Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
The Third Piece of the Armor The Belt of Truth
Exodus 28:6-8 Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen the work of a skilled craftsman. It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. Its skillfully woven waistband is to be like it of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.
Exodus 28:15 Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions.
Exodus 28:29-30 Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD.
Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron s heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD. Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD.
Leviticus 8:7-8 He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also tied the ephod to him by its skillfully woven waistband; so it was fastened on him. He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece.
Exodus 12:11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD s Passover.
John 14:6 I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 8:31-32 Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
E-STOP EXAMINE YOUR SALVATION SEARCH YOUR HEART TEST YOUR THOUGHTS O P
1. Understand the enormous task of thinking correctly.
Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.
PASSAGE QUESTION Matthew 18:12 What do you think? Matthew 21:18 What do you think? Matthew 22:42 What do you think? Matthew 26:66 What do you think? John 11:56 What do you think?
Luke 5:22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
Luke 6:8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking;
Luke 8:47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.
Luke 11:17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined (Other passages in the gospels say the same thing.
1 My neighbor will not respond to the gospel if I give it
2. Because of the fall, our thoughts are prone to evil.
Genesis 6:5-6 The LORD saw how great man s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
Genesis 18:12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?
Genesis 19:14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city! But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.
3. Wrong thoughts inevitably lead to wrong behavior that results in devastating consequences.
1 Samuel 13:11-12 What have you done? asked Samuel. Saul replied, When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, I thought, Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD s favor. So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.
1 Samuel 13:13-14 You acted foolishly, Samuel said. You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD s command.
1 Samuel 18:8-9 Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. They have credited David with tens of thousands, he thought, but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom? And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
2 Chronicles 20:22-23 In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD. He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me. But they were his downfall and the downfall of all Israel.
1 True False My neighbor will not respond to the gospel if I give it
4. We are more powerful than our thoughts and have the authority to rule over them.
A. Label your thoughts.
PASSAGE LABEL ANXIOUS THOUGHT PSALM 139:23 EVIL THOUGHT GENESIS 6:5; MATTHEW 9:4 TROUBLED THOUGHT JOB 20:2; PSALM 55:2; DANIEL 7:25 WICKED THOUGHT DEUTERONOMY 15:9 TERRIFYING THOUGHT DANIEL 4:19 FUTILE THOUGHT ROMANS 1:21 WHOLESOME THOUGHT 2 PETER 1:3 DOUBTFUL LUKE 24:38 RENEWED ROMANS 12:2 DECEIVED ROMANS 16:18 UNFRUITFUL 1 CORINTHIANS 14:14 DULL 2 CORINTHIANS 3:14 BLINDED 2 CORINTHIANS 4:4 PEACEFUL PHILIPPIANS 4:7 CORRUPT 1 TIMOTHY 6:5 DEPRAVED 2 TIMOTHY 3:8 DOUBLE-MINDED JAMES 1:8
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
1 True False My neighbor will not respond to the gospel if I give it Deceived
B. Redirect your thoughts to truth.
Matthew 3:9 Do not think you can say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Matthew 10:34 Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Matthew 26:53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels.
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.
1 True False My neighbor will not respond to the gospel if I give it Deceived
Ezekiel 2:12 Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom.
1 True False My neighbor will not respond to the gospel if I give it Deceived TURN TO TRUTH My neighbor needs Jesus and I must share Him with her; I m not responsible for the results TRUTH
C. Reset your mind.
Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will.