WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.680 You're listening to The Bible Guys, a podcast where a 2 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:06.440 couple of friends talk about the Bible in fun, in 3 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:07.519 practical ways. 4 00:00:11.400 --> 00:00:15.119 That role in is so old, it is, it is 5 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:19.519 I almost hate to change it. Maybe we can keep this, well, 6 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:22.879 maybe we can keep the same music and Connor's voice, 7 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:26.120 but maybe we can just change get a new video. Yeah, 8 00:00:26.199 --> 00:00:26.879 just get a new video. 9 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:27.359 We should. 10 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:29.679 Yeah, I think we should. We should, and maybe we 11 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:33.280 can just grab it from maybe some of our podcast moments. 12 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:36.520 I guess maybe we're getting We should talk to somebody 13 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:37.280 about that. 14 00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:43.359 We could literally do it at anytime. We can have 15 00:00:43.399 --> 00:00:46.039 it done by next week. You want to, We just 16 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:49.039 haven't done it. So anyway, Hey, we are welcome to 17 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:50.560 the Bible guys. We're in the middle of a series 18 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:54.320 called Dangerous Prayers. Actually, we're wrapping up this week and 19 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:56.920 we're wrapping up this week with the with the prayers 20 00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:00.280 of perseverance, and today we're talking about how to rate 21 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:02.600 yourself into the Armor of God. 22 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:04.840 This is good. It's a good one like this one. 23 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:05.760 I'm a fan of this one. Well. 24 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:08.040 Hey, the segment that we have Desiree has for us 25 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:11.959 today is called Guess the Word, and so taboo kind 26 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:14.400 of like taboo. And so the question is, can Chris 27 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:17.319 guess the keywords that I'm going to give clues to 28 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:20.200 you about without using the taboo words? 29 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:20.799 That's right? 30 00:01:21.159 --> 00:01:24.159 Okay, So I have five words that you need to guess. 31 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:26.400 But hopefully if you're watching online, we're gonna put on 32 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:26.920 the screen for. 33 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:29.200 You that I'm not allowed to say on YouTube. 34 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:31.920 Right, that's right, yep. And then and then you know 35 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:34.560 your your goal is to race against me, and then 36 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:35.159 guess them. 37 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:35.760 That's right. 38 00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:36.760 And there's five of them. 39 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:43.519 Yes, the uh sort of oh okay, okay, are you ready? Yes, Okay, 40 00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:47.040 here we go. We're gonna start right here. One, two, three. 41 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:50.000 When you're riding a motorcycle, you need a helmet. There 42 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:50.719 you go, very good. 43 00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:51.280 Wow. 44 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:57.120 I wasn't allowed to say head protect, night wear safety okay, 45 00:01:57.159 --> 00:01:59.319 and I said you need a I didn't say you 46 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:04.159 need to wear yeah, okay. 47 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:07.000 Oh man. The next one is hard. 48 00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:12.719 Uh you need this to stop arrows shield. 49 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:13.800 There you go, very good. 50 00:02:13.960 --> 00:02:18.520 It was allowed block defense round captain or protect so 51 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:23.680 no captain America right right right? Different difficult one, Okay, 52 00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:33.120 this one is hard. You have to run the race, no, 53 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:37.800 almost marathon no, when when it's a little difficult, it's 54 00:02:37.800 --> 00:02:41.280 difficult and dangerous. You've got to run the when when 55 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:43.639 they're they're throwing things at you and trying to knock 56 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:46.840 you down. You got to run the gauntlet. Yes, there 57 00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:51.879 you go, the gauntlet. They're very good. It's where we 58 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:57.960 keep all the tools of war. Oh yeah, yeah, hand glove, thanos, 59 00:02:58.039 --> 00:02:58.840 iron and war. 60 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:01.159 Oh that's hilarious. That's hilarious. 61 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:03.439 Thing so exactly. 62 00:03:03.879 --> 00:03:07.879 So I almost said, uh, where you keep your infinity stones? 63 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:08.919 I almost said that, but. 64 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:14.520 Yeah, okay, okay, where you keep your tools of war? 65 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:19.439 Just oh no, the room, No, the room, the building. 66 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:21.199 I don't know. 67 00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:25.719 There there's there's there's one on Mound Road in Detroit. 68 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:30.199 I don't know what this is, like an ammunition place 69 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:33.159 or something. No, no, no, no, no, no, yeah, almost an 70 00:03:33.159 --> 00:03:34.000 ammunition place. 71 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:35.120 It's called. 72 00:03:37.319 --> 00:03:38.280 I don't I don't know's. 73 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:40.400 It's where all the guns would be stored. It's where 74 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:41.159 all of the you. 75 00:03:41.080 --> 00:03:42.639 Know, I'm not a gun guy because I don't know 76 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:43.120 these terms. 77 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:46.479 Yeah no, no, this is their military terms, so I'm 78 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:47.360 not allowed to say military. 79 00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:48.439 I just realized that messed up. 80 00:03:48.520 --> 00:03:50.719 Oh you blew it? What is it? 81 00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:56.039 Armory, armory, Yes, weapons storage, armory, armor military. 82 00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:57.800 Isn't that so funny? You would have gotten that hard. 83 00:03:57.960 --> 00:04:01.560 Yeah, well there's an armory down the road, like we 84 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:02.960 have a bunch of people at hair districts at work 85 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:03.479 at the armory. 86 00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:05.199 That's okay. 87 00:04:05.400 --> 00:04:08.080 And then last one, sorry everybody, then last one. 88 00:04:09.159 --> 00:04:09.280 Uh. 89 00:04:10.039 --> 00:04:12.719 In the Book of Revelation, yes, the devil is described 90 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:16.399 as a as a thief, as a in the Book 91 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:19.120 of Revelation, comes up out of the pit. 92 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:23.079 The enemy. 93 00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:28.600 Oh come on, I'm so so the devil, the devil, 94 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:29.399 he comes up. 95 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:33.120 Out of the pit as a she whiz, I'm not 96 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:34.040 as a flaming. 97 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:39.480 A flaming, it's a it's a beast. 98 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:40.199 Dragon. 99 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:45.800 There you go. It's a hard one. He's a fiery dragon. Yeah, 100 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:49.800 so say fire wings myth reptile or fantasy. 101 00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:52.959 Now, I know in Revelation they described Mary's birth and 102 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:55.519 they talk about him being a dragon. But I didn't 103 00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:57.199 know that he comes up out of a fiery pit 104 00:04:57.240 --> 00:05:00.160 as a dragon. It is also the same thing. 105 00:05:00.759 --> 00:05:02.040 It's the same same beast. 106 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:03.720 Well, I know it's the same beast, but I didn't 107 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:04.079 know that. 108 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:04.839 That's yeah. 109 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:07.879 I'm thinking to myself, like he's described as a and 110 00:05:07.879 --> 00:05:10.519 I'm thinking, gee, whiz, isn't he described a lot of 111 00:05:10.519 --> 00:05:11.279 different ways. 112 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:14.639 In revelation, but mostly as a dragon? 113 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:16.319 Okay, dragon escaped me. 114 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:19.040 Yeah, it's okay, that's okay. That was a good one. 115 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:22.839 Yes, so are our I'm not as good at getting 116 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:23.759 the hints out or. 117 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:25.279 The clues out to you. 118 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:28.319 No. I thought he did really good except for the 119 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.399 military armory. You slipped on military. 120 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:32.279 Yeah, the armory. But you know, so. 121 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:35.920 Our listeners, because I messed up on that one, they 122 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:39.079 got ten thousand points right there. Wow, that one, just 123 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:42.439 on that one, y wow, So to be them and 124 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:45.160 then and then you got four so blessed, So you 125 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:46.879 got four correct ones. 126 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:47.560 Is that right? 127 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:47.879 Yes? 128 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:50.759 Yeah, so you got four thousand points altogether. 129 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:51.399 That's good. 130 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:53.160 So it looks like our listeners beat us. 131 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:56.399 Yeah, okay, that's what happened. So one mistake Calcassia, Yeah, yeah, 132 00:05:56.439 --> 00:06:00.639 that's the lesson one mistake. Can you lose to win 133 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:04.639 with one mistake? Okay, there's no redemption, there's no second chances, everybody, 134 00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:05.000 that's right. 135 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:06.879 So you gotta protect yourself, that's yeah, I guess, yeah, 136 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:08.600 protect yourself, which you know, the best thing to protect 137 00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:09.480 yourself with his armor. 138 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:12.439 Oh there, it is right. We need to put on 139 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:16.319 the armor. There's the horrible transition. You gotta protect yourself 140 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:19.120 against my penalty points that I made out. That's right. 141 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:21.439 You know who else needs to protect themselves? 142 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:23.800 Christians? Christians need the armor. 143 00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:25.480 Hey, you know what you could have done. You could 144 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:27.920 have talked about arrows and shields. 145 00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:29.120 And was that allowed to say arrows? 146 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:31.759 Remember you said you need this to protect against arrows 147 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:33.959 and I said shields. That was one of the uh 148 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:35.680 and we're talking about the shield of faith. 149 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:37.240 Oh yeah, right, yeah, you. 150 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:39.839 Could have done something like that. Yeah, but that's all right. 151 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:40.879 I did say arrows. 152 00:06:41.079 --> 00:06:43.240 You did. You were allowed to say arrows. 153 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:46.680 I was allowed to say arrows. Oh okay, yeah, okay. 154 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:48.000 All right. 155 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:52.360 So here we are and six verses ten through twenty. 156 00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:56.319 So he says a final word, be strong in the 157 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:59.040 Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of 158 00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:01.720 God's armor, so that you'll be able to stand firm 159 00:07:01.879 --> 00:07:05.040 against all strategies of the devil. For we are not 160 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:08.319 fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers 161 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:11.800 and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in 162 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:15.399 this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, 163 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:17.439 put on every piece of God's armor so you'll be 164 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:19.959 able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. 165 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:23.000 Then after the battle, you will still be standing firm, 166 00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:26.879 stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and 167 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:31.000 the body armor of God's righteousness for shoes. Put on 168 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:33.600 the peace that comes from the Good News, so that 169 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:36.639 you'll be fully prepared. In addition to all these, hold 170 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:39.000 up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows 171 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:41.680 of the devil. And put on salvation as your helmet. 172 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:43.800 And take the sword of the Spirit, which is the 173 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:46.439 Word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times 174 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:49.439 and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in 175 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:53.040 your prayers for all believers everywhere. And pray for me too. 176 00:07:53.279 --> 00:07:54.920 Ask God to give me the right words so I 177 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:58.120 can boldly explain God's mysterious plan that the good News 178 00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:01.240 is for Jews and gentiles alike. I'm in chains now 179 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:04.160 still preaching this message. Is God's ambassador, So I pray 180 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:06.720 that I will keep on speaking boldly for him as 181 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:08.279 I should. M h. 182 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:14.360 So uh. This is obviously one of the coolest passages. 183 00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:16.279 It's one of my favorites to teach kids. Is it 184 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:17.639 one of your favorite of my favorites. 185 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:20.279 Uh, it's it's one of the coolest passages to teach 186 00:08:20.279 --> 00:08:23.079 in children's church. You know, you can have a lot 187 00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:25.800 of fun with themes, and you know you can bring in, 188 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:28.839 uh a piece of armor. You can you have like 189 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:31.079 a you know, you can buy one of those things, 190 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:33.480 which we of course, I've bought plenty of those just 191 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:36.120 for this lesson here. I've dressed up in armor. I've 192 00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:39.200 bought battles in armor. I've done kids camps with armor. 193 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:42.399 I've done all these sorts of things. And I've actually 194 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:46.799 seen legitimate armor that I wasn't a part of in church, 195 00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:49.279 but actually I've seen it in the castle where you know, 196 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:54.039 the actual uh you know, true you know thing that 197 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:58.000 was created for battle and uh. And it's interesting how 198 00:08:59.159 --> 00:09:01.840 in the first entry, of course, Paul would have written 199 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:06.519 this and every single person would understand what these mean. 200 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:09.240 It's just so symbolic, right, Yeah, so that you know, 201 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:14.399 the the shoes of the Gospel of peace. Wait a minute, no, 202 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:16.879 it's what is it? The shoes of Yeah, is the 203 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:19.759 gospel piece. And then the shield of faith, the helmet 204 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:24.679 of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, Uh, the gird about 205 00:09:24.679 --> 00:09:28.320 your loins with faith? And then what also am I missing? 206 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:30.919 The sword of the Word of God? Right? 207 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:31.399 Yes? 208 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:32.639 So is that it? 209 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:32.840 Did? 210 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:33.600 That cover everything? 211 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:36.559 Sounds like it. Faith is is your shield? 212 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:39.759 Yep? Yeah, and and and so they're all symbolic because 213 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:43.679 the functions of all of these things, uh, they really 214 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:48.480 sort of mimic uh, you know battle, right, So faith 215 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:52.080 is gonna is going to be your defense, right, just 216 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:55.200 like a shield would would stop everything coming your way, 217 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:58.120 the fiery arrows. You know, it takes it takes faith. 218 00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:00.879 And just talk about that alone. You could do an 219 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:04.360 entire six week series one on each one of these things, 220 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:05.679 which I'm sure you've done in the past. 221 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:06.799 Oh yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. 222 00:10:06.840 --> 00:10:08.879 But you know, the show of faith just to be 223 00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:11.840 able to stop whatever's coming your way, it takes faith 224 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:14.639 to say, submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, 225 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:17.039 and he will flee from you, right, even the devil, 226 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:20.000 even the demons believe and they tremble to have that 227 00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:23.919 sort of faith is one of the coolest things. And 228 00:10:23.960 --> 00:10:29.720 it's so symbolic of a warrior, you know, keeping away 229 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:32.360 the defense anyway, he just goes on and on the 230 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:34.480 word of God being a sword. 231 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:38.879 So I think it's interesting, he says to it's the 232 00:10:38.919 --> 00:10:41.679 final word. So he's already written. This is six chapters. 233 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:45.399 He's written in this letter, and he goes, now, let 234 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:48.039 me finish this up. Be strong in the Lord and 235 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:49.840 in his mighty power. So a lot of times I 236 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:51.240 think we make a mistake of trying to be strong 237 00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:53.600 on our own power. Sure, right, we just feel like 238 00:10:53.639 --> 00:10:54.679 what I need to do is I need to be 239 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:57.080 more courageous. I need to be tougher, I need to 240 00:10:57.080 --> 00:10:59.159 be better. He's like, Hey, you don't have any chance 241 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:00.840 to win in this battle if if it's in your 242 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:02.799 own if it's in the flesh. So you have to 243 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:05.799 be strong in the Lord. And then he says, so, 244 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:08.200 then put on all of God's armor so that you'll 245 00:11:08.200 --> 00:11:10.399 be able to stand firm against all the strategies of 246 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:13.639 the devil. He doesn't say, put on some of God's armor. Well, 247 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:16.799 I've got lots of faith. What about the helmet of salvation? 248 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:21.960 You're exposed without the helmet, what about the belt of truth? Right, 249 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:25.039 just because you have faith, if your loins aren't good 250 00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:27.960 about with truth, then you're vulnerable. If you don't have 251 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:30.759 on the you know, the the shoes of the gospel, 252 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:33.279 the piece of the Gospel, then you're going to be vulnerable. 253 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:35.600 So he says, put on the whole armor of God. 254 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:40.159 And so how the Christian life, how God's designed his word, 255 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:42.879 the presence of the Holy Spirit, the challenge and the 256 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:48.559 encouraging accountability of other believers in our life, the keeping 257 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:52.320 our lives wholly and clean, all these things are part 258 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:56.679 of that. They all work in conjunction together to protect us. 259 00:11:56.919 --> 00:11:58.679 And so he's saying, put on all of God's armor. 260 00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:01.039 Don't just put on the moment and run out there, 261 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:03.440 because without the shield, you're going to get wiped out, right, right, 262 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:05.240 You're not going to win without a sword of the spirit. 263 00:12:05.799 --> 00:12:06.039 Right. 264 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:10.120 And so I think that sometimes we as Americans were 265 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:13.000 so independent, we love to kind of make the Christian 266 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:15.919 life be an a la carte thing. I really like 267 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.960 the faith thing, don't really like sharing the gospel thing. 268 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:23.200 I really like the helmet of salvation. But I don't 269 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:26.159 like to just put on the belt of truth. Right, 270 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:28.919 And so it's not an oli cart it's put on 271 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:31.399 the whole armor of God. And a lot of times 272 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:32.960 we want to go halfway and then we wonder why 273 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:35.440 we get completely defeated because we're only go in halfway. 274 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:40.159 Yeah, that's really good. And you know, verse number twelve says, 275 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:44.679 for we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, 276 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:48.840 but against evil rulers and authorities and the unseen world, 277 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:52.639 and against mighty powers in the dark world, and against 278 00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:54.600 evil spirits and the heavenly place. 279 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:58.759 Well, clearly Paul didn't know about Republicans and Democrats because 280 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:00.600 the Christians that listen on our popcast. 281 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:03.799 No, we are fighting against other people, right, Okay. 282 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:05.000 I wonder how you're going with that. 283 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:07.240 We are fighting against other people that we we don't 284 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:09.440 like each other. People are bad, right, and people on 285 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:12.240 the other side of the aisle, they're horrible, and Paul saying, man, 286 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:14.879 it's not the issue, you know, it's it is interesting 287 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:19.039 because that one verse summarizes so much, right because if 288 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:20.759 you think about it, like, you know, here, here are 289 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.519 the Jewish people. 290 00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:26.039 They're under, you know, oppression by the Romans. So constantly 291 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:29.120 there's people walking around who who are you know, they've 292 00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:32.480 already taken your country captive. You're sort of under their regime, 293 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:35.159 and and and everybody, and of course everybody when they 294 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:36.759 think of a Roman soldier. That's what they think of. 295 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:38.519 They think of the hats with the big fluff and 296 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:42.000 the swords and the armor and big red capes, right right, 297 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:44.200 So you already know that, like this is a part 298 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:48.600 of their everyday existence and language, and so they have 299 00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:53.639 constant enemies with armor, they have you know, uh threats. 300 00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:57.200 Paul himself is you know, definitely been. He's been threatened 301 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:00.759 constantly with death. They've seen, they've seen what happened to 302 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:05.159 their savior, who you know, was crucified and mobbed against. 303 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:08.960 And so he's saying, the enemies aren't It's not Kyphas, 304 00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:12.440 it's not the Roman army, right, your enemies? Yeah, I 305 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:14.080 mean there are things that are going to oppose you, 306 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:18.320 and there's persecution of Christians currently, but that's not your 307 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:21.919 real enemy. Your real enemy happens in the unseen world. 308 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:25.759 We're not fighting against flesh and blood. And so it's 309 00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:29.879 interesting because sometimes we think our enemy is, you know, 310 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:33.240 our boss is persecuting us for being a Christian. Have 311 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:37.080 you ever had that? Have you ever been actually persecuted 312 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:41.200 or pointed out or discriminated against because of your faith 313 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:42.720 in a situation. 314 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:44.440 Yeah, I lost the job over the fact that I 315 00:14:44.440 --> 00:14:44.919 was a Christian. 316 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:47.120 Yeah, yeah, like and where tell us? I mean, you 317 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.039 don't have to name the company? 318 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:50.120 Yeah, I had, I had two. No, it was a 319 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:53.279 small business. And the guy hired me and then found 320 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:55.000 out that I was a Christian. Let me know, he 321 00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:57.720 hated working with Christians and that I wasn't going to 322 00:14:57.799 --> 00:15:01.039 last there very long. And then just a few probably 323 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:04.320 two months later, he fired me. Wow, he just couldn't 324 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:07.440 stand me. Yeah, I got I got bench. So you know, 325 00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:09.879 I played a lot of baseball as a kid and 326 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:15.120 a teenager, and I was good and my dad and 327 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:17.679 I my dad came to me after we became Christians, 328 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:19.200 and he said, hey, you know, are we going to 329 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:21.080 make God first? Or are we going to make baseball first? 330 00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:25.720 And you know, Matthew six thirty three seek first his 331 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:28.360 kingdom and his right living and all these other things 332 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:29.200 to be added to you. 333 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:30.279 My dad said, you. 334 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:32.080 Know, maybe we should make a decision about church. Are 335 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:33.759 we going to play on Sundays just because the team's 336 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:34.360 playing on Sundays? 337 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:34.759 Whatever? 338 00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:37.159 And I was playing on teams that played a lot 339 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:40.399 of tournaments, so you know, you had to try out 340 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:41.879 for the team, and then we played tournaments and they'd 341 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:45.200 be like Friday night, Saturday and Sunday championship game. And 342 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:48.679 there were a lot of times where I would I 343 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:51.559 would not play on Sunday morning, right, so I would 344 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:53.600 I would help the team get to the championship game, 345 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:55.639 but then wouldn't play the championship game. And I was 346 00:15:55.639 --> 00:16:00.480 the leadoff batter and the shortstop, so pretty critical both 347 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.399 on offense and defense. 348 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:02.440 Pretty critical spots. 349 00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:05.960 And then we had our youth group was on Wednesday 350 00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:08.919 nights at the time, and so I had gone to 351 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:11.240 one of the coaches and I said, hey, you know, 352 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:13.679 my youth group's on Wednesday night, and my faith is 353 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:15.039 really important to me. I can make it to all 354 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:18.159 the other practices, but I need to leave practice at 355 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:21.320 five o'clock on Wednesdays. And so I had one coach 356 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:23.519 was okay, that's no problem. You know, we'll support it. 357 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:25.679 I wound up getting traded to another team. I wound 358 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:28.399 up being as other coach, and he said it was 359 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:30.440 okay when I got traded. But then after a few 360 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:32.320 weeks he came to me said, no, I think it's 361 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:34.000 a bad precedent. You have to be at the practice. 362 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:36.759 You're not to practice every time. That you leave a 363 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:39.480 practice early, you're going to miss the first three innings 364 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:42.919 of a game. I'm like, okay, And so he started 365 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:46.039 benching me, and then it started. It was first three innings, 366 00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:48.679 and it was the first four innings. Finally, an old 367 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:50.879 coach of mine, we were playing against Demna tournament, came 368 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:53.039 out and goes, hey, how come you're not how come 369 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:55.200 you set out the first half the game? I said, oh, 370 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:57.639 I was coach. Kip decided that was what was best. 371 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:59.799 He goes, is it because it's the church thing practice? 372 00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:02.080 Said yeah, you know, okay, and he traded his center 373 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:04.079 fielder for me right then and put me on it 374 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:05.400 and we went undefeated. 375 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.200 The rest of the season. On thember the team. 376 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:08.039 It was great, but I had so I had a 377 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:11.319 coach who benched me over church attendance, and I had 378 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:13.119 a boss fire me over. 379 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.519 Over the thing. 380 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.920 But you know what, I moved into one of the 381 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:19.400 best jobs I ever ever had after I got fired there. 382 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:22.640 So the Lord works things out. But in the moment, man, 383 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:23.960 you know it's going to cost you a lot. 384 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:27.279 Yeah, and uh, I had. I had a teacher that 385 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:30.039 that publicly opposed me, ridiculed me, and made fun of me. 386 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.880 Because I was a Christian in a public school, by 387 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:35.799 the way, and uh and pointed out and laughed. I 388 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:38.200 mean just everything, and it was just it was like, 389 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:40.039 this is the worst thing in the world. But I 390 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:42.359 remember reading this verse and I remember thinking to myself, like, 391 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:45.200 she's really not the enemy, no, right, like there's a 392 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:49.119 spiritual battle that's happening, and uh and and and it's 393 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:52.640 and it's really trying my faith. It's trying my patience, 394 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:56.240 it's trying my testimony, it's trying my you know, courage, 395 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:59.000 is trying everything and uh. And then she ended up 396 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:01.119 giving me an F. By the way, she gave me 397 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:03.759 an F. And I had to go to my my 398 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:06.960 mom and my dad and we fought it. And then 399 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:09.640 turns out that she changed the rules of her grading 400 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:13.839 system just to make sure that she was able to 401 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:15.799