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Skip Heitzig: That idea, that terminology is used in the New Testament when it says, "Gird up the loins of your mind." That's what my version says, gird up the loins of your mind. It talks about the idea of taking your robe and tucking it in so that you are ready to be on the move. Be free to think clearly. Gird up the loins of your mind. In this case, gird your waist with truth. That's number one.

Second piece, also verse 14, having put on the breastplate of righteousness. Now the breastplate went from the cingulum militare, the belt, and it covered the chest and the abdomen. It was made out of leather, and sometimes it had plates of metal in it. It was sort of fashioned and formed to fit the muscles of a soldier, so it had relief to it. Sometimes they were custom fit to match the torso, but the breastplate protected the vital organs. It protected the heart, it protected the abdomen, the organs, the viscera.

In Greek, Roman, and even Jewish thinking, the heart was the center of your thoughts. Now, in the West today, we don't think of the heart as the center of your thoughts, but your feelings. But not back then. The center of your thoughts was in your heart. The Bible says as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. So the heart in ancient Greek, Roman, and Jewish thinking was where you think all your thoughts. Where you feel all your feelings was in your guts, your viscera.

The Bible talks about the old King James, the bowels of mercy, and uses the term bowels or abdomen or organs to speak of how you feel, your emotions. So the breastplate of righteousness protects your thought life and how you feel. I have discovered that Satan attacks those two areas a lot: what we think and how we feel. He's on the attack. He whispers to you and he says, "You're not good enough. You're not righteous enough."

And you go, "You're right." It's like we're saying amen to the devil. "Amen, devil. I agree with you." We get so beaten down because he says you're not good enough, you're not righteous enough, you don't pray enough. So you're to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Whose righteousness? His righteousness. Listen to this, get this, understand this: His righteousness that is imputed to you.

That's the word Paul used: imputed to you in the book of Romans. So it is put to your account. God sees you in the righteousness of His Son Jesus Christ because of what Jesus did for you on the cross. So it's not about your righteousness, but it's about His righteousness. Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. That's what Paul said in Romans chapter 8.

To protect my vital organs, my thoughts, my emotions, I need the breastplate that I am in the righteousness of Christ. Now, I'll just add a little bit to that because any of these can be developed, and it could be a long series. I've even done many years ago a whole series on this. I do see something else, not just justification where it's imputed to you, but there's a practical sense in which because His righteousness is imputed to you, because you don't stand in your good works.

We are not saved by righteous deeds, it says in Titus chapter 3 verse 5, but by His righteousness. So it's not by our righteous works, works of righteousness, but He has made us that way. That's one sense. Because that's true, our lives should become more practically righteous. And because we know we're justified and we become holier and holier and more righteous on a practical level, that gives us confidence when we're attacked.

Let me remind you of a text of Scripture in 1 John chapter 3. Let me read it to you. 1 John 3 verse 7: "Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin."

And I've told you before that's in the present tense. Whoever is born of God does not continually, habitually, as a lifestyle, without repentance or check, practice sin. "For His seed remains in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother." So what is John speaking about? Practical righteousness. What is Paul speaking about? Positional righteousness.

Positional righteousness is where God imputes to you the righteousness of Christ. If that's true, if that has happened, guess what? There will be practical righteousness. And when there is and you are attacked, you have confidence. Your life isn't perfect, sure there's room for much improvement, but you look at your life and by and large, that's the practice of your life, a righteous lifestyle. And it gives you confidence in Him.

In 1 John chapter 3 verse 19, reading it a little further: "And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God." So when we're attacked, we put on the breastplate of righteousness. His righteousness, but also because that's true, my ongoing lifestyle that more and more is a righteous lifestyle. I'm not sinless, but I do sin less as I grow.

Stand with your waist girded with truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness. Verse 15 is the third item for the soldier, and that is the shoe store. We're going into the shoe store now. "Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace." A soldier wore sandals on the battlefield with nails that were nailed through coming out the bottom end to grip so he wouldn't lose ground.

It was thick leather with sometimes a metal plate with the nails going through, also to protect him from sticks that were often placed in the battlefield by enemies, sort of like ancient landmines, booby traps. So the idea is you put these sandals on your feet and he says your feet should be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. I think what this means is we should not back down because we know the truth, because our vital organs, our emotions, our thoughts are protected with that breastplate.

Now we have on our feet the preparation of the gospel of peace. I am prepared to share the gospel with different people, unbelievers. Yeah, that's a battle sometimes. It's not easy. You don't want to talk. You get nervous talking about Jesus in front of people. Don't back down. Don't be afraid. In fact, as you step out in obedience, feel the power surge. It'll happen. Ask God to fill you with His Spirit in the moment. Isaiah chapter 52, oh how blessed are the feet of those on the mountains who bring tidings of good news, the gospel, the good news, the preparation of the gospel of peace.

Guest (Male): You're listening to Connect with Skip Heitzig. Every day, the generosity of friends like you helps make clear, verse-by-verse Bible teaching available to people searching for truth, direction, and hope. And this month, we want to thank you with two powerful resources to help you follow God faithfully, even when life feels uncertain or challenging. When you give, you'll receive the Expound Nehemiah seven-message CD series with digital download, along with Pastor Skip's booklet, Overcoming an Anxious Mind.

Together, these resources show you how God rebuilds what's broken, strengthens you when you face opposition, and gives you peace, even in seasons of pressure and waiting. We'll send both resources as our thanks when you give $50 or more to support Connect with Skip Heitzig. Call 800-922-1888 or visit connectwithskip.com/offer. Now, let's return to today's teaching.

Skip Heitzig: Verse 16, "Above all, taking the shield of faith," that's number four, "with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Now, there were two types of shields in ancient times. There was a little round shield called a buckler, sort of like a large Frisbee. Think of a large leather Frisbee attached to the left arm. It was used in hand-to-hand combat. It could deflect the thrusts of the enemy with the short sword.

And then there was a larger shield. It was a rectangle, it was about two, two and a half feet wide, about four, four and a half feet long, and it was slightly curved. Made out of metal, often the top part was leather. Sometimes it was soaked in water or a non-flammable oil that would quench fiery darts. Arrows that were placed in pitch, lit a fire, and then you've probably seen the movies like Gladiator, when the soldiers, when they see those flaming arrows shoot through the air, thousands of them at one time, they take all their shields and lock them together.

It forms this gigantic wall of protection so that the arrows don't penetrate. Now here I think is the secret so often when we're fighting battle, spiritual warfare: is we think we should fight them alone. So we're alone, we're watching something on our computer and we're being tempted, and so we're struggling and I'm going to be alone and fight this battle. No. Get on the phone, come to church. None of this thinking, "Well, I'm so unworthy I'm not coming to church."

That's the reason you need to be in church. You need to lock shields. We need to fight the battle together. We need to pray at the beginning of services, sing together, lock our shields. Get together with your connect group, come on Wednesday nights, etc. We fight the battle together. The fiery darts, the Greek word "belos" for dart, fiery dart, well, you know what they're like. They're the accusations you get, the doubts you have, the fears you have. And when you experience those things, it's best to experience them with another believer. Just confess them.

Verse 17 is the fifth item, the helmet. "Take the helmet of salvation." Interesting Greek word, "perikephalaia," helmet. From two words, "peri" which means about or around, and "kephalaia" which is the Greek word for head. Cephalic, the medical term, comes from kephalaia. So it means around the head. Surround your head. It could be a leather helmet in the old days, a metal helmet, but it protected from arrows, it protected from the broadsword, it protected from the short sword.

Not just protecting your thoughts, but I think this: I think that there has been for quite some time, even in our movement, the Jesus movement, the Calvary Chapel movement, almost this anti-intellectualism that has pervaded. Like it's a sin to be smart. "Oh, I was a drug addict on the street. I had dropped out of second grade. Now I'm a pastor." Cool. Nothing wrong with that, but that's no reason to get proud. That shouldn't be your calling card.

You should be able to grow, as Peter said in 2 Peter 3:18, "in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Aim to learn more. Aim to learn more truth. Think of the deep theological, philosophical problems, questions that people have in this world. Get answers to them, be well-read. You'll be more valuable. Protect your head. Take the helmet of salvation. And I think the idea here is that the work that He has begun in you, He will continue.

There's a parallel verse, I don't want to belabor this because I am going to end this chapter tonight. But listen to this, this is explained to us I believe in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. There is a parallel verse. This is what Paul writes to the Thessalonians: "But let us who are of the day," not of the night, of the darkness, "those of us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation."

The hope of salvation. What is the helmet of salvation? It's the helmet of the hope of salvation. Does that mean I have to hope that I'm going to go to heaven? No, you are going to heaven. It's to live with the assurance that what God has begun in you, He's going to complete in you. You see, you and I are saved three different ways. We're saved in the past, past tense, from the penalty of sin.

We're being saved in the present tense from the power of sin, the grip of sin in our lives. We will be saved in the future from the very presence of sin one day. That's the hope of our salvation. He's begun something, He's going to continue it. Martin Luther used to say live your life as though Jesus died on the cross yesterday, rose from the dead today, and is coming back tomorrow. Think of that. Let that sink in.

Live your life like, "I just found out Jesus died yesterday. He died for me yesterday. Wow. And this morning He rose again from the grave, conquering death, which means I'll live forever because I believe in Him. And He's coming back. He'll be here tomorrow. Tomorrow He's coming." If not tomorrow, then the next day. If not the next day, then the next day. That's the way to live. That's the idea of salvation or the helmet of salvation. He's begun, He'll continue it. It could happen at any moment.

Then verse 17 we get the sixth item, and now we go to offensive weapons. We'll finish this up quickly. "The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." You know Hebrews chapter 4, where the author says the word of God is like a sharp two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of joints and marrow, soul and spirit, etc. I'm looking at the time, I don't want to violate the time. I just want to say what you are doing here on Wednesday night is in fulfillment of this verse: the sword of the Spirit.

You are boning up on truth. You see, here's the thing: the sword of the Spirit, and the sword that he's speaking of here, "machaira" is the word, and it's the short sword. It's about a 12 to 18 inch little sword that can only be used when you're up close, like eye-to-eye. And you have that little tiny Frisbee-like shield on your left arm and you take the short sword for jabbing, poking, decisive blowing, up close, vicious.

Christians, you need to know truth so well that in particular instances, it's ready. Not just, "Well, you know, generally I know that the Bible is true and God is in heaven and Jesus died and I think He's coming back." No, you need to know stuff that applies now in the moment, up close, short little jabs. Jesus had a conversation with Satan and said, "You know, make these stones into bread." "It is written, Satan, man shall not live by bread alone." Jab. That's the short sword. That's up close. That's a scripture. Boom. You need to know the scripture well enough in the battle to pull out those texts. Learn where they are.

Second offensive weapon, number seven on the list, verse 18: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." Since Nate covered it on Sunday and I covered it also the week before on prayer in the book of James, I won't belabor this, except to say it says praying always with all prayer and supplication.

Soft prayers, loud prayers, long prayers, short prayers, praise and worship prayers, supplication prayers, anxiety prayers, all of it, all of it. Praying always doesn't mean you mutter something under your breath 24 hours a day, always praying to God. It means on all occasions, in every instance that you find yourself in, it becomes reflexive to you to pray, to pray. Just like breathing. It's my breath. I bring it and give it back to the Lord in prayer. That's the idea.

And verse 19: "And for me," that is and pray for me, "that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel." Hey, how cool would it be to have Paul the apostle on your daily prayer list? Pray for Paul today. He's in prison in Rome. It'd be pretty cool. But do you notice that Paul doesn't pray for deliverance, he prays for utterance.

It's more important that Paul be a faithful man than that Paul be a free man. He doesn't say pray that I can get sprung out of here, just pray that I'm faithful and bold. You see, when you are confined by a jail sentence, a disease, a family situation, it doesn't mean the end of ministry, it just means a change of ministry. Paul in prison was able to write four letters as we have seen, witness to guards, see them come to Christ. Never would have happened otherwise.

So that's what he prays for. "For which," verse 20, "I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak. But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing..." Notice he didn't even say how he's doing. He said you want to know how I'm doing, ask Tychicus. "Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you."

You may remember Tychicus from our study in the book of Colossians. He was from Ephesus, he joined Paul on his third missionary journey. He was one of a team of seven people, seven-member team, that went and collected an offering from Gentile churches to take back to the poor saints in Jerusalem. So Tychicus, he'll hang out with you, he'll tell you how I'm doing because he was hanging out with Paul in Rome delivering this letter.

"Whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts. Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." And he ends the letter like he begins the letter: "Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." And we all said the last word together, amen.

Guest (Male): Thanks for joining us today on Connect with Skip Heitzig. Before we go, remember your generosity helps share God's word with people all around the world, offering truth, hope, and encouragement where it's needed most. And this month, we'd love to thank you for your gift of $50 or more by sending you the Expound Nehemiah seven-message CD series with digital download, along with Pastor Skip's booklet, Overcoming an Anxious Mind.

These resources will help you see how God rebuilds what's broken in your life and gives you peace, even in the midst of pressure and uncertainty. Give today at connectwithskip.com/offer or call 800-922-1888. We'll see you next time on Connect with Skip Heitzig. Connect with Skip Heitzig is a presentation of Connection Communications, connecting you to God's never-changing truth in ever-changing times.