The Belt of Truth

Text: Ephesians 6:10-17 (KJV)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle

not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Introduction:

* We are in our third message about spiritual warfare this morning.

* In our first message, we took our text in the book of revelation to reveal that we are in grave spiritual battle for the souls of men. The main thought of that message was:

If you are not aware that you are in a spiritual battle with satan and his angles, you are already defeated by satan.

* In our second message in this series, we dealt with several myths about the real nature of what we call “spiritual warfare.”

* The main purpose of our second message in this series about spiritual warfare, was to reveal Satan’s two fold strategy to keep you off your balance when it comes to “spiritual warfare.”

a). He wants deceive you into to believing you have more power over him than you really do.

b). He wants you deceive you into believing that he has more power over you that he really does.

* Satan wants to blur the battle lines in this warfare.

1). Satan wants you to think that you have too much power over Him.

* Satan would like to con you into believing that all you have to do to defeat Him in your life is to use a few “magical incantations” like “Satan, you are under my feet,” or, “I claim the blood of Jesus,” and then you will have victory over Satan.

* Satan knows this false bravado in the name of Jesus, drives you away from the real truth that Satan is the master of deception, and that he is much more powerful than those who operate in the flesh, and do not know how to live and operate in the Spiral realm.

* As I have said when I recently preached about living by faith, in order to “abide in the vine,” or in other words live and fellowship with God, or to please God, we must learn to live in “God’s reality” and not our own.

Text: Ephesians 6:10-17 (KJV)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle

not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

2). The second prong of deception that the devil uses against us in “Spiritual warfare” is he wants you to think that he has more power over you than he really does.

a). He wants deceive you into to believing you have more power over him than you really do.

b). He wants you deceive you into believing that he has more power over you that he really does.

* The only power the devil and his angles really have over you and I is the power of deception. As in the case of Job, the devil could do nothing to Job until he first was granted the specific ability by God to harm him.

* The only power the devil has over you is deception, but don’t underestimate the powers of deception that the devil and his angles possess this morning.

* The devil has been at this deception thing for a very long time. He even deceived a third of all the angels of heaven!

* This is why the apostle Peter warned us in I Peter 5:7:

1 Peter 5:7–9 (KJV 1900)

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith…

* Now this morning we come to our third message together in this series about spiritual warfare.

* For every subject that the Lord would have the church to have a certain “teaching” or “Doctrine” about, you will find a passage of Scripture that gives the whole mind of God about that subject.

* For example,

- we find the whole mind of God about the Lord’s supper in I Corinthians chapter 11

- we find the who mind of God concerning our heavenly body in I Corinthians, 15

- we find the whole mind of God concerning tongues in I Corinthians 14 and so on.

* Well, the teaching about spiritual warfare is no different. Everything that the Lord would have the Church to teach about the doctrine of spiritual warfare, we find in our text in Ephesians chapter 6.

* There the apostle Paul declares the full mind of God about Spiritual warfare.

* In this passage, we are given a specific list of the tools that we are to use in spiritual warfare.

* For the next few Sundays I would like to deal with these “tools,” or spiritual weapons of warfare, that God has given to each of us to stand against the devil with.

1. The belt of truthfulness

2. The breastplate of righteousness

3. The shoes of the gospel of peace

4. The shield of faith

5. The helmet of salvation

6. The sword of the Spirit

7. Prayer

* Let’s begin with the first tool, or spiritual weapon, in the list given to us in our text this morning- The belt of truth…

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

I. Each and every one of us in engaged is “Spiritual Warfare.”

Illustration: Famous painting of a chessboard with Satan on one side laughing and the other side a young man in agony wringing his hands. The title was checkmate.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

A. We are fighting a battle we can only see the symptoms of.

* The troubles and trials we are going through are results of battles that are being played out in the spiritual realm.

* If you remember, Job went through terrible trials because of a battle between God and Satan. Our trials are no different.

B. The Holy Spirit was given to us so that might be able to work and move in this spiritual realm.

John 14:26 (KJV 1900)

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Romans 8:26–27 (KJV 1900)

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9–14 (KJV 1900)

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

C. Satan and his demons do not want you to know about this spiritual realm. “The Screwtape letters”

* Satan wants to keep you in the realm of the 5 physical senses, but God wants you to live in the “spiritual” realm. The Biblical term for this is “Satan wants you to live in the flesh.”

* In order to be victorious in the battles of spiritual warfare, God intends for you and I to operate, not in our reality, but in His reality, the spiritual reality.

Ephesians 3:9-13 (KJV)

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ

: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church

the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Romans 8:1-9 (KJV)

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

D. The reason Satan and his demons don’t want you to know about this “spiritual” realm is that he knows that the only power he has over us is deception.

Revelation 12:7–10 (KJV 1900)

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world:

he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ:

for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

II. The battlefield where we do battle with Satan and his demons is the mind.

Romans 12:2 (KJV 1900)

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (KJV 1900)

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,

and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

A. Our text is telling us how the clothe the mind for battle. In other words- “How to dress for spiritual success.”

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day

B. Our text tells us to “Be Strong.” If the battlefield is our mind, then we are being told to “Be strong in mind” or in other word be “fully persuaded”

* Our Text this morning says:

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

* Any study about spiritual warfare must include a study of the book of Joshua.

* The New Testament writers tell us that the battles fought by Joshua and the Israelites were symbolic of the spiritual battles that we face as New Testament believers.

* Joshua was fully persuaded in his mind- He had his mind made up.

Joshua 24:15 (KJV)

but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

* We have the greatest example of spiritual warfare between a saint of God and the devil recorded in the book of Job.

* We see in this battle also that Job had his mind made up!

Job 13:15 (KJV)

15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

* The Apostle Paul said as he looked back over his life, “I have fought a good fight!” Listen to the words of Paul- Paul also had his mind made up!

2 Timothy 1:11-14 (KJV)

11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded

that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 13

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

C. We are told to stand, and not run off like a child at the park.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

D. What enables us to stand fast in our mind is the belt of “Truth.”

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,

E. The Devil operates with deception.

* He messes with your mind!

* Pilots are trained to fly by their instruments because it is so easy to let their senses fool them. You might be flying upside down and think that you are right side up!

* If a pilot that relies on his own senses, he will get confused and losing his bearing and get lost or even crash.

* When we try to live our lives without God’s truth belt, we may be living contrary to God’s truth, and think that everything is fine between us and God.

* Many people get lost, or their life is crashed in this spiritual warfare, and then they get angry with God and wonder where they could have possible went wrong, when all the time they refused to listen to and obey the truth of God’s Word.

* Some people have already been defeated by the devil but they don’t know it.

* The devil does not want you to know the victory that you can have if you hear and obey the Truth of the World of God.

* The devil wants to con you into thinking he has power over you to defeat you.

* Satan and his demons do not want you to know that they can do nothing other than what you allow them to do. The excuse “The Devil made me do it does not apply”

* I’m telling you this morning, the devil is so sneaky that he will trick you into giving him a stick, then beat you with it!

* Satan’s demons ride horseback on lies and half-truths.

* If you have believed what the world says to be the truth, and it does not agree with God’s truth, you are being demon led.

* Let me give you an example of how Satan’s deception works in the world:

* The world is pounding into the mind of our children that God might have made them gay. The world says that people are born gay.

* God’s truth, the Bible, the Word of God, says that sexual relations with the same sex is an abomination. That world means “disgusting.”

* The truth is that that God created you thinks sexual relations between people of the same sex is disgusting!

* The Truth is that God does not cause anyone to be born a homosexual. Homosexual behavior is a learned behavior, just like any other sin.

* If you followed the false logic of the devil and the world, then, meth addicts were born that way, and pedophiles were born that way, alcoholics were born that way.

* It doesn’t matter how many people voted for it!

* It doesn’t matter how popular it is!

* It doesn’t matter how many people agree with it.

* Unless what you are calling true, is what God says is true, then it’s not the truth it’s a lie.

III. The first and most important part of the spiritual armor of God is the “Truth.”

A. If this part of the spiritual armor is not in place before you put on the rest of the armor it will cause you to fall. This is what enables you to use the rest of the armor.

* If you start out wrong, none of the other pieces of armor will work right.

B. The truth of the Word of God will hold your life together as you go through the troubles and trials of life.

IV. What is truth?

A. This world we live in is full of opinions of what the truth is.

B. The world we live in now has adopted the position that “truth is relative” The world and it’s humanistic system will tell you that there is no one truth, that truth is different for every person.

C. The definition of “truth.”

* “An objective standard by which reality is measured”

* “Truth has nothing to do with how you feel, or what you think.”

* Truth is an “objective standard.” That’s why pilots are taught to fly by their instruments, and not by what they see. That’s the reason we have control towers.

* If you have not set God’s truth as your standard that you go by, Satan will have you flying upside-down all the while you are thing you are right-side-up.

* To “Gird up your loins with truth” is to make the God’s truth your final authority.

John 17:16–17 (KJV 1900)

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

* Again Jesus affirms that the Word of God, the Bible is Truth. Not only is the bible true, but it is the “standard of truth.”

* This is what the Bible claims about itself, every world of the Bible is truth, and that it is the only absolute standard of truth in the World.

* Jesus said, when speaking about the Bible:

Matthew 5:17–18 (KJV 1900)

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you,

Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

*The Bible is the standard of truth. And that's very basic and very essential to our success in spiritual warfare! Scripture, it is the truth!

* If the Bible is not the truth, then there is no truth.

* the devil’s deception that is being taught to our school children the day and time in which we live is that The truth is relative, there is no absolute truth.

* If you deny the absolute standard of truth of the Bible, what does society have left to keep it from going astray and destroying itself? Absolutely nothing!

Psalm 119:140 (KJV 1900)

140 Thy word is very pure: Therefore thy servant loveth it.

Proverbs 30:4–6 (KJV 1900)

5 Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.6 Add thou not unto his words, Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

* The Psalmists said: "Thy Word is very pure. Thy law is truth. All Thy commandments are truth. The sum of Thy Word is truth."

* Proverbs 30 verse 5 says, "Every word of God is flawless." Now you can't get much more specific than that. Every word of God is flawless.

*The Bible says it is infallible. That is what it claims.

* The sum of Thy Word is truth- all of the Bible is True! The total of it! This is the basis of our spiritual warfare!

D. Feelings cannot determine what truth is.

Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

* Feeling are emotions, our emotions are part of our body. Our body has been corrupted by sin.

* What the Word of God says must override what we feel.

* Let me give you an example:

* Emotions say “You don’t live him or her anymore! You need to make yourself happy!”

* The truth of the Word of God says, “What God that joined together, let no man put asunder! Love her, or him, even if you don’t feel like it anymore!

* The truth of the Word of God will hold your life together!

* The truth of the Word of God had the power to hold your marriage together; emotions will destroy your marriage!

E. Science cannot determine what truth is.

* You can’t count on science. It’s always changing. Science used to say the world was flat.

* Our educational system says science is “truth” because it is fact.

* Fact does not constitute truth. Facts can be arranged to in such a way as to infer a lie.

* A man told his wife he caught 20 trout today. When she asked how, he told her he went to the fish market and had a guy throw him 20 trout.

* That’s how the theory of evolution works-

- all the theory of evolution is, is taking certain facts and arraigning them into a system, and that system of “so called facts” are arranged in such a fashion to infer that the record of creation is a myth.

F. Man’s intellect cannot determine truth.

* Man does not have all the information.

* Man has to constantly update his data. How many times have you rushed to judgment, to find you didn’t have all the facts.

* Like a child that thinks he knows how things should be in the home. Then he proceeds to tell you this is how his friends feel about it.

* God is the only one who has all the information. That is why we so desperately need the Truth of the Bible as a standard to live by.

V. The truth is what we use to tear down “spiritual strongholds”

2 Corinthians 10:2-5 (KJV)

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations (reasonings), and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God (truth), and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

A. Every time we believe a lie Satan sets up a fortress in our mind.

* This fortress gives the demons a place to work from in our mind. Like when the alcoholic becomes convinced he can’t stop drinking, or the person with homosexual desires believes he can’t change his behavior.

B. The “every high thing” refers to a “partition.”

* Satan wants to set up partitions in our mind.

* God’s side/Man’s side. Bible side\What people think side.

* Satan doesn’t mind you knowing God’s truth on Sunday, as long as he can flip you over on Monday.

* These partitions “block out” God’s truth:

5 Casting down imaginations (reasonings), and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God (truth),

C. These strongholds and partitions must be torn down for the truth of God to give us victory as we fight in this spiritual warfare.

and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Conclusion:

Have you made the God’s truth, the Word of God, your final authority?

Do you flip back and forth in your mind who to believe, what people say or what the Bible says?

Has Satan conned you into believing the lie that you cannot change what is keeping you from being right with God this morning?

I am making a call to you this morning! Will you make a promise to the Lord to read His Bible and strive to understand what it says?

Will you make a commitment, God being your helper, to read and study the Word of God starting right now this very day?

Let’s come together as a church to the altar and commit ourselves to his Word for the coming year.

This is the very first weapon in our list of spiritual armor that we will defeat Satan with.