I may be setting myself up for attack, but I have already finished writing the next three articles on Spiritual Warfare so I decided to go ahead and post the next one. I hadn't intended to post these on this forum but since Mac already posted the first one, why not?
The Girdle of Truth
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Putting on the Full Armor of God[/i][/b]
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.[/i]
[align=center] [/align] 2 Corinthians 4:2
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Last week we studied how we are in a spiritual war fighting a spiritual battle in spiritual places. The Lord has given us both weapons of defense and weapons of attack to fight this war. This week we will be looking at the first weapon mentioned in Ephesians 6:14,
"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth". The girdle of truth, or belt of truth, is one of our weapons of defense. The soldiers in Paul"s day wore a tunic that came down at least to the knees. When it came time to fight, the soldier picked up his tunic and tucked it in his belt so that he could move freely for the battle, and be able to use the rest of his equipment effectively. He carried his sword on his belt (girdle) and his breastplate was also connected to it. He needed his belt to keep himself together. The girdle also protected his mid to lower abdominal area. Today we will see how the girdle of truth is important to help us in our spiritual battle.
Satan, who is the father of lies (John 8:44) tries to tempt us to be dishonest, to do something questionable, to be deceitful. He also tries to make us doubt God"s word or doubt His promises. He tries to weaken us as he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden. Why do you think there are so many false doctrines? It is because the father of lies wants to steer us away from the Word of Truth. Why are there so many who have become conformed to this world while still perceiving themselves to be Christians? Because the father of lies has tricked them into thinking that surely it"s okay to do this or that or to ignore this passage of the Bible or that one. They are deceived into thinking that how they feel or think is more important than what God says. Twisting the truth is one of Satan"s oldest tricks, one that he uses often. He even tried with Jesus when he tempted Him in the wilderness after the 40 days of fasting (see Luke 4:1-13). But how did the Lord respond? The Lord responded with the
truth of the Word.
Satan, and everything about him, is counterfeit and temporary. People today are searching for peace. They are searching for happiness. They try to find it at parties, at dances, by loosing themselves in drugs or alcohol, or by trying to become rich or own many possessions. They try to find it in sinful relationships. But any peace or happiness they think they have found in those things is counterfeit and temporary. The party will be over. They will come down from their drug high. Reality will hit them sooner or later, and they will find themselves emptier and lower than they were in the first place. Money and possessions come and go. But what God has to offer is 100% the real thing. He offers peace that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:7). God"s joy is so great it is unspeakable and full of glory (1 Pet. 1:8). If we want to be victorious we must put on the girdle of truth. We must:
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be established in the truth (2 Peter 1:12)
walk in the truth (3 John 3)
speak the truth (Eph. 4:15)
Instead of being dishonest or deceitful, we need to be men and women of integrity, be truthful of character, reliable and trustworthy.
Just as the soldier"s girdle helps hold the rest of his outfit together, and helps to keep him free from becoming entangled while he fights, so the girdle of truth holds us together by protecting us from lies and deceit. If you are tempted to seek the world"s pleasures, remember it is just a ploy from Satan to stop you from seeking the true peace and joy you can receive from the Holy Spirit. Be careful not to be lured into believing false teachings by proving it with the word of God. As John 5:39 says, "Search the Scriptures." Seek and live in truth. As John 8:31b-32 says, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."[/i]
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The Girdle of Truth
