One Enemy - Belt of Truth

Good morning & Welcome to New Hope!

At a conference Thursday in Columbus, OH I heard one of the funniest youth group stories I’ve ever heard… Airsoft in the church… The youth and workers thought they were playing a game, but the cop was dead serious!

So it is today in this world - many are not aware of the seriousness in which we live. Many are not aware that we are currently engaged in war. There is a battle raging, but some of us don’t realize it; some of us are not taking it seriously; some of us are losing the fight. But make no mistake - we are all in the middle of it.

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

LISTEN UP! This is important. Here’s the last thing I need to tell you. Be strong! But don’t just be strong the way you might think of being strong. It’s not about you and your strength; how much you can bench press; how much you can squat. It’s not really even how strong you are mentally; some of you are pretty mentally tough.

Paul is very clear that we are to be strong IN THE LORD AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER…PERIOD!

We are to be strong in the Lord because we are in a battle. There’s a war raging around us. And just because we may not see it clearly doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist.

Who’s the problem? Oh, I get it… It’s my mother-in-law! She’s evil. It’s my boss at work! He’s so unfair. It’s my strong-willed child! I just don’t know if I’m strong enough to keep going. It’s my ex-; It’s my coach; It’s my teacher; It’s those people posting sutff on FB; It’s my ________.

No, no, no… Paul says...

11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

The KJV says stand firm against the WILES of the devil - trickery, schemeing, deceitfulness,

The devil would like nothing more than to trip up as many as he can from living whole-heartedly for Jesus. He’d like to do nothing more than to get us to put it in neutral and coast on in. He would like nothing more than to splinter the church. He would like nothing more than to break up your family. He would like nothing more than to destroy your relationship with Jesus. He would like nothing more than to help you think that you aren’t good enough, that you could never make it being a devoted follower of Jesus, that you shouldn’t even try and apply yourself to godly living.

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies (Oh, yes we are…Oh yes we do…), but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies (Oh, yes we are…Oh yes we do…that seems to be one of our issues), but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

The forces that we fight against are powerful, evil, & deceitful. Power in and of itself isn’t bad. But when you combine powerful with evil, that’s a dangerous combination. Then, when you combine that with the cunningness, craftyness, and deceitfulness, we have a formidable advesary. And because of all this what are we to do?

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

In order for us to stand against the powerful, evil, & deceitful attacks from the enemy we need to be covered in God’s armor. We can’t do it on our own. Even though we try. Even though we think we are capable. Even though in the good times we think all is well. Every piece of God’s armor is significant. I believe we will see throughout this series how every piece of armor plays a significant role, and without one piece we are vulnerable.

14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth

ESV Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth

NKJV Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth

NASB95 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH

KJV 1900 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth

Let’s begin this morning with an understanding of the writer and location of writing this message.

Paul is writing this letter to the church at Ephesus from a Roman prison, chained by the wrist to a Roman soldier. Night and day, a soldier was there with him ensuring that he would not escape. Can you imagine being that Roman soldier? Man, I bet he got an earfull of the Gospel. There’s nothing in me that believes Paul would have been groaning & complaining about being wrongly imprisoned. In fact, I bet he was a model prisoner - polite, kind, considerate; but bold, confident, & sure of the truth.

So as he writes, he sits and looks at this man who he’s joined with. Plus, he has seen his fair share of roman soldiers in his travels. So he forms this picture of the Roman solider and his armor, and the thought of a soldier going into battle, and to his mind comes this thought - Christians have armor too.

And he begins with the first piece of equipent that a soldier needs - his belt. May seem a little strange as this wouldn’t be something on the top of my list for battle. How about the sword (no), shield (no), helmet (no)… a belt.

But the belt was extremely important. Usually made of leather, the belt was able to hold together one’s gathered tunic. It ensured that he was unimpeded when marching, working, or in battle. The belt also carried the scabbard, without which there would be no place to put a sword. Imagine a soldier going to battle without his chief weapon, the sword.

Example...

ESV Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth

gird - encircle; loins - both sides of spine between ribs & hips

NKJV Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth

NASB95 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH

KJV 1900 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth

gird - encircle; loins - both sides of spine between ribs & hips

gird - encircle; loins - both sides of spine between ribs & hips

When is the last time you heard someone say, “Gird your loins”?

“Turn your robe into running shorts. Pull them up between your legs and tuck them into your belt.”

When is the last time you heard someone say, “Gird your loins”?

“Tighten up your belt” or “tighten things up” Pull in all the loose ends of your life. Be prepared. Be ready.

“Tighten up your belt” or “tighten things up” Pull in all the loose ends of your life. Be prepared. Be ready.

You don’t want to be in battle and give your opponent an unfair advantage by grabbing your skirt and pulling it over your head.

Just as fitting as it is to begin with the belt, so fitting it is that Paul begins with TRUTH. Truth is the bedrock, cornerstone, foundation, the anchor that does not shift. TRUTH is not a moving target. Truth is truth!

says, “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”

Truth of dictrine? Truth of heart (sincerity or integrity)? Yes! One will not do without the other.

The devil is a liar…full of lies…It’s vitally important for us to know the truth. It’s important for us to do more than to know truth, but to live it out.

God requires truth in his followers of Jesus. May your yes be yes and your no be no. The disciple must at all costs be honest and truthful; lovers of the light and transparent truth.

To be deceitful, to be dishonest, to be a schemer is to play the devils game. The devil loves the darkness; the light causes him to flee; He despises what is good, noble, and true.

Are you ready? Are you prepared? Are you taking things serious?

Offertory - Invite Rose up

Celebrate 5 kiddos received Jesus Wednesday night at AWANA

Wonderful Chili cook-off - $2,400; Should be breaking ground early spring

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