Tighten the Belt of Truth!

VICTORY

Living a Bold & Victorious Life!

Tighten the Belt of Truth!

Ephesians 6:10-20

As Paul begins the closing section of his letter to the church at Ephesus, he gets down to the non-negotiable issues that he wants to believers there to grasp and act on. We need to hear these timeless truths from the Lord today and put them in practice in our own lives.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

“Be strong in the Lord” refers to strength derived from God, not strength we humans have in ourselves or are else to somehow obtain through our own work. The words “be strong” describe continual empowering of the Christian by God. God’s strength and his mighty power are part of the kingdom blessings available to God’s people.

In Ephesians 6:10-20, there are two overarching commands. In the message today, we continue to be challenged by the first of those found in Ephesians 6:11:

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Paul wrote this letter while chained to a Roman soldier. Certainly the soldier’s armor must have brought this metaphor to mind. Paul described a divine and complete “armor” that God gives believers in order to provide all we need to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. “Stand against” was a military term meaning to resist the enemy, hold the position, and offer no surrender.

The armor of God consists not of leather and steel but of spiritual values forged by Jesus our King as evidenced during His earthly life and ministry. As soldiers of Christ, we march under His banner and outfit ourselves in His truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and words from Scripture. Prepare to put on each piece of Christ’s armor-like qualities by presenting yourself to your King in complete surenderr. Ask Him to dress you entirely in His character and power so that you will be ready for battle as His loyal soldier marching to His commands.

Last week, we also took a look at our foe and his forces that are arrayed against us.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 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.

Satan is not alone in his battle against God and His people. He was/is such a skillful and convincing liar that 1/3 of God’s angels were swept us in his rebellion against God. Paul called them “principalities … powers … rulers … spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12). This suggests a definite army of demonic creatures that assist Satan in his attacks against believers.

The important point is that our battle is not against human beings. It is against spiritual powers. We are wasting our time fighting people when we ought to be fighting the devil who seeks to control people and make them oppose the work of God.

Since we are fighting against enemies in the spirit world, we need spiritual equipment. God has provided the “whole armor” for us, and we dare not omit any part. Satan looks for that unguarded area where he can get a beachhead (Eph. 4:27). Paul commanded his readers to put on the armor, take up the weapons God provides, and withstand Satan, all of which we do by faith. Knowing that Christ has already conquered Satan, and that the spiritual armor and weapons are available, by faith we accept what God gives us and go out to meet the foe. The day is evil, and the enemy is evil, but “if God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31)

Ephesians 6:14a Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth,

Satan is a liar (John 8:44), but the believer whose life is controlled by truth will defeat him. Truth is the integrating force in the life of the victorious Christian.

The order of the pieces listed in the following verses is the order in which a soldier would put them on. First, Paul enjoined us to, fasten the belt of truth around our waist.

This belt, also called a girdle, was about six inches wide. Probably made of leather, it held together the clothing underneath as well as holding the other pieces of armor in place, such as the breastplate and the sheath for the sword. It may have contained a “breechclout,” an apron that protected the lower abdomen. It may have also braced the back in order to give strength. When the belt was fastened, the soldier was “on duty,” ready to fight. A slackened belt meant “off duty.” Christians, however, must face each day with a fastened belt, ready to fight the battle when needed.

As the belt formed the foundation of the soldier’s armor, the truth is the foundation of the Christian life. This “truth” refers to the believer’s character as a person who can be relied on for the truth. It certainly also refers to the truth of God’s Word and his message in the gospel. If we could not be absolutely sure of our faith, if we were not sure that Jesus is “the truth” (John 14:6), then there would be little use for the armor or in attempting to fight any battle. God’s truth, as revealed to us through Jesus Christ, forms the foundation of victorious Christian living.

When the enemy, the father of lies (John 8:44), attacks with his lies, half-truths, and distortions, we believers can stand on the truth we believe. Jesus prayed for his followers: “Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17).

Real, quick this morning, let me show you the old liars first attack on God’s image bearers (US) in the Garden of Eden:

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Satan questioned God’s Word to sew doubt in Eve’s mind!

Genesis 3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

God’s image bearing woman responded incorrectly to Satan’s question as she misquoted God’s Word! I see the man’s fingerprints all over this though. Remember that Eve wasn’t yet created when God gave his command to Adam:

Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Can’t you just hear Adam saying, “Don’t even touch it!” in trying to prevent her from going near it.

Genesis 3:4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Satan denies God’s Word to sew even more doubt in Eve’s mind! And she and Adam fall for Satan’s lies.

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

The ensuing result is that Adam and Eve see their dreadful situation and try to hide themselves and their shame from one another and then from God as He comes to meet them as usual.

We’ve been hiding our sin ever since! But instead of hiding our sin, God call us to confess it (admit it; call it what God calls it) and repent of it (turn away from our sinful actions to follow God’s righteous commands) and find God forgiveness and restoration!

I’m sorry for the wrong things I’ve done. Please forgive me. I believe your Son died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead, and because of this I will enter into heaven when I die. Jesus, come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. I willingly give you my life. Father, help me by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to obey your will and live for you all my life. Thank you again for saving me! In Jesus name I pray. Amen.