The Believers Warfare Message 5

The Believers Warfare

Message 5

The Belt of Truth

You:

Grideth up your loins

KJV

Proverbs 31:17 KJV 1900

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, And strengtheneth her arms.

What the heck does that mean?

How does a person “grideth their loin”

Now it’s obvious in context what it means.

She is going to prepare herself to do some task

It’s not an expression we use much.

Modern example

Job interview

Apply for a mortgage

Pull up yourself bootstraps

Suck it up buttercup

Ready yourself

We:

The tool belt

Many carpenter will wear one.

What’s the purpose?

So, their tools will be ready at their side for the task ahead of them.

Tools of the trade – Tape measure – hammer – Pliers – Screwdriver – Pencil

This is the perfect illustration to what is Paul is talking about in our passage.

We are going to grideth up our loins today

God:

The Belt of Truth

Notice the passage

Ephesians 6:14 NIV

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

What is the belt of truth?

One: Above all Christ

John 1:1 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 ESV

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 14:6 NIV

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

We are to “put on Christ”

That’s weird how do you do that?

Become friends with God

Obedient to God’s will

(surrender your will and preferences)

Devote yourself to God’s service

(stop being selfish)

Two: Write God’s Word on your heart

John 17:17 NCV

17 Make them ready for your service through your truth; your teaching is truth.

Psalm 1:2–3 NASB 2020

2 But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, And on His Law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Start memorizing scripture!

Three: Speak the truth

Ephesians 4:25 NLT

25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

One lie and your credibility is ruined

You grieve the Holy Spirit when you do this.

You:

Putting on the belt of truth

Several benefits

Remember the belt is where the soldier carried all his weapons.

It’s where we grid our loins and prepare for battle

With the belt of truth, you will not fall victim to lastest false teachings

Ephesians 4:14 NLT

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

As a new you are most vulnerable

Lean on the wisdom of others

But anyone can fall victim

With the belt of truth you guard against apathy

The care and worries of this life can overgrow a heart without scripture

Mark 4:18–19 NLT

18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

With the belt of truth you can fight the battles and trials of life

Matthew 11:28–30 NIV

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

What are we learning? Truth

We:

Grid up our lions

We are at war