Our first piece of armor is the Belt of Truth.
“So stand up, wrap the belt of truth around your waist,” Ephesians 6:14
Our Enemy loves to tell us lies. He makes it seem that the Truth is wrong and that we will get into trouble if we believe it. So, Satan wraps a lie in pretty paper and adds ribbons and bows so that we will believe the lie over the Truth.
We must recognize that a lie is a false statement deliberately made to deceive. Our Enemy knows this and will take it and make it look like a watered-down version of the Truth.
Satan also knows God’s Word and will take it and twist it to fit whatever scheme he is planning. He is afraid of the Truth because it’s the Truth that will defeat him in the end.
Last week, I shared three areas where spiritual battles take place and how our Enemy prepares for battle. Over the next few weeks, we will learn and study each piece of our spiritual armor and how to use it to defeat Satan.
For a Roman soldier, the belt was a strategic, primitive piece of armor. It was made of sturdy leather and wrapped around his torso to provide essential support.
This belt also secured several pieces of his armor and held them in place. The soldier’s sword, dagger, and breastplate were all attached. The tunic would be tucked into his belt to keep him from tripping in battle. The belt would carry the weight of the other armor pieces, relieving the pressure from his shoulders.
To know how to wear this armor, we must understand the definition of Truth.
Here is what Webster says:
1 a(1): the body of real things, events, and facts: actuality
(2) the state of being the case: fact
(3)often capitalized: a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality
b: a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true
truths of thermodynamics
c: the body of true statements and propositions
2a: the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality
chiefly British: true sense 2
c: fidelity to an original or to a standard
3a: sincerity in action, character, and utterance archaic: fidelity, constancy
4:capitalized Christian Science: God
Steven Lawson defines truth:
It is defined as that which conforms with fact or reality. It is genuineness, veracity, or actuality. In a word, truth is reality. It is how things actually are. Theologically, truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God.
Truth is the self-disclosure of God Himself. It is what it is because God declares it so and made it so. All truth must be defined in terms of God, whose very nature is truth.
From God’s Word:
“Your word can be summed up in one word: truth! All of your just laws will last forever.” Psalms 119:160
Light will always overcome darkness, as the truth will always overcome lies. We can see and separate facts from fiction when we shine God’s truth on a lie.
“At one time, you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. You are to live as children of light “Ephesians 5:8
“But when anything is exposed to light, then it’s revealed as it is. Light makes everything visible.” Ephesians 5:13
“Jesus spoke again to the people, telling them, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t walk in darkness, for you will have the life-giving light.” John 8:12
Just like the Roman soldier needed his belt to help him in battle, we must wear our belts in our battles. But what does that look like? How do we put on the belt of truth?
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who trusted in him, ‘If you follow my teaching, then you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
To know God’s truth, we must study His word, meditate on it, memorize it, and let it teach and change us.
“When you walk to the right or to the left, you will hear this command coming from behind you: ‘This is the way to follow.” Isaiah 30:21
Wearing our belts, we are prepared for the deception and lies our Enemy tries to attack us with. This belt, when worn, will stabilize all the other pieces of our Godly Armor.
In Isaiah, the nation of Israel had once again turned from God and was making its own path. They had become enemies of God. Pure worship had been replaced with idol worship and other perverted practices. The only way to bring judgment and justice was for God to intervene.
“Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.
He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him.
He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment. So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the Lord drives.” ‘Isaiah 59:15-19
We are no longer God’s enemies, and He will not wear His armor against us. When Jesus came and established the new covenant, God took His armor and placed it on us.
With the belt of truth around our waist, we can stand and know when our Enemy is attacking with his lies.
Over the next few weeks, we will look at the other pieces of armor God gave us to fight this spiritual battle Satan is waging against us. I hope you will join me again soon!
Resources:
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.59.15-19
https://www.bible.com/bible/1932/ISA.30.21
https://www.bible.com/bible/1932/JHN.8.31-32
https://www.bible.com/bible/1932/JHN.8.12
https://www.bible.com/bible/1932/EPH.5.13
https://www.bible.com/bible/1932/EPH.5.8
https://www.bible.com/bible/1932/PSA.119.160
https://www.bible.com/bible/1932/EPH.6.14
Truth Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truth
6-26-2022 “WHAT IS TRUTH?” part2 John 18:37-38 | waynecountybiblecenter. https://waynecountybiblecenter.com/2022/06/27/6-26-2022-what-is-truth-part2-john-1837-38/
Truth is defined as that which conforms with fact or reality | Christian Research Network. https://christianresearchnetwork.org/2020/06/26/truth-is-defined-as-that-which-conforms-with-fact-or-reality/
