Excerpt from: Putting on the Whole Armor of God

Rebekah L. Holt

Equipped for the Battle of Life –

To face the battle of life—the Lord has provided us with armor that is 100% impenetrable, bullet proof—spiritually speaking!

Ephesians 6: 10-18 is the familiar passage outlining the armor of God:

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

The WHOLE armor includes:

 

A Girdle/Belt of Truth –

TO “gird” [or girdle] up the loins” is a common expression in the KJV for putting one’s self in readiness for any service that might be required…The girdle was a symbol of strength, activity, and power…”  This often referred to the skirt of a robe being tucked into a belt at the waist for freedom in motion.  Likewise, to gird one’s loins in battle was to protect vital organs and provide a useful utility belt that other articles could be hung on.

In a spiritual sense, truth is a foundation for Christianity.  Without being girt about with truth, we leave ourselves dangerously exposed for compromise and deception; our potential for effectively defending our Christianity is thus handicapped.  Mixing false ideologies (e.g. evolution, etc.) and heresies (e.g. theistic evolution, prosperity doctrine, etc.) limits the spiritual and intellectual freedom that our Savior desires us to engage in.  John 8:28 – “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”

“It was prophesied of Christ (Is. 11:5) that righteousness should be the girdle of His loins and faithfulness the girdle of His reins.  That which Christ was girded with, all Christians must be girded with.  God desires truth…  This is the strength of our loins; and it girds on all other pieces of our armour, and therefore is first mentioned.”

In the book of Psalms, truth is also said to be our shield and buckler—a method of defense (Ps. 91:4).   Scripture reveals that the wicked are not valiant for truth (Jer. 9:3), instead, they resist (2 Tim. 3:8) and turn away from it (2 Tim. 4:4).  Those who are devoid of truth are likened to the devil who “abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it” (Jn. 8:44). 

It is sobering to consider the words of Christ, “He that is not with me is against me…" (Mt. 12:30). Those who choose not to believe what God has revealed in His Son (Jesus Christ), His written Word (the Bible) and His natural revelation (a created world) are rejecting the truth.  They are without excuse (Ro. 1:20). 

Like many people today, Pilate asked, “What is truth4?” when the answer was standing before him.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn. 14:6).