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Stand against the schemes of the devil · Accidental Bible Scholar

• Randy: Hello and good morning or good afternoon, whatever it is. I'm Jeff Ward here with Randy Spear Welcome back to the Accidental Bible Scholar Podcast. This is episode thirty nine, Randy. So we're rocking and rolling. Thanks for joining us. We're very glad that you're here. Remember John seventeen three says that eternal life, which starts now, not in the future. Jeff: Hello and good morning or good afternoon, whatever it is. I'm Jeff Ward here with Randy Spear Welcome back to the Accidental Bible Scholar Podcast. This is episode thirty nine, Randy. So we're rocking and rolling. Thanks for joining us. We're very glad that you're here. Remember John seventeen three says that eternal life, which starts now, not in the future. Randy: Is in knowing God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. And our hope is that you are growing closer to Jesus Christ through his word and with him. if you have any questions or anything you want us to discuss, email us at contact at accidental bible scholar.com. Or also you can find our podcasts on all the major platforms and links to those podcasts on our website, www.accidentalbiblescholar.com. Jeff: Is in knowing God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. And our hope is that you are growing closer to Jesus Christ through his word and with him. If you have any questions or anything you want us to discuss, email us at contact at accidentalbiblescholar.com. Or also you can find our podcasts on all the major platforms and links to those podcasts on our website, www.accidentalbiblescholar.com. Randy: We release a new episode every Thursday. So we're continuing our study of Ephesians today. Mm-hmm. We've been talking about spiritual warfare the past couple weeks and Randy's been wrestling with that. we're excited. We got a few more podcasts of that left. I think this is the fourth one. This will be the fourth. Yeah. and we're gonna dive into that. So Randy. Jeff: We release a new episode every Thursday. So we're continuing our study of Ephesians today. Mm-hmm. We've been talking about spiritual warfare the past couple weeks and Randy's been wrestling with that. we're excited. We got a few more podcasts of that left. I think this is the fourth one. This will be the fourth. Yeah. and we're gonna dive into that. So Randy. Randy: You got the floor. Yeah, this one we'll get right into Ephesians chapter six, verse ten. We've kinda taken a little bit a break from Ephesians, just didn't to establish some Jeff: You got the floor. Yeah, this one we'll get right into Ephesians chapter six, verse ten. We've kinda taken a little bit of a break from Ephesians just into establish some groundwork, if you will. So we've described the battlefield. We talked about it's any place where two kingdoms come together. Second Corinthians ten, verses three through five would show us that one of the battlefields, maybe the primary battlefield, is the battlefield of the mind. Randy: Groundwork, if you will. So we've described the battlefield. We talked about it's any place where two kingdoms come together. Second Corinthians ten verses three through five would show us that one of the battlefields, maybe the primary battlefield, is the battlefield of the mind. And then Jesus says when that when he casts out a demon over somebody, he says the kingdom of God come upon you. So any place where these two kingdoms, kingdom of light, kingdom of darkness, touch is the battlefield. And what Jesus has left us to do, this is probably the second Jeff: And then Jesus said when that when he cast out a demon over somebody, he says, The kingdom of God come upon you. So any place where these two kingdoms, kingdom of light, kingdom of darkness, touch is the battlefield. And what Jesus has left us to do, this is probably the second podcast we had on it, is to enforce his authority, enforce his victory. Okay. So we are light and we push back the darkness and and that's what spiritual warfare is talking about. And to push back Randy: podcast we had on it is to enforce his authority, enforce his victory. Okay. So we are light and we push back the darkness and and that's what spiritual warfare is talking about and to push back the kingdom of darkness and expand the kingdom God's kingdom on earth. And then on the third one we talked about kind of how we're designed because that helps us understand how to how we work and how we operate. You know, we're spirit, mind and body. Yeah. Jeff: kingdom of darkness and expand the kingdom God's kingdom on earth. And then on the third one we talked about kind of how we're designed because that helps us understand how to how we work and how we operate. You know, we're spirit, mind, and body. Yeah. When we came into this world, we were born into sin and therefore our spirit was dead and therefore we grew up learning how to our mind was the voice for our Randy: When we came into this world, we were born into sin and therefore our spirit was dead, and therefore we grew up learning how to our mind was the voice for our body, our five senses, our desires, our appetites, and then all of a sudden that you become a new creation and now the the baby Christian to become a new Christian has to learn to live from their spirit and not from their flesh. So now Jeff: body, our five senses, our desires, our appetites, and then all of a sudden you become a new creation. And now the the baby Christian to become a new Christian has to learn to live from their spirit and not from their flesh. So now Randy: truth comes from the spirit realm from our spirit which is one with Christ and and his word and now we base reality on what our through our spirit and not through our five senses or our intellect. Jeff: truth comes from the spirit realm from our spirit which is one with Christ and and his word. And now we base reality on what our through our spirit and not through our five senses or our intellect. Randy: and we've talked about that in first Corinthians chapter two and a little bit of chapter three in there. So so that sets us up where now we are this new creation Jeff: and we've talked about that in First Corinthians chapter two and a little bit of chapter three in there. So so that sets us up where now we are this new creation that is living according to the spirit and not according to the flesh, who is walking according to faith, not according to sight. And now that's kind of where Randy: that is living according to the spirit and not according to the flesh, who is walking according to faith, not according to sight. And now that's kind of where Paul brings us here is kind of the conclusion or the climax of a of Ephesians is this last section in Ephesians chapter six. And now he's gonna say you as we'll talk we'll talk about standing today. So standing is of this section of spiritual warfare is the point, if you will. Jeff: Paul brings us here is kind of the conclusion or the climax of a of Ephesians is this last section in Ephesians chapter six. And now he's gonna say you as we'll talk we'll talk about standing today. So standing is of this section of spiritual warfare is the point, if you will. Randy: So anyway, we'll let's just we're gonna cover Ephesians six, ten through thirteen, just one or two words into fourteen, and then that's that's what we'll get to, and then we'll start next time on the armor. We'll cover righteousness and or truth and righteousness next time, and then the the others after that all the way to the end. So I'd see a three more podcast to be done with Ephesians and then we'll go on to the next spot. Next place. So you wanna read, read the first, read Ephesians six, start verse. Jeff: So anyway, we'll let's just we're gonna cover Ephesians six, ten through thirteen, just one or two words into fourteen, and then that's that's what we'll get to, and then we'll start next time on the armor. We'll cover righteousness and or truth and righteousness next time, and then the the others after that all the way to the end. So I'd see a three more podcast to be done with Ephesians and then we'll go on to the next spot. Next place. So you wanna read, read the first, read Ephesians six, start verse. Randy: ten and read through thirteen and then we'll go back and we'll talk about each one of the each section as we go through. Great. So we will be done by Christmas. We'll be done by Christmas. Jeff: ten and read through thirteen and then we'll go back and we'll talk about each one of the each section as we go through. Great. So we will be done by Christmas. We'll be done by Christmas. Okay. Randy: All right, Ephesians six, ten through thirteen. Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything to stand. Jeff: All right, Ephesians six, ten through thirteen. Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything to stand. Randy: All right. And then fourteen, two words, stand therefore. So if you count that, there's like four times we're told to stand in these few verses. Yeah. Which is the point of his little section here in spiritual warfare for Ephesians chapter six. But anyway, starting at the top, finally be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. So finally that word is a transition word, but it's not just a transition word of here's what's next, or here's the last topic we're gonna cover. It is of Jeff: All right. And then fourteen, two words, stand therefore. So if you count that, there's like four times we're told to stand in these few verses. Yeah. Which is the point of his little section here in spiritual warfare for Ephesians chapter six. But anyway, starting at the top, finally be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. So finally that word is a transition word, but it's not just a transition word of here's what's next, or here's the last topic we're going to cover. It is Of the idea that that this is a culmination of everything we've talked about before. This is not just the last thing, it's the most important thing coming up. It's a point, some of the point that his letter was trying to get to. So the first three verses or the first three chapters of Ephesians, we talked about our identity and who we are in Christ, right? And by be and this new covenant believer who's a new creation, we talked about him being before. Randy: the idea that that this is a culmination of everything we've talked about before. This is not just the last thing, it's the most important thing coming up. It's the point some of the point that his letter was trying to get to. So the first three verses or the first three chapters of Ephesians, we talked about our identity and who we are in Christ, right? And by be and this new covenant believer who's a new creation, we talked about him being before Jeff: God in love, holy before God in love, seated in Christ at the right hand of the Father in Christ. we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the spiritual realm. And we and we spent plenty of time on chapter one and through three talking about those things. And then chapter four through six in Ephesians is say, okay, this is a new creation who has and is all these things. Now how does he operate in this world? And that was an important thing that we talked about in that Randy: God in love, holy before God in love, seated in Christ at the right hand of the Father in Christ. we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the spiritual realm. And we and we spent plenty of time on chapter one and through three talking about those things. And then chapter four through six in Ephesians is say, Okay, this is a new creation who has and is all these things. Now how does he operate in this world? And that was an important thing that we talked about in that. It's not a list of religious rules. Do these things and you will earn this. It is because of who you are. This is what it looks like to live that out. Jeff: It's not a list of religious rules. Do these things and you will earn this. It is because of who you are. This is what it looks like to live that out. Randy: And then so this is the next thing or the last thing is he's talking about standing in the evil day. We'll talk about the evil day and we'll talk about standing here in just a second. But the first thing he tells us to do is be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might or in the strength of his power. And just note simply, this is a command. This is not an optional thing. He's telling us to be strong in the Lord. We have been ordered by Jeff: And then so this is the next thing or the last thing is he's talking about standing in the evil day. We'll talk about the evil day and we'll talk about standing here in just a second. But the first thing he tells us to do is be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might or in the strength of his power. And just note simply, this is a command. This is not an optional thing. He's telling us to be strong in the Lord. We have been ordered by Randy: God's word to be strong in the word, not to be weak, not to be passive. So what's my point? Why would I emphasize that? Well, one, it it's a command. But two, many folks, many of us will voice our unbelief by claiming to be weak and bragging in our weakness and boasting our weakness. And second Corinthians 12, we'll go there here in just a second. It talks about that. But let's cast that in the right thing. Jeff: God's word to be strong in the word, not to be weak, not to be passive. So what's my point? Why would I emphasize that? Well one, it it's a command. But two, many folks, many of us will voice our unbelief by claiming to be weak and bragging in our weakness and boasting our weakness. And second Corinthians 12, we'll go there here in just a second. It talks about that. But let's cast that in the right thing. Randy: And so many of us trying to be humble will identify qualities and character traits that we were before Christ instead of leaning on and standing on the things we are after Christ. And I think that's kind of one of the things that's that's happening in the modern church is this Jeff: And so many of us trying to be humble will identify qualities and character traits that we were before Christ instead of leaning on and standing on the things we are after Christ. And I think that's kind of one of the things that's that's happening in the modern church is this Randy: False humility that is actually unbelief. So let's talk let's go to this about being strong. Flip over to Second Corinthians twelve, and when you get there, read nine and ten. So Second Corinthians twelve verses nine and ten. Okay. But he said to me, My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. So then I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insult. Jeff: False humility that is actually unbelief. So let's talk let's go to this about being strong. Flip over to Second Corinthians twelve, and when you get there, read nine and ten. So Second Corinthians twelve verses nine and ten. Okay. But he said to me, My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. So then I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insult. Randy: With troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ. For whenever I am weak, then I am strong. Okay. For when I am weak, then I am strong. The result of this is strength. The result of weakness is strength in the Lord. Jeff: With troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ. For whenever I am weak, then I am strong. Okay. For when I am weak, then I am strong. The result of this is strength. The result of weakness is strength in the Lord. Randy: Okay. I said if you read this and still walk away weak, then you either misread it or you don't believe what you read. Yeah. So weakness here can be also a form of humility. it's just saying that before Christ, when we are living in according to the flesh, then strength meant power, physical power, mental, intellectual power. Now those things compared to spiritual power are weak. Jeff: Okay. I said if you read this and still walk away weak, then you either misread it or you don't believe what you read. Yeah. So weakness here can be also a form of humility. it's just saying that before Christ, when we are living in according to the flesh, then strength meant power, physical power, mental, intellectual power. Now those things compared to spiritual power are weak. Randy: And we identify that and we live from our spirit. So it's actually a true humility to go, okay, I am weak, but that's before Christ and I have joined together as one and then live this out. put here, weakness receives grace. This is talking about he says, My grace is sufficient. So this is the Lord talking to Paul. My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness. Jeff: And we identify that and we live from our spirit. So it's actually a true humility to go, okay, I am weak, but that's before Christ and I have joined together as one and then live this out. put here weakness receives grace. This is talking about he says, My grace is sufficient. So this is the Lord talking to Paul. My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness. Randy: Paul is not weak at the end of this verse or this section. He is strong, but it is through surrender, through humility, through him realizing that he's weak that he enters into the strength. But he does enter into the strength. I put here this weakness is a form of humility. It's a surrendering to the gospel and its power, Jeff: Paul is not weak at the end of this verse or this section. He is strong, but it is through surrender, through humility, through him realizing that he's weak that he enters into the strength. But he does enter into the strength. I put here, this weakness is a form of humility. It's a surrendering to the gospel and its power. Randy: its life-changing power. It's casting off religion, it's casting off. Jeff: It's life-changing power. It's casting off religion. It's casting off Randy: works or us doing something to earn something. It is receiving grace and the power that's in the Lord. And the result of that is now strength. And then from there, which is what the rest of chapters Hebrews 6 is talking about, and we've already been talking about in three and four and five, I mean four and five, is from there we move out in obedience. Jeff: works or us doing something to earn something. It is receiving grace and the power that's in the Lord. And the result of that is now strength. And then from there, which is what the rest of chapters Hebrews six is talking about, and we've already been talking about in three and four and five, I four and five, is from there we move out in obedience. Randy: Move out in the call of Him, of the Lord, and then that we're strength. Jeff: Move out in the call of him of the Lord, and in that we're strengthen. let's look at a couple more things just to kind of see the way the Bible talks about this. Go to James 4 verses 10. Okay. James 4, 10. Humble yourselves therefore before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Okay, so it's a similar mechanism. Randy: let's look at a couple more things just to kind of see the way the Bible talks about this. Go to James four verses ten. Okay. James four ten. Humble yourselves therefore before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Okay, so s it's a similar mechanism. Except now we're talking humility and exaltation versus weakness and strength, but it's the same idea. As we humbly humble ourselves before him, it's then he that provides the strength and and exalts us. Then go to Hebrews eleven. And I don't know what your version grammar is gonna look like, but let's let's read the the last phrase. Jeff: Except now we're talking humility and exaltation versus weakness and strength, but it's the same idea. As we humbly humble ourselves before him, it's then he that provides the strength and and exalts us. Then go to Hebrews eleven. And I don't know what your version grammar is gonna look like, but let's let's read the the last phrase. Randy: of verse thirty four. Hebrews eleven thirty four B. Okay. Jeff: of verse thirty four. Hebrews eleven thirty four B. Okay. Let's see, thirty four. You see something like that? Eleven thirty four. Hebrews eleven thirty-four. Become became mighty in battle. Randy: Let's see. Thirty four. You see something like that? Eleven thirty four. Hebrews eleven thirty-four. Become became mighty in battle. Put foreign armies to flight. That's it. Okay. So before that talks about these people that the writer of Hebrews talking about who these past folks that lived according to faith, not according to sight, says they were made strong out of weakness. They became mighty in war. They put foreign armies to flight. That's what we're talking about. We're talking about mighty in war and putting foreign armies or demonic armies it to flight. So the end result here is strength. Jeff: Put foreign armies to flight. That's it. Okay. So before that talks about these people that the writer of Hebrews talking about who these past folks that lived according to faith, not according to sight, says they were made strong out of weakness. They became mighty in war. They put foreign armies to flight. That's what we're talking about. We're talking about mighty in war and putting foreign armies or demonic armies it to flight. So the end result here is strength. Randy: And Jeff: And Randy: in Ephesians 3, 16, which we've already talked about, but just going back, he prays. This is the prayer, one of the prayers we spent some time on, Ephesians 3 in verse 16. He says he prays for the Ephesians that they'd be strengthened with the power through his spirit in the inner person. Again, that's power and strength. And I'm just pointing out, and one that's when we come out of Ephesians chapter six, verse ten, we're told that we are to be strong, and the result is that we'll be strong. Jeff: in Ephesians 3, 16, which we've already talked about, but just going back, he prays. This is the prayer, one of the prayers we spent some time on, Ephesians 3 in verse 16. He says he prays for the Ephesians that they'd be strengthened with the power through his spirit in the inner person. Again, that's power and strength. And I'm just pointing out, and one that's when we come out of Ephesians chapter 6, verse 10, we're told that we are to be strong, and the result is that we'd be strong. Randy: And and we do that, yeah, through humility, through weakness, through surrender, but the end result is strong and we're commanded to do it. A couple other verses we're not going to, but I'll just list them out if somebody wants to go look for further study. Second Corinthians thirteen four, first Corinthians twenty-five, twenty-nine, Romans eight, twenty-six, Philippians four, thirteen, second Timothy two, one. These are all examples and and there will be many, many more. Jeff: And and we do that, yeah, through humility, through weakness, through surrender, but the end result is strong and we're commanded to do it. A couple other verses we're not gonna go to them, but I'll just list them out if somebody wants to go look for further study. Second Corinthians thirteen four, first Corinthians twenty-five, twenty-nine, Romans eight, twenty-six, Philippians four, thirteen, second Timothy two, one. These are all examples and and there will be many, many more. Randy: That that talks about that we are when we're in Christ, we're strong. So be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might is what the command is. So why do we boast in our weakness? Because it qualifies us for the transforming, miraculous power and strength of the gospel, and we're strong in the Lord. So that's what we do as we step into these next verses because we're going to be commanded to stand multiple times here. So, all right, verse 10. I mean, verse 11. You ready? Jeff: That that talks about that we are when we're in Christ, we're strong. So be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might is what the command is. So why do we boast in our weakness? Because it qualifies us for the transforming, miraculous power and strength of the gospel, and we're strong in the Lord. So that's what we do as we step into these next verses, because we're going to be commanded to stand multiple times here. So all right, verse 10. I mean verse 11. You ready? Randy: Tell them about. Jeff: No, yeah, you have any more questions on or comments on verse ten. I I didn't say it very well. No. Okay. Let's go on. Randy: Ephesians. No, yeah, you have any more questions on or comments on verse ten. I I didn't say it very well. No. Okay. Let's go on. Let's just step through this. We've read it, but it says, mine says, put on, I forget what yours says, clothe yourselves. Yep. Put on the whole armor guard that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. So this is kind of one of the things that that is the point here, right? So we have to put on this armor. We have to clothe ourselves on it. There's an action step. We have to employ it to use a a military term. Jeff: Let's just step through this. We've read it. But it says, mine says, put on, I forget what yours says, clothe yourselves. Yep. Put on the whole armor guard that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. So this is kind of one of the things that that is the point here, right? So we have to put on this armor. We have to clothe ourselves on it. There's an action step. We have to employ it to use a a military term. Randy: And it's this whole armor. And the point is so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Later on, it says that that you may be able to stand in the evil day. The evil day is not some futuristic day of like you know tribulation. Right. This is the day when deception shows up. This is the day when Jeff: And it's this whole armor. And the point is, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Later on, it says that that you may be able to stand in the evil day. The evil day is not some futuristic day of like you know tribulation. Right. This is the day when deception shows up. This is the day when doubt tries to get into your head. Yeah. So this is this is an ongoing thing. Right. When evil shows up Randy: doubt tries to get into your head. Yeah. That so this is this is an ongoing thing. Right. When evil shows up, Jeff: this is what we are to do is to is to stand there and and we're not born we're not born again if you will with wearing this armor. We have to be aware of it. We have to employ it. Okay. So it's been given to us. Now we have to use it. Yeah. And then verse twelve. Randy: this is what we are to do is to is to stand there. And and we're not born we're not born again, if you will, with wearing this armor. We have to be aware of it. We have to employ it. Okay, so it's been given to us. Now we have to use it. Yeah. And then verse twelve Jeff: So the twelve says basically who this fight is against and who this fight is not against, right? Yeah. Randy: So the twelve says basically who this fight is against and who this fight is not against, right? Yeah. So who's it not against? Flesh and blood. Flesh and blood. It's not against people. Yeah. It's not against people. That's a hard thing to understand because many times the evil comes through people. Right. the the evil many times becomes visible to us, becomes tangible to us. Jeff: So who's it not against? Flesh and blood. Flesh and blood. It's not against people. Yeah. It's not against people. That's a hard thing to understand because many times the evil comes through people. Right. the the evil many times becomes visible to us, becomes tangible to us. Through flesh and blood. Through flesh and blood. And it's hard not to come at that flesh and blood and see them as the enemy. Yeah. Well it's hard to understand, like you said, and it's even harder to act Randy: Through flesh and blood. Through flesh and blood. And it's hard not to come at that flesh and blood and see them as the enemy. Yeah. Well, it's hard to understand, like you said, and it's even harder to act against or to walk through this life not struggling against flesh and blood. Yeah. When someone offends us or Jeff: against or to walk through this life not struggling against flesh and blood. Yeah. When someone offends us or it's it's probably easier under it's probably easier to understand and it's even harder to act. Yeah. In accordance with that understanding by faith. Yeah. Jesus multiple times Randy: It's s it's probably easier under it's probably easier to understand and it's even harder to act. Yeah. In accordance with that understanding. Uhhuh. By faith. Yeah. Jesus multiple times in the gospels offended people. Right. And and many times he had the opportunity to be offended by people. Right. I mean the Pharisees were opposing him everywhere he went. Mm-hmm. Jeff: in the gospels offended people. Right. And and many times he had the opportunity to be offended by people. Right. I mean the Pharisees were opposing him everywhere he went. Mm-hmm. Randy: And he was honest with them, but he doesn't he doesn't he's not hurt. He's not he didn't go over and hide in the corner and go, Whoa is me. You can tell he is totally unoffendable. Right. That's because of the confidence of who he is. Right. We can be the same because of everything that was won for us in Ephesians chapters one through three and a lot of other places. Yeah. there were there's multiple times in the gospels where it says these people were offended and they were not able to receive what Christ had for Right. Jeff: And he was honest with them, but he doesn't he doesn't he's not hurt. He's not he didn't go over and hide in the corner and go, Whoa is me. You can tell he is totally unoffendable. Right. That's because of the confidence of who he is. Right. We can be the same because of everything that was won for us in Ephesians chapters one through three and a lot of other places. Yeah. there were there's multiple times in the gospels where it says these people were offended and they were not able to receive what Christ had for Right. Randy: So s if if our goal or or one of the things a mature believer does, a mature believer walks around unoffendable. Yeah. And the flip coin, the flip side of that coin of being unoffendable is my pride. I don't have pride such that I need to be lifted up by you. Yeah. Jeff: So s if if our goal or or one of the things a mature believer does, a mature believer walks around unoffendable. Yeah. And the flip coin, the flip side of that coin of being unoffendable is my pride, I don't have pride such that I need to be lifted up by you. Yeah. Randy: So if I need to be lifted up by you. Jeff: So if I need to be lifted up by you, then I can also be offended by you. Those that's the same thing. Right. But if I don't need you to be li to lift me up, because I know who I am in Christ, then I'm unoffendable and and and I can now love you purely and without and I can see past what's going on. Yeah. Randy: Then I can also be offended by you. Those that's the same thing. Right. But if I don't need you to be li to lift me up, because I know who I am in Christ, then I'm unoffendable and and and I can now love you purely and without and I can see past what's going on. Yeah. In the human to human physical relationship, and I can go, hey, listen, there's something behind what this. Yeah. And it and that's the enemy, not the person. Yeah. Jeff: in the human to human physical relationship and I can go, Hey, listen, there's something behind what this. Yeah. And it and that's the enemy, not the person. Yeah. Yes. There's a book by I think you lik you said you liked it too, Unoffendable. Yeah. By Brant J Hanson. Is that a story? Brand Hansen, yeah. Randy: Yes. There's a book by I think you liked you said you liked it too. Unoffendable. Yeah. By Brant J Hanson. Brand Hansen, yeah. A good book. Easy read and good on hey, don't be offendab unoffendable and the identification. He's a great communicator. Yeah. And it it's a really good book, yeah, I agree with that. Okay. But that is so important. Yeah. And and knowing who we are. Jeff: A good book. Easy read and good on hey, don't be offendab unoffendable and the he's a great communicator. Yeah. And it it's a really good book, yeah, I agree with that. Okay. But that is so important. Yeah. And and knowing who we are. I've been blessed with every spiritual every s blessing in this in the heavenly realms. Mm-hmm. How could I be offended? Randy: I've been blessed with every spiritual every blessing in this in the heavenly realms. Mm-hmm. How could I be offended? Yeah, it's true. Right? So we need to see all these every one of these people, every one of these people, all of us, and everybody we interact with are dearly loved by God. Yeah. He gave everything. He gave up his son for each and every person out there, no matter who they are, no matter what they've done, no matter what they're doing. Jeff: Yeah, it's true. Right. So we need to see all these every one of these people, every one of these people, all of us and everybody we interact with are dearly loved by God. Yeah. He gave everything. He gave up his son for each and every person out there, no matter who they are, no matter what they've done, no matter what they're doing. And that's how we need to see them. Yeah. And if I see them, then I can see somebody who's being hurt by the real enemy. Right. Randy: And that's how we need to see them. Yeah. And if I see them, then I can see somebody who's being hurt yeah by the real enemy. Right. And they're acting this way. Right. Because enemy is manipulating and controlling them, is deceiving them. Yeah. And and that's that's that that needs to result in compassion. It did out Jesus Christ. He came to this world because of that. Right. Jeff: And they're acting this way. Right. Because the enemy is manipulating and controlling them, is deceiving them. Yeah. And and that's that's that that needs to result in compassion. It did out Jesus Christ. He came to this world because of that. Right. and so we can recast people in the correct light, in the light that Jesus has them, right? Randy: And so we can recast people in the correct light, in the light that Jesus has them, right? And then it says it is against these other guys, right? Against all the powers of darkness. He he lists four here rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, and spiritual forces of evil. Within these there are persons, okay? Not people as in humans, but but beings with a will and and intellect, so persons. Jeff: And then it says it is against these other guys, right? Against all the powers of darkness. He he lists four here rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, and spiritual forces of evil. Within these there are persons, okay? Not people as in humans, but but beings with a will and and intellect, so persons. And then powers is those persons, and then there's powers or persons and the things that they do. Randy: And then powers is those persons, and then there's powers or persons and the things that they do. and and there so just some other mentions to kind of help me out, help me understand that. Persons and functions, that's what I want to say. Ephesians 1, verses 20 through 21, talking about Jesus Christ is seated, and this is a quote far above every rule. That's a that's a function and authority. Jeff: And and stare so just some other mentions to kind of help me out, help me understand that. Persons and functions, that's what I want to say. Ephesians one, verses twenty through twenty one, talking about Jesus Christ is seated, and this is a quote, far above every rule. That's a that's a function and authority. Randy: Okay, that's a person and power, that's a function, and dominion, that would be also a function. So he's above all that. So are we, if we keep reading in Ephesians two, four through seven, so are we because we're seated in him. These are in this he's talking about these functions and and persons, not just darkness, but also light. So he's above angels and principalities Jeff: Okay, that's a person, and power, that's a function, and dominion, that would be also a function. So he's above all that. So are we, if we keep reading in Ephesians two, four through seven, so are we because we're seated in him. These are in this he's talking about these functions and and persons, not just darkness, but also light. So he's above angels and principalities. Randy: and everything. Jeff: And everything. Okay. And so are we, because we are seated with him. And then later in Ephesians three, stuff we've already covered, he talks about rulers and the authorities in heavenly realms. So this is talking about the church is been commissioned, if you will, to show the multifasted wisdom of God and be made known to these guys. Again, that's both the light and the dark. what now in Ephesians six Randy: Okay, and so are we because we are seated with him. And then later in Ephesians 3, stuff we've already covered, he talks about rulers and the authorities in heavenly realms. So this is talking about the church is been commissioned, if you will, to show the multifasted wisdom of God and be made known to these guys. Again, that's both the light and the dark. what now in Ephesians six. Paul's talking about is the is the powers of darkness. And they have some of the same types of beings. Yeah. you know, they they they're the beings that rebel. They're set up in a as we've already talked about, they're set up functionally, they're set up geographically. and and they got that. The Lord's the one that created that, and then when they rebelled that they took that whole hierarchy with them. Yep. Jeff: Paul's talking about is the is the powers of darkness. And they have some of the same types of beings. Yeah. you know, they they they're the beings that rebel. They're set up in a as we've already talked about, they're set up functionally, they're set up geographically. and and they got that. The Lord's the one that created that, and then when they rebelled that they took that whole hierarchy with them. Yep. Randy: Let's look at, let's see, a couple other things. Flip over to Colossians. Colossians one, and we'll stay there for just a second. Okay. but I'm going to go to Hebrews 38 through 39. It talks about nothing can separate us from the love of God. In there, he's talking about powers and dominions and thrones, heavenly rulers. nothing can separate us from God's love. And then Colossians 1 verses 16. Read that. Jeff: Let's look at, let's see, a couple other things. Flip over to Colossians. Colossians one, and we'll stay there for just a second. Okay. but I'm going to go to Hebrews 38 through 39. It talks about nothing can separate us from the love of God. In there, he's talking about powers and dominions and thrones, heavenly rulers. nothing can separate us from God's love. And then Colossians 1 verses 16. Read that. Randy: For all things in heaven and on earth were created in him. All things, whether they're visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers, all things were created through him and for him. Okay, so all these things were created for him, and they were created through him. And though so there's these hierarchies, there's thrones, there's dominions. the old Testament called Elohim, which means God's. Jeff: For all things in heaven and on earth were created in him. All things, whether they're visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers, all things were created through him and for him. Okay, so all these things were created for him, and they were created through him. And though so there's these hierarchies, there's thrones, there's dominions. the old Testament called Elohim, which means God's. Randy: rulers and powers, okay, and then go skip forward to Colossians two ten. Jeff: rulers and powers, okay, and then go skip forward to Colossians two ten. Randy: two ten. And you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. All right. Nine and ten are great memory verses to remember who we are in Christ, but the point I'm gonna make here is that Christ is a head over every ruler and every authority. And then verses we'll come back to this in before we finish our study here in the Jeff: two ten. And you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. All right. Nine and ten are great memory verses to remember who we are in Christ, but the point I'm gonna make here is that Christ is a head over every ruler and every authority. And then verses we'll come back to this in before we finish our study here in the Randy: Coming days, but Colossians 2 14 15 talks about disarming the rulers and authorities. He has made a public disgrace from them, disgrace of them. So here is the rulers and authorities are the powers of darkness he's talking about. They're disarmed and they've been disgraced because of the cross. A quick side note, as we've talked earlier, they have been defeated, but they haven't been locked up yet. So they are it's up for us to now enforce that, and that's what we're talking about. let's see. Jeff: Coming days, but Colossians 2 14 15 talks about disarming the rulers and authorities. He has made a public disgrace from them, disgrace of them. So here is the rulers and authorities are the powers of darkness he's talking about. They're disarmed and they've been disgraced because of the cross. A quick side note, as we've talked earlier, they have been defeated, but they haven't been locked up yet. So they are it's up for us to now enforce that, and that's what we're talking about. let's see. here's where I was talking about regions and functions, but so so some things to note that Christ created all these guys, right? Yeah, they were created by and for him. That's verse sixteen. He created them with an organizational structure, he created the thrones and the principalities and the powers, the different powers out there part of creation. He did all that, and then the rebellion happened, and Satan and all the guys that rebelled with him, Randy: here's where I was talking about regions and functions, but so so some things to note that Christ created all these guys, right? Yeah, they were created by and for him. That's verse sixteen. He created them with an organizational structure, he created the thrones and the principalities and the powers, the different powers out there part of creation. He did all that, and then the rebellion happened, and Satan and all the guys that rebelled with him, They took that hierarchy with with him, okay, with them. And so they're they're still set up like that. we learned f earlier from Daniel 10 that they're they're organized by regions. There's a Prince of Persia, there's a Prince of Greece, talking back when Daniel was talking to the angel then, and then they're they're organized by functions, spirit of fear, spirit of sick sickness. principalities are more cultural level powers, but but still within within functions there. Jeff: They took that hierarchy with with him, okay, with them. And so they're they're still set up like that. we learned f earlier from Daniel 10 that they're they're organized by regions. There's a Prince of Persia, there's a Prince of Greece, talking back when Daniel was talking to the angel then, and then they're they're organized by functions, spirit of fear, spirit of sick sickness. principalities are more cultural level powers, but but still within within functions there. Randy: Okay, so that's who the enemy is, and that's who the enemy is not. Let's talk about the word stand here for just a second, and then we'll we'll cover some examples. first of all it says to put on. So we're gonna put on to stand. Put on to stand, and we'll talk about what we're putting on, obviously, in in other lessons. okay, stand is used in verse 11, verse 13, and verse 14. Jeff: Okay, so that's who the enemy is, and that's who the enemy is not. Let's talk about the word stand here for just a second, and then we'll we'll cover some examples. first of all it says to put on. So we're gonna put on to stand. Put on to stand, and we'll talk about what we're putting on, obviously, in in other lessons. okay, stand is used in verse 11, verse 13, and verse 14. Randy: And it's used in some versions, it's used twice in verse thirteen. So that'd be a total of four times. In some versions, the word withstand is used in verse thirteen. So so that's that actually is a different Greek word that many of our versions just use stand for for both Greek words, and some of them use withstand. But but stand means to stand, to establish. Jeff: And it's used in some versions, it's used twice in verse thirteen. So that'd be a total of four times. In some versions, the word withstand is used in verse thirteen. So so that's that actually is a different Greek word that many of our versions just use stand for for both Greek words, and some of them use withstand. But but stand means to stand, to establish. in truth. So I'm gonna use a couple of examples here from parables and one parable and one event in the gospels that that will help to highlight some of this what it means to stand. Okay? Okay. You ready? Yep. Luke eight Okay. And then when you get there, verses eleven through fifteen. Now this is a parable. Jesus explained the parable. It's a fair familiar parable with this, but I'll say what happened earlier. So Jesus tells us a parable. He talks about four different soils. And he talks about a guy that's scattering seed, and seed falls on four different soils with four different results. Okay. And the and the disciples come to him and go, What's all that mean? Yeah. And so this is Jesus explaining that. So read verses eleven through fifteen. Okay. Now the parable means this the seed is the word of God. Those along a path are the ones who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing fall away. As for the seed that fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. But as for the seed that landed on good soil, those are the ones who, after hearing the word, cling to it and with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance. Endurance. Okay. There's four groups. Yeah. This gives us insight into the devil's tactics. and and the verses in Ephesians just said is in verse eleven talks about holding up against the schemes of the devil. they were worried about the distractions and the worries and the riches and the pleasures of life so they didn't their fruit didn't mature and then that fourth group it says they clung to the word okay it says they cling to it with a good heart yeah and they bear fru fruit with steadfast endurance so I put here clinging to the word with steadfast endurance is standing that's what we're talking about so believe God's word So our choice is this we walk by faith or we walk by sight. Meaning we believe God's word or we believe what we see. This new creation, we either gain truth through the Spirit, through God's word, or we or we gain quote unquote truth or we call truth the things that we see. Yeah. And and standing is standing on God's word. Let's go to Romans eight. Just to see a description of walking by faith b versus walking by sight or by the flesh versus the spirit. I've said that several times, so let's just read a couple of places where we're gonna see that. So Romans eight, five through eight. For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the spirit. For the outlook of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the spirit is life and peace, because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Okay, so walking in the flesh, walking in the spirit. Let's not be too quick to take that and mean some. Somebody walking in the flesh is being immoral. Right. We'll we take a carnal man or a fleshly man or person. Many times we use that as a synonym for immorality. Right. And that's just not always the case. That that was a subgroup of immorality would be a subsection of walking according to the flesh. When you get a chance, go to Mark four. Mark four. Okay. And then read verses thirty-five through forty. This is Jesus going they're going across in a boat, storm shows up, and the disciples freak out a little bit. Yeah. On that day when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, Let's go across to the other side of the lake. So after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was in the boat, and other boats are with him. Now a great windstorm developed, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, Teacher, don't you care that we are about to die? So he got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Be quiet, calm down. Then the wind stopped, and it was dead calm. And he said to them, Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith? Okay. This is such a great picture of how we are to not to live, and then from this we can see how we are to live. And here's what I mean. First of all, what's God's word in this? It is, let's go across to the other side of the lake. That's God's word, right? Right. That's what Jesus said. He it says Jesus said to his disciples, let's go across to the other side of the lake. All right, so that's God's word. That's a command, right? and then and then we have this storm that shows up. All right. And then we have these guys. It's funny. They go from doing what he said to accusing him. Don't lose track of that. Don't you care that we're about to die. Right. That's why they wake me up, which is interesting to me. They have believed a lie. At this point right here, they have believed a lie and they have lost track of God's word. Yeah. Okay. And and and I put this in and and we'll cover it next time and talk about truth. This is their version of what the serpent said to Eve. Did God really say? All right. And and and like it's it's funny that they're even questioning his goodness. And then Jesus steps up, exercises authority, he rebukes the storm. that word rebuke is not a word you use for physical things. You use that for persons or personalities. So that tells us that Jesus understands there's there's a demonic force behind this storm. 'cause he he rebukes it. Okay. and then so let's just step through this in one direction. If we didn't have that last verse that you read, verse 40, this would look great. Because what happened? God gave him a command. They obeyed the command. they had a problem along the way. And what did they do? They they prayed to God, help us. They reached out and said, Help. And praise the Lord, God showed up and did it. And did it. And if it just stopped right there, we'd go, Okay, this is we could teach we could write books on this and there probably have been books written on this. All right, here's what you do. You obey, and you know, t bad things shouldn't happen when you obey, but if they do, pray and God will answer. But then Jesus doesn't allow that interpretation. Yeah. It's startling if you really think about it when verse 40 comes up. And then he said to them, Why are you cowardly? Why are you afraid? Do you still not have faith? And I'm like, wait a minute. I thought they just exercised faith. I thought they just prayed a prayer and he answered it. And so shouldn't that be a prayer of faith? And the thing is, they're not praying in faith. They're praying in fear. And nowhere in the Bible does it promise that a prayer of fear will be answered. Nowhere d in the Bible does it say a prayer of affection will be answered. A prayer of faith will be answered. Now Jesus bailed him out anyway, right? Right. so but then his response is the part that kind of shocks us here that we need to go, there's something else going on here besides besides what we initially read there. Okay, so here's what I think Jesus wanted to do, and I'll explain it more in a minute. Jesus wanted them to stand on his word, which was go across the lake and exercise his authority. These guys are Unregenerate men, so this is before the cross and before Pentecost. They don't have the Holy Spirit, so I'm not picking on I mean the apostles before Acts chapter two and the apostles Acts after Acts chapter two are not the same men. Yeah. So don't hear me say anything like that. But but he's wanting them to exercise authority. In another version of this in another gospel, it says they forgot the lesson of the bread. They've just fed thousands of people. They did it. Right. Jesus gave them baskets and they saw coming out of there they were first commanded to feed if you go read it, and they scoff Jesus. And then he sets it up where they actually do the feeding. They have twelve baskets and that basket never runs out. And they go through five to ten thousand people, depending on how you read it in your estimates there. And with twelve men carrying twelve baskets and feed everybody and they get fed and have leftovers. Yeah. E their basket fills back up at the end of it. So When he says they forgot the authority, they forgot the lesson of the bread, they forgot that they were doing the feed. I think he wants them to stand up and rebuke that storm and let him sleep. Right. He's not saying it because he's tired, he's saying that because he's trying to train these guys. So so that's where the rebuke comes from. So let's just step through this. Let's we've been talking about walking according to the faith, walking according to the spirit, versus walking by side or by the flesh. So you read earlier that the mindset of the flesh can't relate to God. And the mindset the spirit is what hooks us up and allows us to live according to the Lord. So here's the mindset of the flesh. The mindset of the flesh is this: I have a commandment from the Lord. Get in the boat and go across the lake. I have this commandment. I obey the commandment. And then what happens? Opposition shows up. What are we normally happens when we are in this mindset? We're shocked. Hey, I obeyed you, Lord. This opposition shouldn't be here. There shouldn't be problems. We don't call it opposition. It's just bad things shouldn't happen to somebody that's obeying the Lord. That's a mindset of the flesh. And then we cry out to in fear. We cry out in shock. We cry out in disappointment. How many Christian lives have been wrecked because of disappointment in God when really they're not living they're walking at the mindset of the flesh. And then we question God. I obeyed. How could this happen? I mean, these it's almost funny when you read it. Don't you care that we're about to die? Well, here's the savior of the world asleep in the boat, and they're in the same boat, and somehow they've lost sight of that and they think that they're gonna die. And then they they they pull up, they wake up, pretend Jesus, they wake up religious Jesus, they wake up formulaic Jesus and and say, Help save us. And this religious Jesus, sometimes he answers, sometimes he doesn't. He's I mean, let's be honest, the religious ju Jesus can be a little moody, you know. Some some days he feels like doing good, which is what I ask him to do, and other times he doesn't feel like doing good, the stuff I ask. and it's hard to know his will because he's moody and religious Jesus doesn't always you know, d abide by the formula. And then but then in verse forty, the real Jesus stands up and he quiets the storm and then he rebukes them for no faith. Yeah. So this mindset of the flesh, that's how we know we're in the mindset of the flesh. That's how we how we know that their prayer was not a prayer of faith, it was a prayer of of fear. And I put it here, it appears that they did it perfect, and yet he rebukes them. He gets onto them. He just rebuked a storm, then he turns around rebukes them. So what is the right answer here? Because what I just described in many of of our minds feels like the right answer. You do what he says. Bad things shouldn't happen, but bad things do. We ask him to fix it. We hope he does. Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't. In this case he did. you know, aren't we cool? Here's the mindset of the Spirit. The mindset of the Spirit is this. This command is not just a command to obey, but this is God's will. And it is God's word. And within God's will and his word is the power to accomplish what it said. Can you bring up the N I V there real quick? Yeah. And can you bring up Luke One? This is we're going off script, so Off my notes. Hey, we'll be back in an hour and a half. back on my notes here. No, this this I'm hoping this will be short. Luke N I V. Luke Luke Luke one verses thirty seven, thirty eight. This is a conversation between Gabriel and Mary. Gabriel's just said, Hey, you're gonna be pregnant with the God himself and she has a question and then she ha he answers. Let's it in the NIV, 'cause the NIV is one of the few that gets this right. Yeah. The NIV versus 3738, letter wrote. For no God, or no, excuse me, for no word from God will ever fail. I am the Lord's servant, Mary answered. May your word to me be fulfilled. Then the angel left her. Most of our versions give the, I think, the mindset of the flesh interpretation there. They said nothing is impossible for God. Exactly. That's not what that says. Right. The word Rhema, the freshly spoken word of God, is in there. And the word possible and impossible is not what it says is. God's spoken word comes with the power to accomplish what it said. Yeah. And that the NIV is the closest one to that. And Mary then says, May it be unto me according to your word. So my point is, now we're back on script. That was just a couple minutes. So God's word has within it the power to accomplish what he has commanded and what he has said. That's what living the mindset of the spirit. Also the mindset of the Spirit, given that it's God's word, given that we have an enemy, given that that we are in the middle of a war to establish the kingdom of God on earth, God's will as it is in heaven, on earth as it is in heaven, now the mindset of the spirit expects opposition. Yeah. I'm not shocked by it. I'm not disappointed by it. I'm not hurt by it. I'm I don't blame God for it. I blame the enemy for it. So that's what the mindset of the spirit is. So now I have God's word. Go across to the other side of the lake. And now I obey that, but I also obey it as like a one out of ten. But I also believe it and I use it as my power of attorney. I use it as my promise to get across the lake. So and I fully expect opposition. I expect the enemy to show up because he's going to try to counter everything that God's done. So I know God's will, I know his ways, I know his end result, I know his purpose, so therefore I have a confident expectation of good. Hebrews 11:1 would call that faith. So I'm by knowing his will, I can now exercise faith because of my confident expectation of good. And this is what I think Jesus is trying to teach. Hey guys, you had my word, expect the opposition, and now when you come up against it, use my word to get rid of it. Of it. Yeah. That's living by the Spirit. That is actually what we're talking about in Ephesians 11 through 14 or 11 through 13 is standing. And we'll continue, then we'll see how to do that. I put here, we know God's will, and now we in faith can speak to the mountain, pray his will, and act out his will. That's that's as straightforward I can make it, but. But that mindset is not a mindset you see everywhere in Western churches. So let's just step through this real quick. So I'm gonna say it a couple different times, a couple different ways, because it's that important. But verse 35. 35 says, On that day when the evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, let's go across to the other side of the lake. That's his word, that's his will, that's his plan, that's his promise, that's his power. That's all those things. And we have a whole book here full of stuff like that. His promise is not just something he's hoping for you. It's his will, it's his way, it is his power, it is his plan. So when we see God's word, we can take it and we can stand on it now. Okay? And then verse 36, they acted, we now see that and we act in faith. We partner with God to accomplish his will on earth as it is in heaven. So that's what that's what we do next. We go, we get in the boat and we go across. We're not doing it just out of pure obedience, which is good. We're doing it as an act of faith. He said, Go do that. I know he'll provide to do that. And then in verse thirty-seven, not as a shock, but as a total expectation, demonic opp opposition to God's plan and people shows up. That storm. And what the good part is, if you're living according to spirit, you expect it. Right. Because you know, you've read and you've understood and you've internalized Ephesians six that there is an enemy out there. Okay. And he's going to show up in opposition to God's plan and God's people, and certainly anything that that would to do with trying to push the gospel into places where there's darkness. It's fully expected. I put here p peace or shalom, which we'll talk about. It's talking about our feet being shod with peace. We'll look at that in a future one. and fear cannot coexist. Right. All right. We know his will. Let's have peace in that will. We know that his power is in his word. Let's employ his word. The evil day has arrived. I put it here. When the demonic opposition shows up, that's the evil day. In Ephesians 6 13, it talks about this evil day or the evil schemes in verse eleven. That's the day. Yeah. So in the apostles' verse in their lives in Mark chapter four, the evil day has arrived. And they did not stand on God's word. Yeah. Now God bailed them out, but they they did not do it. And what we do is it's time for us to rebuke the storm. Yeah. Jesus left us down here with his power and his name, with his spirit, with his mission, with his word, and he said, Go do it. so the time to stand, to put in a slightly different way, is when God's will doesn't equal our circumstances, when God's word does not match our circumstances or the facts of our senses. So when we have the facts coming through our five senses doesn't meet the truth of God's word. That's the point of the crisis of belief. I think would be Henry Black if you use that word. There that's the crisis of faith or your crisis of belief. And this is the Ephesians six standing. Yeah. Are you going to stand on the truth of God's word, on the truth of God's will that contains power to accomplish his will? Or are you going to place your life on what your five senses tell us. Paul would say it's it's time to stand and we say, pray, act in accordance with God's will and in accordance with his ways. We'll talk about maybe a couple of different examples of this, but you know, Ephesians 4 19 says that he will meet all our needs according to his glorious riches. And you're like, not just according to my riches, not according to a small portion of them, but according to his riches he'll meet my need. Yeah. Am I going to stand on that or am I going to stand on this job that I just lost? Yeah. I'm going to stand on he'll meet my needs. And from there is the power to do that. And from there that requires speaking, praying and action on my part in accordance with God's will. It's called again, it would be standing, standing in faith. Walking according to the spirit, not according to the flesh. Same thing with the doctor's diagnosis. Doctors are great. We go to they're great people. They spend a lot of money and energy to get to where they are and expertise, and they give us a lot of information, but they're not truth. They're facts. They give us facts. They cut out things that aren't supposed to be there, but that the healing comes from from the Lord. Yeah. And we're gonna stand on for instance, Psalms one three says 1033 says he's healed all your diseases. You gonna stand on that or you're gonna stand on the doctor's report? Yeah. that's what Paul is talking about here in Ephesians six. next time, that's all I have for that. Thank goodness, right? Almost an hour. So It's perfect. next will be shorter probably because we're gonna talk about truth and we're gonna talk about righteousness. The the belt of truth, the shield or the breastplate of righteousness. And then that'll be next. And then the next one after that is when we'll finish up and talk about the rest of it to include the sword of the spirit and praying. Perfect. Okay. Thanks, Randy. You're welcome, sir.