The very first instruction given by the Apostle Paul before he mentions putting on the belt of truth was to stand. "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth." Ephesians 6:14
The foundation on which a person stands determines how successfully a person will be able to stand firm, grounded, immovable without falling. In establishing what the belt of truth is and how to put it on we must first look at the source of all truth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He is The One who is able to keep us from falling and present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. (Jude 1:24)
Standing firm is foundational and the prerequisite for victory.
It’s interesting and imperative to note that one meaning of the word “stand” in Greek in this text means to abide. It is essential that we cultivate a life of deep abiding in Christ; make having an in-close and personal relationship with Him our highest goal. Getting well acquainted with Him. His ways. His voice. His Word. His Spirit. His love. His presence and have an insistent determination to commune with Him in stillness. May we never neglect the precious gift of waiting on the Lord in the quietness of heart. It's in the stillness that we hear His voice, get instruction, revelation, rest, endowment, and are safeguarded against the lies and deceit of the enemy.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they will follow Me. And when He putteth forth His own sheep He goes before them and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice and a stranger will they not follow. John 10:27 John 10:5-6
We’ve got to get so desperate for Jesus, and harvest an unshakeable resolve to seek Him like hidden treasure. We've got to be so hidden in Him that we won't be easily moved. This means we've got to go deeper in Him. Be diligent to rightly divide the word of truth so that we will be strengthened, well equipped, set up for victory, to combat the enemy's lies, deception, assaults, imaginations, and accusations, and be empowered to stand so that we will not be overwhelmed but overcome!
For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle, He shall hide me. He shall set me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:5
Our chief aim must be to make Jesus Christ our abode and foundation upon which we build so that when the world around us is in tumult, confusion, uncertainty, and despair we'll be kept standing strong because our houses are built upon the Rock.
Hear the word of the Lord,
Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rains come in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. (Matthew 7:24-27)
To prevent collapsing in these torrential times, we must build our "houses" our very lives on the imperishable solid Rock of Jesus by hearing and applying the truths in the infallible Word of God. Being hearers of the word of God and being doers of the word of God. These are essential components to defeating the enemy and are the “cloth” of which the belt of truth is made.
As recruits in God's regiment, we must be sure to gird, encircle, bind the belt of truth tightly around our waist and buckle it by faith in the name above every name. The enemy is after our faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. It is by hearing the word of God that we garner faith and the enemy will attempt to snatch the word when we are overwhelmed by the cares of this world. We must stay on guard to sow the word on good ground. Hear the word and understand it so that we bear fruit. Not just to survive but thrive! (Matthew 13:22-23)
The enemy is after our very lives, the lives of our loved ones, and the lives of our brothers and sisters around the world. We must fight the good fight of faith in the strength of the Lord in Truth. We’ve come too far to retreat now!
The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force! (Matthew 11:12)
“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” 1 John 5:19-20
Scripture tells us that wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few will find it. Matthew 7:13-14
The road that leads to life must be navigated by keeping our eyes on Jesus and the truths in God's word. We must rely entirely on the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth to sanctify us and leads us into all truth. Because the father of lies has set snares and devices to lie and deceive even the elect if possible. (Matthew 24:24). He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. (John 8:44) But thanks be to God who has so providentially given us the Belt of Truth to combat the enemy’s untruths and trickery.
But when He, the Spirit of truth comes He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and he will tell you what is to come. John 16:13
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons." 1 Timothy 4:1 To guard against deception we must build our lives on God's Word by consistent study and application, otherwise, we may be lulled into error and deception, paying close attention to how we live and our teachings, for by doing this we will save both ourselves and those who hear us. 2 Timothy 2:15 1 Timothy 4:6
Be fully convinced and hear the Word of the Lord for His people;
"Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? Who then will condemn us? No one, for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us.
Can anything separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loves us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow, not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.
(Romans 8:33-38 NLT)
Father, we thank You for the belt of truth. Today we gird the belt of truth tightly around our waists to uphold all our pieces of armor. We do this by faith and in the name of Jesus.
Lord, we ask that You will strip us of all error and clothe us with truth. Where we may be deceived in any area we ask that You will unveil our eyes so that we may see clearly.
Gracious God, sanctify us in Your truth. Strengthen us in our inner man by Your Holy Spirit; the Spirit of Truth. Bless our ears to hear so that we may follow You without deviating from Your victorious path.
May we take heed to what we have heard in Your Word so that it will be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our pathway. We thank You that Your faithful promises are our armor and protection. Your truth is our shield and buckler. We thank You for Your great and precious promises that are Yes and in Christ, Amen.
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