The Belt of Truth
A Culture of Prayer • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
We studied the weapons of our warfare and the enemy’s weapons. Now we look into the armor of God.
The Armor of God:
The Belt of Truth.
Breastplate of Righteousness
Shoes of the Gospel
Shield of Faith
Helmet of Salvation
Sword of the Spirit
New Spiritual warfare sermon series - the Full Armor of God
Paul wrote Ephesians from a Roman prison and during that time he could see Roman soldiers dressed in the armor walking around the prison. He was actually probably chained to a Roman soldier.
Picture of Roman soldier here. Paul and his readers are very familiar with parts of the Roman soldier’s armor.
The imagery Paul used for every part of the armor is not random - he was very intentional
Picture of belt of a Roman soldier here
The leather belt is tied around a wool tunic. Connected bronze plates hung from the belt like an apron to protect the soldier’s groin area.
It is also called a cingulum, it supports the soldier’s sword, daggers and bronze apron.
Not like a regular belt but more like a girdle.
The belt holds all the other parts of the armor together.
Truth holds together the thought life of a Christian.
Truth is the foundation
The Devil is a slanderer, the accuser of the brethren
feelings of failure, self-doubt, condemnation and shame.
Condemnation is of the devil
Conviction is of the Holy Spirit
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Jesus is the way, the TRUTH and the life.
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
NEXT: The word of God is represented by a sword.
2. Truth and God’s Word are always connected.
From the Lord’s high priestly prayer:
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
The veracity of the Old and New Testaments. There are no contradictions, there are no inconsistencies.
30 As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Study the word of God. Your belt should carry the daggers of God’s word at all times. We’ll study this more in the sermon on the sword of the Spirit.
NEXT: One thing about the belt of a Roman soldier is that they wear it at all times, even when they remove the other parts of the armor.
3. Truth is always carried by the believer.
The true believer has the indwelling presence of the Spirit.
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Christians must be truthful at all times.
Story of the minister, a group of boys and a stray dog.
Christians struggle with telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
NEXT:
As a soldier’s belt or sash gave ease and freedom of movement, so truth gives freedom with self, others, and God.
This freedom of movement is not restricted because he has nothing to hide in himself, before others and to God.
4. Truth gives freedom.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
The victorious Christian lives out the truth.
You heard the expression “you are living a lie!” or “you’re a fake!”
Living the Truth.
This aspect of truth is different from the facts and the immutable truth of God’s word...it deals with the victorious Christian’s integrity and faithfulness.
No double identity.
Reputation vs. Character.
NEXT: Insight from Charles Stanley
Next: The belt or girdle is in the abdominal area - so what does it protect?
Protects the organs of the body related to digestion of food and elimination of waste.
Truth must be the filter for all perceptions, ideas and dreams. - Charles Stanley
This filter we have in us is our worldview.
5. Our worldview must be framed by the truth of God.
This is so vital: living in the age of confusion, grifting and gaslighting
There are stages of deception.
If you are already caught up in a lie (for whatever reason), you are under deception.
a) Stage of unawareness or ignorance:
If you are not sure about what is true and what is a lie, you are living in a state of confusion.
Ignorance brings confusion.
b) Stage of indifference:
If you are intentionally entertaining things that you know is a lie, you are living in a state of delusion.
c) Stage of Self-deception.
If you are basing your dreams on a lie then you are living an illusion.
Third soil in the parable of the sower.
22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
This is where our witness to the world is based on God’s truth.
The truth claims of scripture must intersect the truth claims in the public square.