 --> 00:30:55,000 God's word is so powerful, it 581 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:56,866 can bring truth into error. 582 00:30:57,833 --> 00:31:00,466 It can bring light into darkness. 583 00:31:00,700 --> 00:31:04,733 It can bring happiness into deep sadness. 584 00:31:04,766 --> 00:31:10,466 It can bring sorrow into joy. 585 00:31:11,933 --> 00:31:14,266 God's word is so powerful. 586 00:31:15,333 --> 00:31:18,333 It can take an infantile human 587 00:31:18,333 --> 00:31:19,900 being and make them mature. 588 00:31:23,033 --> 00:31:25,000 There is no weapon on Earth. 589 00:31:25,166 --> 00:31:27,266 like the sword of the spirit. 590 00:31:28,433 --> 00:31:32,433 Now, as I said, the sword as 591 00:31:32,433 --> 00:31:35,666 a weapon is both offensive and defensive, 592 00:31:35,666 --> 00:31:38,833 I mean, you've seen sword fights in the movies, right? 593 00:31:38,933 --> 00:31:42,000 You know, the sword is used just as much to block 594 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:45,799 a blow as it is to inflict one, and 595 00:31:45,833 --> 00:31:49,000 using the word of God, defensively, 596 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:52,066 when Satan comes to attack you, 597 00:31:52,066 --> 00:31:55,066 as we've talked about previously, in his insults, 598 00:31:55,066 --> 00:31:57,166 and his temptations is critical. 599 00:31:57,566 --> 00:32:00,733 And the master example maker with 600 00:32:00,766 --> 00:32:04,066 this, of course, is the master example maker, Jesus. 601 00:32:04,466 --> 00:32:07,466 You remember, back in Matthew 4. 602 00:32:08,133 --> 00:32:11,666 Satan hits Jesus with three temptations. 603 00:32:11,733 --> 00:32:13,099 One, don't trust God, man. 604 00:32:13,366 --> 00:32:16,299 You've been out here, you starving to death. 605 00:32:16,666 --> 00:32:19,799 Just go on and make them stones into bread. 606 00:32:19,833 --> 00:32:22,233 Don't wait for God to supply your knees. 607 00:32:22,299 --> 00:32:23,500 Just go on and do it yourself. 608 00:32:23,566 --> 00:32:24,533 You can do it. 609 00:32:24,566 --> 00:32:26,500 What is the immediate response? 610 00:32:26,633 --> 00:32:28,200 From Jesus. 611 00:32:28,233 --> 00:32:29,266 We'll look in verse four. 612 00:32:29,666 --> 00:32:32,200 What's his first phrase that he says? 613 00:32:32,333 --> 00:32:34,866 It is written. 614 00:32:34,900 --> 00:32:37,966 Man shall not live by bread alone, but 615 00:32:37,966 --> 00:32:39,933 every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. 616 00:32:40,066 --> 00:32:42,633 Direct quote from Deuteronomy 83. 617 00:32:42,866 --> 00:32:45,733 And then Satan comes a second time. 618 00:32:46,966 --> 00:32:49,200 Do you really trust God? 619 00:32:49,299 --> 00:32:52,966 Well, if you do, dive 620 00:32:52,966 --> 00:32:55,233 off this temple, and surely he'll catch you. 621 00:32:55,366 --> 00:32:58,533 And Jesus comes right back out of him with more scripture 622 00:32:58,533 --> 00:33:01,666 from Deuteronomy, dealing directly with 623 00:33:01,666 --> 00:33:04,366 that temptation, and then Satan comes a third time. 624 00:33:04,900 --> 00:33:06,833 Bow down to me. 625 00:33:07,299 --> 00:33:10,966 And I'll give you all the kingdoms of the world. 626 00:33:11,033 --> 00:33:14,400 Now, that says something interesting about the amount of power that Satan had. 627 00:33:14,500 --> 00:33:16,133 But what does Jesus do? 628 00:33:16,233 --> 00:33:19,299 He comes right back at him in verse 10 629 00:33:19,299 --> 00:33:21,566 of Matthew 4, Go, Satan. 630 00:33:21,633 --> 00:33:22,599 Look what he says next. 631 00:33:22,666 --> 00:33:24,933 For it is written! 632 00:33:25,466 --> 00:33:28,633 You shall worship the Lord, your God, 633 00:33:28,666 --> 00:33:30,166 and serve him only. 634 00:33:30,233 --> 00:33:33,633 All of the scripture that Jesus quoted, dealt 635 00:33:33,633 --> 00:33:36,799 exactly and precisely with each one 636 00:33:36,833 --> 00:33:38,566 of those temptations that were thrown at him. 637 00:33:38,733 --> 00:33:41,733 He didn't just flail the sword 638 00:33:41,733 --> 00:33:44,733 around haphazardly, and just like Jesus, 639 00:33:44,733 --> 00:33:47,966 we, Christians, we have to be able to defend 640 00:33:47,966 --> 00:33:51,033 ourselves with the sword of the spirit from whatever 641 00:33:51,033 --> 00:33:54,500 angle the temptation comes from, but 642 00:33:54,533 --> 00:33:56,099 you have to know the word. 643 00:33:57,400 --> 00:34:00,933 to be able to wield it like that in 644 00:34:00,933 --> 00:34:02,366 a precise fashion. 645 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:07,000 Now, look back again in our text in verse 17. 646 00:34:07,166 --> 00:34:11,800 It says the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 647 00:34:11,933 --> 00:34:15,766 The term for word here is not logos. 648 00:34:15,833 --> 00:34:16,733 It's not. 649 00:34:16,766 --> 00:34:19,766 Logos is a term 650 00:34:19,766 --> 00:34:22,833 meaning word that speaks of a 651 00:34:22,833 --> 00:34:26,966 broad, general way 652 00:34:26,966 --> 00:34:30,699 of looking at the word of God, a general idea, 653 00:34:30,699 --> 00:34:33,766 including, of course, in John 1, where John 654 00:34:33,766 --> 00:34:35,333 uses it to speak of Jesus. 655 00:34:35,366 --> 00:34:38,133 But, nah, here in verse 17 is a different Greek word. 656 00:34:38,333 --> 00:34:40,966 It's the word Rayma. 657 00:34:41,199 --> 00:34:42,633 word. 658 00:34:42,699 --> 00:34:46,466 You know what the word rema means for word in the Greek? 659 00:34:46,466 --> 00:34:49,166 A specific statement. 660 00:34:49,833 --> 00:34:53,133 Here, it's not talking about a broad general 661 00:34:53,133 --> 00:34:55,599 knowledge in the logos. 662 00:34:55,666 --> 00:34:58,533 It's talking about a specific statement. 663 00:34:58,533 --> 00:35:01,966 The sword of the spirit is 664 00:35:01,966 --> 00:35:04,966 the specific statement of God. 665 00:35:05,066 --> 00:35:08,599 And if you don't know what God specifically 666 00:35:08,633 --> 00:35:11,800 says about, for example, temptation, then 667 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:14,933 you can't wield the sword the way you're supposed to 668 00:35:14,933 --> 00:35:18,000 in order to defend yourself when that happens. 669 00:35:18,933 --> 00:35:22,300 So you have to learn the 670 00:35:22,300 --> 00:35:25,533 total word of God, so 671 00:35:25,533 --> 00:35:28,233 that you can understand the specifics that are contained in it. 672 00:35:28,300 --> 00:35:29,033 You with me? 673 00:35:29,666 --> 00:35:33,333 That's why when I'm up here, and 674 00:35:33,333 --> 00:35:36,566 I'm preaching on Sunday mornings, I 675 00:35:36,566 --> 00:35:39,633 don't just quote a verse and tell 676 00:35:39,633 --> 00:35:41,666 you three stories and then send you to the house. 677 00:35:42,233 --> 00:35:45,233 I've never done that in 678 00:35:45,233 --> 00:35:47,699 my over 25 years of ministry. 679 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:50,066 On average, what do I do? 680 00:35:50,199 --> 00:35:53,266 Well, you know, I take on average, 45 681 00:35:53,266 --> 00:35:56,266 minutes to an hour, to unpack, and to 682 00:35:56,266 --> 00:35:59,500 teach you what the text means, and 683 00:35:59,500 --> 00:36:02,866 then the principle that we can pull out 684 00:36:02,866 --> 00:36:06,033 of the text, by way of application, because the 685 00:36:06,033 --> 00:36:09,866 principle, listen to me, is the specific statement 686 00:36:09,866 --> 00:36:12,866 that God wants you to understand, so you can put it 687 00:36:12,866 --> 00:36:16,400 in your tool bag to use against Satan when he comes against you. 688 00:36:18,166 --> 00:36:21,333 And this is why, in addition to coming 689 00:36:21,333 --> 00:36:25,099 here, to Providence, to sit under, 690 00:36:25,133 --> 00:36:28,266 expositional preaching, what, sadly, is getting 691 00:36:28,266 --> 00:36:33,266 less and less in the churches of our day, you, 692 00:36:33,266 --> 00:36:37,400 as Paul says, also have 693 00:36:37,433 --> 00:36:40,533 to study to show yourself 694 00:36:40,533 --> 00:36:43,166 approved as a workman unto God. 695 00:36:43,666 --> 00:36:47,800 Now, what about using 696 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:51,233 the sword of the Spirit offensively, we've 697 00:36:51,233 --> 00:36:52,433 talked about defensively. 698 00:36:52,466 --> 00:36:54,099 Well, I'm doing that right now. 699 00:36:54,699 --> 00:36:57,099 It's my favorite thing to do. 700 00:36:58,066 --> 00:37:01,900 I'm preaching the word offensively right here. 701 00:37:02,433 --> 00:37:06,633 I'm hacking back some of this jungle 702 00:37:06,633 --> 00:37:09,699 down here in Satan's fallen world, right now, 703 00:37:09,699 --> 00:37:11,433 and I'm not just doing it in this building. 704 00:37:11,500 --> 00:37:11,866 Guess what? 705 00:37:11,933 --> 00:37:13,266 I'm doing it every week on the internet. 706 00:37:13,766 --> 00:37:16,533 Now, granted, not many people are watching me. 707 00:37:16,599 --> 00:37:19,000 I'm not making it in the Nielsen ratings. 708 00:37:19,366 --> 00:37:23,500 But you never know, you 709 00:37:23,500 --> 00:37:26,866 never know, who might be scrolling, 710 00:37:26,866 --> 00:37:29,199 who might stop to take a listen. 711 00:37:30,099 --> 00:37:33,266 And any time, for that matter, any 712 00:37:33,266 --> 00:37:36,500 of us give a biblical gospel presentation to anybody, 713 00:37:36,533 --> 00:37:39,666 we are swinging the sword of the spirit 714 00:37:39,666 --> 00:37:43,066 offensively in this dark and fallen world. 715 00:37:44,566 --> 00:37:48,466 That's especially true when I preach at funerals. 716 00:37:49,233 --> 00:37:52,766 I have one funeral message. 717 00:37:52,833 --> 00:37:55,966 for both the lost and 718 00:37:55,966 --> 00:37:59,133 saved, and I am not changing it 719 00:37:59,133 --> 00:38:02,266 one bit all the way to the last funeral that 720 00:38:02,266 --> 00:38:03,533 I'll ever preach on this earth. 721 00:38:03,866 --> 00:38:08,066 because I preach the unadulterated. 722 00:38:08,199 --> 00:38:12,099 Neither horned nor toothed, gospel 723 00:38:12,099 --> 00:38:15,233 of Jesus Christ at every single funeral 724 00:38:15,233 --> 00:38:18,166 I have ever preached, or will ever preach. 725 00:38:18,266 --> 00:38:21,500 Don't ask me to preach a funeral if that's not what you want. 726 00:38:22,433 --> 00:38:24,366 Let me tell you something. 727 00:38:24,466 --> 00:38:28,066 If looks could kill, funerals would have killed me a long time ago. 728 00:38:29,133 --> 00:38:30,566 Amen. 729 00:38:31,733 --> 00:38:35,766 And I'm just going to tell you, I really am kind of crazy. 730 00:38:37,133 --> 00:38:41,099 Because I have no problem at all. 731 00:38:41,133 --> 00:38:44,000 I don't have this gene in my DNA. 732 00:38:44,066 --> 00:38:47,300 I have no problem at all making anyone 733 00:38:47,333 --> 00:38:50,333 uncomfortable, including myself when 734 00:38:50,333 --> 00:38:51,366 I'm preaching the gospel. 735 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:52,466 I just don't. 736 00:38:52,599 --> 00:38:55,966 You could put me in Tiger Stadium and 737 00:38:55,966 --> 00:38:57,300 I wouldn't preach any differently. 738 00:38:57,466 --> 00:38:59,433 I promise you, I wouldn't. 739 00:38:59,566 --> 00:39:02,733 That's how you offensively swing 740 00:39:02,733 --> 00:39:04,366 the sword of the spirit. 741 00:39:04,466 --> 00:39:07,099 This is a powerful word right here, church. 742 00:39:07,599 --> 00:39:10,666 It's so powerful, the Bible says it 743 00:39:10,666 --> 00:39:11,733 converts the soul. 744 00:39:12,400 --> 00:39:14,966 But you have to know how to wield it. 745 00:39:15,333 --> 00:39:18,033 That's why Peter makes it so clear. 746 00:39:18,099 --> 00:39:21,333 Look at 1 Peter 3:15, but sanctify Christ as Lord in 747 00:39:21,333 --> 00:39:24,400 your heart, always being ready to 748 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:27,400 make a defense to everyone who asks you to give 749 00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:30,400 an account for the hope that is in you 750 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:33,400 yet with gentleness and reverence, but you 751 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:35,366 can't give that account without knowing God's word. 752 00:39:36,400 --> 00:39:39,633 You can't know God's word without reading 753 00:39:39,633 --> 00:39:42,699 it, and studying it, and sitting 754 00:39:42,699 --> 00:39:44,366 under the expositional preaching of it. 755 00:39:45,266 --> 00:39:49,000 Walter Martin is going to heaven now. 756 00:39:49,066 --> 00:39:52,133 He wrote a very important book, I think, way back in 757 00:39:52,133 --> 00:39:54,233 the '80s, maybe the '70s, I can't remember. 758 00:39:54,266 --> 00:39:57,433 It's a book called The Kingdom of the Cults, and 759 00:39:57,466 --> 00:40:00,900 it lists all the cults that were in the world at that time. 760 00:40:01,766 --> 00:40:03,500 You should read it. 761 00:40:03,633 --> 00:40:04,466 It's still a good resource. 762 00:40:04,533 --> 00:40:05,800 He once said this. 763 00:40:05,866 --> 00:40:09,000 The tragedy of Christianity is that a 90 day 764 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:12,433 wonder out of Jehovah's Witnesses can take apart a Christian in 30 minutes. 765 00:40:14,266 --> 00:40:16,000 That's convicting. 766 00:40:17,066 --> 00:40:20,599 If the Jehovah's Witness this studied 767 00:40:20,633 --> 00:40:22,133 up, come to your house, could you handle him? 768 00:40:22,166 --> 00:40:23,666 Could you handle her? 769 00:40:23,733 --> 00:40:25,099 Think about that. 770 00:40:25,300 --> 00:40:28,300 In so many cases here in the Church of 771 00:40:28,300 --> 00:40:31,233 Monadera America, sadly, that's very true. 772 00:40:31,466 --> 00:40:34,900 A Jehovah's a witness going to take out their Bible, 773 00:40:34,900 --> 00:40:39,333 which is the New World translation, and run circles around many professor and Christians in this country. 774 00:40:40,300 --> 00:40:43,300 In Romans 10:17, it says, So 775 00:40:43,300 --> 00:40:46,533 fate comes by hearing, and 776 00:40:46,533 --> 00:40:50,433 hearing, by the look at that, word of Christ. 777 00:40:50,500 --> 00:40:54,766 You know what the Greek word for word is right there it's Remma. 778 00:40:54,833 --> 00:40:56,266 Remember? 779 00:40:56,633 --> 00:41:00,533 Rema is a specific statement 780 00:41:00,533 --> 00:41:01,666 about Christ. 781 00:41:02,133 --> 00:41:05,800 Faith doesn't come by generality 782 00:41:05,800 --> 00:41:08,199 with some kind of just love Jesus talk. 783 00:41:09,566 --> 00:41:13,166 Faith comes by hearing and hearing 784 00:41:13,166 --> 00:41:16,300 by the word of specific statements 785 00:41:16,300 --> 00:41:19,533 about Jesus Christ, accurate, 786 00:41:19,533 --> 00:41:22,699 biblical, full, complete gospel 787 00:41:22,733 --> 00:41:25,566 presentation, saturated with the word of God. 788 00:41:25,666 --> 00:41:28,833 There has to be specific statements about 789 00:41:28,833 --> 00:41:31,066 the meaning of the person and work of Christ. 790 00:41:32,033 --> 00:41:35,500 People are going to be going to see the 791 00:41:35,500 --> 00:41:38,566 second movie after the passion 792 00:41:38,566 --> 00:41:40,533 of the Christ, the resurrection of the Christ. 793 00:41:40,666 --> 00:41:44,366 When you talk to people about that, you 794 00:41:44,366 --> 00:41:47,833 need to talk specific statements about what that means. 795 00:41:47,933 --> 00:41:49,733 What the cross means? 796 00:41:49,766 --> 00:41:51,800 Why did Jesus have to die? 797 00:41:51,866 --> 00:41:54,133 What does it mean that he rose on the third day? 798 00:41:54,266 --> 00:41:55,766 Not just that he did it. 799 00:41:56,199 --> 00:41:59,666 Specific statements from scripture, 800 00:41:59,666 --> 00:42:02,666 about the cross, about the resurrection, about the sinfulness of 801 00:42:02,666 --> 00:42:04,099 man, the holiness of God. 802 00:42:04,166 --> 00:42:07,233 What we talked about this morning, the necessity of a 803 00:42:07,233 --> 00:42:10,099 perfect righteousness, and an imputed righteousness. 804 00:42:10,133 --> 00:42:12,533 You don't have to say imputed? 805 00:42:12,533 --> 00:42:16,000 Reckoned, reckoned to your 806 00:42:16,000 --> 00:42:17,666 account is the righteousness of Christ. 807 00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:19,000 Put on your account. 808 00:42:19,066 --> 00:42:22,300 However you want to say it, however you need to say it. 809 00:42:22,366 --> 00:42:25,433 All the specific elements of the gospel 810 00:42:25,433 --> 00:42:28,433 are necessary when we are swinging, the 811 00:42:28,433 --> 00:42:32,199 sword of the spirit offensively, because 812 00:42:32,199 --> 00:42:35,133 we're presenting the most important piece of information in the universe. 813 00:42:35,266 --> 00:42:38,500 There's no piece of information more important than 814 00:42:38,500 --> 00:42:41,333 the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ in the gospel. 815 00:42:44,366 --> 00:42:47,800 If you're a Christian, don't try to tell me you don't understand the Bible, don't bring me that. 816 00:42:48,866 --> 00:42:52,000 Because God not only gave you the 817 00:42:52,000 --> 00:42:55,133 book, but as I said earlier, He gave you the resident 818 00:42:55,133 --> 00:42:58,766 truth teacher within you to help you understand. 819 00:42:58,766 --> 00:43:01,900 And graded, there are some things that are harder to understand 820 00:43:01,900 --> 00:43:04,533 in the Bible than others. 821 00:43:05,133 --> 00:43:08,666 But that's why God wants you to study it. 822 00:43:10,300 --> 00:43:13,000 That's why he wants you to dig in it. 823 00:43:13,733 --> 00:43:18,466 To have that truth teacher illuminate 824 00:43:18,466 --> 00:43:20,033 to you when you're studying. 825 00:43:20,966 --> 00:43:24,099 And I hate to tell you this, 826 00:43:24,099 --> 00:43:27,233 but the judgment seat of Christ, nobody in this church 827 00:43:27,233 --> 00:43:28,666 is going to be able to claim ignorance. 828 00:43:28,733 --> 00:43:32,199 And that's not a prideful statement or a boastful statement. 829 00:43:32,266 --> 00:43:32,733 It's just true. 830 00:43:32,800 --> 00:43:35,966 When you go to any church that's expositionally preaching, 831 00:43:35,966 --> 00:43:38,833 the word of God, rooted and grounded in sound doctrine. 832 00:43:38,933 --> 00:43:41,333 One thing you won't be able to claim is ignorance. 833 00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:45,266 Because I don't tell stories and jokes here. 834 00:43:45,466 --> 00:43:47,266 I preach the word. 835 00:43:48,533 --> 00:43:52,133 When Paul went 836 00:43:52,133 --> 00:43:55,733 out on his missionary journeys, the 837 00:43:55,733 --> 00:43:58,366 first place he would go to in each town was the synagogue. 838 00:43:58,466 --> 00:43:58,766 Why? 839 00:43:58,833 --> 00:44:02,066 Because he wanted to go to his people, the 840 00:44:02,066 --> 00:44:05,199 Jews, and preach Christ out of the Old Testament 841 00:44:05,199 --> 00:44:08,500 to prove to the Jews that Jesus is 842 00:44:08,500 --> 00:44:09,766 the Messiah. 843 00:44:09,833 --> 00:44:12,866 And look what it says when he got to the town of Berea in Acts 844 00:44:12,866 --> 00:44:14,533 chapter 17 and verse number 11. 845 00:44:14,800 --> 00:44:18,233 Now, these, these people in Berea, at the synagogue, 846 00:44:18,233 --> 00:44:21,266 were more noble minded than those in Thessalonica, 847 00:44:21,266 --> 00:44:24,266 for they received the word with great eagerness, 848 00:44:24,266 --> 00:44:27,800 examining the scriptures daily to 849 00:44:27,833 --> 00:44:30,833 see whether these things were so. 850 00:44:30,933 --> 00:44:34,000 That's one of the verses from the 851 00:44:34,000 --> 00:44:36,699 sword of the spirit that God used to save me. 852 00:44:37,366 --> 00:44:39,333 So what am I telling you? 853 00:44:39,633 --> 00:44:41,733 Be noble minded. 854 00:44:42,566 --> 00:44:44,800 Be like a Berean. 855 00:44:45,233 --> 00:44:48,233 Receive this word with eagerness. 856 00:44:48,333 --> 00:44:50,733 Search the scriptures daily. 857 00:44:50,800 --> 00:44:54,266 Learn how to wield the sword 858 00:44:54,266 --> 00:44:57,500 of the spirit, both offensively and 859 00:44:57,533 --> 00:45:01,199 defensively, until the king returns. 860 00:45:01,733 --> 00:45:03,900 Or he calls you home. 861 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:05,066 Let's pray. 862 00:45:06,099 --> 00:45:08,866 Father, we thank you for the sword of the spirit. 863 00:45:09,633 --> 00:45:12,699 It is our meat and drink, as Christians. 864 00:45:13,766 --> 00:45:17,666 Oh, Lord, we can't think highly enough of your Bible. 865 00:45:17,666 --> 00:45:20,733 We really can't fully grasp 866 00:45:20,733 --> 00:45:23,733 the intensity and power, what we hold in 867 00:45:23,733 --> 00:45:27,199 our hands, but I help you, I pray that after today's 868 00:45:27,233 --> 00:45:30,400 message, that we would more deeply understand 869 00:45:30,400 --> 00:45:33,566 the power and the intensity of 870 00:45:33,566 --> 00:45:36,933 what we hold in our hands, that we can read any 871 00:45:36,933 --> 00:45:38,199 time we want to. 872 00:45:38,333 --> 00:45:41,500 Help us, Lord, all to be convicted 873 00:45:41,500 --> 00:45:44,500 of the necessity to read and study 874 00:45:44,500 --> 00:45:47,066 more, your scripture. 875 00:45:47,133 --> 00:45:51,033 We pray that all we've done today has brought you much glory. 876 00:45:51,099 --> 00:45:52,466 In Jesus' name we pray. 877 00:45:52,533 --> 00:45:53,000 Amen.