The Belt and Breastplate

These teachings come at the culmination of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. A letter in which follows a similar pattern to other of his letters.

The belt, or girdle as it is sometimes called, was a piece of gear for a soldier that was made to gather his garments together as well as hold his sword.

In the first 3 chapters, Paul’s teaching is primarily doctrinal - things to believe.

Since the typical dress of that day was long and flowing for men and women, usually consisting of an under cloth like a loincloth, and a robe, it was difficult to run swiftly with that excess material.

Girding up the loins, then, was the act of gathering all that fabric together and consolidating it, and in this case, tucking it tightly into the belt so it wouldn’t fall and get in the way.

1 Peter 1:13 KJV 1900

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Girding up the loins was a picture of readiness - preparedness. The belt was not “armor,” but the solider was not prepared without it, so it was as pivotal a part of his gear as any.

Paul compares this girdle, or belt, with the truth. The belt, tightly fastened, gave the soldier a feeling of inner fortitude and confidence to move about his duties. So, too, the truth is our inner stay.

Paul starts with truth, and we can say rightly, that our battle with the Evil forces must begin with God’s truth, and we cannot be prepared without it. All the other elements of our gear fall apart without this belt of truth.

Next, Paul speaks of the breastplate of righteousness. This is the first true piece of “armor” he mentions, and it covers the vital organ - the heart.

Paul borrows this language from the Prophet Isaiah, who speaks of the Lord in this way.

Isaiah 59:17 KJV 1900

For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, And an helmet of salvation upon his head; And he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloke.

Righteousness is spoken of in two ways in the scripture.

Imputed righteousness

practical righteousness

All believer’s have the imputed righteousness of Christ on their account, which is how they are made accepted before God and can stand before Him.

But all who have been declared righteous are called to live righteously.

God, Himself, is righteous. He himself is clothed in righteousness, and we, too, are called to live righteously by the strength that he provides.

I think it is fitting, too, that the breastplate covers the heart, because that is the first place where God desires righteousness.

Proverbs 4:23 KJV 1900

Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.

Truth and righteousness are part of who God is, and they are part of what God loves. Truth holds all things together, because God holds all things together and He is true.

He covers the plan of God in salvation, the way of salvation, the purpose of salvation, the believer’s position in Christ, and many of the benefits and joys of being a follower of Christ.

Ephesians 6:14 KJV 1900

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

In chapter 4, Paul gets to the “therefore.” In other words, because of everything i have just said, this is how it should play out in your life.

He speaks of walking in a worthy manner according to our calling.

He speaks of the unity of the body of Christ, and the goal of everyone growing in Christ to maturity.

He speaks of the new life, the way of obedience, being kind to one another, forgiving, even as God in Christ forgave you.

He speaks, in chapter 5, of being imitators of God, which looks like walking in love.

He speaks of the Christian household, laying out the pattern for Christian marriage, family, and how we interact with those who are over us in authority, and those under us in authority.

In other words, Paul gets down to the brass tacks. The nitty gritty of life. The details, and says that what Christ has done for us in salvation has effect on all of those things.

But when we reach our portion of Ephesians, this section in which he introduces the Armor of God, he reminds his readers once again that this is more than just a visible, physical battle with things that meet our eye and things we can touch.

He reminds us that the war we wage, the struggles that ensue, and the difficulties that we all face in life are in many ways spiritual realities.

And not just a spiritual reality, but a spiritual war.

All the realities and the ideals of Ephesians 4-6 are things that our enemy is dead-set against. Even the realities of our relationships, such as husband and wife, parents to children, worker to employee, will not be lived out without this battle raging on within them. For our enemy detests what God says is good, and puts forth as good what God says is evil.

Ephesians 6:10–11 KJV 1900

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

What’s the Big Idea?

Ephesians 6:12 KJV 1900

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

In order to be prepared to stand against Satan’s schemes, we must love truth and righteousness more than his ploys.

Ephesians 6:13 KJV 1900

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

What’s the Big Idea?

Because of the power and schemes of the Devil, we must have strength, endurance, and armor that are greater than his attacks.

What to Know

We must know our battle.

Looking at these verses before us, what are some defining characteristics of the battle that we face?

schemes of the devil

we wrestle against spiritual powers

Who is involved in this battle?

We must know our enemy.

1 Peter 5:8 KJV 1900

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Isaiah 14:12–14 KJV 1900

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

What has been the Devil’s goal since the first human beings existed?

Deception

In the book of revelation, we still find his goal as being to deceive the nations.

What are some of the schemes that satan uses?

Deception

Lust

Fear

Discouragement

We must know our weakness.

Matthew 26:40–41 KJV 1900

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

The battle of Peter was the battle of all of us. We may have good and renewed desires, but our flesh is weak.

Later on, Paul will describe what we need as a shield of faith, because the evil one furls fiery darts at us.

The flesh is a soft target for the fiery darts of the evil one.

Our weakness comes in various ways, and our weakness comes at inopportune times.

The Devil is not afraid to kick us when we are down.

Being alert to these things is half the battle, because too often we walk around as if none of this exists, and none of it is relevant.

But understanding that spiritual warfare is pervasive and affects every part of life, it makes Paul’s clarion call to be ready and stand all the more important.

What to Believe

We must believe in Christ.

Ephesians 1:4–7 KJV 1900

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

The beauty of the plan of redemption, from eternity past.

Every person is involved in this spiritual war, but in Christ we have a champion and deliverer.

We must believe in the strength of Christ.

Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.

Ephesians 1:19–20 KJV 1900

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

What is the extent of the power of God’s might?

the resurrection

creation

sustaining

upholding all things

Psalm 93:4–5 KJV 1900

The Lord on high is mightier Than the noise of many waters, Yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. Thy testimonies are very sure: Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.

Christ is strong and mighty, but he is also good and righteous.

We must believe in the sufficiency of God’s armor.

Putting on God’s armor is fighting with the resources that God provides.

We can think of these things in a couple of ways.

God’s armor, as in, the armor that God himself wears.

Not entirely out of order, because all of these things are descriptive of God’s attributes.

God is Truth, God is Righteous, God is Peace, God is Faithful, God is Salvation, and God has elevated his word, the Sword of the Spirit, above his very name.

God, being all these things, supplies all these things.

What is the stated purpose of putting on the armor of God?

That we might be able to stand. So what is the opposite conclusion?

We cannot stand apart from the resources that God provides.

2 Peter 1:3 KJV 1900

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Psalm 23:1 KJV 1900

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

What to Do

“Faith in Action”

This is the “So What.”

Because we know our battle, we know our enemy, we know our weakness

Because we believe in Christ, in the Strength of Christ, and the sufficiency of God’s armor, therefore...

We must be strong in the Lord and fight.

Joshua 1:9 KJV 1900

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

What is the encouragement that is given to Joshua in this verse?

The presence of Christ with us is the constant supply for our battle.

Psalm 139:7–10 KJV 1900

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.

With God leading us, what can we fear? What can discourage us?

Of course, sometimes God leads us through dark seasons.

What are some reasons that we can trust our Savior and be strong in him even when he leads us in dark seasons?

He is good

He is wise

He is faithful

Because we are in the Lord, and strong in Him. we stand.

Verse 11, twice in 13, again in verse 14.

So we stand strong in the Lord, but there is another aspect. In the verse, it is almost assumed. But we should take notice.

“We wrestle...”

We do fight. With the resources that God provides, we fight. We hold his ground.

What are ways that we might be tempted to back away from the fight, rather than battling?

We must get dressed.

God has supplied his armor, but we must get dressed. We must utilize his resources.

This is where faith comes to action.

We can say, til we’re blue in the face, that we believe that Christ is all powerful, that we believe his truth is secure, that we believe his righteousness is a shield, that we believe the Word of God is a twoedged sword. But saying we believe all this and acting on that belief are two different things.

What are some ways that we might show that we really do not rely on God’s resources?

Ephesians 2:8–10 KJV 1900

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

salvation is more than just an initial act, and even more than an eternal hope. It is a present reality, and God has a plan.

What is involved in this plan?

Good works

What is the purpose of our good works?

not salvation, as the scripture makes so clear. But to glorify God and advance His cause.

Ephesians 4:14–15 KJV 1900

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Getting dressed is largely being prepared. As we walk and grow in the Lord, we grow in his wisdom when we put on his armor.

God has given everything we need, do we put it on?

What are some very practical and simple ways that the devil may seek to attack you this week?

Anything really specific that you would like prayer for?

What are some encouragements and takeaways from this overview that can help us in our battle?

What to Know

We must know where we stand.

No good soldier can fight for his country if he does not have a heart of honor for that nation, and that is true even more with believers.

Since the call to follow Christ is a call to action, devotion, obedience, and to battle, then it is something that cannot be done apart from a firm allegiance to Him.

Joshua understood this

Joshua 24:15 KJV 1900

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

It is good to be called to examine ourselves. Where are you with the Lord?

2 Peter 1. Peter, “make your calling and election sure.” “it is good for me to remind you of these things, even though you are established in them.

Does it seem good for you to serve the Lord?

Any testimony of having to stand firmly on the side of serving Christ?

We must know God’s love of truth.

I said earlier, that Truth and Righteousness are what God is - they are his very attributes. But they are also what He loves.

Psalm 51:6 KJV 1900

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: And in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

God desires truth in the inner man.

What does it mean for truth to penetrate into the inner man, the deepest parts of us?

What does it look like when truth is only surface deep?

Proverbs 12:22 KJV 1900

Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: But they that deal truly are his delight.

We see here another aspect of truth. Because God is truth, and He gives us the truth. But he also desires for us to be truthful.

What does that verse tell us about those who are truthful?

If God delights in truth, shouldn’t we aspire to delight in it?

Moxie illustration

We must know God’s love of righteousness.

The same, then, can be said of righteousness.

In just the same way that God is righteous, and he gives us his righteousness through Christ, he also desires that we live in righteousness.

Psalm 33:4–5 KJV 1900

For the word of the Lord is right; And all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Do you see how those verses bring these two subjects together?

Truth and righteousness.

What does this verse tell us about God’s works?

If God’s works are all done in truth, then whatever his work in our life is is according to truth.

Also, his examination of our life is according to truth. There should be a desire for genuineness in our hearts.

What to Believe

We must believe that God is Truthful and Righteous.

Knowing where we stand and knowing what God loves is important, but having a firm confidence in God is vital.

With every person that we deal with, there is always a chance of disappointment. There is always a chance of failure.

Some of you have been married for many many years. Over 60 i beleive for some of you.

The longer you are with a person, the more you understand that they will let you down in certain ways.

But what about God?

Isaiah 59:17 KJV 1900

For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, And an helmet of salvation upon his head; And he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloke.

What does that verse picture the Lord as?

If the Lord is the first warrior, and he is righteous and truthful, and if all his ways are true, then we can follow him into battle.

We must believe that God’s ways are good and right.

Believing in who God is leads us to confidence and trust with what God does.

Psalm 23:4 KJV 1900

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Testimony of health struggles, the Lord’s leading.

Proverbs 14:12 KJV 1900

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.

What does this verse tell us about our judgment?

Deuteronomy 32:1–4 KJV 1900

Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, My speech shall distil as the dew, As the small rain upon the tender herb, And as the showers upon the grass: Because I will publish the name of the Lord: Ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: For all his ways are judgment: A God of truth and without iniquity, Just and right is he.

What is God called in that scripture? What is he compared to?

What are we told about his work and his ways?

We must believe that we are new creatures.

Sometimes we face discouragement because we find the battle against the flesh and our enemy so defeating.

It is in these times that we must rest firmly on who God is, but we also must trust him for the work that he says he is doing within us.

Ephesians 4:24 KJV 1900

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Speaking of getting dressed, what are we called to put on?

And what does it say about that new man?

The whole Bible is a story of creation that is moving toward new creation. Ultimately new heaven and new earth, but each child of God is a re-creation by the work of His hand.

“Putting on” again is apprehending what God supplies. So “putting on the new man” is living in light of the new creation God is working within you.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

What becomes new in Christ?

Can you list some of those things from your own study and walk with the Lord?

What God calls you, you are. In Christ, he declares you righteous and new before Him.

We walk in truth and righteousness, not to make our way to God or to impress Him, but we walk in truth and righteousness because he has freed us to do so in our new nature, our new creation.

What to Do

Affirm the truth of the Gospel.

Very simply, I have to ask. Do you believe the Gospel?

Ephesians 1:13 KJV 1900

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

What does that tell us that the Gospel is?

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Word of Truth. It is the basic element of truth that we believe as Christians. It is a message of truth for all of life.

Do you believe it?

If so, do you live in it every day? Do you see, every day, the Gospel for what it is - good news?

Does that good news fill your life, which is a new creation in Christ, with joy and peace and hope?

Practice uprightness in every situation.

Since we have been made righteous before God, God calls us to live righteously.

Practical righteousness can be summed up very simply - right relationship with God and Man.

Proverbs 14:2 KJV 1900

He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

What is the relationship between our walk with the Lord and our mindset about righteousness?

God’s way’s are good and his call to righteousness is good. He does not establish his ways to be a killjoy, but because as the designer, he has all wisdom and perfect insight about how the design is to function.

What are some ways our homes might change if God’s righteous ways were honored? Our societies?

Live in integrity.

If uprightness, or practical righteousness, is a right relationship toward God and others, then integrity can be seen as our fidelity, our truth in the inward being.

Proverbs 28:6 KJV 1900

Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

What is the value of uprightness?

Do riches have any real power?

1 Peter 3:16 KJV 1900

Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

What happens when we are people of integrity and we are accused of wrongdoing?

Who is our ultimate judge and vindicator?

Yield ourselves to God and His work.

At the end of the day, we will be faced with times in our life where we are puzzled and have to honestly ask God, “why?”

Can you think of any examples in the scripture of when God’s plan seemed strange, but God’s ways were proved anyway?

What about in your own life?

Romans 6:13 KJV 1900

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Romans 6:18 KJV 1900

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

What are some things we talked about this evening that show us that God is worthy to yield ourselves to?

What has God done, according to that scripture, that makes it possible for us to yield ourselves to him?

The strength to give in is a grace of God. Giving in to the Lord is the most valiant action we can take in our spiritual war.