The weekly podcast from Grace Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Oceanside,CA. gracevcf.org
Episodes
Monday Mar 16, 2020
Monday Mar 16, 2020
Welcome
You're invited to join us as we build growing communities of worshippers,
who are becoming like Christ, empowered to do His work.
Join us as Pastor Ron shares God's timely truth for our current circumstances.
If you would like to partner with us in this season, you can find out more about Christ's work in our community at Gracevcf.org
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Welcome
You're invited to join us as we build growing communities of worshippers,
who are becoming like Christ, empowered to do His work.
Join us as Pastor Ron shares God's plan for us to fight and win our spiritual battles together.
If you would like to partner with us in this season, you can find out more about Christ's work in our community at Gracevcf.org
The Belt of Truth
Our Primary text today is Ephesians 6:10-18:
(New International Version and New Living Translation)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Exposing the Devil’s Schemes
Not everything you think is true, so think about what you think about.
Not all of your thoughts come from your own mind – your thoughts can also come from God speaking, and even from demons. This is why we must know the Truth of God’s Word in order to discern the truth of our thoughts.
Acts 8:26-27
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road — the desert road — that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27 So he started out...
The devil will use unhealed past offenses and wounds to deceive you about present circumstances
Loving confrontation and forgiveness (giving up the right to get paid back for what was done to me) can bring powerful healing for both the offended and the offender
Triangulation – telling a third party about the offense – can spread the deception 3 ways, and none of those involved walk in freedom
Luke 17:1-4 NKJV
17 Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! … 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."
The Protection of Seeing Things as They Really Are
Truth can be defined as that which conforms to reality; to the way things really are.
The only One who can fully see things in our lives as they really are is the One who is outside, above, and beyond our world: the triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
John 14:6-10
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. ...
John 17:15-22 Jesus praying to the Father for us
15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
John 16:12-13
12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.
John 8:31-37
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"
34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
The Protection of Personal Integrity
Personal honesty is a first line defense against the devil’s attacks
Psalms 25:21
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.
“Denial is false armor; self-honesty is risky…But self-honesty actually brings God into your life, and you cannot ask for better protection than that.”
—Gary D. Kinnaman, How to Overcome the Darkness
When we live in falsehood, we are living in Satan’s realm; he attaches himself to dishonesty.
Lying is an attempt to defend or attack – in either case we prevent God from fighting our battles for us.
John 8:44-45
[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
After a fall, personal honesty is key to restoration
John 3:20-21
20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light
2 Samuel 12:13
13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord."
Nathan replied, "The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.”
Psalms 32:3-5
3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" — and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Psalms 51:1-12
…3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight…
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sin sand blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me…
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Monday Mar 02, 2020
Monday Mar 02, 2020
Welcome
You're invited to join us as we build growing communities of worshippers,
who are becoming like Christ, empowered to do His work.
Join us as Christian Twombly shares how Jesus has led him into an Authentic life, and the continuing effects it has had.
If you would like to partner with us in this season, you can find out more about Christ's work in our community at Gracevcf.org
Monday Feb 24, 2020
Monday Feb 24, 2020
Welcome
You're invited to join us as we build growing communities of worshippers,
who are becoming like Christ, empowered to do His work.
Join us as Pastor Ron shares God's plan for us to fight and win our spiritual battles together.
If you would like to partner with us in this season, you can find out more about Christ's work in our community at Gracevcf.org
You can follow along below with the Handout from Sunday:
Ephesians 6:10-18 (New International Version and New Living Translation)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
We need to know that we are in a spiritual battle (verses 11-12)
“If there is a single key area of faith and practice that divides Northern [hemisphere] and Southern [hemisphere] Christians, it is this matter of spiritual forces and their effects on the every-day human world. This issue goes to the heart of cultural definition and worldviews.”
–Philip Jenkins, The Next Christendom
“What I am suggesting is that we engage in a critical re-evaluation of our Western worldview on one important issue – the actual existence of good and evil spirits…We must…strive toward making this as important a part of our worldview as it was for Paul. The powers of darkness are real, we need to be conscious of their influence, and we need to respond to them appropriately.”
– Clinton Arnold, Powers of Darkness: Principalities and Powers in Paul’s Letters
We fight spiritual battles together
§ Every “you” in Ephesians is written to the church as a community, not to individuals. It’s “you together”, not “each of you individually”.
§ Ephesians 4:1-6 could best be understood to say
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you [together] to live a life worthy of the calling you [together] have received. 2 [You together] Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 [You together] make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you [together] were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
§ Ephesians 6:10-11, 13 could best be understood to say:
10 Finally, you together be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 You together put on the full armor of God so that you together can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…
13 Therefore you together put on the full armor of God [help each other get dressed for battle] so that when the day of evil comes, you together may be able to stand your ground…
We fight our battles with the Lord’s strength and power, not our own
Our power is “resurrection power”
Ephesians 1:18-22
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
We prepare for our battles with spiritual armor
Ephesians 6:14-17
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The Belt of Truth - The Protection of Personal Integrity
Satan is the Father of lies and dishonesty opens us up to his attacks
John 8:44, 10:10
... When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies…The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
If I compromise my conscience and settle for less complete honesty, I allow the tempter entrance into my life; destruction begins its corrosive work at the point of compromise.
The path of self-deception -> denial -> lying will put us in bondage, and the way out of bondage begins with a return to personal honesty.
John 3:20-21
20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light…
The Breastplate of Righteousness—The Protection of Living Out What Christ Has Made Us to Be
The Breastplate of Righteousness is God’s righteousness, not my righteousness. It comes through faith, not our righteous deeds
Romans 3:19-22
… no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; …
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known…22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
The Gospel of Peace—The Protection of Relationship
Peace = the prosperity of soul when everything is right in relationship with God and everything is right in relationship with others.
The Gospel of Peace means we can be at Peace with God and Peace with each other
Romans 5:1, 10
…since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.….when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son…
The Shield of Faith—The Protection of Trust that Perseveres
Faith is confidence base on the trustworthiness of the one we put our faith in. Our faith in Jesus is strong because He is completely dependable and infinitely powerful. The more we know Him, the stronger our faith becomes.
The Shield of Faith:
¨ Trusts God daily for His help and provision
¨ Perseveres, especially when overcome with difficulty
¨ Doggedly believes that God’s Word is true in the face of every problem, negative thought, or demon
¨ Determines “to rise above the injustices and pains of life, without allowing the flaming arrows of pain and resentment to penetrate your soul. Life hurts. Faith looks to God and refuses to give those hurts a foothold in your heart.”
-Gary Kinnaman, Winning Your Spiritual Battles
The Helmet of Salvation—The Protection of a Mind Transformed by Truth
Our thinking needs salvation, what we do flows out of what we think
Matthew 15:18-20
19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what make a man 'unclean'
Romans 12:2 New Living Translation
2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
The mind is the battlefield of the spiritual war
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with ...have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Don’t believe everything you think
² The Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God— The Protection of God’s Empowered Word
When God speaks something, nothing can stop it from happening
God’s Word is infinitely powerful and absolutely reliable
Isaiah 55:11
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
The Word of God becomes a sword as the Spirit inspires and empowers His Words in my mouth
John 6:63
63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
Did you find this message helpful?
You can read all of Paul's letter to this church yourself here. You can find the same letter in your Bible at home, called 'Ephesians'.
Monday Feb 17, 2020
Monday Feb 17, 2020
Welcome
The Grace Vineyard Podcast is back!
You're invited to join us as we build growing communities of worshippers,
who are becoming like Christ, empowered to do His work.
Join us as Pastor Ron continues his message on how the good news of how God brings us into Times of Refreshing.
If you would like to partner with us in this season, you can give and find out more about Christ's work in our community at Gracevcf.org
Interested in learning more about some of the men Ron mentioned?
Here are some resources:
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Sermon
& the wikipedia page on Charles Finney
Monday Feb 10, 2020
Monday Feb 10, 2020
Welcome
The Grace Vineyard Podcast is back!
You're invited to join us as we build growing communities of worshippers,
who are becoming like Christ, empowered to do His work.
Join us as Pastor Ron shares the good news of how God brings us into Times of Refreshing.
If you would like to partner with us in this season, you can give and find out more about Christ's work in our community at Gracevcf.org
Sunday Aug 18, 2019
Sunday Aug 18, 2019
EXODUS P2-
w/RON OHST
[Feel free to post, link, or share this episode with those you know]
Sunday Aug 11, 2019
Sunday Aug 11, 2019
Missions Update-
Haven & Samuel share about Germany / Poland
[Feel free to post, link, or share this episode with those you know]
Sunday Aug 04, 2019
Sunday Aug 04, 2019
EXODUS P1
Out of Slavery into the Kingdom
w/RON OHST
[Feel free to post, link, or share this episode with those you know]
Sunday Jul 21, 2019
Sunday Jul 21, 2019
COURAGEOUS JOY P9-
w/STEVE ROGERS
[Feel free to post, link, or share this episode with those you know]