The Full Armor of God: Belt of Truth- Part 2

The Belt of Truth

“Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth…” –Ephesians 6:14a NLT

 Reflecting back on my youth during the time of growing up in a small town in Louisiana, I am  reminded of the time that I had an opportunity to help my dad and other men of the church in the construction of our very first church building. We were a newly formed congregation that met weekly in an old community civic center. God had blessed the church with some land and the finances to begin the construction.

 I was around 9 or 10, and- like most boys that age- had the attention span of a butterfly. The only thing that I was able to do, was something that I had learned to be good at- being a “Go-for”; “go for this” and “go for that”. Occasionally, I was able to sneak and grab an unoccupied hammer and drive a few nails. As I watched the men with admiration, I thought to myself: “I sure would like to be a carpenter when I grow up and wear one of those cool tool belts like they wear!” (If you are not familiar with a carpenter’s belt, then you wouldn’t understand the excitement of a 9-year-old boy and his dream.)

 A carpenter’s belt is a belt that is used by (just as the name implies) carpenters. It is a special belt that makes the job easier for any carpenter. It provides special compartments that can be filled with an array of items, such as: nails, screws, tape measure, pencil, etc. It has a place designed for hanging a hammer. The whole idea is to be able to carry a “tool box” while leaving your hands free to climb and move around. Without the carpenter’s belt, a carpenter’s job would be more time consuming, more work and effort, and quite frankly, more tiresome.

 As we learned last week, the Apostle Paul used the analogy of “full armor of God” in regards to a Christian’s protection in the fight against evil. He broke it down piece by piece and labeled each one accordingly. This week we will learn about the belt of truth.

 The Roman soldier wore a belt, known as a cingulum or balteaus, that was imperative to his battle attire, in order to be effective during battle. One could say that the Roman soldier’s belt was his “carpenter’s belt”. It was designed to be able to carry various forms of weaponry, while his hands were free to wield a shield in one hand and weapon of choice in the other. Without his belt, he would have no scabbard (sheath) to carry his sword and daggers. This belt also had strips of leather which dropped down in the lower front and rear of the soldier, for added protection to the lower body. So, as one can see, the soldier’s belt served a far greater purpose than just a fashion statement; it was a fundamental part of the armor. Without it, it would be deemed impossible to last long during a fight. Therefore, Paul started off the list of the Christian’s spiritual armor with the belt of truth. Without the belt of truth girded (tightly secured) around our waist, all other pieces of the armor will be rendered useless.

 What is truth? Truth is the inspired (God-breathed) Word of God, which teaches us what is truth and what is false. It teaches us the right and wrong way to live. It corrects us when we are wrong. God uses it to equip us to do every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In John 17:17, Jesus prayed for the Father to sanctify us (set apart and make holy) with His truth and to teach us His Word, which is truth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Without the Word of God, we will not know truth. Without the Word of God teaching us, we can so easily get caught up in the world’s distorted truth, or go by our own inclinations. However, there is a way that seems right unto a man, but its end is death (Proverbs 14:12).

 Why should we gird ourselves with belt of truth? By continuously girding ourselves with the Word of God, our minds will become aligned with the truth and our actions will then ensue. What a person thinks in their heart, they become (Proverbs 23:7). The Word of God is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105). The Word of God will expose our thoughts and desires and convict us unto righteousness (Hebrews 4:12). We should have the Word of God written on the tablets of our hearts and bound around our necks so truth and mercy never forsake us (Proverbs 3:3). Without the belt of truth secured tightly around us, it is impossible to carry the sword of the Spirit and use it effectively. The Word of God is the foundation of all things. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word gave everything life that was created. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1-4,14). When everything else passes away, the Word of God will stand forever (Matthew 24:35).

 What happens if the Christian doesn't wear the belt of truth? The Russian author Leo Tolstoy once said, "Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold." That is what the Word of God does, exposes every lie by the presentation of truth. Every lie the enemy tells you, the truth of the Word condemns it and tears it down. Everything that exalts itself above the knowledge of God, we shall bring down by His Word and bring into captivity, every wayward thought into the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). The only way we can counterattack the lies of satan, is by wearing the belt of truth. 

 As I stated earlier, without the belt of truth, wielding the sword of the Spirit will be ineffective. Let's take, for example, an automobile. An avid driver knows how to open the door, get in, buckle up, and turn the key to crank the automobile. However, if there is no battery or gas, the automobile has nothing to work with. It's ineffective. Likewise, if we do not wear the belt of truth, we may have memorized a few scripture verses but we don't know how to use the sword of the Spirit because we don't understand the truth. In other words, we're empty; like the automobile with no gas or battery. By not understanding and knowing the truth, we will begin to fall for every subtle lie and twisted form of the truth that comes our way. When Jesus was tempted by satan in the wilderness, He always replied to satan's lies with, "It is written..." (Matthew 4:3-11). By aligning our thoughts with the truth, we will not lean unto our own inclinations, but, instead, completely trust and rely on the Lord with all of our hearts and acknowledge Him in all of our ways (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

 Jesus said that when He sends the Holy Spirit back, He will lead us into all truth and bring back to remembrance everything He said (John 14:26, 16:13). Wearing the belt of truth means we have hidden the Word of God in our hearts so we will not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11). We must test all things and hold fast to what is good; hold to the truth and get rid of the bad stuff (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We must search the scriptures daily to be able to discern what is truth from false teachings (Acts 17:11). We are living in a time now that "watered-down" teachings and "sweetened" doctrines are being taught. We must know the truth and secure it around us at all times. We must study to show ourselves approved unto God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, and explaining the truth the right way (2 Timothy 2:15).

 As we can see, we must wear the FULL armor of God, or not wear it at all. If we don't keep our belt of truth on, we will gradually begin to conform back to the world and compromise with its ways. The truth is what makes us free and keeps us out of bondage (John 8:32). In order to be transformed unto righteousness by the renewing of our minds, we must allow the truth to penetrate and circumcise our hearts as the Holy Spirit continues to regenerate us (Romans 12:2, Colossians 2:11-15, Titus 3:5). 

 I remember an old cartoon in which one of the main characters continuously had misfortune. In one particular scene, his trouser belt broke, thus resulting in his trousers falling, causing him embarrassment and shame. Likewise, if our belt of truth is not properly maintained and has, for whatever reason, become weak, there will come a time of battle in which our belt may fail, leaving us vulnerable and exposing us to shame. Ways that our belt of truth may become weak is: failure to continue in the Word, subtle compromise with the world (a little here and a little there), not using it everyday, and begin to believe the enemy's lies instead of believing God. There is a remedy- allow God to repair your belt of truth by confessing your sins to Him daily (1 John 1:9) and continue in the truth. 

 Never take off the belt of truth. Continue in it always and deflect the lies of satan. Remember it is the fundamental garment of our armor and without it, we will become a defeated Christian. Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Until next week, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Next week- The Full Armor of God: Breastplate of Righteousness (Part 3)

The Full Armor of God: Overall Importance - (Part 1)

The Overall Importance of God’s Armor for the Christian

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

-Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT)

   The Apostle Paul, in his many epistles, used analogies to convey God’s message to a particular church. Those analogies were intended (and I believe, inspired by the Holy Spirit) to make it easy for the readers to understand- much like we use illustrations today. So was the case with the Ephesians. Ephesus was an ancient Greek city that was located in present-day Turkey. In 129 B.C., it came under the control of the Roman Republic. As Paul began to describe to them about the spiritual warfare that is ever taking place against Christians, he used an analogy that they would most certainly understand; he likened our spiritual weapons and protection to that of the Roman soldier’s armor and weapons. So, as we begin this study, I ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the importance and necessity of wearing the full armor of God at all times; as well as keeping it maintained. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

   We are facing spiritual wickedness every second. When we are awake, and when we are asleep. I am reminded of a particular instance in which an attack came against me while I was asleep one night. I felt like my life was literally being pulled out of me. I could not breathe, I could not move, I could not scream. I was literally paralyzed. My wife awakened and she began to pray for me- in the Holy Spirit. At that moment, those demonic forces that had gripped me had to release their grip.

   In the natural, we cannot see what is taking place in the spirit world. In the natural we cannot see what demonic forces are awaiting us: when we awake every morning, when we send the kids off to school, when we leave our homes to go to work, while we are at work, when we come home, and when we lay down at night; and all places in between. Satan is our adversary who is going throughout the earth to and fro as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8; Job 1:2), and he has his demonic army behind him. As Christians we must be on alert always (Ephesians 6:18) and understand that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against those demonic powers that are unseen (Ephesians 6:12).

   In order to remain a victorious Christian and not a defeated Christian, and to withstand every attack of our enemy, Paul tells us that we must wear the full armor of God and stand in God’s mighty power. This armor is something that we can’t see with our natural eye, but in the spirit realm it gives us the protection we need against the weapons of our enemy. When we are wearing the full armor of God, no weapon formed against us by our enemy shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17).

   So, join me as we work through the full armor of God and the importance of each piece. Have a blessed week.

-Jason Johnson

 Next Article: The Full Armor of God: The Belt of Truth (Part 2)

Peace In The Midst Of Your Storm

"An He arose , and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, 'Peace, be still.' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." - Mark 4:39

I remember back several years ago during one of my childhood summer vacations, one of the most horrific storms popped up. The wind became real tumultuous, the rain began to come down hard and I remember my dad literally stopping the car to position it against the wind so it wouldn't easily turn us over. As we braced for impact while expecting the worst, all of a sudden, things became very quiet and very still. Dad said that we were in the "eye of the storm". As a small child, I really didn't understand what that meant, but I do remember the peace that came all of a sudden. I'm not sure what all happened after that, but I do know God kept us safe.

 

That is how it is with different situations in our lives; "life storms", we sometimes refer to them as. Things begin to get chaotic and start spinning out of control. Then we begin to brace for impact and expect the worst to come from it; sometimes, wondering whether or not we are going to make it through. Oh, how we long for that peace to come. Oh, how we long for the chaos to cease.

 

Mark 4:35-41 tells us of an account with Jesus and His disciples. He had just finished ministering to the multitudes earlier that day and He told the disciples that they were going to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (vs.35). While they were journeying across the water, Jesus went down into the stern of the ship to rest. While He was asleep, a great storm of wind arose that caused waves to beat into the boat, thus filling it full of water (v37,38). In a moment of desperation, they went to wake Jesus. They were so afraid of perishing in the storm that they went to the One that could possibly do something about it- if anything could be done at all. Have you ever had faith in God, but just needed Him to help your unbelief sometimes? I know I have. The same thing had taking affect with the disciples. They knew what Jesus was capable of- after all, they had already seen the miracles that He wrought with His hands. However, they still feared, and in their minds thought that the only way they could be saved was if they woke Him. When they woke Jesus, He arose and rebuked the wind by saying, "Peace, be still!" (vs. 39).

 

The word "Peace" that is used in this context comes from the Greek word "siōpaō" which means "to be silent, to hold one's peace (i.e. a hush, muteness, inability to speak)". Jesus arose and told the wind and the waves to "Hush! Be quiet! Be still!" Have your parents ever told you to "Hush! Be quiet! Be still!"? They meant what they said or you was going to be in for a spanking; I don't know about you, but when my mom or dad said "Hush! Be quiet! Be still!", I did just that or I got my spanking. As soon as Jesus gave the command, the wind ceased and there was a great calm (v.39).

 

Jesus went on to ask why they were so fearful and where their faith was (vs.40). The same One that brought you through the other storms of your life; the same One that has wrought miracle after miracle in your life; the same One that was in the boat with the disciples, is the same One with you now; He will never leave you nor forsake you. What is interesting about the disciples is that they feared the storm before Jesus calmed it; now, they feared Him because they saw Him do something that they had not seen until now. Sure, they saw demons cast out, the sick healed, the multitudes fed with a few loaves of bread and a few fish, but never have they seen the weather, the elements in the atmosphere, obey a command such as that. Who is this man that even the wind and sea obey (vs.41)?

 

I tell you Who He is. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last (Rev. 1:8,11). He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24). By Him, all things were created, things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible; He is before all things and by Him all things consist (Col. 1:16,17). He is the only begotten Son of God, Whom He sent into this world because He loves us unconditionally and we may be saved(John 3:16,17). He is the One that says to come unto Him,  take His yoke upon you for He is meek and lowly, and you shall find rest for your soul (Matt. 11:28-29). He is the One that you can cast ALL of your cares upon, because He cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7). He is the Prince of Peace (Isa.9:6).

 

So, my dear brothers and sisters, whatever storms may come your way as you travel this pilgrim journey, know that Jesus will be right there with you every step of the way. When it may seem like the winds begin to rage and the waves begin to crash and fill your boat full of water, continue to put your trust in Jesus to get you through. He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5,6). Remember, He was before all things... even the storms.

 

Until next time...

"There's Something About the Name of JESUS"

"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom ye crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the Stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the Head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:10-12

 

"For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the LORD shall be saved." - Romans 10:13

A name means a lot. During Biblical times, when a name was given unto a child, or to a place, there was a meaning behind that name. For instance, Jacob was given the name "Jacob", which means 'supplanter' or 'seizing by the heel', because he literally seized his twin brother's heel as he followed him out of their mother's womb during birth (Genesis 25:23-26); later on, his name would be changed to "Israel", which means 'triumphant with God' or 'who prevailed with God', after he wrestled with the Lord (Genesis 32:24-29). Then, we have "Isaac", which means 'laughter', the name given to Abraham and Sarah's son, because Sarah laughed when the Lord said she would bare a son in her old age (Genesis 18:10-15; 21:1-7). One more example is the name "Moses". His name was given to him by Pharaoh's daughter, after she pulled him out of the river. "Moses" means 'to draw out of the water' (Exodus 2:10). So, you see, a name had a meaning behind it back then, just as most names do today.

However, I want to talk about a Name that is above all other names. A Name that salvation can only be found in. A Name that, when mentioned, will change the very atmosphere in which you are in. I'm talking about the Name of JESUS. An angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph in a dream, and also unto Mary. He instructed them, of the Lord, to call the young child JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21), and He shall be great and shall be called Son of the Highest (Luke 1:31-32). JESUS is the Greek form of the Hebrew word "Yeshua" (Joshua), meaning 'the Lord is salvation'.

Fast forwarding a bit, Jesus goes on later to instruct us to use His Name when gathering together with other believers; He said when we do, He'll be right there in the midst (Matthew 18:20). He goes on to say that when we ask for anything, to do so in His Name, and it shall be given of our Father which is in Heaven (John 15:16; 16:23-24). When we need Jesus to do something, He said to ask in His Name and He will do it (John 14:13-14). So now, we understand the importance of closing our prayers, ending our petitions, in the Name of JESUS--for Him to do it, and for our Father to give it. We can bind and loose things on earth, and they will be bound and loosed in Heaven; and, when any two agree, touching anything on earth it shall be done of our Father in Heaven (Matthew 18:18-19). But, we can do so, as we have learned, only in the precious Name of JESUS. Something I found interesting in John 15:7, is that we must also abide in Him and His Words abide in us. By doing so, I believe that our desires will match His Will for us; so, that makes Him eager to grant our requests.

Reading and understanding the four Gospels and how each author's account differs in perspective, also shows the importance of all of them put together- it is impossible to have one without the other. Each of the Gospels may have separate names, but collectively it's the Gospel of Jesus Christ- full of instructions on how to live as a victorious Christian in these end times.

Until next time, may the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

-Jason Johnson