Armor of God - The Girdle of Truth

Background - Paul as he is writing this letter I can only imaging each and every day he was seeing Roman Soldiers come and go. In fact, he was likely chained to one. Eph. 6:20, says he was in chains.

Ephesians 6:20 (NASB95)

for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

I have already discussed the history of Ephesus, but we know it was a Roman colony and so Paul using the analogy of a Roman soldier’s armor would have resonated very clearly with them. Perhaps some of the believers in the church were even soldiers or former soldiers themselves.

Ephesians 6:10-17.

Many of you know I use to coach Football. One of my jobs on the coaching staff was to break down film from the team we were going to compete against that week.

The Purpose

I would look for tendencies. Run vs Pass,

Did they like going left or Right,

When did they play aggressive and when would they be more reserved

Where their players on their team we could take advantage off

The list was quite extensive… (btw… the opposing team does the same thing to us)

but the point is, we wanted to know the other team so well, so that during the game we could anticipate plays and hopefully gain an advantage over them.

This is exactly what Paul is suggesting to you and I as we walk the Christian life. We need to know our offensive and defensive strategy so well that when the enemy engages us, we know what we need to do.

This morning and the next several weeks, it is my hope we can leave here with a game plan in place for us all to have success in defeating the Enemy.

Let’s Begin

Christ is our Source of Victory

Ephesians 6:10 (NASB95)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

If you will recall the first 3 chapters of Ephesians we are reminded (who we are “in Christ”)…

We were chosen in Christ

We are made alive by Christ

By Grace we are saved because of Christ

We are heirs with Christ

We have direct Access to God because of Christ

Then in chapters 4-6 of Ephesians we are reminded (what we can do “because of Christ”)…

Christ working in us gives us unity with one anther,

We are able to have effective marriages when we do it Christ way

Now we are being given the Armor that only Christ can provide

Chris has already gained victory and defeated all our enemies, which are the world, the flesh, and the devil by His death and resurrection on the cross.

Christ is our source of Victory…

Romans 8:31b (NASB95)

If God is for us, who is against us?

Warren Weirsbe says it this way, Because of Christ “we are not fighting for victory, we fighting from victory!”

In other words, the victory is ours when we do it His way.

Our Resources to Victory is God’s Armor

Ephesians 6:11 (NASB95)

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

We will get into each piece and function of the armor in the next several weeks, but notice the key word FULL

There is not a sane soldier in the world who goes into war only partially equipped. If they do, they know the chances of them surviving are slim to none.

We will not and cannot have success in defeating our enemy if we only put on part of the armor. Ephesians 4:27, reminds us to not give the devil an opportunity. When we go to war with him partially dressed he will exploit that missing peace of our armor.

Key to Victory is to Know the Enemy

Ephesians 6:12 (NASB95)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

There is a growing trend in Christian circles today (40%) to act like Satan is not real, in fact they believe and teach he is only a symbol of evil.

I am here to tell you he is very real and fact there are so many who believe him to be fake is only further evidence of his deception.

Make no mistake… when you begin to do things God’s way, the devil will come after you and attack you in you weakest areas. He has your game film… he has studied it and he knows your tendencies.

John 10:10a (NASB95)

“The thief (satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

Last week we talked about Satan and the things he does. If you will recall…

John 8:44, he is called a murder and a liar.

Revelation 12:9-10, he is a deceiver, he is the accuser

He is going to find any weakness you have and exploit them to the fullness.

Prepare for Battle

Ephesians 6:13 (NASB95)

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Notice there is a call to action in this verse…

We must “take up” the armor. God is not going to dress you… you have to make an active choice to believe God’s way is the best way and choose to take up the Full Armor, not part, but the Full Armor of God.

Resist - the Greek word carries to idea to be hostile towards the object you are resisting.

Evil day - What day is he talking about? Is there a particular day we are suit up? Ephesians 5:16

Ephesians 5:16 NASB95

making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Stand Firm - to face and withstand with courage

Roman Soldier

Girdle of Truth

Ephesians 6:14a (NASB95)

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth,

What does it mean to gird your loins?

Back in that time error, men wore long tunics, when they were relaxed or just walking around the house.

If they were going to do anything strenuous, they would then gird their tunic by putting on a belt. This would bring it up and allow them to walk or run more freely.

Example of the So people…

Elijah when he outran Ahab girded his garment. 1 Kings 18:46

1 Kings 18:46 (NASB95)

Then the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel.

The Israelites when they observed the Passover were to eat it with the loins girded… Exodus 12:11

Exodus 12:11 (NASB95)

‘Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste—it is the Lord’s Passover.

Before God questioned Job, he told Job to gird his loins… another words be read to give and answer. Job 38:3

Job 38:3 (NASB95)

“Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!

The Belt that girded the garment for the Roman soldier was probably the most important part of the armor.

It was the belt that held other pieces of the armor in place. Without it the Armor will not work and stay attached properly to the soldier. Just like the belt… without Truth our faith and Christian walk falls apart all together.

Paul refers to this belt as Truth…

As believers we have to be able to deal in absolute truth…

There are two aspects of Truth…

Living in Truth

The Person of Truth

Living in Truth

Satan is a liar and all he speaks are lies… if we do not live lives of truth then we will surely fall for one of his lies.

He likes to tell us about our past failures…

Church is full of hypocrites

Just a little sin won’t hurt me

If I look at pornography it’s not really cheating because I am only by myself

If I read this dirty book it’s no big deal

I can cheat in school everyone does it

The kind of movies I watch don’t matter, its just entertainment.

Just reading my Bible on Sundays and listening to the Pastor preach is good enough for my Christian life.

God is a God of love, so maybe the is noting wrong with homosexuality or the LGBQT etc… moment… After all love is love right?

Babies really aren't humans until they are serval weeks or even months old in the woman womb… so abortion really isn't all that bad.

The list goes on and on…

When we are living a lie and or telling lies… life is unstable at best and most of the times is downright miserable.

David understood this when he sinned with Bathsheba… he tried to hide it, but it nearly destroyed him… in fact his family never did fully recover from his sin. Psalms 32:3-4

Psalm 32:3–4 (NASB95)

When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.

A victorious Christian will learn to live in truth…

Satan hates truth. He knows once you and I start living in truth day in and day out… he is being erased out of our hearts, minds, and conversations.

Secondly and most importantly is The Person of Truth…

Jesus when talking to believers says this… John 8:31-32

John 8:31–32 (NASB95)

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

The biggest component and key to victory in our battle against Satan and Sin is first to put on the Belt of Truth which the Word, Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus said in John 14:6

John 14:6 (NASB95)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Notice the Word Truth…

Jesus is Truth… His ways are the only way to Victory.

Psalm 119:11 (NASB95)

Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

My Challenge to you this morning is simple.

Are you living in Truth? Are you in God’s Word? Are you living a life free of lies?

If not then you need to be asking yourself why?

Confessing the sin of lies in your life, and get into real truth that is God’s Word… this is the first step to true freedom and victory.

When you begin to live a life of truth, it is intoxicating.

When you have nothing to hide, there is complete joy to be had as a Christian.