Standing Firm in the Truth of God

Devotional

Day 1: Grappling Truth to Our Soul

To truly stand firm in our faith, we must have an intimate and binding relationship with the truth of God. This relationship should be more than intellectual; it should be as if we are grappling a friend to our soul with hoops of steel. The truth of God, as revealed in the Bible, is our foundation and provides us with confidence and assurance. In a world that often promotes ease and indifference, we must resist the temptation to be indifferent to doctrine. Instead, we should ensure that the truth holds us together, tightly fitted to prevent any loose attachment. [05:30]

"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another." (Ephesians 4:25, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your relationship with God's truth today, ensuring it is more than just an intellectual understanding?

Day 2: Indifference and Infidelity

Indifference to doctrine is akin to infidelity in our Christian walk. In an age marked by indolence and a desire for ease, it is crucial to recognize the vital importance of truth in our lives. We must resist the temptation to be indifferent and instead cultivate a firm attachment to the truth of God. This requires diligence and a commitment to understanding the great doctrines of the faith. By doing so, we can stand firm against the wiles of the devil and remain faithful to the apostolic message concerning salvation. [10:22]

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions." (2 Timothy 4:3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively combat indifference in your spiritual life and prioritize the study of sound doctrine today?

Day 3: Diligence in Knowing Truth

To gird ourselves with truth, we must be diligent in acquainting ourselves with it. This requires time and effort to understand the great doctrines of the faith, such as justification, sanctification, and glorification. We must not be content with a superficial understanding but must delve deeply into the Scriptures, mastering their teachings so that we can apply them to our lives and defend our faith against false teachings. This diligence is essential for our spiritual growth and for standing firm in the face of challenges. [14:17]

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your understanding of a particular doctrine or passage of Scripture?

Day 4: Embracing the Whole Truth

We must be honest with the truth, giving full value to its meaning and embracing the whole truth, not just the parts we find agreeable. This includes accepting doctrines like the wrath of God and the fall of humanity in Adam, which are integral to the gospel message. By embracing the whole truth, we can ensure that our faith is grounded in the full counsel of God and not just in selective teachings. This honesty with the truth is crucial for our spiritual integrity and for effectively sharing the gospel with others. [26:30]

"For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God." (Acts 20:27, ESV)

Reflection: Are there any aspects of biblical truth that you find difficult to accept? How can you seek understanding and embrace the whole truth today?

Day 5: Dare to be a Daniel

We must hold on to the truth at all costs, without fear or compromise. In a world that often ridicules and persecutes those who stand for biblical truth, we must dare to be like Daniel, standing firm even if it means standing alone. The truth of God is our girdle, our strength, and our assurance, enabling us to face any challenge with confidence and courage. By holding on to the truth, we can be a light in the darkness and a testament to the power of God's word. [42:24]

"But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself." (Daniel 1:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you tempted to compromise on biblical truth? How can you stand firm like Daniel today, even if it means standing alone?

Sermon Summary

In Ephesians 6:14, Paul exhorts us to "stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth." This foundational piece of the armor of God is crucial for our spiritual battle against the wiles of the devil. To gird ourselves with truth means to have a firm, unwavering attachment to the truth of God as revealed in the Bible. This truth is not found in human philosophies but is the apostolic message concerning salvation, as clearly laid out in the New Testament epistles.

Our relationship with the truth must be more than intellectual; it must be intimate and binding, akin to grappling a friend to our soul with hoops of steel. This girdle of truth should hold us together, providing confidence and assurance, and must be tightly fitted to prevent any loose attachment. In an age marked by indolence and a desire for ease, we must resist the temptation to be indifferent to doctrine. Indifference is akin to infidelity, and we must recognize the vital importance of truth in our Christian life.

To gird ourselves with truth, we must be diligent in acquainting ourselves with it. This requires time and effort to understand the great doctrines of the faith, such as justification, sanctification, and glorification. We must not be content with a superficial understanding but must delve deeply into the Scriptures, mastering their teachings so that we can apply them to our lives and defend our faith against false teachings.

Moreover, we must be honest with the truth, giving full value to its meaning and not evacuating it of its significance. We must embrace the whole truth, not just the parts we find agreeable. This means accepting doctrines like the wrath of God and the fall of humanity in Adam, which are integral to the gospel message.

Finally, we must hold on to the truth at all costs, without fear or compromise. In a world that often ridicules and persecutes those who stand for biblical truth, we must dare to be like Daniel, standing firm even if it means standing alone. The truth of God is our girdle, our strength, and our assurance, enabling us to face any challenge with confidence and courage.

Key Takeaways

1. Our relationship with the truth must be intimate and binding, not merely intellectual. We must grapple it to our soul with hoops of steel, ensuring it holds us together and provides confidence and assurance. [05:30]
2. Indifference to doctrine is akin to infidelity. We must recognize the vital importance of truth in our Christian life and resist the temptation to be indifferent in an age marked by indolence and a desire for ease. [10:22]
3. Diligence in acquainting ourselves with the truth is essential. We must take the time to understand the great doctrines of the faith, mastering their teachings so that we can apply them to our lives and defend our faith. [14:17]
4. We must be honest with the truth, giving full value to its meaning and embracing the whole truth, not just the parts we find agreeable. This includes accepting doctrines like the wrath of God and the fall of humanity in Adam. [26:30]
5. We must hold on to the truth at all costs, without fear or compromise. In a world that often ridicules and persecutes those who stand for biblical truth, we must dare to be like Daniel, standing firm even if it means standing alone. [42:24]
** [42:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:14
[01:02] - The Armor of God
[01:33] - Understanding Truth
[02:39] - Practical Application of Truth
[03:46] - Firm Attachment to Truth
[05:30] - Grappling Truth to Our Soul
[08:16] - The Importance of Truth
[10:22] - Indifference and Infidelity
[14:17] - Diligence in Knowing Truth
[16:46] - Mastering Doctrines
[22:35] - Honesty with Truth
[26:30] - Embracing the Whole Truth
[33:17] - Holding on to Truth
[42:24] - Dare to be a Daniel

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Paul mean by "having your loins girt about with truth" in Ephesians 6:14? How does this relate to the concept of the armor of God? [00:10]
According to the sermon, why is it important to have a firm attachment to the truth rather than a loose one? [03:46]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between indifference to doctrine and infidelity? [10:22]
What are some of the great doctrines of the faith mentioned in the sermon that we should be diligent in understanding? [14:17]

Interpretation Questions

How does the sermon suggest we should respond to the temptation of indifference in an age marked by ease and indolence? [09:32]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that our relationship with the truth should be more than intellectual? How can this be practically applied in our lives? [05:30]
What does the sermon imply about the consequences of not embracing the whole truth, including difficult doctrines like the wrath of God? [26:30]
How does the sermon encourage believers to stand firm in the truth, even in the face of ridicule or persecution? [42:24]

Application Questions

Reflect on your current relationship with biblical truth. Is it more intellectual or intimate? What steps can you take to deepen this relationship? [05:30]
In what areas of your life might you be showing indifference to doctrine? How can you become more diligent in understanding and applying biblical truths? [10:22]
Consider a doctrine or teaching in the Bible that you find challenging or disagreeable. How can you approach it with honesty and openness to its full meaning? [26:30]
Think of a situation where you might have compromised on biblical truth for the sake of peace or acceptance. How can you stand firm like Daniel in future situations? [42:24]
Identify a specific doctrine or teaching you want to study more deeply. What resources or practices can you use to better acquaint yourself with this truth? [14:17]
How can you apply the truth of God to your daily decisions and actions, ensuring it governs your life? [30:24]
Reflect on a time when you felt pressured to conform to the majority opinion. How can you prepare yourself to stand firm in your beliefs in similar situations? [38:21]

Sermon Clips

The apostles' basic statement is, of course, that as we are engaged in this fight against the wiles of the devil with all these principalities and powers wrestling against us, it is essential that we should be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and that we should take unto us the whole armor of God. [00:01:03]

It's not enough that we should have merely an intellectual acquaintance with this truth. That's a snare that has caught many in the past. You can enjoy reading books in theology, reading books about the Bible, and in a sense even studying the Bible itself. It can be a most fascinating procedure, and yet it all may be nothing but a mere intellectual pursuit. [00:04:34]

We must brace ourselves up with the truth to such an extent that it is so tightly fitted and in position that we can't be in any loose attachment to it. Whatever we do, it's done as the result of this which is holding us together, binding up everything. Lace yourself up as tightly as you can. [00:07:27]

This is an indolent age. This is a flabby age intellectually in particular. It's an age in which people don't like to exert themselves. They want everything as easily as is possible. It's the whole mentality today. There's no question about that at all in every realm and department of life. [00:08:40]

Nothing is so fatal to religion as indifference, which is at least half infidelity. Now, what he means by indifference, of course, is this: he means this lack of concern about doctrine, about a knowledge of truth, about definitions, about being aware exactly what the truth is. [00:10:06]

We must not be content until we really do know and understand what all these great terms mean. Here we are, we read our scriptures, and we come across justification, sanctification, glorification, and these other great terms. Now, our first business is to know what they mean. [00:16:46]

We must be honest with respect to the truth, and here is another very essential matter. I may have been diligent in reading my Bible, and therefore I've got a kind of familiarity with its terms, with its phrases, and so on. But now the question is, what meaning do I give to these terms? [00:22:35]

We must put on not what you and I think, not parts of it and portions of it, not picking out what we agree with and leaving the rest. That's no girdle. That's not hoops of steel. We need this strong meat, this strong doctrine, this truth that can hold us, this truth which is a whole. [00:29:25]

We must never be afraid in our relationship to this truth, and I do want to emphasize this. To me, this is the great call that comes to any true Christian at this terrible moment in which we are alive. There's confusion in church and state and everywhere else. If you know the truth, my friend, well, hold on to it whatever the cost. [00:33:39]

Don't be afraid of being called narrow because you believe the Bible. Don't be afraid of being called a fool because you still believe the Bible. You will be called that. You'll be called narrow. You'll be called a fool. You'll be called an ignoramus. They'll say you've got a religious complex. Pay not the slightest attention to them. [00:37:04]

Dare to be a Daniel. Be ready to stand if necessary alone when the edicts come down from some king or council or church and tell you that you mustn't do this and you must do that. Just go on as if you haven't heard them. Dare to be a Daniel. [00:42:24]

God knows what may be waiting for us. There are many countries where men are persecuted for preaching as I'm doing this morning. There are countries where men are thrown into prison for doing that. Would you be ready for that? Are you so certain of this that you'd sooner lose your right hand than deny it? [00:46:56]

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