The Armor: Belt of Truth

Intro:

Over the last few weeks we have been in this series of “The Armor of God.”

We have come to understand a few things …..

As a christian (Followers of Christ) we will face “Battles” in our lives.

THE ENEMY DOESN'T BOTHER THOSE THAT AREN'T A THREAT!

IF YOU'RE WALKING HIS WAY DOING HIS WILL He is GONNA LEAVE YOU ALONE COMPLETELY.

BUT THE MOMENT YOU STEP OUT , AND TRY TO HONOR GOD .

FLAGS GO UP ALL OVER HELL AND DEMONS ARE RELEASED TO STOP YOU FROM DOING WHAT GOD PUT IN YOUR HEART .

“The devil wouldn’t be attacking you so hard if there wasn’t something valuable in you. Thieves don’t break into empty houses.” - Matthew McConaughey

But I have some good news for us today ….

“The war has been won!” (read Revelations)

The enemy has been defeated (Christ and the Cross)

The enemy is trying to take as many with him (To Hell).

This is the Battles we face today.

The first things Paul has done in this section of scripture, …… he has given those of the faith a checklist …..

Set the Tone (Setting our mind on Christ)

Adhere to instructions (Bible)

Focus on the true enemy (Satan)

Stay alert and do not become complacent (Having the full armor placed on us every day)

Then we looked at how Paul used 2 “Visual Aids”

The Devil (Who the enemy is)

The Roman Soldier (Attire)

The Belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet, and sword.

Then Paul shows us (through the Holy Spirit) the Schemes (Methods) the Enemy will try to to use which are 6 things ….

Lies (Belt of truth)

Unrighteousness (Breastplate of Righteousness)

Fear (Shoes of Readiness of the mind to advance in the battle: Keep moving forward in Christ)

Distrustful, hate, etc. (Shield from the evil darts)

Doubt (Helmet of Salvation)

Scripture (Jesus Temptation) (The Sword – Word of God)

Then Paul helps us to see that when in battle all we are to do is “STAND.”

And to withstand these attacks we will find that Prayer is the Key.

Ephesians 6:18 “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,”

Remember the quote from a couple weeks ago …. “Satan laughs at our toiling, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” Unknown

What’s Paul telling us? If we are not in this continual aspect of prayer …..

Lies will creep in.

Acts of unrighteousness will come to mind

Fear will try to take over

Your faith will wither

You will start to question your salvation

Scripture will be used as a weapon against you.

Finally, Last week we talked about how “The Armor of God” is not something WE PUT ON but its something “WE RECEIVE” from God.

What was key to this thought?

The Armor is not something we produce but something the Lord gives to us by placing it upon us.

HIs strength …. his power!

BODY:

This week lets start looking at each individual piece of the armor.

Ephesians 6:13–20“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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Paul introduces this idea of putting on the whole armor of God by starting out with the most significant piece: the “Belt of Truth.”

When we picture a soldier “the belt” is not the first item we would recognize.

Or if your are like me, when I was younger I considered a belt an accessory not something mandatory.

Of course over the years I have changed my mind and come to realize it is something I need to hold my pants up.

If we go back into the days of Paul, there is a significant reason Paul uses the Belt in this metaphor when it comes to the Armor of God.

First off, we must look at the location of the belt.

Waist - The part of the human body between the ribs and the hips.

In biblical descriptions, the waist can symbolize strength, readiness, or vulnerability.

In a culture in which men wore long, flowing garments, belts cinched them up in preparation for battle

His belt was not a mere adornment of the soldier, but an essential part of his equipment.

The belt, in physical warfare, was fastened or buckled around the short tunic worn by the soldier. Thus his limbs were braced up for action.

Both breastplate and sword (when not in use) were subsequently attached to this belt.

The belt, therefore, was very important. It was a basic need.

So we may be able to say the same is true when it comes to spiritual warfare: truthfulness is the basic quality needed by the warrior.

By the way, in the book of Ephesians, Paul has been stressing against the deceitfulness that characterizes the man of the world.

Ephesians 4:15 “….., speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,”

Ephesians 5:6 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”

Ephesians 5:9 “(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).”

—Truth is the basic quality needed by the warrior.

What do we know about truth when it comes to God’s word?

Lets look at what scripture tells us about truth!

The Greek word is (Aletheia) …

When it is used (objectively), it is signifying “the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; it’s the veritable essence of a matter.

Galatians 2:5 “to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.” ….. where “the truth of the Gospel” denotes the “true” teaching of the Gospel, in contrast to perversions of it.

Romans 15:8 “For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,” ….. “the truth of God” is indicative of His faithfulness in the fulfillment of His promises as exhibited in Christ.

I like what Ephesians 4:25 states ….“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.”

This is what this word “Aletheia” means “The truth of the matter!”

What all do we know about truth when it comes to God?

Lets look at His word (Which by the way is known as Truth).

John tells us that Jesus is truth:

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Jesus even tells us in John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

We read as well that the Holy Spirit is Truth:

John 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”

John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

What are some of the results when it comes to truth?

When truth is not being obeyed:

Romans 2:8 “but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”

Freedom comes from truth:

John 8:32 “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

By Paul listing the Belt first he is emphasizing that Christians should keep this belt tightly fastened at all times, especially during spiritual attacks, to prevent compromising the truth and giving the enemy an opportunity.

Conclusion:

What does this mean for us today?

We must live in truth, walk in truth, claim the truth, and celebrate the truth!

LIVE?

If we understand that Christ/Holy Spirit is truth then let us live in Him/let Him live in us!

The old self must die …. the new creation is to live in truth (Christ)!

How many of us have been told a lie by the enemy ….. “You’re a terrible person! You’re crazy? You’re not loved! You’re going to hell! You’re feeling (Fill in the blank with whatever negative feeling you are dealing with) ….”

(You might be feeling this way) You can’t trust your feeling!

I am not telling you how you feel! I just telling you it’s no true!

Recant the story of Adam and Eve:

Eve doubted God because of what the enemy said to her.

Doubt is a feeling …. of uncertainty or lack of confidence about something.

Eve doubted God …. she was uncertain or lacked the confidence about what God had said.

If Adam and Eve would have just not trusted this feeling of doubt and claimed the truth we might not be in the mess we are in today.

What we have just talked about are lies the enemy.

You’re not a terrible person in Christ.

You are loved by Christ.

You’re not going to hell (You are a child of the Most High God).

You might be feeling a certain way (Anger, fear, depression or whatever negative feeling you are having)

Its been brought on by a lie and what do we know ???????

The truth can and will set you free.

Allow the Holy Spirit to Strap on the belt of Truth “Tight and Right.”

Lets continue to ….. or get back to living in the truth!

Declaration:

I affirm that a battle for my soul is underway. I will accept the belt of truth from the Holy Spirit, empowering me to counter the enemy's deceptions. With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, I will identify these lies and replace them with the unwavering truth of God. As a new creation in Christ, I will embrace His life-giving and liberating truth. Each day, I will invite the Holy Spirit to fasten the belt of truth around me—secure and fitting! Tight and Right! I declare this in Jesus’ name. Amen!