Faith, Discernment, and the Armor of God

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we often encounter uncertainties and fears, especially when it comes to the influences around us. It's important to remember that our faith is not about being superstitious or fearful of the unknown, but about consciously identifying what aligns with our beliefs and values. If something feels wrong or unsettling, it's crucial to discern and avoid it. However, we should not let fear dictate our actions, especially when it comes to things that are not inherently harmful, like music or natural sounds.

We are reminded of the power and protection we have through Christ. The armor of God is our defense, and we are encouraged to put it on daily. This armor is not just for protection against physical threats but also against spiritual and mental ones. The blood of Jesus covers us, providing a shield against any negative influences that might try to penetrate our minds and hearts.

Moreover, we must trust in the greater power within us, the Holy Spirit, who is stronger than any worldly force. This trust allows us to rest in the assurance that God is in control, even when we face things beyond our understanding. Our role is to exercise our God-given ability to choose wisely, using the discernment and wisdom that come from being made in His image.

Ultimately, our faith journey is about balance—balancing caution with trust, discernment with openness, and fear with faith. By doing so, we can navigate the complexities of life with confidence, knowing that we are protected and guided by a loving God.

Key Takeaways

1. Discernment Over Superstition: It's essential to consciously identify what aligns with our faith rather than being superstitious about potential threats. Fear should not dictate our actions, but discernment should guide us in choosing what is right and beneficial. [00:42]

2. The Armor of God: We are equipped with the armor of God, which serves as our spiritual defense. This armor is a reminder that we are protected from both physical and spiritual threats, and we should put it on daily to guard our hearts and minds. [01:37]

3. Trust in God's Power: Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. This truth reassures us that the Holy Spirit within us is more powerful than any external force, allowing us to rest in God's control and protection. [02:00]

4. The Covering of Christ's Blood: The blood of Jesus is our shield against negative influences. By accepting this covering, we can rest assured that we are protected, and we can focus on making wise choices with the understanding and volition given to us by God. [02:13]

5. Exercising Choice and Understanding: As rational beings made in God's image, we are called to exercise choice and understanding. This involves using our God-given wisdom to navigate life's complexities, balancing caution with trust and fear with faith. [02:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - Identifying Wrong Influences
[00:31] - Avoiding Superstition
[00:42] - Conscious Discernment
[00:56] - Embracing Natural Restfulness
[01:08] - Overcoming Fear
[01:22] - The Armor of God
[01:37] - Using Tapes Wisely
[01:50] - Subliminal Messages
[02:00] - Trusting in God's Power
[02:13] - The Covering of Christ's Blood
[02:27] - Exercising Choice and Understanding

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 6:10-18 - The Armor of God
2. 1 John 4:4 - Greater is He that is in you
3. Romans 12:2 - Be transformed by the renewing of your mind

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### Observation Questions
1. What does the sermon suggest about the role of discernment in our daily lives? [00:42]
2. How does the sermon describe the purpose of the Armor of God? [01:37]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the blood of Jesus in protecting us? [02:13]
4. What does the sermon say about the power of the Holy Spirit within us compared to external forces? [02:00]

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### Interpretation Questions
1. How might the concept of discernment over superstition apply to modern-day challenges and influences? [00:42]
2. In what ways does the Armor of God provide both physical and spiritual protection, according to the sermon? [01:37]
3. How does the sermon interpret the phrase "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world"? [02:00]
4. What does it mean to exercise choice and understanding as rational beings made in God's image? [02:27]

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### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you let fear dictate your actions. How can you use discernment to make a different choice next time? [00:42]
2. How can you incorporate the practice of putting on the Armor of God into your daily routine? What specific steps will you take? [01:37]
3. Identify an area in your life where you need to trust more in God's power. What practical steps can you take to strengthen that trust? [02:00]
4. Think of a situation where you felt overwhelmed by external influences. How can the covering of Christ's blood provide you with peace and protection? [02:13]
5. How can you balance caution with trust in your current life circumstances? What does that look like practically for you? [02:27]
6. Consider a decision you need to make soon. How will you use your God-given wisdom to navigate this choice? [02:27]
7. What is one specific way you can remind yourself daily that God is in control, even when facing the unknown? [02:00]

Devotional

Day 1: Discernment Over Superstition
In our journey of faith, it is crucial to distinguish between genuine spiritual discernment and mere superstition. Discernment involves a conscious effort to identify what aligns with our beliefs and values, rather than being driven by fear of the unknown. This means recognizing when something feels wrong or unsettling and choosing to avoid it, but not allowing fear to dictate our actions. Instead, we should be guided by wisdom and understanding, especially when it comes to things that are not inherently harmful, like music or natural sounds. By focusing on discernment, we can make choices that are right and beneficial, rather than being swayed by baseless fears. [00:42]

1 John 4:1 (ESV): "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you might have let superstition or fear influence your decision. How can you apply discernment to make a more faith-aligned choice today?


Day 2: The Armor of God
The armor of God is a powerful metaphor for the spiritual defense available to believers. This armor is not just for protection against physical threats but also against spiritual and mental ones. By putting on the armor of God daily, we guard our hearts and minds against negative influences. This involves embracing the truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God as our defense. The armor serves as a reminder that we are protected and empowered to stand firm in our faith, no matter the challenges we face. [01:37]

Ephesians 6:13-17 (ESV): "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. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Reflection: What piece of the armor of God do you feel you need to focus on today? How can you actively incorporate it into your daily routine?


Day 3: Trust in God's Power
Trusting in God's power means recognizing that the Holy Spirit within us is greater than any external force. This truth reassures us that we are not alone in our struggles and that God is in control, even when we face things beyond our understanding. By trusting in God's power, we can rest in the assurance of His protection and guidance. This trust allows us to navigate life's uncertainties with confidence, knowing that we are supported by a power far greater than anything the world can offer. [02:00]

1 John 4:4 (ESV): "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you struggle to trust in God's power. What steps can you take to surrender this area to Him today?


Day 4: The Covering of Christ's Blood
The blood of Jesus is a powerful symbol of protection and redemption. By accepting this covering, we are shielded from negative influences and can rest assured in our spiritual security. This covering allows us to focus on making wise choices, using the understanding and volition given to us by God. It is a reminder of the sacrifice made for us and the love that surrounds us, empowering us to live confidently and purposefully. [02:13]

Hebrews 9:14 (ESV): "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."

Reflection: Reflect on how the covering of Christ's blood has impacted your life. How can you live more fully in the freedom and protection it provides?


Day 5: Exercising Choice and Understanding
As beings made in God's image, we are endowed with the ability to exercise choice and understanding. This involves using our God-given wisdom to navigate life's complexities, balancing caution with trust and fear with faith. By making conscious choices, we honor the image of God within us and align our actions with His will. This balance allows us to live with integrity and purpose, confident in the guidance and protection of a loving God. [02:27]

Proverbs 2:6-9 (ESV): "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints."

Reflection: Consider a decision you need to make this week. How can you apply wisdom and understanding to ensure it aligns with your faith and values?

Quotes


well all i would say i would not be superstitious about the tapes if i were going to be bothered about the tapes it would be because of something that i consciously identified on them as wrong i would not just be superstitious about the tapes if it's uh you know music and gurgling water or something of that sort [00:00:10]

someone come along and say things like well that may be new age okay i i was just wouldn't worry about that at all not at all if you can consciously identify something that is wrong don't use it even if it's the wrong kind of gurgle for that matter but consciously identify it don't be superstitious about it [00:00:39]

and if you find uh things that are restful after all we were made perhaps to sleep well by gurgling water we have a long history of gurgling water in our past and uh so that's that's pretty deep stuff and uh i hope that answers the question because i find a lot of people that are really hindered [00:00:58]

because they extend they have a fear about things that might get them you need to cover yourself in the blood of jesus right even if you're not listening to tapes right i mean we have the armor of god that we're to put on put on the armor of god and if you don't find anything consciously wrong [00:01:22]

or if your friends i would not hesitate to use them at all now subliminal messages i'm a little uneasy with that not per not because of the feeling that's again something is going to get us so i really do believe that greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world [00:01:47]

and that we commit ourselves to christ and he will guard our he will set a guard on our minds and and when we get beyond what we can know anyway we're it's it's out of our hands so we need to have the covering of the blood of christ on us and we need to accept that and rest in it [00:02:01]

and then beyond that we need to exercise choice and understanding and volition because that's what behooves us as rational creatures made in the image of god [00:02:27]

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Transcript
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