Spiritual Warfare: The Furnishings for Spiritual Warfare - 2

Introduction: As we continue in Ephesian chapter 6 starting in verse 10, we are dealing with this matter of spiritual warfare.

Paul begins this closing section with the words, “Finally, brethen...”

Here in his closing remarks to the church at Ephesus we see straightforward instructions concerning spiritual warfare.

Several foundational truths have already been discussed.

Listing these out as found here in this biblical order we understand the we are:

v10 To be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

v11 We are to be concerned with the whole armor of God. (The purpose, “...that ye may be able [δυναμαι —to become sufficient] to stand against the wiles [μεθοδεια- the methods] of the devil.”)

v12 Between verses 11 and 13 we have a revelation of truth about this warfare. “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.”

v13 We are told again to take the whole armor of God once again, to withstand, and “having done all...” to stand in the evil day.

Your Loins Girt About With Truth

We continue now with the first piece of armor which is found in verse 14.

The Bible says, “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

Some have suggested that the text really implies a application that has already taken place. As in, “Having girded your loins with truth....” The idea is of course that you and I would never consider going into battle without putting on the proper gear to go to war.

It would be madness to wait until we were in the thick of the fight to put on the necessary armor to be protected and fight the battle.

You will notice that verse 14 through 16 complete one thought.

This is marked by the semicolon at the end of both verse 14 and 15 taking us all the way through verse 16.

You will also notice that once again we find the word ‘stand.’

This same word is used three times in this passage alone.

The word ‘stand’ in this passage emphasizes the obligation you and I have as a good Soldier for the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are to stand by putting on the whole armor of God.

To "stand” we are instructed to have our loins girt about with truth.

In our day we would not use the terms ‘loins’ or ‘girt about.’

The first perhaps unfamiliar word ‘loins’ signifies the hips.

The second word ‘girt about’ signifies being fastened together as with a belt [in the underlying language this is one word περιζώννυμαι perizōnnymai).

It rightly means something to secure one’s clothing.

Putting this together we might say “fastened about our hips with truth.”

It is needful for us not only to know what is being spoken but also why it is being said in this matter.

If we were to do a topical search on the word ‘truth’ we would find many passages that deal with this subject.

In John chapter 11 we find one of these passages that deal with a negative example of what is being discussed here.

In the following account we are presented with a man who declared one of the foulest statements I can find in all of the Bible.

This man expresses a great disregard for God.

Turn with me John 18:33-38

“33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then?”

“Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.”

What a terrible statement for one who had the Truth standing before Him!

Pilate pictures a man that was moved by the wind of politics.

He made decisions and choices not based on truth but rather to stay in power.

In the end, we are told that Pilate lost favor with Rome and eventually was either banished or commited suicide. [We know nothing of the outcome of the trial, but Eusebius (EH 2. 7) preserves a report of otherwise unknown Gk. annalists that Pilate was forced to commit suicide during the reign of Gaius (ad 37–41).

D. H. Wheaton, “Pilate,” ed. D. R. W. Wood et al., New Bible Dictionary (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 929.]

All of this can be traced back to this central statement of his, “What is truth?”

We have no record that Pilate ever received “the Truth.” But rather we do find records of his demise.

The Christian however is to abide “in the Truth.”

We are to be students and children of the truth.

We are to be filled(yielded to) the Spirit of truth.

This is the opposite of hypocrisy or dissimulation.

This is the opposite of having no truth as is said by the Lord concerning our Adversary who has no truth in him and is the Father of Lies. (See John 8:44)

The Lord Jesus Christ revealed to you and I this tremendous statement in John 14:6

“6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

In the beginning of the book of John, we find these words that describe the Lord Jesus Christ, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” [the source of all grace and truth]

Then in John chapter 1:16-17 we read these words, “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

That which binds everything together for us in the Christian life is truth.

It holds us together.

It keeps everything in place.

It speaks to our forward movement for our Savior.

The girdle that was put about the Soldier served this very purpose.

“The “girdle” or “sash” was always with the ancients an important part of their dress, in war as well as in peace. They wore loose, flowing robes; and it became necessary to gird them up when they traveled or ran or labored. The girdle was often highly ornamented, and was the place where they carried their money, their sword, their pipe, and their writing instruments.

The girdle seems sometimes to have been a cincture of iron or steel, and designed to keep every part of the armor in its place and to gird the soldier on every side.” - Albert Barnes

Truth of course is given to us, it is the Word of God.

We will find as we continue through this passage that the Sword of the Spirit is also the Word of God.

We are to be girt about with truth, and our weapon is truth.

The Holy Spirit is thus called the Spirit of truth!

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” John 15:26

The Lord Jesus Christ said in John 17:17 “17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

Truth according to this passage is to be bound all around us.

In doing so, it provides stability, strength and agility.

It is according to this passage to be “...girt about” us.

This idea is that it surrounds us in entirety.

If I were to ask you this morning, How do you suppose to surround yourself in truth?

How do you suppose to be girt about with truth?

We must understand not only where truth is, but Who is the truth.

We must not just agree with truth, but rather give ourselves to the truth.

Our biblical example earlier told us of a man who mocked the fact that there could ever be real definitive truth.

Today we find a world that is built around this false idea that there is no truth.

Think about all that is in this world today.

We get frustrated sometimes just dealing with the so-called “news” agencies who do not report truth.

My friend, the only truth that exists is the Word of God and the Incarnate Word.

We are to be girt about with this truth. This declares both Who the Truth is and where truth is to be found.

As we think about the function of this, it becomes evident that we cannot stand or withstand without having truth.

- If we agree that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Truth.

- If we agree that the Spirit of truth is no other than the Holy Ghost.

- And if we agree that the Word of God is truth.

Then we must come to the conclusion, if I am to be girt about with truth, I must abide in the truth and be a student (disciple) of truth.

One expositor made a tremendous list concerning the application of truth mentioned here:

There must be doctrinal truth in the life of the believer so that they may stand in opposition to error. (What does God teach us in His Word concerning Himself and concerning our manner of life.)

There is the application of truth so that the believer is not just living in the formality of empty religion. (Hypocrisy and Dissimulation)

There is the truth of sincerity that stands in opposition to guile.

I want us to realize also that the placement of these items in this list is important.

Truth must be “girt about” first.

One must encounter and receive “The Truth”, be indwelt by the Spirit of truth, and grow in their knowledge and application of truth.

The result of this is that we live a life of true Christianity.

There is a battle going on today that is raging against truth, and against the “Truth.”

We must surround ourselves with truth.

There are people all around us, that as the Bible declares are blinded. They cannot see. They have not truth.

But who possesses truth? Are we not possessors of the Lord Jesus Christ? Do we not have the Word of Truth? And as a child of God am I not indwelt with the Spirit of Truth?

Yes, we must be girt about with truth, but let us take truth to those who do not have the truth.

I was shocked this past week of a young man who received Christ as His Savior. He was desirous to know truth. He asked, “Can you tell me more about this?”

What an amazing opportunity!

Not only do we see this first subject of the armor of God, but notice the second in this list that is coupled with it.

The Breastplate of Righteousness

The Bible says once again in verse 14, “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

These two naturally go one with another.

Without truth I would not know righteousness.

These are indelibly connected one with another.

There are two ideas that are given to us in the New Testament concerning righteousness.

One has to do with our conduct, we might say right living.

It has to do with the way in which God would have us to walk in this world.

The other has to do with the righteousness of Christ.

I believe both are applicable in this passage.

We are instructed by truth to right living.

We are told as we look into the Word of God, what is right.

For the truth, the Word of God teaches us in II Timothy 3:16 “16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

As one has said, what is right living before God…it is the application and outworking of truth in the life of a believer.

I cannot say I have on the breastplate of righteousness and live in ungodliness. And if I have not on the breastplate of righteousness then how am I to protect largest area of my person?

One Bible expositor said this, “When Satan accuses the Christian, it is the righteousness of Christ that assures the believer of his salvation. But our positional righteousness in Christ, without practical righteousness in the daily life, only gives Satan opportunity to attack us.”

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 58.

Secondly, we are told in the Word of God of the righteousness of Christ.

We are to walk as a Christian in righteousness. Our standing however, is due to the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Christ’s perfection on our account.

“The devil is always telling us that we are ‘no good’. We know he is right and we fall into discouragement. The fight goes out of us. What are we to do?”

Stuart Olyott, Alive in Christ: Ephesians Simply Explained, Welwyn Commentary Series (Darlington, England: Evangelical Press, 1994), 136.

We are to be encouraged and reminded of truth, that we are accepted in the beloved not because of our righteousness but because of His.

This certainly speaks to the Devils particular title of being called the Accuser of the Brethren.

Paul declared in the book Philippians this very thing concerning his standing before God.

It was not his works of righteousness which made him acceptable before God, but rather Christ righteousness as he states being found “in Christ.”

“Philippians 3: 8, 9 “8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

Paul entered into this through faith. Just the same as you and I. At moment of Salvation the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ was placed on our account. Judicially we are are justified, or declared righteous because of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And this two faceted element of the breastplate of righteousness is seen here in this verse.

I want to turn to one more place in the Bible that is really a similar passage concerning these two furnishing we have looked at today.

Hold your place there and turn over to the book of II Corinthians chapter 6:1-10

1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Notice from the beginning of this passage that Paul is ‘beseeching’ the Corinthians. He is imploring them with this instruction concerning being a worker “together with him...” [the Lord Jesus Christ]

He states in verse 3 of this text, give no offence that the ministry be not blamed…

We could spend a great deal of time just speaking about that one phrase.

How much damage has been done in the work of the ministry because we have failed to walk in truth?

But Paul goes on and says we are to approve ourselves.

The idea is that these events and trials that came into the life of Paul — approved the character of his labor for the Lord Jesus Christ. They showed him to be true and faithful. These circumstances, these trials, these afflictions, these spiritual battles declared they were the minister of the Lord.

Notice he lists them out for us and what a list it is:

In much patience

In afflictions

In necessities (going without)

In distresses

In stripes

In imprisonments

In tumults

In labours

In watchings

In fastings

Wow, what list of difficulties. And we look at these things and think, this is all worldly physical afflictions. But we discover behind all of these difficulties, the spiritual work of serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

So how did you do it Paul? How did you wage spiritual warfare in these battles?

The Word of God tells us,

By pureness - purity of life… (right living)

By knowledge

By longsuffering

By kindness

By the Holy Ghost

By love unfeigned (not faked)

By the Word of Truth (The Word of God and the Incarnate Word)

By the power of God

By the Armor of righteousness

And what was the result of all of this. Well that depends of whose side your looking from.

To the Christian honour. From the world, dishonor.

To the Christian a good report. From the world an evil report.

To the Christian true (we might say girt about with truth). From the world judged as deceivers.

To the Christian known because of the King. To the world unknown.

And on He goes.... “dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

What a marvelous encouragement our Lord has given us in His Word.

Let us stop here today and think about this matter of being “girt about with truth...”

Let us meditate of this matter of having on the breastplate of righteousness.