WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.359 --> 00:00:06.559 Today on Daily Hope with Pastor Rick Warren, we continue 2 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:10.560 in our riveting journey through the series The Invisible War. 3 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:12.919 In it will explore. 4 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:15.519 The unseen world of good and evil and see how 5 00:00:15.560 --> 00:00:19.600 it impacts our day to day existence. Join us for 6 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:24.879 eye opening biblical insights into the spiritual dimensions that influence 7 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:29.640 our lives in ways we never imagined. Right now, here's 8 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:32.679 Pastor Rick Warren with part two of a message called 9 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:35.280 never fights your battles undressed. 10 00:00:35.799 --> 00:00:39.560 Now, the second piece that a Roman centurion would put 11 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:42.600 on is they would put on over the tunic some 12 00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:45.520 body armor, some body armour, and they would have a 13 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:48.840 breastplate which would cover the heart, and then the other 14 00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:51.280 part of the body armor would cover the rest of 15 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:56.840 their vital organs, the lungs and the liver and the 16 00:00:56.920 --> 00:01:00.600 kidneys and all of those things. And so oh, soldier 17 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:03.320 is going to go out into battle without body armor on, 18 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:08.000 without the breastplate and the body armor. Now the Bible 19 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:11.680 Paul says, what you need for your spiritual battle is 20 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:17.239 what he calls the breastplate or the body armor of righteousness. 21 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:21.840 And notice the next verse he says, put on the 22 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:24.959 belt of truth. And then he says with the breastplate 23 00:01:25.079 --> 00:01:29.519 of righteousness protecting your chest. What's in your chest, your heart. 24 00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:33.799 He's talking about your heart here. Now, what is righteousness? 25 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:38.640 Righteousness is purity of heart. That's what it is. And 26 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:41.159 so the piece of the second piece you have to 27 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:47.200 put on in your life is purity. First integrity, knowing 28 00:01:47.239 --> 00:01:48.159 and doing the truth. 29 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:49.920 And second you have to put. 30 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:55.280 On purity, which means keeping my motives clear, keeping my 31 00:01:55.439 --> 00:02:00.799 motives clean, having a pure heart. That's what rights and 32 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:02.719 he says, when you put on the breastplate of the 33 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:05.719 body armor of righteousness, you're saying, God, I want a 34 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:08.840 pure heart. I want to have pure motives. Let me 35 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:11.680 show you a couple verses. The Bible says in Psalm 36 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:15.319 chapter twenty four, look at this, who may ascend to 37 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:18.599 the hill of the Lord, who may stand in his 38 00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:20.319 holy place? What does that mean? 39 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:21.439 Who can? 40 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:24.520 It means who can get close to God? That's what 41 00:02:24.520 --> 00:02:27.360 it means. Who can get close to God? And here's 42 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:32.560 the answer, he who has clean hands and a pure heart. 43 00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:35.919 Now that doesn't mean perfection, because none of us are perfect. 44 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:38.159 But a pure heart means that even when you do 45 00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:40.960 the right wrong thing, you want to do the right thing. 46 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:42.240 That's a pure heart. 47 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:45.199 Even when I do the wrong thing, I regret it 48 00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:47.439 because I want to do the right thing. 49 00:02:47.800 --> 00:02:48.719 That's a pure heart. 50 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:53.719 And Jesus said, blessed or blessed are the pure in heart, 51 00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:57.360 for they shall see God. Only the pure in heart 52 00:02:57.560 --> 00:03:00.439 get to be close to God. Now, if you want 53 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:02.680 to be blessed, you want to be blessed in your family, 54 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:04.759 you want to be blessed in your business, and you 55 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:07.639 want to be blessed in your finances, you got to 56 00:03:07.639 --> 00:03:12.479 have a pure heart. God will not bless and impure heart. 57 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:13.879 And so you need to. 58 00:03:13.800 --> 00:03:18.439 Put on not just the belt of truth integrity, but 59 00:03:18.520 --> 00:03:21.680 you need to put on the breastplate of righteousness, which 60 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:27.039 is purity. Keeping my motives clear. Now, is your heart pure? 61 00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:29.439 You don't have to have a lot of talent in 62 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:32.319 life to succeed, but if you want God's blessing, you 63 00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:36.159 do have to have pure motives. Now, Satan always wants 64 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:38.120 to attack you with impurity. 65 00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:39.319 And the reason he. 66 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:41.080 Wants to attack you with impurity is if he can 67 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:44.439 get his foot in the door, you're a goner. And 68 00:03:44.520 --> 00:03:53.280 so he'll attack you with moral impurity, pornography, movies, books, songs. 69 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:56.599 I mean if I said get a drink of water, 70 00:03:56.639 --> 00:03:58.319 go out here and drink out of the gutter, none 71 00:03:58.360 --> 00:03:59.919 of you would go out and drink out of the gutter. 72 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:02.759 So why are you watching all those gutter shows on television? 73 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:05.960 You see? 74 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:10.840 Mind pollution is far worse than physical pollution because your 75 00:04:10.840 --> 00:04:13.759 mind is all you've got, and when you allow anything 76 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:15.639 to go in your mind, you are polluting. You say, well, 77 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:17.560 that's kind of stuff. I watch that stuff. It just 78 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:22.000 doesn't bother me. That's the problem. That's the problem. If 79 00:04:22.040 --> 00:04:24.360 it doesn't bother me, it means your conscience has already 80 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:29.120 been seared. You know, if your conscience was clear and pure, 81 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:32.839 it would bother you. The fact that you can hear 82 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:34.759 all that kind of language and it doesn't bother you 83 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:39.480 means you don't have a pure heart. Now if you 84 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:42.240 want to, if you don't have a pure heart, a 85 00:04:42.279 --> 00:04:45.759 brave heart. If you don't have a brave heart, dad 86 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:49.800 a pure heart, you're a pushover for Satan. You don't 87 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:51.839 have to be strong, but you do have to have 88 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:55.240 integrity and purity. You have to have the belt of 89 00:04:55.319 --> 00:04:59.639 truth and the breastplate of righteousness. Now, another way Satan 90 00:04:59.639 --> 00:05:02.399 will try to gets you to be impure is through greed, 91 00:05:02.839 --> 00:05:05.160 because if he can gets you greedy and wanting more, 92 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:09.199 He'll get you to cheat on your taxes. He'll get 93 00:05:09.240 --> 00:05:13.000 you to accept the shady business deal to shave the edges. 94 00:05:13.720 --> 00:05:15.879 He will try to get a door. 95 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:20.000 A jar in your life to success through praise, to applause. 96 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:23.839 So you don't depend on God anymore. You have to 97 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:26.800 keep your heart pure. If you don't, you're going to 98 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:27.319 lose the. 99 00:05:27.240 --> 00:05:29.160 Battle in life. 100 00:05:29.399 --> 00:05:32.639 But on the other hand, if you keep the pure heart, 101 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:36.480 your motive is pure. Satan fears the person with a 102 00:05:36.519 --> 00:05:39.600 pure heart, not the perfect person, but the person with 103 00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:42.199 a pure heart who wants to do the right thing. 104 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:44.519 Now you don't have to be afraid of him. He 105 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:45.920 then is afraid of you. 106 00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:46.720 Now. 107 00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:50.199 The third thing that a soldier would put on are 108 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:55.040 the shoes, and the a Roman soldier's shoes had hobnails. 109 00:05:55.079 --> 00:05:57.399 If you can see these in the bottom, there were 110 00:05:57.439 --> 00:05:59.959 little nails that were nailed in there to make the grip. 111 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:04.079 It's kind of like cleats cleats on a football shoe 112 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:08.680 or cleats on a golf shoe. Because you needed these 113 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:11.959 shoes with hobnails so you didn't go slip sliding away 114 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:13.360 on the battle. You need to be able to take 115 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:17.000 a stand and hold your ground. You didn't want to stumble. 116 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:19.000 You didn't want to slide, you didn't want to fall. 117 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:24.360 No Roman centurion would go into a battle and crocs, okay, 118 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:27.519 because you're gonna go slip, sliding away. So you would 119 00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:34.360 put on these shoes, and Paul says, this represents peace 120 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:37.800 in your life. He calls them the shoes of the 121 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:43.800 good News of peace. Look at this next verse. He says, 122 00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:48.399 on your feet, wear the shoes of good News. There 123 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:50.639 was the good News shoes. Somebody should start that brand, 124 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:56.399 good News shoes prepared to share the gospel of peace. Now, 125 00:06:56.399 --> 00:06:58.519 as I said, a Roman soldier, he needed to have 126 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:01.279 good footing so he could stand his ground so he 127 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:06.360 wouldn't slip. Now for you to stand spiritually so you 128 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:10.279 don't slip, so you don't slide, so you don't stumble 129 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:14.399 in the next ten years and lose everything you've got, 130 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:18.360 so you don't fall away. You're gonna need the shoes 131 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:22.000 of good News prepared to share the gospel of peace. 132 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:26.959 Circle that phrase, the gospel of peace. Now, what is 133 00:07:27.040 --> 00:07:29.959 he saying? If you want to stand in life and 134 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:32.959 stand up under the storms. You're gonna have to be 135 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:34.160 at peace. 136 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:34.759 Now. 137 00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:38.600 He's talking here about relationships. There are three kinds of peace. 138 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:43.160 Peace with God, peace with myself, and peace with everybody else. 139 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:47.639 It's called reconciliation. Peace with God, peace with myself, and 140 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:51.120 peace with everybody else. Jesus called it the Great commandment. 141 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:53.680 Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor 142 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:57.519 as yourself. Make peace with God. Make peace with your neighbor, 143 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:00.759 make peace with yourself. Be in harmony God, be in 144 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:04.639 harmony with your neighbor, being harmony with yourself. He's saying, 145 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:08.199 be reconciled to God, be reconciled to other people, and 146 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:11.000 be reconciled to yourself. He said, if you got conflict 147 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:13.480 in your life, you have just opened the door to 148 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:14.600 Satanic attack. 149 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:18.319 He said. 150 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:22.040 If you don't have peace in your heart, if your 151 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:24.120 mind is not at peace and your heart is at peace, 152 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:27.720 then you're going to be wide open. You're a pushover 153 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:30.680 for Satan when you're not at peace. When you're not 154 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:34.440 at peace, Now where do I get this peace that 155 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:37.480 gives me my solid ground? Obviously, if I get up 156 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:40.039 in the morning and I'm at peace, I'm at peace. 157 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:40.559 With God. 158 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:42.600 I'm at peace with you, and I'm in peace with 159 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:45.360 the world. I've got a strong footing I can stand. 160 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:48.799 If I don't have peace relationally in any of those relationships, 161 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:52.240 I'm a pushover. How do I get that kind of peace? 162 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:55.240 Look at you might write this down. The third thing 163 00:08:55.279 --> 00:09:03.440 you need is serenity. Serenity Serenity is living and speaking 164 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:07.519 the Gospel of peace. If I'm going to get dressed 165 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:12.399 for battle, I need integrity, living and doing the truth. 166 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:15.679 I'm going to need purity, and that is having my 167 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:20.039 motive is clear, and I'm going to need serenity, living 168 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:23.799 in peace and speaking peace to other people. I live 169 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:27.320 it and I speak it. Now, where do I get 170 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:30.360 that kind of peace? If you don't have serenity in 171 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:33.440 your life, you're a pushover for Satan. If you're anxious, 172 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:36.919 you're worried, you're irritable, then you're a pushover for Satan. 173 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:40.639 So you need the Gospel of peace in your life. 174 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:43.080 How do I get it? The Bible says this in 175 00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:47.879 Psalms and says in Psalm one nineteen, great peace have 176 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:51.399 they who love your law? And what is the law 177 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:54.360 of God? It's the Bible, Great Peace to those who 178 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:55.600 love this book. 179 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:58.679 And nothing can make them stumble. 180 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:03.600 I love other translations that it says, great peace have 181 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:06.240 they who love your law, and nothing can offend them. 182 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:08.559 In other words, the more I love this book, the 183 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:12.399 less I'm offended by what you say. The more I 184 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:16.240 love God's word, the less I'm offended by what happens 185 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:19.200 to me. I'm not offended by all the things that 186 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:21.919 people try to be offensive to me. Why because I 187 00:10:21.960 --> 00:10:26.240 love God's word more than I love myself or more 188 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:27.519 than I'm worried about what you. 189 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:29.919 Think of me. Now follow me on this. 190 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:34.759 Satan is going to attack your integrity with lies, and 191 00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:38.399 Satan is going to attack your purity with lust. But 192 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:43.080 Satan is going to attack your serenity with worry. Every 193 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:47.240 time you worry, you are open. It's like leaving yourself vulnerable. 194 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:51.120 It's not wearing the shoes of peace. When you're worried, 195 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:53.600 you're not at peace. And Satan can you just push 196 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:58.519 you over because you're anxious, You're fearful, you're worried, and 197 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:02.600 so he's going to cause that lack of relational peace 198 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:05.399 is going to cause you to be anxious. Now, the 199 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:07.639 Bible tells us that We're to do two things with peace. 200 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:10.759 We are to live it and we are to speak it. 201 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:13.519 We are to live peacefully, and we are to speak 202 00:11:13.559 --> 00:11:17.279 peacefully to everybody else. Look at these verses. Romans twelve 203 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:21.559 eighteen says this, as much as it is possible, as 204 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:26.000 far as it depends on you, live in peace with everyone. 205 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:29.080 God says, I want you to be a peacemaker, not 206 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:33.200 a trouble maker. I want you to build harmony, not conflict. 207 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:35.159 I don't want you to be critical. I want you 208 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:38.519 to be a peace builder and a bridge builder. And 209 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:40.879 he says, as much as possible, I love that part. 210 00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:43.480 As far as it depends on you, some people, have 211 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:46.600 you learned it's impossible to live at peace with them. 212 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:50.559 May have been your mother, or your dad, or somebody, 213 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:53.120 or your boss. And you go, no matter what I do, 214 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:56.399 I just can't please her. No matter what I do, 215 00:11:56.679 --> 00:12:00.279 he is unpleasable, no matter what I say. You know 216 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:03.600 what the Bible says, as far as it depends on you, 217 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:06.320 you take care of your part. There's some people you 218 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:09.200 just can't please. There's some people you just can't be 219 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:09.840 at peace with. 220 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:11.159 But he says, as. 221 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:13.120 Far as it depends on you, you are to live 222 00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:19.600 in peace. That's reconciliation. And if you have unreconciled relationships, friend, 223 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:24.559 you are wide open for Satanic attack because you're not 224 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:27.279 wearing the shoes of peace. You don't have peace in 225 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:30.639 that area, in that unreconciled relationship. That's the one area 226 00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:34.039 Satan can put that spear into your side. 227 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:36.879 The other thing he wants you to do. God says 228 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:38.879 you need to speak it. You need to speak peace. 229 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:44.279 Look at this verse Tewod Corinthians five says God was 230 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:49.440 in Christ making peace between the world and himself. That's 231 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:52.840 why we call our outreach the Peace Plan, because we're 232 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:57.799 to go make peace between the world and Christ. In Christ, 233 00:12:57.919 --> 00:13:00.200 God did not hold the world guilty. 234 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:01.600 Of it's sin. That's good news. 235 00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:04.679 In Christ, God didn't hold the world guilty of at sin, 236 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:09.080 and he gave us this message of peace. We share 237 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:11.960 the message of peace through the Peace Plan. So we 238 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:16.039 have been sent to speak for Christ. Now, notice it 239 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:18.879 says sin. When you're sent somewhere, that means you either 240 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:20.679 got to walk or run or do something. 241 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:23.879 You got to move. Can you understand now why peace are. 242 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:29.399 Shoes Because shoes you gotta wear shoes to walk. If 243 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:32.399 you're being sent somewhere, you need to wear shoes. And 244 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:34.799 he says, if you're going to share the message of peace, 245 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:36.960 you need to wear the shoes of peace because you're 246 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:40.840 being sent to speak for Christ. It is if God 247 00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:44.559 is calling to you through us and we speak for Christ, 248 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:49.480 when we beg you to be at peace with God. 249 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:54.120 Now you can't do the peace plan without going. That's 250 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:57.120 why the Bible says, go into all the world. But 251 00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:59.559 the problem with a lot of people is this. They 252 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:02.440 want to live in peace, but they don't want to 253 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:05.440 speak peace. A lot of people are scared to death 254 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:07.120 to talk to other people about. 255 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:08.600 Jesus, who is the Prince of peace. 256 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:11.200 And a lot of times you have friends and neighbors 257 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:13.639 who need to hear the good news of peace, and 258 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:18.559 you chicken out, you lose your nerve, you. 259 00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:20.279 Take the shoes of peace off. 260 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:24.279 And because you take those shoes of peace off, you 261 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:27.840 want to live in peace without speaking peace. The Bible says, 262 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:29.759 everybody around you, you need to tell them about the 263 00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:33.240 good news. The God's not mad at you. He's mad 264 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:36.039 about you. And God wants you in his life, and 265 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:38.320 God wants you in his family, and he died for 266 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:40.879 you so you can have peace with God. What you 267 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:45.759 need to do is to speak up and speak up and. 268 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:47.480 Say what you believe. 269 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:50.279 Now, Paul says, the fourth thing you need in the 270 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:53.759 spiritual battles what he calls the shield of faith. Look 271 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:59.120 at this verse verse sixteen. And at all times, circle 272 00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:00.600 all times, just some of the time. 273 00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:02.679 He said, you don't go to the grocery store. 274 00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:08.120 He says without this, at all times, you carry the 275 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:13.000 shield of faith, for with it you will be able 276 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:19.080 to put out all the burning arrows by the evil one. Now, 277 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:23.200 he says, you need the shield of faith in order 278 00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:26.799 to protect yourself from the burning arrows that Satan's gonna 279 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:29.919 gonna throw at you. Now, what is the shield of faith. 280 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:33.200 It is the fourth quality you need in life, and 281 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:38.919 it is certainty. Certainty is the shield of faith. And 282 00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:45.919 certainty is trusting the promises of God when everything is 283 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:49.799 going wrong in my life. That's the shield of faith, 284 00:15:50.440 --> 00:15:53.799 the certainty of I know what God has said and 285 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:56.000 He's going to help me through this. So I'm going 286 00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:59.960 to trust God when all these arrows are coming at me. 287 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:03.360 I saw a bumper sticker many many years ago, and 288 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:07.759 it said God said it. I believe it. That settles it. 289 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:14.240 That's okay. But really the bumpersticker should say God said it. 290 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:19.600 That settles it, whether I believe it or not. Because 291 00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:22.440 God's truth isn't based on whether you believe it or not. 292 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:26.000 It's still true even if you don't believe it, because 293 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:31.039 God cannot lie. God said it. That's settled it, whether 294 00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:33.639 you believe it or not. What God said about sex 295 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:36.519 is true, whether you believe it or not. What God 296 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:39.480 said about life is true, whether you believe it or not. 297 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:43.039 What God said about money is true, whether you believe 298 00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:46.519 it or not. And when you put your faith in 299 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:50.799 the shield of faith, you have the certainty that God's 300 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:54.120 promises are true, even when it appears that they are 301 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:58.879 not happening in your life at that moment. Now, the 302 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:02.039 Bible says, all all these burning arrows come at you. 303 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:04.880 I love the King James version of this, It says, 304 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:09.680 the fiery darts. What are the fiery darts that come 305 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:13.000 at you? Well, they're all mental. They're all mental. They 306 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:15.359 are things that Satan puts in your mind. Let me 307 00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:17.480 give you what some of the fiery darts. 308 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:20.599 Are doubt and write that one down. 309 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:25.200 Doubt is a fiery d Did God really say, can 310 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:31.240 you really trust God? Isn't that just your interpretation? Well, 311 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:35.400 maybe that's for another time. Did God really mean that 312 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:38.079 when he said and he creates doubt? 313 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:39.400 That's a fiery dart. 314 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:44.640 Discouragement is a fiery dart, and Satan goes, You're never 315 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:47.319 going to get any better. Things are never going to change. 316 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:50.599 It's only going to get worse. Why do you even try? 317 00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:56.319 That's a fiery dart. Discouragement, doubt, delay, Why is this 318 00:17:56.440 --> 00:18:00.200 taking so long? I wanted it to happen by now, 319 00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:04.720 but it hasn't happened. Delay is a fiery dart. Difficulty 320 00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:06.160 is a fiery dart. 321 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:07.400 Why is this so hard? 322 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:10.440 Why is it so hard to make my marriage work? 323 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:13.799 Why is it so hard to get a job? Why difficulty? 324 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:20.119 Depression is a fiery dart. I just feel like giving up. 325 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:22.440 I feel like it's not worth it. I feel like 326 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:27.480 it's I can't even put any effort into it, delay, defeat, 327 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:31.400 all of these things. When those things happen in your life, 328 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:36.599 you need certainty, And when life is totally uncertain and 329 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:39.519 it's thrown up in the air, you need certainty more 330 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:43.200 than anything else. You need the shield of faith in 331 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:46.559 your life. And the shield of your faith will help 332 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:49.920 you handle those darts like the dart of doubt. Now, 333 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:51.759 what do you do with the dart of doubt? Here's 334 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:56.759 what you do. You doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs. 335 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:01.359 Whenever you used to a right believing your doubts and 336 00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:04.119 doubting your beliefs. Satan has just cracked the door open 337 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:06.839 in your life and you're open for Satanic attack. 338 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:10.279 And you need that certainty. 339 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:14.359 And the reason why he says always carry the shield 340 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:18.279 of faith is because he's always shooting at you. He 341 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:22.599 wants to create doubt in your heart. Now, the Bible says, 342 00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:26.119 without faith, it is impossible to please God. So you 343 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.799 have to have the shield of faith. You got to 344 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:30.319 carry it with you. I'm gonna trust God no matter 345 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:33.319 what my feelings say. I'm gonna trust God, no matter 346 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:35.720 what my eyes tell me. I'm gonna trust God, no 347 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:38.440 matter what I'm hearing. I'm gonna hold on to the 348 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:42.319 shield of faith. That is certainty. 349 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:50.640 You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. We're so happy 350 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:54.440 you've chosen to study along with us today. Here's Pastor 351 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:57.519 Rick with a letter from one of our listeners. 352 00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:58.799 Today, I want to share with you a note I 353 00:19:58.839 --> 00:20:01.519 got the mail from a list up. She wrote, Hi, 354 00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:05.359 Pastor Rick. I'm a thirty three year old living in Jamestown, 355 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:08.400 North Dakota, and I'm married with three kids. I just 356 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:10.839 want to thank you so much for your Daily Hope broadcast. 357 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:14.160 I listened to them regularly, and I've learned so much. 358 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:15.119 You know. 359 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:16.920 I realized very quickly that I needed to have a 360 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:19.480 notebook journal available to write down all the notes as 361 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:22.519 I listened to you. I love the convenience that the 362 00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:25.640 podcasts have, and I turned them on as I'm getting 363 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:27.559 ready in the morning, while I'm cooking, or I'm in 364 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:30.240 the car traveling, and even when i'm working out, which 365 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:33.480 is great. I've also been sharing them with several people. 366 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:36.160 I often think of specific people that I want to 367 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:39.759 share your podcast with after I've heard your message. I 368 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:42.000 don't know if they've listened to them or not after 369 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:43.759 I've shared them, but I do know that one of 370 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:47.240 my friends has been regularly listening to you now and 371 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:49.480 I ran into her at the park when she was jogging, 372 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:51.799 and when she stopped to say hi, I could hear 373 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:53.599 your voice and her earbuds. 374 00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:55.440 That's great. 375 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:59.480 She's been struggling with a verbally abusive relationship for many years, 376 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:02.440 and I know that your Daily Hope has helped her. 377 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:03.480 Rick. 378 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:06.400 God has really used you to reach so many people, 379 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:08.920 and I thank you for being obedient to Him and 380 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:11.759 He is calling to you. I will continue to pray 381 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:16.400 for you. Thank you for impacting my life, Alissa. Well, Alissa, 382 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:19.279 thank you for sending this message. You know we live 383 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:22.160 to hear these stories, and I'm so glad to hear 384 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:25.480 how God is using Daily Hope not only in your life, 385 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:27.839 but in the life of your friends because You've cared 386 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:30.920 enough to pass it on. So thanks for sharing that 387 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:34.000 podcast with others. I know you're being a blessing to them, 388 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.680 and I want to say to the rest of you, 389 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:39.799 have you shared the news of Daily Hope with anybody? 390 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:44.400 Would you find one person today and recommend that they 391 00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:47.759 start listening to Daily Hope, either on the radio or 392 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:51.240 on a podcast or getting the daily devotional through the email. 393 00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:55.599 We are here to help you fulfill your mission in 394 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:59.400 sharing Christ with other people. So tell one person today 395 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:00.759 about Daily Hope. 396 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:04.000 If you'd like to bless Pastor Rick by letting him 397 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:07.480 know how much this broadcast has helped you, Please send 398 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:11.880 him an email at Rick at pastorick dot com. That's 399 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:16.079 Rick at pastorick dot com. Be sure to join us 400 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:19.519 next time as we look into God's word for our 401 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:23.799