I will use the next few posts to describe how we use each of the six pieces of armour Paul identifies in Ephesians 6. The six pieces are below, the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes/sandals of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Ephesians 6:14-17 (NKJV)
The idea of girding our waist speaks of preparation. We need to be ready for battle and nothing prepares us like a commitment to walking in the truth of His word. I think one reason Paul listed truth first in our spiritual armour is a phrase the serpent used in Eden, back in Genesis 3:1. Part of the challenge was, “Has God indeed said…?” In other words, ‘Is that really true?’ We cannot stand in a spiritual battle without a commitment to truth.
In our recent Federal political issue in Canada witnesses were called to speak to the Justice Committee and more than once there was a reference to someone coming to speak ‘their truth.’ That is a good example of the influence of post-modern nonsense. In our legal system we swear to tell the truth, not ‘our truth.’ We may have different perceptions or memories of an event but there is only one truth about it.
An illustration that has long been popular to deny ‘truth’ is the story of the blind men and the elephant (there are a few versions). In the story 6 blind men each touch a different part of the elephant and describe the elephant differently. One as a rope (the tail), one as a snake (the trunk) and on it goes. The interpretation is often used to deny the ‘truth’ of any particular religious view. Yet it ignores the perspective of the storyteller who can see the truth of what is happening. Truth can be known if we are willing to accept the perspective of the Divine Storyteller who reveals truth.
(For a detailed analysis of the elephant analogy see this link https://www.str.org/articles/the-trouble-with-the-elephant#.XKIF5ZhKg2w)
Scripture contains truth and when we are committed to walk by it we are prepared to engage in spiritual warfare and achieve victory. Part of that preparation is embracing the reality in these verses.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth,
and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
(NKJV)
20 But you have not so
learned Christ, 21 if indeed
you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: Ephesians
4:20-21 (NKJV)
Jesus is truth. When we choose and commit to believe His word in spite of what others may say or what we may see we are ready to stand.
Therefore, believe and stand.
John Wimber used to say that our greatest spiritual weapon is truth. Yes.
Amen, I still miss Wimber.
This is fantastic..and this theme of Truth has come up in three different ways for me this past week. A talk by Ken Ham, a dream about Genesis 1:1-11 and 3, And now this.
I am getting weary and some what discouraged with how many Christians I know who are believing Satan’s lies and are twisting God’s truth and see no problem with it.
That is the first weapon in his arsenal – discouragement. Which essentially means the loss or removal of courage. We need to train our minds to strengthen ourselves in Him.