Standing Firm: Belt of Truth and Righteousness

But the truth is under attack in our world. We see that on the news, on the media. We see a a bunch of lies. We see the hype because they want you to watch it. But god says, seek me so that you are able to see the truth. Okay? So we're turned we're told to live your truth. We're pressured to follow the feelings over facts and desires over doctrine and culture over Christ. [00:58:00] (30 seconds)  #SeekTruthNotHype

But god's truth isn't subjective or situational. It's eternal. It's unchanging. I say that again. God's truth isn't subjective, okay, or situational. It's eternal and unchanging. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of god endures forever. The word of god endures forever. Amen. That's Isaiah 40 verse eight. But your righteousness is ever lasting, and your law is true. [00:58:29] (35 seconds)  #GodsTruthEndures

Many times we're in bondage because we hold on to deception. We hold on to lies. We hold on to what we perceive things to be. But when we hold on to the truth of god, we're set free. We're delivered, and that's what god desires. Because when you're delivered, others around you are delivered as well. They're set free. Remember the life we live is not about us, but it's about the lord blessing others around us. [00:57:30] (29 seconds)  #TruthSetsYouFree

Because when you're aligned, you're protected. You're protected from the enemy. You can stand no matter what pressures come, no matter the highways and the byways. When you're aligned with god, you're able to stand strong, able to stand in that battle. So you might be wondering, why does that matter? Why does it matter to be aligned? Because what you believe always shapes how you live. What you believe, saints, shapes how you live. [01:17:09] (43 seconds)  #AlignToStand

Not our achievements, not our performance, but righteousness is our defense. I'll say that again. Righteousness of God is your defense. Yes. And if you notice that, that's why when we actually when we're in the midst, we might be doing something that's not of God, the holy spirit convicts us. The holy spirit will convict you and say, wait a minute. Are you in the right place? Are you doing the right thing? Did you say the right thing? Because remember, righteousness is our defense. [01:05:14] (33 seconds)  #RighteousDefense

So it comes from god, from Christ's goodness, given freely to you, to me. You are covered in his righteousness like a bulletproof vest. Yes. You are covered grace through his righteousness. So the second is practical righteousness. Oh, yeah. This is the one that takes a daily, daily, daily, daily, responsibility. It's practical righteousness. This is only it says this is our daily obedience. Our response to grace is choosing what is right over what is wrong. Yes. [01:08:55] (40 seconds)  #DailyRighteousness

The breastplate of righteousness is not your righteousness, but the righteousness of what? Christ. Jesus paid it all. He paid for our sins. He delivered us. And some things, we still need to be delivered from because that's why we have to hold on to the truth and not the lies of life. So Paul now turns on our attention to the chest, the area that protects the heart and the vital organs. [01:03:05] (30 seconds)  #ChristRighteousness

These are not extras for the Christian life. They would hold us together, Grace. It's what guards us when we're going through the pressure and going through life temptations in life. We need to put on the truth and righteousness. This is what anchors us in the lord and strengthens us when we are weak. And when temptation knocks, you need your heart covered because out of a heart is a wellspring of life. [00:54:30] (32 seconds)  #AnchoredAndGuarded