Tightening the Belt

Sunday Sermon
February 8, 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Scripture: ESV Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Sermonic Subject: Spiritual Warfare

Sermonic Point: Tightening the belt of truth is essential for spiritual warfare.

Sermonic Tension: How can I know the truth from error? (If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything)

Sermonic Sentence: Buckle up and stay ready for spiritual warfare. (Whenever the truth of God is being attacked, you are in spiritual warfare.) God wants me to draw closer to the truth/Christ Jesus.

Sermonic Cross Reference: NIV Isaiah 11:1-5 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD-- 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

Sermonic Structure:

I. TIGHTEN YOUR BELT SO GOD CAN ESTABLISH YOU TRUTHFULLY (Stand therefore,)

A. God wants us to stand against the devil with truth
B. God wants us to stay against the devil with truth
C. God wants us to stop the devil with truth

II. TIGHTEN YOUR BELT SO GOD CAN EQUIP YOU TRUTHFULLY (having fastened on the belt)

A. I am supported by the truth
B. I am surrounded by the truth
C. I am saved by the truth

III. TIGHTEN YOUR BELT SO GOD CAN EMPOWER YOU TRUTHFULLY (truth,)