Equipped for Battle: The Breastplate of Righteousness

Summary

In today's message, we delved into the profound spiritual truth found in Ephesians 6, focusing on the armor of God, specifically the breastplate of righteousness. We are reminded that our struggles are not merely against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. This spiritual battle requires us to be equipped with the full armor of God, which includes the breastplate of righteousness to protect our hearts. The heart, as understood in biblical times, is the seat of our desires, will, emotions, and thoughts. It is central to who we are and what we do. Therefore, God provides us with the breastplate of righteousness to guard our hearts against the devil's attacks, which aim to sow doubt, despair, and temptation.

Righteousness, in this context, is not just about moral living but is deeply connected to our standing before God. It is a gift from God, given through faith in Jesus Christ, that justifies us and allows us to stand in His presence. This righteousness protects us from the lies and temptations of the enemy, who seeks to separate us from God. By putting on this breastplate, we are reminded of our identity as children of God, justified and saved by His grace.

To practically put on the breastplate of righteousness, we must focus on the things of God, as described in Philippians 4:8-9. By dwelling on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable, we align ourselves with God's will and experience His peace. This alignment not only protects our hearts but also empowers us to bear good fruit, living out our faith in a way that honors God and blesses others.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Spiritual Battle: Our struggles are not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces. Recognizing this truth helps us understand the importance of spiritual armor, particularly the breastplate of righteousness, to protect our hearts from the enemy's attacks. [29:35]

2. The Heart's Significance: The heart is the center of our desires, will, emotions, and thoughts. It is crucial to guard it with righteousness, as it influences our actions and words. God provides the breastplate of righteousness to protect this vital part of our being. [37:06]

3. Righteousness as a Gift: Righteousness is not earned but given as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ. It justifies us before God, allowing us to stand in His presence. This gift is a powerful defense against the devil's lies and temptations. [42:28]

4. Living Righteously: To put on the breastplate of righteousness, we must focus on what is true, honorable, and pure. By aligning our thoughts and actions with God's will, we protect our hearts and experience His peace. [49:33]

5. Empowered by Faith: Our faith in Jesus empowers us to stand firm against the enemy. By claiming the truth of our identity in Christ, we can resist the devil's lies and live victoriously as children of God. [54:11]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [28:16] - Opening Prayer
- [29:35] - Understanding the Spiritual Battle
- [30:41] - The Armor of God
- [37:06] - The Heart's Significance
- [40:10] - Protecting the Heart
- [40:59] - Temptations and Lies
- [41:26] - The Consequences of Falling
- [42:28] - Righteousness as a Gift
- [49:33] - Living Righteously
- [54:11] - Empowered by Faith
- [55:15] - Our Identity in Christ
- [56:22] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 6:10-18
2. Philippians 4:8-9
3. Matthew 15:18-20

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#### Observation Questions
1. What does Ephesians 6:10-18 say about the nature of our struggles and the armor of God? How is the breastplate of righteousness described in this passage?
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the heart in biblical times, and how does it relate to the breastplate of righteousness? [37:06]
3. How does Philippians 4:8-9 guide us in practically putting on the breastplate of righteousness?
4. What examples did the pastor give of the devil's lies and temptations that target our hearts? [40:10]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of righteousness as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ change our understanding of moral living and standing before God? [42:28]
2. In what ways does the breastplate of righteousness protect us from the devil's lies and temptations, according to the sermon? [40:10]
3. How does focusing on what is true, honorable, and pure, as described in Philippians 4:8-9, align us with God's will and protect our hearts?
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between our identity in Christ and our ability to resist the devil's attacks? [54:11]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the current state of your heart. Are there areas where you feel vulnerable to the devil's attacks? How can you seek God's protection in these areas? [37:06]
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of recognizing our struggles as spiritual battles. How can this perspective change the way you approach challenges in your life? [29:35]
3. What practical steps can you take this week to focus on what is true, honorable, and pure, as encouraged in Philippians 4:8-9? How might this impact your daily life?
4. Consider a recent situation where you felt tempted to doubt God's goodness or love. How can the truth of your identity in Christ help you stand firm in such moments? [54:11]
5. The pastor mentioned the importance of claiming the truth about ourselves that God has spoken. What truths about your identity in Christ do you need to remind yourself of regularly? [49:33]
6. How can you support others in your small group or community in putting on the breastplate of righteousness and standing firm against spiritual attacks?
7. Identify one specific lie or temptation you struggle with. What scripture or truth can you use to counteract it and protect your heart? [40:10]

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing the Spiritual Battle
Our struggles are not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. This truth is crucial for understanding the importance of spiritual armor, particularly the breastplate of righteousness, to protect our hearts from the enemy's attacks. The spiritual realm is often unseen, yet it influences our daily lives. By acknowledging this battle, we can better prepare ourselves to stand firm in faith. The breastplate of righteousness is a divine provision that guards our hearts, the core of our being, against the devil's schemes. It is a reminder that our true enemy is not other people but the spiritual forces that seek to lead us away from God. [29:35]

Ephesians 6:12-13 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."

Reflection: What are some ways you can become more aware of the spiritual battles in your life, and how can you actively prepare yourself to face them with God's armor?

Day 2: Guarding the Heart's Significance
The heart is the center of our desires, will, emotions, and thoughts. It is crucial to guard it with righteousness, as it influences our actions and words. In biblical times, the heart was seen as the essence of a person, shaping their identity and behavior. God provides the breastplate of righteousness to protect this vital part of our being from the enemy's attacks, which aim to sow doubt, despair, and temptation. By safeguarding our hearts, we ensure that our lives reflect God's love and truth. [37:06]

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."

Reflection: What are some specific ways you can guard your heart against negative influences and align it with God's righteousness today?

Day 3: Embracing Righteousness as a Gift
Righteousness is not earned but given as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ. It justifies us before God, allowing us to stand in His presence. This gift is a powerful defense against the devil's lies and temptations, which seek to separate us from God. By embracing this righteousness, we are reminded of our identity as children of God, justified and saved by His grace. It is a constant assurance that we are loved and accepted by God, not because of our deeds but because of His mercy. [42:28]

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV): "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Reflection: How can you remind yourself daily of the righteousness you have received through faith in Christ, and how does this truth impact your relationship with God?

Day 4: Living Righteously in Alignment with God
To put on the breastplate of righteousness, we must focus on what is true, honorable, and pure. By aligning our thoughts and actions with God's will, we protect our hearts and experience His peace. This alignment empowers us to bear good fruit, living out our faith in a way that honors God and blesses others. It involves a conscious effort to dwell on the things of God, as described in Philippians 4:8-9, and to let His truth guide our daily decisions and interactions. [49:33]

Colossians 3:2-3 (ESV): "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

Reflection: What specific thoughts or actions can you change today to better align with God's will and experience His peace?

Day 5: Empowered by Faith to Stand Firm
Our faith in Jesus empowers us to stand firm against the enemy. By claiming the truth of our identity in Christ, we can resist the devil's lies and live victoriously as children of God. This empowerment comes from understanding who we are in Christ and the authority we have through Him. It is a call to live boldly and confidently, knowing that we are equipped with God's armor to face any challenge. Our faith is not passive but active, enabling us to overcome obstacles and fulfill God's purpose for our lives. [54:11]

1 John 5:4-5 (ESV): "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to claim your identity in Christ more boldly, and how can this empower you to stand firm against challenges?

Quotes

"And what we learn from the Apostle Paul is that what often feels like struggling against flesh and blood, our own or other people, that isn't the truth about the situation. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6, as we just read, we don't wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." [00:29:25] (24 seconds)

"it talks about in that text whether these battles are within us or from with outside of us we're given the whole armor of god to face the enemy that attacks us so each week in our sermon series we're going to be walking piece by piece peace through the spiritual armor and weapons that god provides us with for the battles that we face are you ready well last week pastor greg preached on the belt of truth that first piece of spiritual armor that were given by god and today we hear about the second piece of spiritual armor the breastplate of righteousness" [00:30:47] (34 seconds)

"what sort of armor is a breastplate well as you can imagine it's the piece of armor that covers the the torso of a soldier in the ancient world they were made out of either layers of leather that were kind of shaped and hardened to the body kind of like paper mache or they were made out of metal various kinds of metal in today's world we'd call these this world we'd call these this world we'd call these this world we'd call these this world we'd call these this world we'd call these this piece of armor you know a what a piece of armor you know a what a piece of armor you know a what a bulletproof vest right bulletproof vest right bulletproof vest right basically that's just to protect the basically that's just to protect the basically that's just to protect the vital organs in particular vital organs in particular vital organs in particular particular the heart particular the heart particular the heart of the soldiers wearing them of the soldiers wearing them of the soldiers wearing them of course protecting those organs is of course protecting those organs is vital now as always however in the vital now as always however in the ancient world before kind of medical ancient world before kind of medical ancient world before kind of medical advancements and and and uh you know advancements and and and uh you know a minor wound could kill you so today paul reminds us to put on the whole armor of god which includes this breastplate of righteousness in order to spiritually protect our hearts so the first question for today is this or maybe the question overarching the whole day is how's your heart today are you broken hearted do you have a a weak heart how's your heart now when i ask that you and i both know that i'm trying to get down a little deeper than just the health of that particular organ called your heart right" [00:31:22] (92 seconds)

"the devil wants to tempt us to beat us down with despair to capture our thoughts to break our will to tempt us into faithlessness hoping that we will bear bad fruit but god gives us the belt of truth are you with me and the breastplate of righteousness to protect and to keep us in his grace and mercy and love and truth he gives us armor to protect our hearts so that out of the good treasures of our heart we produce good fruit that honors him and blesses us and those around us and those around us who are in need of it now why righteousness isn't a breastplate of leather or steel or kevlar a little better no no no the armor that is made up that god gives us it's made up of righteousness kind of interesting or it is to me it kind of sounds sort of odd a breastplate of righteousness how can this armor of righteousness protect our hearts well in the sermon on the mount in in the middle of the sermon on the mount in in matthew chapter 6 verse 33 jesus says something very telling about this he tells us seek ye first the kingdom of god remember this and his righteousness seek ye first the kingdom of god in his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you he says seek God and his righteousness this is what we are we are to pursue and where what we are to put on what it will protect us so again what is righteousness and how does it protect us well biblically righteousness this is what we're this is what we're to pursue righteousness is related to the word justice it's not interesting it's legal when we are righteous we are justified before God it means that we have a legal standing before God in other words we're saved we're saved you are justified legally approved of you are righteous remember God is perfect and holy not even approached God unless we're righteous and God can't live without you he I mean he lives without you but he wants you to live with him you so as we know God gives us his righteousness as a gift so that we can stand in his presence approach his throne and live with him in abundance now and eternity then so righteousness is related to this being justified this legal standing before God that's being saved but there's also a part of righteousness that's related to right living because in the Old Testament what made a person right before God following the Commandment" [00:42:28] (173 seconds)

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Transcript

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