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Buckle Up

Words of Faith Final

Buckle Up

Words of Faith 5-7-2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Ephesians 6

   [13] Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [14] Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, [15] and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace.

    [16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

       What we have learned thus far regarding spiritual warfare is that it is essential to know your strengths, know your enemy, and wear your armor.  The armor of God is something you have to put on. The verb tenses here are interesting because, in several instances, we receive the work of the Lord and "take" on salvation and the shield of faith.  We must cooperate with the work of the Spirit.  The armor does not put itself on... nor can we possibly put it on without the aid of the Spirit. 

       We are to cooperate with the Lord and put on the Full Armor of God-- all of it.  We are to put on God’s Armor-- not ours.  And why is this?  Very simply, it is so that you may stand your ground.  Believers are not assigned to attack the devil.  We are assigned the task of standing ground where HE has already won the victory. 

       There were six pieces of Roman armor familiar to anyone who had seen a Roman soldier.  Paul had seen these pieces of armor all his life, but he was particularly familiar with them as a prisoner in Rome.  These pieces of armor are all vital-- the Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Shoes of Readiness, Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit -- the Word.

      These six pieces of armor give witness to the Truth of Christ, the Righteousness of Christ, the Readiness of the Spirit to tell the Good News, the Gift of faith, the Salvation of Christ and how it protects us in battle, and the great power of the Word of God.

      We start with the Belt of Truth.  The Belt of Truth buckled around your waist was first, and it was vital.  The belt was that part of the soldier’s garments that held all the rest together.  It was a gathering for the short tunic.  This was the place on which to hang breastplate and scabbard. The reason that this was first was that everything hangs on truth.

     Jesus said-- "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). He also said:  I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life (John 14). Everything hangs upon truth.

      The curious may ask-- Why not begin with Word?  Or why not salvation or some other preparation for battle?  The reason is that readiness began with the buckling of the belt around the waist.  This was a sign of being "on duty."  To slacken the belt was to go "off duty."  The "belt" was not an ornament but served an essential purpose holding everything together. 

       We can't afford to go "off duty" in the area of truth, ever.  The battle in our world starts with undermining truth or eroding it. We must buckle truth firmly around our waists.   

       So here is the battle readiness question.  Is the belt of truth buckled around your waist?

 

      Lord, God, Your truth is so much to behold.  I receive Your truth and choose to buckle it around my waist so that everything in my life might connect to that truth.  May I walk in Your truth this day.  In Jesus’ Name.