1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,500
We've all been hurt.

2
00:00:02,500 --> 00:00:04,800
We all carry scars.

3
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:09,840
We can all overcome these things and be healed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

4
00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:14,080
Let's build that relationship together right here.

5
00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:18,080
Welcome to Healing Scars with Pastor Burton.

6
00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:20,180
Hey everybody, welcome to the sanctuary.

7
00:00:20,180 --> 00:00:22,120
So good to have you with us as always.

8
00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:26,560
And if this is your first time joining us, let me just take a moment to say welcome.

9
00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:32,960
Now, of course, we've been going through the book of Ephesians for a number of weeks now.

10
00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:37,480
The first part, the foundation was laid, and then we started to get into the practical

11
00:00:37,480 --> 00:00:39,500
application in our lives.

12
00:00:39,500 --> 00:00:43,520
And today, we're actually going to finish it all off.

13
00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:50,640
So really, we could spend several weeks going through each individual section, more so than

14
00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:51,640
what we have so far.

15
00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:57,520
This is really a more condensed, kind of compressed version of that.

16
00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:03,880
Because there's just so much here that we can unravel, go through, cross-reference with

17
00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,440
other scripture, the whole bit.

18
00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,000
But I mean, for time's sake, we're not going to do that.

19
00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,200
I don't want to bore you guys to death either.

20
00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:16,080
Of course, if there's something that you'd like me to go into more depth on, let me know.

21
00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,080
I'd be more than happy to do so.

22
00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:28,440
But as we get started today, I would like to remind you that the word, it's not just

23
00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:30,720
about hearing.

24
00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:35,440
As we've been learning, it is also about doing.

25
00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:43,020
So after we finish today, or even as we go through this section, I want you to take some

26
00:01:43,020 --> 00:01:50,400
time to pray and meditate on how you can apply everything that we've been going over into

27
00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:55,280
your life starting today.

28
00:01:55,280 --> 00:02:01,600
So we're actually going to be looking at the armor of God, which is exciting.

29
00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:03,000
Everybody likes, ooh, the armor of God.

30
00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,080
Well, we're going to break that down some more.

31
00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,360
Like I said, this is something that we could spend a whole lot of time on as well, but

32
00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:09,360
we're not.

33
00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:14,120
I'm going to continue to try to keep this compressed just like I have the rest of the

34
00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:18,360
book for time's sakes.

35
00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:25,280
Before we get into it though, there's something... Let me just say, there's other clothing

36
00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:26,960
that goes on first.

37
00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:31,420
A lot of people like to talk about, oh, there's the armor, but you notice there's not this.

38
00:02:31,420 --> 00:02:40,080
They make it sound like we're going out, which is not the case.

39
00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:43,480
So let me start with a question.

40
00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:50,140
What's the first thing that most of us put on when we start getting dressed?

41
00:02:50,140 --> 00:02:56,560
I hope you said underwear, and if you did, you would be 100% correct.

42
00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:57,560
Yay.

43
00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:04,360
Even in boot camp, it's one of the very first things that you get on day one.

44
00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:11,000
You're given a bag or a little net bag or a laundry bag, but it's a bag of sorts.

45
00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:16,000
Then you shuffle through the line with the rest of the recruits, and you get your underwear,

46
00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:20,680
your undershirts, toothbrush, your toothpaste, et cetera.

47
00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,840
Then you go and you put all your personal belongings that you showed up with into a

48
00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:30,920
box, which goes into storage, and you don't see it again until you graduate and leave

49
00:03:30,920 --> 00:03:35,320
the depot, or at least that's how it was in my day.

50
00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:39,320
I wouldn't be surprised to hear it's a little bit different from one generation to the next,

51
00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,280
but I'm sure it's not that much different.

52
00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:48,360
Before you even put on your very first uniform in the military, you start with that base

53
00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:52,600
layer.

54
00:03:52,600 --> 00:04:00,440
Did you know that God told someone to go out and buy some underwear once?

55
00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,360
Seriously, I haven't fallen off my rocker yet.

56
00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,760
I'm sure that day is coming, but it's not today.

57
00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:13,880
In Jeremiah 13, the Bible says, this is what the Lord said to me, go and buy yourself a

58
00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,520
linen undergarment and put it on.

59
00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:22,720
Now, depending on the translation you have, it may well say something along the lines

60
00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:28,960
of a linen sash, a girdle, a loin cloth, a belt, or something along those lines.

61
00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:34,440
However, when you think about it, it's all underwear.

62
00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:36,280
It's important.

63
00:04:36,280 --> 00:04:39,060
It has been for quite some time.

64
00:04:39,060 --> 00:04:46,160
We like to think of people back in the day walking around commando style in togas, yet

65
00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:56,000
the reality is underwear is and has been an essential piece of clothing for a long, long

66
00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:57,920
time.

67
00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:05,960
I bring this up because much like each of us starts our clothing foundation with underwear,

68
00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:09,960
we all have different styles these days as well.

69
00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:14,000
There were different styles back then, not quite the same as we have today, but much

70
00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:21,280
like that, we should all have our own relationship with Jesus at the foundation of our lives

71
00:05:21,280 --> 00:05:30,200
and then build up from there, put on those extra layers as he guides us in life, which

72
00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:36,880
is the same as improving and growing in our relationship with him.

73
00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,960
Nobody should be showing their butts.

74
00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:44,200
No one should be showing their backside, that fourth point of contact.

75
00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:47,840
We're not talking about kilts here.

76
00:05:47,840 --> 00:05:50,080
Lord knows I have no problem with that.

77
00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,160
Those of you who have seen my wedding pictures know.

78
00:05:52,160 --> 00:06:00,600
All right, so let's get to building as we look at the armor of God and we start looking

79
00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,080
at these layers that we're going to be putting on.

80
00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:09,160
So those of you with your apps, your Bibles, or even if you're just taking notes, please

81
00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:14,640
join me now in Ephesians 6 and we'll be starting in verses 10 and 12.

82
00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:20,040
So that's Ephesians 6 verses 10 through 12.

83
00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:34,360
All right, the Bible says, finally, be strong in the Lord and his mighty power.

84
00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:40,240
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

85
00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:45,400
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the

86
00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:52,120
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of

87
00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:56,160
evil in the heavenly realms.

88
00:06:56,160 --> 00:07:00,520
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.

89
00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:08,080
Yes, now depending on your vocation, you may well be called to have to fight another man,

90
00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,320
but make no mistake about it.

91
00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:21,120
The influence that's there comes from the devil himself and his influence on this world.

92
00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:30,800
His evil desire to separate each and every single one of us from Jesus.

93
00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:40,520
There is no doubt that we are in a spiritual war, not a battle, as some people like to

94
00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:44,000
say, but we are at war.

95
00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:50,000
If it was just a battle, we'd go in, we'd duke it out, and we would be done.

96
00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:53,040
Ding ding, ring the bell.

97
00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:59,400
Instead, we go from one engagement to the next.

98
00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:08,120
We are at war with the fallen angels, demons who have the devil leading them.

99
00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:17,320
And it is a struggle that everyone in the body of Christ, the church, will have to endure

100
00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:20,640
until Jesus returns.

101
00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:25,320
Now to help us, we do have God's assistant, of course.

102
00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:26,880
God's there to help us.

103
00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:29,160
He's there to walk with us.

104
00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:38,080
Not only that though, he has actually blessed us with this extra layer of protection, his

105
00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,680
armor.

106
00:08:40,680 --> 00:08:48,080
Now is the armor completely 100% bullproof?

107
00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,160
No.

108
00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:51,160
It's armor.

109
00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:56,320
And anyone who knows anything about armor knows it has its weaknesses.

110
00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:59,240
Each piece has its strengths, each piece has its weaknesses.

111
00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:04,920
That's why there's multiple pieces here that come together.

112
00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:08,000
And that's what offers the protection.

113
00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:18,760
Now, excuse me, knowing that there are weaknesses, you know, those little chinks in the armor,

114
00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:26,440
that is what the enemy is looking to exploit so that he can turn us all back to sin and

115
00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,600
put us back into bondage.

116
00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:35,880
So don't make the mistake of thinking you're safe simply because you have the armor of

117
00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:37,000
God.

118
00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:41,200
Many a fool has charged into a fight under the assumption that they'd be protected and

119
00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,920
they'd be just fine because of the gear that they had with them.

120
00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:48,440
The gear is part of our many tools.

121
00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,000
All right.

122
00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:55,540
All that gear, all this armor, this is all just things that we have in our tool chest.

123
00:09:55,540 --> 00:10:03,560
So they are all tools, our equipment that we need to fight the enemy.

124
00:10:03,560 --> 00:10:07,240
But we cannot be saved by it alone.

125
00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:12,160
Matter of fact, while it protects us, it does not save us because Jesus is the only one

126
00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:16,120
who can truly save us all.

127
00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:18,960
The armor is just here to help protect us.

128
00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:21,960
All right.

129
00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,320
Think of it this way.

130
00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:33,720
If someone's trying to hit you in the eye, the natural instinct is to raise a hand, raise

131
00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:37,560
an arm to try to protect that eye.

132
00:10:37,560 --> 00:10:39,600
It's quick, it's natural.

133
00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:41,280
You flinch.

134
00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:45,920
However, you're still going to take a hit.

135
00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:50,100
Now where that hits going to land is going to vary.

136
00:10:50,100 --> 00:10:51,800
Maybe that eye is protected.

137
00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:53,580
Maybe you weren't quite fast enough.

138
00:10:53,580 --> 00:10:56,200
Maybe it's just the hand that gets hit.

139
00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,440
Regardless though, like I said, you're still going to take that hit.

140
00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,600
There's still going to be some damage done somewhere.

141
00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:06,600
However, you add a little something to the head, a little head gear, add a little something

142
00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:12,040
to the arm, an arm guard, some kind of paddings, that armor.

143
00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:17,000
You add something there, you have more protection.

144
00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:22,980
And ideally, less damage is done.

145
00:11:22,980 --> 00:11:26,340
So it's not that you're not going to take the hit.

146
00:11:26,340 --> 00:11:30,080
It's just that it's not going to inflict as much damage and you're going to be able to

147
00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:35,080
defend and strike back and attack that much better.

148
00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:44,080
Now moving along, Ephesians 6 verses 13 through 15, the Bible says, therefore, put on the

149
00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:49,640
full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your

150
00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:56,280
ground and after you have done everything to stand.

151
00:11:56,280 --> 00:12:01,200
Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of

152
00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:07,280
righteousness in place and your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel

153
00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:10,840
of peace.

154
00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:18,080
Between your faith in Jesus and the armor, you'll be able to withstand the war.

155
00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:25,840
As you lean into Jesus with each ensuing battle, after all, that is where our hope is and there

156
00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,400
will be many battles.

157
00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:35,360
You'll be able to focus more on what's coming and how you need to respond because you know

158
00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:44,600
you're going to have your gear and it's going to do its job to help protect you.

159
00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:55,760
This is part of how God protects us.

160
00:12:55,760 --> 00:13:02,920
The belt of truth here, let's look at that first.

161
00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:06,600
The belt of truth.

162
00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:14,200
The devil uses lies as his cardinal tool right there and it's been there from the beginning.

163
00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:19,880
He likes to take the truth and twist it and spin it and anything under the 100% unadulterated

164
00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:24,620
truth is a lie, which is what we have.

165
00:13:24,620 --> 00:13:31,440
We have God's truth, which is far superior.

166
00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:34,000
The breastplate of righteousness.

167
00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:39,080
The devil likes to attack our hearts.

168
00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,560
He likes to toy with our emotions.

169
00:13:42,560 --> 00:13:49,200
And there's not a single one of us that can say that we've never lost our temper.

170
00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:55,880
Our emotions are an extremely delicate part of who we are.

171
00:13:55,880 --> 00:14:03,720
The breastplate protects our hearts from the enemy's attempts to attack it, to attack our

172
00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:10,240
emotions, our identity and our trust in Jesus.

173
00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:15,840
And then feet, fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

174
00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:17,880
Well, that's easy.

175
00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:19,960
That's shoes, right?

176
00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:20,960
That's shoes.

177
00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:27,800
Or in modern terminology, since we're looking at going to war, combat boots.

178
00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,480
Love a good pair of combat boots, tell you what.

179
00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:36,000
You know, as the Marine Corps calls them, well really pretty much any kind of footwear

180
00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:42,240
that you have, you're Cadillacs, because they're taking you everywhere, right?

181
00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:43,400
It's a big one.

182
00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:50,640
No military force out there today moves without using their feet at some point.

183
00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:51,640
Feet are important.

184
00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:57,280
And the devil, he doesn't want us to fulfill the great commission.

185
00:14:57,280 --> 00:15:02,520
So he lies and he tells us that it's way too big of a mission to fulfill and that it's

186
00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:03,520
useless.

187
00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:09,320
As a matter of fact, since we're talking about war, we're talking about the military and

188
00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:13,160
everything, let's look at some military analogies.

189
00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:21,160
It is about as useless as working for a chem light, a box of batteries or a box of grid

190
00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:33,000
squares or an A.S.H. receiver or blinker fluid, an A.I.R. sample, a pad eye remover.

191
00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:34,480
There are so many things out there.

192
00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:38,720
I can go on with this list, my goodness.

193
00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:45,280
However, God provides the motivation that we all need.

194
00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:51,280
And let's face it, sometimes things get tough and we really have to look to him a little

195
00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:54,960
bit more to get that motivation.

196
00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:58,960
And that extra bit of energy, it pumps us up.

197
00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,040
It gets us going.

198
00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,920
Makes us feel good.

199
00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:08,640
You know, it's like you watch a movie and you get that speech.

200
00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:09,880
Just makes you feel good, right?

201
00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,620
It's like a good cup of coffee in the morning.

202
00:16:13,620 --> 00:16:19,440
And the good news, well, that's something that'll pump us all up.

203
00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:22,960
Here's your shoes for you.

204
00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:25,400
The gospel of peace.

205
00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,200
The good news.

206
00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:29,880
Let's continue on.

207
00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:31,800
We're still in Ephesians 6.

208
00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:34,200
We're looking at verses 16 through 17.

209
00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:41,520
The Bible says, in addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, which you can extinguish

210
00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:44,560
all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

211
00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:49,040
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.

212
00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:53,560
All right, so let's break these down now.

213
00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:54,560
The shield.

214
00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:56,840
Let's face it, you know, shields, they come in all shapes and sizes.

215
00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:57,840
Some are pretty heavy.

216
00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:02,440
Sometimes you've got to be pretty strong to pick some of them up, right?

217
00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:06,520
You get stronger carrying it.

218
00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:11,280
The shield is our faith.

219
00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:13,480
It's our faith.

220
00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:15,400
We could see the enemy's attacks.

221
00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:19,320
In fact, we could see them daily.

222
00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:26,720
Insults, name callings, other things that try to take away our identity or our self-worth,

223
00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:28,560
you know, make us feel devalued.

224
00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:30,880
Temptations galore.

225
00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:31,880
Various setbacks.

226
00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:34,800
Let's face it, especially when it comes to finances.

227
00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:36,560
Financial setbacks, those hurt.

228
00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:38,680
Those make everybody step back.

229
00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:41,800
Oh man, what is going on, right?

230
00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:47,800
The stronger your relationship with Jesus is, the stronger the attacks are.

231
00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,640
It's just like when I was going to seminary.

232
00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,000
I'd say, hey, congratulations, you're here.

233
00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:57,040
Life's about to get a whole lot harder because as you draw closer to Jesus, the more the

234
00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:00,000
enemy's going to attack you because he doesn't like that.

235
00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:02,280
And it's true.

236
00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:11,520
So all these various things, these various attacks, those are the flaming arrows.

237
00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:17,480
Yet despite all these volleys that are coming from the enemy, you simply lift that shield

238
00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:25,760
up and you know that you're going to be protected from that barrage of artillery that the enemy

239
00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:28,960
has launched at you.

240
00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:34,760
All the more reason none of us should ever let our faith waver.

241
00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:38,240
Faith protects.

242
00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:41,520
The helmet of salvation.

243
00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:45,880
Now when it comes to helmets, if you've never worn one, let me tell you, you get used to

244
00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:50,520
it, but it takes time.

245
00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:52,680
They're never that comfortable.

246
00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:58,120
No matter how well they fit or don't fit, no matter what you do to them to augment them,

247
00:18:58,120 --> 00:18:59,120
they're just not.

248
00:18:59,120 --> 00:19:00,120
They're not made to be comfortable.

249
00:19:00,120 --> 00:19:04,760
They're there to protect your brain.

250
00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:06,120
Sometimes they are fun to look at though.

251
00:19:06,120 --> 00:19:09,720
Some of them can be quite intricate.

252
00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:15,120
Just the other day we were watching Michigan play Washington in the National College Football

253
00:19:15,120 --> 00:19:22,400
Championship and you could see all the various stickers each player had on their helmets.

254
00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:26,120
Those stickers, it's much like being in the military.

255
00:19:26,120 --> 00:19:29,320
In the military you go through and you have different accomplishments and different feats

256
00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:33,760
and different things that you participate in and you have your ribbons and your medals.

257
00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:37,700
Just like those ribbons and medals, each of those stickers stood for something that each

258
00:19:37,700 --> 00:19:42,680
of those football players, each of those students had accomplished in their collegiate career.

259
00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:49,880
In other cases, just looking at the decor, if you don't know what I'm talking about,

260
00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:54,000
try looking at goalie helmets in hockey.

261
00:19:54,000 --> 00:20:00,640
Year after year there is some mighty incredible artwork that is showcased there.

262
00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:04,160
Absolutely tremendous.

263
00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:08,160
I get blown away sometimes just seeing some of the stuff that they do to these helmets.

264
00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:11,880
It's like, whoa, that is beautiful.

265
00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:12,880
That's just playing awesome.

266
00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:16,440
You've got to digress, a little rabbit trail there.

267
00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:20,000
The helmet itself, the helmet is our very salvation.

268
00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,200
It's our salvation.

269
00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:26,560
Let that sink in for a second.

270
00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:32,960
Jesus, Jesus paid it all for us.

271
00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:39,000
Sometimes we get caught up in thinking about how to repay something that none of us will

272
00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,560
ever be able to repay.

273
00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:44,960
We just can't.

274
00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:53,000
The devil likes to use that to cast doubt in our minds about God, his character, and

275
00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,280
our salvation through Jesus.

276
00:20:55,280 --> 00:21:02,040
However, the helmet protects us against just that.

277
00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,960
So to protect our minds, right?

278
00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:13,280
It's a lot like Magneto in the helmet that he wears in the comics and the X-Men movies

279
00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,360
and all that, if you're familiar with him.

280
00:21:16,360 --> 00:21:20,480
That helmet's there to protect his mind.

281
00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:22,840
Well, our helmet does the same thing.

282
00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:26,920
The helmet of salvation protects our minds from the enemy's attacks that cause these

283
00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:27,920
doubts.

284
00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:33,200
Now let's face it, protecting the head is key because without the head, everything else

285
00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:34,920
falls apart.

286
00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:40,880
In law enforcement, we're doing our training and everything.

287
00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:49,480
Even certain parts, martial arts, the saying is, is where the head goes, the butt follows.

288
00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:51,480
We use a more colorful term for that.

289
00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:54,960
It's another name for donkey if you're curious what it is.

290
00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:56,960
But where the head goes, the rest follows.

291
00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:57,960
The body follows.

292
00:21:57,960 --> 00:21:58,960
It is very true.

293
00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:01,240
You push the head down, the body goes down.

294
00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:02,800
You push it to the side, the body follows.

295
00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:08,440
The head is central to everything.

296
00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:13,080
So it's very important that we protect it.

297
00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:15,560
And then we're armed with the sword of the spirit.

298
00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:20,520
And the sword of the spirit is the word of God.

299
00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:24,920
If you've noticed all the equipment that we have here, everything that the Lord has given

300
00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:31,960
us, the sword is the only piece of this equipment, the only piece of this entire arsenal that

301
00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:35,080
is actually offensive.

302
00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:39,840
It can be used in defense, but it is an offensive tool.

303
00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:43,940
It's a firm reminder that we need to be on guard at all times.

304
00:22:43,940 --> 00:22:46,400
We need to mount a strong defense.

305
00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:51,960
The more of his word that we memorize and we take to heart, the better we're going to

306
00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:52,960
be.

307
00:22:52,960 --> 00:23:01,160
However, there's going to be those times when we have to take the attack to the enemy.

308
00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:06,560
Now whether it's attacking directly or if it's a counter attack, you know, lunch, cut,

309
00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:13,760
thrust, parry, the sword, it's God's word.

310
00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:18,900
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, if you abide in my word, you are truly

311
00:23:18,900 --> 00:23:26,320
my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

312
00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:33,640
John 8, 32, the word is the truth and the truth will set you free.

313
00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:38,440
When we are tempted by the devil, we counter with God's word.

314
00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:41,960
God's word is freedom, freedom from sin, freedom from death.

315
00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:46,180
In Matthew chapter four, the devil tempted Jesus.

316
00:23:46,180 --> 00:23:47,620
What did Jesus do?

317
00:23:47,620 --> 00:23:51,280
He fought back with the word of God.

318
00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:56,680
Every time the devil would try to attack, Jesus rebuked him.

319
00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,120
He countered with God's truth.

320
00:23:59,120 --> 00:24:05,320
He mounted a strong defense and then counter attacked as needed.

321
00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:15,280
And the devil left him, which is exactly what we're told in James 4, 7, in which the Bible

322
00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:21,000
says, submit yourselves then to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.

323
00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:31,080
So, just like the devil fled Jesus, the devil and all of his minions will flee you as well

324
00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:33,520
when you fight back with the word.

325
00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:38,240
All the more reason why it's so important to read your Bible, to study your Bible, to

326
00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:43,640
memorize scripture, to take it to heart and to learn it and know it.

327
00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:48,140
Not just take someone's word for it, but to actually know the word.

328
00:24:48,140 --> 00:24:53,540
The more you know, the stronger your sword is.

329
00:24:53,540 --> 00:24:58,320
So going back to Ephesians 6 verses 18 through 20.

330
00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:05,300
So Ephesians 6, 18 through 20, the Bible says, and pray in the spirit on all occasions with

331
00:25:05,300 --> 00:25:08,400
all kinds of prayers and requests.

332
00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:13,500
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.

333
00:25:13,500 --> 00:25:19,920
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly

334
00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:28,880
make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.

335
00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:36,780
Pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should.

336
00:25:36,780 --> 00:25:39,340
So we're all geared up now.

337
00:25:39,340 --> 00:25:40,340
We got it all on.

338
00:25:40,340 --> 00:25:41,340
We got our underwear.

339
00:25:41,340 --> 00:25:42,760
We built up those layers.

340
00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:44,120
We got our armor on.

341
00:25:44,120 --> 00:25:46,960
We're holding our sword.

342
00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:48,960
We're prepared, right?

343
00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:49,960
But what's happening here?

344
00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:55,080
We're being told, pray on all occasions.

345
00:25:55,080 --> 00:26:05,280
Now I'll remind you that prayer is simply communication with the Father.

346
00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:14,820
It doesn't, and it shouldn't be this long wordy jargon that's trying to sound all important.

347
00:26:14,820 --> 00:26:18,120
You just need to speak plainly and clearly.

348
00:26:18,120 --> 00:26:21,600
And sometimes, especially when things are really getting busy, when things are really

349
00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:28,760
heating up, you know, they're getting fast, they're getting furious, you're kind of limited

350
00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:30,400
on time, right?

351
00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:38,880
So a short or a quick prayer is exactly what fits the bill.

352
00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:45,360
And remember, even though it's your relationship with Jesus, it's your relationship, you and

353
00:26:45,360 --> 00:26:47,120
Him, right?

354
00:26:47,120 --> 00:26:51,560
You will also need to remember to pray for others as well.

355
00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:58,720
And there are a ton of needs that you can and should be praying for all the time.

356
00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:01,880
Now sometimes it's hard.

357
00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:07,520
Those are the times you need to pray the hardest, right?

358
00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:09,560
Because we need to lift each other up.

359
00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:10,600
We need to empower each other.

360
00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:13,880
And sometimes the best way to do that is through prayer, right?

361
00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:15,700
Because we need to take care of each other.

362
00:27:15,700 --> 00:27:19,640
And part of doing that is through Christ.

363
00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:38,760
It, you know, Paul was in jail and he was facing death.

364
00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:42,160
It was a very, very real thing that he was facing at that time.

365
00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:46,440
He didn't know where it was going to go.

366
00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:48,680
He wasn't in a comfortable situation.

367
00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,960
He was imprisoned, yet he was at peace.

368
00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:59,280
He was encouraged and he was making sure that the church was empowered and properly equipped

369
00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:09,120
to do the same, especially in those times when we face uncertainty, when we face hardship

370
00:28:09,120 --> 00:28:14,040
and other attacks from the enemy.

371
00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:15,920
So we're going to wrap, start wrapping it up here now.

372
00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:16,920
All right.

373
00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:26,680
In Ephesians 6 verses 21 through 24, the Bible says, Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful

374
00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:36,200
servant in the Lord will tell you everything so that you also may know how I am and what

375
00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:37,600
I am doing.

376
00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:46,320
I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may

377
00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:48,800
encourage you.

378
00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,800
Peace to the brothers and sisters.

379
00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:58,240
The Greek word here for brothers and sisters is Adelphoi and it refers to believers, both

380
00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:03,560
men and women, so all believers as a part of God's family.

381
00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:11,200
So peace to the brothers and sisters and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord

382
00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:12,960
Jesus Christ.

383
00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:22,440
Peace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

384
00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:25,940
So that's quite the way to wrap it up there, right?

385
00:29:25,940 --> 00:29:32,000
So what he's saying here is that while this letter is being written to the church of Ephesus,

386
00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:34,080
however that's not where the buck stopped.

387
00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:41,600
It was intended to be circulated among the church as a whole, regardless of where it

388
00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,200
was located.

389
00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:49,480
So the church as a whole, remember the entire body of Christ, we've all received many great

390
00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:57,560
things from the Lord, many blessings, tools that unite us, equip us, protect us, and help

391
00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:00,840
us to fight the enemy.

392
00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:07,880
Jesus hasn't just given us support to get through a battle.

393
00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:18,760
He has empowered us to get through the war and to get home to God's kingdom.

394
00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:29,360
He's told us what we need in order to not just be friends, but to be family, God's family.

395
00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:30,360
That's our time.

396
00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:35,080
So remember, you are blessed, you are loved, you matter.

397
00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:38,120
Now go and be the church.

398
00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:44,080
Thank you all for joining us here today at Healing Scars with Pastor Burton.

399
00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:49,760
Please like, subscribe, and share our podcast on any platform it is that you tune into us

400
00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:50,880
on.

401
00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:58,240
If you do have any questions, any prayer requests, or would like to know more about our ministry,

402
00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:08,360
you can find us on our website at BeTheLightSanctuary.org or on Facebook at BeTheLightSanctuary.

403
00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:13,480
You can also find how to contact us there, whether it's direct message or email.

404
00:31:13,480 --> 00:31:16,320
We look forward to hearing from you all.

405
00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:31,960
God bless.