In the first part of this series we discussed how we are born into sin and how Jesus came to free us from that bondage of sin. We also discussed briefly that there is an enemy who is against those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ. If you didn’t read it you can read it here so you can have a foundational start to where I am going with this.
When you read Ephesians 6:10-20 it talks about the armor of God which we need in order to stand our ground when evil comes our way. It also begins to list the armor of God in a particular order. And as things are built on a foundation I believe build they build on each other for the believer.
The Foundation: What is truth?
This foundation starts with the belt of truth. Now what is truth and why is it represented as a belt? In John 14:6 Jesus said that He is the way, the truth, and the life. So truth is not a what but a who. Truth is Jesus and He is the foundation on which everything else is built. We need to grasp who Jesus is, what He says, and abide by His words.
Colossians 2:7 says
Let your roots grow down deeply in Him, and let Him build you up on a firm foundation. Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught, and always spill over with thankfulness. (The Voice)
Abiding In Truth
We can know who He is, what He says, and abide in Him when reading the Bible because it is His words given to us (John 1:1-2). Not only do we get to know more about who Jesus is but we get to know more about who we are in Him. As we read and mediate on the Bible those truths begin to take root.
Colossians 2:7 says
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Warfare and Truth
Jesus said in John 8:31-32
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
We MUST be grounded in His truth if we are to stand. We need to devote ourselves to reading, studying, and applying His word in our lives so we can know when the enemy attacks (2 Timothy 2:15). Everything the enemy does is false (John 8:44) and if we don’t know the truth then we cannot decipher the truth from the false.
Studying the scriptures gives us the tools we need to be able to take our stand against the enemy and his lies. When we are attacked, we can pull a truth from the scripture to stand on and use it to ward off the enemy’s attacks. This is what Jesus did when He was in the desert for forty days and Satan came to tempt Him. Jesus fought back with scripture (Matthew 4:1-11).
When I did some research, belts in warfare were used to hold the fighter’s weapons. So when we study the Bible and then put on the belt of truth, the Holy Spirit will then show us which specific verse we need from His word in order to fight.
God is an amazing God! He never leaves us to fend for ourselves and has given us tools and resources at our disposal to help us to take a stand against the enemies schemes.
Next we will take a look at the breastplate of righteousness.
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