S6P1 – God’s armor: the belt of truth
Before time began, a war was waged in the heavens. This war continues today. When you accept salvation and follow Jesus Christ, you enlist in His army. While our battles at times appear to be in the natural, this passage is clear that our battle is against spiritual forces. In preparation for battle, we are commanded to be strong in the Lord by putting on His armor. In this series, we explore that armor.
Ephesians 6:10-17
In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God
Scripture tells us that the devil is the father of lies [John 8:44]. Half-truths and little white lies are a common tool of his deception. But no matter how much of a smooth talker the devil can be, he cannot stand against God’s truth. We saw this when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. When he twisted scripture for his purposes, Jesus corrected him by the honest application of the word of God then sent him away. The truth spoken of in this passage is the sincere love of truth, which includes living according to the truth that God has revealed to man through scripture. This is a commitment to honor God’s truth in word, deed and life.
God’s word declares many truths over us that our enemy would prefer we forget. He tries to get us to believe that we are condemned sinners when God’s word calls us redeemed saints. He wants us to believe we have no purpose when God’s word says He knit us together in the womb and planned our days. He wants us to believe that many roads lead to love and to God when God’s word says that Jesus Christ is the only way. When combating the devil on these and other matters, we must be prepared to answer with God’s truth.
Our human arguments are not the weapons that can defeat our enemy. That is why God commands us to fit ourselves with the truths that he has provided for this purpose. Perhaps you have a hard time committing scripture to memory and cannot think of the truths you should cling to. When the devil bring you lies, declare one of the truths that we cannot forget. Tell him that he is a liar. Then send him away in Jesus’ name. Father, write your truths on our hearts so that we are able to defeat the enemy’s lies and, in doing so, glorify your name.