Equipping Ourselves with the Truth of God
Summary
In today's reflection, we delve into the profound message of Ephesians 6:14, where Paul urges us to "stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth." This passage is a call to spiritual readiness, emphasizing the necessity of equipping ourselves with the full armor of God to withstand the spiritual battles we face. The Apostle Paul meticulously outlines the components of this armor, underscoring that these are not mere slogans but detailed instructions for living a victorious Christian life.
The core of our discussion centers on the concept of truth and its foundational role in our spiritual armor. In a world rife with confusion and uncertainty, especially within the church, understanding and embracing the truth is paramount. Many today argue that truth is subjective or indefinable, but Paul insists that truth is essential and knowable. This truth is rooted in the authority of Scripture, which is the ultimate revelation of God. We reject the authority of human reason, feelings, and tradition, recognizing their inadequacy in providing a firm foundation for faith.
The Bible, as the Word of God, is not merely a collection of human thoughts or ideas but is divinely inspired and authoritative. The Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles, including Paul, were conduits of God's revelation, speaking and writing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This divine authority is not only claimed by the writers themselves but is affirmed by Jesus Christ, who regarded the Scriptures as the Word of God.
In our modern context, where knowledge and scientific advancement are often idolized, we must remember that the truth of God is timeless and unchanging. The knowledge of God and His purposes, as revealed in Scripture, remains relevant and sufficient for all aspects of life, death, and eternity. Our response to this truth should be one of total submission, recognizing that human wisdom and understanding are limited and often misleading.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Armor of God and Spiritual Readiness: The call to "gird your loins with truth" is a directive to prepare ourselves spiritually for the battles we face. This preparation involves understanding and embracing the truth as revealed in Scripture, which serves as our foundation and guide. [01:48]
2. The Authority of Scripture: The Bible is not a human invention but the divinely inspired Word of God. It is the ultimate authority on truth, providing guidance and wisdom that surpass human understanding. Our faith must be anchored in this unchanging truth. [04:32]
3. Rejecting Human Authority: Human reason, feelings, and traditions are inadequate foundations for faith. True authority comes from God, as revealed in Scripture, and we must reject any reliance on human wisdom that contradicts this divine revelation. [03:48]
4. The Timelessness of God's Truth: Despite advancements in knowledge and technology, the truth of God remains unchanged. The knowledge of God, as revealed in Scripture, is sufficient for all aspects of life and eternity, and we must rely on it completely. [41:59]
5. Submission to Divine Revelation: Our response to God's truth should be one of total submission, recognizing our dependence on the Holy Spirit for understanding. We must approach Scripture with humility, allowing it to shape our beliefs and actions. [37:10]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:14
- [00:30] - The Armor of God
- [01:02] - Spiritual Warfare
- [01:18] - Detailed Instructions
- [02:05] - The Foundation of Truth
- [03:17] - The Problem of Authority
- [04:32] - The Authority of the Bible
- [06:03] - Jesus and the Old Testament
- [07:27] - Protestant Reformation and Authority
- [09:00] - Authority Given to Apostles
- [11:31] - The Fulfillment of Authority
- [13:01] - Paul's Apostolic Authority
- [17:00] - Paul's Commission and Revelation
- [22:47] - The Apostolic Foundation
- [26:38] - The Importance of Scriptural Authority
- [29:44] - Complete and Perfect Truth
- [37:10] - Submission to God's Truth
- [41:59] - The Unchanging Nature of God and Truth
- [45:09] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Ephesians 6:14
- John 16:12-15
- 2 Peter 3:16
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#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean by "having your loins girt about with truth" in Ephesians 6:14, and why is it considered the foundation of the spiritual armor? [01:48]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding the apostles into all truth, as mentioned in John 16:12-15? [09:31]
3. According to the sermon, how does Peter affirm the authority of Paul's writings in 2 Peter 3:16? [23:22]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that truth is foundational to spiritual readiness, and how does this relate to the authority of Scripture? [03:17]
2. How does the sermon address the modern tendency to rely on human reason and tradition over divine revelation, and what implications does this have for faith? [04:18]
3. What does the sermon imply about the timelessness of God's truth in the face of scientific and technological advancements? [41:59]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own spiritual readiness. How can you ensure that your "loins are girt about with truth" in your daily life? [01:48]
2. The sermon emphasizes the authority of Scripture over human reason. Are there areas in your life where you rely more on personal feelings or traditions than on biblical truth? How can you address this? [04:18]
3. In what ways can you submit more fully to the divine revelation of Scripture, as encouraged in the sermon? Consider practical steps you can take to deepen your understanding and application of the Bible. [37:10]
4. How do you respond to the idea that God's truth is unchanging despite advancements in knowledge and technology? How does this perspective influence your worldview? [41:59]
5. The sermon calls for total submission to God's truth. What challenges do you face in fully submitting to Scripture, and how can you overcome them? [37:10]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to rely more on the Holy Spirit for understanding and guidance. What steps can you take to invite the Holy Spirit's work in this area? [45:09]
7. How can you engage with others in your community to discuss and uphold the authority of Scripture in a world that often questions its relevance? [04:32]
Devotional
Day 1: Spiritual Readiness Through Truth
The call to "gird your loins with truth" is a directive to prepare ourselves spiritually for the battles we face. This preparation involves understanding and embracing the truth as revealed in Scripture, which serves as our foundation and guide. In a world filled with confusion and uncertainty, especially within the church, understanding and embracing the truth is paramount. Many today argue that truth is subjective or indefinable, but Paul insists that truth is essential and knowable. This truth is rooted in the authority of Scripture, which is the ultimate revelation of God. We reject the authority of human reason, feelings, and tradition, recognizing their inadequacy in providing a firm foundation for faith. [01:48]
Ephesians 4:14-15 (ESV): "So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."
Reflection: What specific truths from Scripture do you need to embrace more fully to stand firm in your spiritual battles today?
Day 2: The Divine Authority of Scripture
The Bible is not a human invention but the divinely inspired Word of God. It is the ultimate authority on truth, providing guidance and wisdom that surpass human understanding. Our faith must be anchored in this unchanging truth. The Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles, including Paul, were conduits of God's revelation, speaking and writing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This divine authority is not only claimed by the writers themselves but is affirmed by Jesus Christ, who regarded the Scriptures as the Word of God. [04:32]
2 Peter 1:20-21 (ESV): "Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of the Bible's authority in your life, and what steps can you take to ensure it guides your daily decisions?
Day 3: Rejecting Human Authority for Divine Wisdom
Human reason, feelings, and traditions are inadequate foundations for faith. True authority comes from God, as revealed in Scripture, and we must reject any reliance on human wisdom that contradicts this divine revelation. In our modern context, where knowledge and scientific advancement are often idolized, we must remember that the truth of God is timeless and unchanging. The knowledge of God and His purposes, as revealed in Scripture, remains relevant and sufficient for all aspects of life, death, and eternity. [03:48]
1 Corinthians 1:25 (ESV): "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you have relied on human wisdom over God's truth. How can you begin to shift your reliance to divine wisdom today?
Day 4: The Unchanging Nature of God's Truth
Despite advancements in knowledge and technology, the truth of God remains unchanged. The knowledge of God, as revealed in Scripture, is sufficient for all aspects of life and eternity, and we must rely on it completely. Our response to this truth should be one of total submission, recognizing that human wisdom and understanding are limited and often misleading. [41:59]
Psalm 119:89-90 (ESV): "Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast."
Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate your reliance on the unchanging truth of God in your daily life, especially in the face of societal pressures?
Day 5: Submission to Divine Revelation
Our response to God's truth should be one of total submission, recognizing our dependence on the Holy Spirit for understanding. We must approach Scripture with humility, allowing it to shape our beliefs and actions. The Bible, as the Word of God, is not merely a collection of human thoughts or ideas but is divinely inspired and authoritative. [37:10]
James 1:21-22 (ESV): "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to submit to God's truth? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to help you in this area today?
Quotes
We are here dealing with the apostles Exposition in detail of what he has described twice as the whole armor of God. He's concerned about this because he's reminding these Ephesians that they've got a great battle to fight. They're in a great Warfare. They're confronted by the Wilds of the devil. [00:25:24]
The problem before us is this: what is this mean? It's all very well to say having your lines go about with truth but what is truth? Is it possible for anybody to know what truth is? And we are engaged on this study because as I've been pointing out, there is great confusion in the church about this. [00:134:44]
We have seen that the majority today suggest and teach that you can't define the truth, you can't discover what it is as long as you vaguely call yourself a Christian, as long as you're a good man, as long as you live a good life, nothing more is needed. And yet the Apostle says here that we've got to have our loins go about with truth. [00:171:15]
We must familiarize ourselves with this great argument for the authority of the scriptures, the absolute Authority, the infallible authority of this word of God. And if we don't grasp that, we shall be quite incapable of guarding our lines about with the truth. Now there you see is the promise given by the Lord himself. [00:687:12]
The Apostle himself is always concerned about this Authority. We've seen it at the end of chapter 2 where he makes it quite clear that Christians, he says in verse 20, are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corestone. What is our position based upon? [00:723:92]
The Apostle claims an authority directly and immediately from the Risen Lord Jesus Christ himself, nothing less, nothing short of that. So he speaks in this authoritative Manner and we have a wonderful confirmation of his claim for himself, testimonial given to Paul by Peter in 2 Peter 3:16. [00:1370:79]
The truth has been revealed and delivered and given to the apostles and prophets once and forever. It is the truth, it is the whole truth that is necessary for us. It can never be added and it's all here once and forever. But surely we ought to be in no difficulty about that. [00:2391:72]
The main content and message of this book is God. What is the greatest need of men this morning? It is to know God. Why is the world as it is? Because it doesn't know God. That's the cause of all your problems. It isn't a political question, it isn't an economic question, no no it isn't a social question. [00:2458:64]
The knowledge of God is always the same. The knowledge that God gave of himself to Abraham is the same knowledge as he gave to Paul, the same knowledge he gives today. There is no difference because God doesn't change. But not only that, men doesn't change either. [00:2524:92]
There is only one power that can enable a men to understand and receive this truth. It is the holy spirit of God. Amen. We have received, says the Apostle again to those Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 2:12, we have received not the spirit that is of the world but the spirit that is of god. [00:2706:11]
We are utterly dependent in all our knowledge upon the operation of the Holy Spirit and what he does is to give us understanding and Enlightenment concerning the writings of the Apostles and Prophets. It is he who puts us on this foundation of the Apostles and Prophets on which everything depends. [00:2803:07]
It's only as you believe you'll begin to understand, never until then. We start by seeing our utter absolute need of the unction and the anointing as John puts it in his first epistle chapter 2: 20 and 27. We need that unction and anointing that will enable us to know that it is the truth of God. [00:2876:83]
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