Spiritual Armor

During one of my summer home visits during College, I was at working as youth pastor in my home church. We had a bus ministry and would pick up kids from a trailer park near by. On the side of the bus we had printed the name of our church and the worship time. As I was passing by the bus one day I noticed for the first time that someone had changed the word “Worship” to “Warship” I can only imagine why someone may have done that.

Over the past few Sundays we have been talking about Spiritual warfare. Today we are going to take specifically about the Armor that God Commands us to put on. Lets read . The words “Put on” is an imperative - a command. It literally means to “take up” or “lift up”… meaning you have to put some effort into it!

I’ve never had to put on Military Combat Armor. However, I have a Nephew who served in the Marines. While visiting his home, he brought out the equipment that he wore out in the field during combat. He had a belt where he carried his side arm, extra ammunition , a Canteen - His flack Jacket - His backpack - and a few other pieces of equipment that he put on when he went out onto the battle field.

The First part of the Armor that God tells us to put on is “The Belt of Truth”

Today we will look at it as...

The Battle for Truth...

What is truth? As defined by Webster it is:

the quality or state of being true

that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality

Spiritually speaking, It is the truth about Jesus and the truth that is in Him…

Ephesians 4:21 NIV

21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father accept by me.”

Truth is our convictions standing firm within our heart as to Who God is and his Revelation, which for us today, comes from the Bible. Not someone’s interpretation of the Bible. Not from what man thinks God means. But by what God actually says.

The Belt of Truth holds up everything we believe about God based on what the Bible tells us.

Today the Battle for truth comes from those who ask the question: can we really trust in what the Bible says? Is that really what Jesus said? How do you know the Bible is true?

Several years ago when someone asked me if I believed in the literal 6 days of creation and the 7th day of rest, I said yes. They suggested that my thoughts were archaic and science proves otherwise. What this person failed to understand is that Science can only prove what is factual based on reality and the rest of what people say about creation is speculation or theory.

ILLUSTRATION: On December 30, 2014 this article appeared in Wall Street Journal… it says: This past weekend, Eric Metaxas lit up the world with his bold article in the Wall Street Journal, Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God. What he argues, specifically is that to the best of our knowledge, this is our planet:

while this is every other planet out there.

Which is to say, we live in a particularly privileged place. We live on a planet that has all the right ingredients for life, including:

We’re at the right distance from our Sun so that temperatures are conducive to life.

We have the right atmospheric pressure for liquid water at our surface.

We have the right ingredients — the right balance of heavy elements and organic molecules — for life to arise.

We have the right amount of water so that our world has both oceans and continents.

And life started on our world very early, sustained itself for our planet’s entire history, and gave rise to us: sentient, self-aware creatures.

This, he argues, is incredibly rare. In fact, he goes beyond arguing that it’s just a rare occurrence in our Universe, claiming instead that it’s so outlandishly unexpected, given all the factors that needed to occur in just the right confluence of circumstances, that our Universe must have been designed specifically to give rise to us, otherwise the odds of us coming to be would be so infinitesimally small that it’s unreasonable to believe it could have happened by chance.

What is truth… Science proves what life is. IT cannot prove how is started. Only God can do that.

Hebrews 11:3 NIV

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

“Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.” -Winston Churchill

Hebrews 11:3 NIV

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

When we hear and read about the revelation of God and His mighty power, we cannot afford to hurry off as if nothing happened. We must use the truth of God’s word to stand firm and stand strong.

This is the first part of the Armor… the Belt of Truth. The truth is, in battle we have one who is fighting for us at all times…

When David fought Goliath he said:

47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

()

One last thing before we move on to Righteousness.

When a person went to war, he was given instruction to tuck his cloak into his belt when he ran, so as not to trip and fall. When we put our hope in the truth of God’s word, we can fight in victory, no matter how much the enemy pursues us.

On Author wrote, “To slacken the best was to go off duty.” As believers, we cannot afford to slacken the belt. We must hold firm to the truth of God’s Word.

A few month ago I share with you how things - our thought process and actions can affect one generation to the next… It is said, One generation allows something to happen; the next generation accept what happens; and the third generation promotes what is happening.”

We have been in a battle for truth over abortion; living together before marriage; sexual promiscuity; same gender relationships - we have battled these things for years. It is imperative that we base our truth on the truth that comes from the Mouth of God through his word and not that of humanity.

When one put on the belt of in war time, it would keep the breastplate in place… What is the Breast plate that Paul talks about? Righteousness…It is the second part of the Armor.

The second part of the Armor is the Breast plate of Righteousness.

The Battle for Righteousness

The breastplate covered the body from the neck to the thighs. It was known as the “Heart-protector.” The front piece was strictly the breastplate, but a back piece was commonly worn as well.

Righteousness stands for uprightness and integrity of character. It is conformity to a certain set of expectations… It is fulfillment of the those expectations in any relationship, whether God or other people. It is based on the righteousness of God. His standards and his expectations, that the Christian is to live by.

Couple of verse to share with you...

Isaiah 11:5 NIV

5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

Isaiah 11:5 NIV

5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

The person Isaiah is talking about is Jesus. Also in Isaiah we read about the prophecy of Jesus:

Isaiah 59:17 NIV

17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

Isaiah 59:7 NIV

7 Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways.

I mentioned earlier about my Nephew and what he wore into combat. He would put on a bullet proof vest. Also known as an (IOTV) Improved outer tactical vests. It provides substantial protection against small arms, shrapnel, and debris—but at the cost of weight. A full ITOV with side plate, groin, and collar weighs around 30 pounds.

We are commanded by God to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness is the act of doing what God requires. Isaiah the prophet wrote:

Isaiah 64:6 NIV

6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

If our righteous acts - not matter how good they may seem, are as filthy rags, where does our Righteousness come from? The Bible tells us… When we first believe we are given righteousness that justifies us, as if we had never sinned. It comes from Jesus.

Paul writes…

Romans 3:21–26 NIV

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Paul also writes in

Philippians 3:8–9 NIV

8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

However, because we are sinners who have been saved by His grace, he calls us to live righteously! It is called a sanctifying righteousness, the product of the Holy Spirit living in us, leading us to live a Holy and righteous life.

We’ve all heard of godly men who have fallen morally and lost their reputation and godly influence. Does their sin mean that they are not save? No… but it does mean that they took off their breastplate of righteousness and lost their way, which has destroyed their influence in godliness. Can they be restored? Yes, but they have been wounded and they have wounded others.

In order for us to protect ourselves and others, we need to live righteously.

We are taught to…

Romans 6:13 NIV

13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

It has been said, “Righteousness is the fiber which holds society, religion, and family together. It enhances the welfare of the community.”

God made a covenant with us through Jesus Christ, that we would be declared righteous by faith in Jesus. It is up to us to appropriate that righteousness through right living. WE are to reflect the character of Jesus.

Summary … “Righteousness is a state of integrity in relationship to God and one’s fellowman, expressing itself in one’s acts and speech.”

The Armor of God is not meant to be a passive application. It requires as we said in the beginning to “take up” or “lift up”

Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Last week we said that “Prayer is the first and the last rule of engagement.” Today, I encourage you to pray, asking God to help us know “His Truth” to give us a discerning spirit; to help us live as Jesus lived, righteously, with integrity, honorably in His sight.

The Battle of truth…

Give of your best to the Master; Give of the strength of your youth; Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor Into the battle for truth. Jesus has set the example, Dauntless was He, young and brave; Give Him your loyal devotion; Give Him the best that you have.

Refrain: Give of your best to the Master; Give of the strength of your youth; Clad in salvation’s full armor, Join in the battle for truth.

2. Give of your best to the Master; Give Him first place in your heart; Give Him first place in your service; Consecrate every part. Give, and to you will be given; God His beloved Son gave; Gratefully seeking to serve Him, Give Him the best that you have.

3. Give of your best to the Master; Naught else is worthy His love; He gave Himself for your ransom, Gave up His glory above. Laid down His life without murmur, You from sin’s ruin to save; Give Him your heart’s adoration; Give Him the best that you have. Source: 50 Favorites: and July 2013 index of supplement to Evening Light Songs #11