LIFE
OF VICTORY – 5
The extreme importance of a Christian
putting on the armor provided by our Lord and keeping it on for our entire life
has been noted through Scripture. We now
need to know what this armor is in order to put it on. The purpose of this armor is evident from Eph.6:11.
We are told to be strong in the strength, not of ourselves, but in
the strength of the Lord. Eph.6:10
Why is this strength so important?
What is this battle? It is
explained in Eph.6:12. This isn’t some fairy tale or some
Halloween story. This is as real as real
can get. We are surrounded by Satan and
his schemes so we must stay strong in the Lord’s might and the armor He gives
us.
Truth is the first part of our
armor. Eph.6:14 The loins are the
girdle of our mind and spirit. 1 Pet.1:13
The loins are the part of the body between the spine and the hip
bone. Our whole body depends on the
loins to hold us up. In speaking of
Levi’s enemies, the shattering of the loins that they might not rise again in
mentioned in Deut.33:11. Our mind or thinking must be based on
what is true or we will collapse.
Jesus explained truth in Jhn. 18:37.
Upon hearing this explanation, Pilate asks the question, “What is
truth?” (vs. 38) God is true.
1 Thess.1:9 God’s Word (Bible) is true. Jhn.17:17;
2 Tim.3:16 Jesus is truth. Jhn.14:6 Jesus was explaining to his disciples
and said that those who believe in Him would know truth and be made free. (of
sin) Jhn.8:31,32 The Holy Spirit
is called “the Spirit of truth.” Jhn.14:17
Our spiritual life will collapse if we
believe false doctrine. Gal.1:8; Eph.4:14,15; 2 Pet.2:1-3 A false teacher may be friendly, a good
speaker, and very likeable but that does not make him right. He may have been taught wrong. Acts
5:29 If our loins are girded with
truth, we will follow Scripture and not man’s idea. We need to be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11.
Man’s teaching must follow the Truth.
The breastplate of righteousness is the
next part of our armor. (v.14) If a
person is stabbed in the arm, he will probably survive; but if he is stabbed in
the heart, survival is near to impossible.
Our spiritual heart is our life.
Our heart involves a whole range of activities that go one in the inner
self. We become the person that our
heart thinks upon. Prov.23:7 Our decisions are
made in our heart. 2 Cor.9:7 Although this is
speaking of giving, the same is true with other decisions. We purpose in our hearts to do or not to
do.
Job asks a question in Job 9:2.
We become righteous through our belief in Jesus. Rom.3:22 A sincere belief follows with
obedience. Abraham was considered
righteous—he obeyed. We offer ourselves
as instruments of righteousness. Rom.6:13
As a child of God we must practice righteousness. 1
Jhn.3:7 To finally receive the
righteousness of Jesus is the hope of a Christian. Gal.5:5
The Lord knows our hearts. Lk.9:47 God examines our hearts. 1
Thess.2:4 God knows whether we are
performing a task for our own glory or for His glory. God searches our hearts. Rom.8:27 What a blessing to know we have the Holy
Spirit to intercede for us. In the
letter to the church in Thyatira, God says He will search their hearts and
minds and reward their deeds accordingly.
Rev.2:23 The Lord will establish our hearts in
holiness and without blame. What a
blessing to be a child of God. 1 Thess.3:13 We have such a tendency to think we can
examine the heart of a brother. No, God
will do that in His time. He, alone, can
examine our motives and then the praise that is due will come from Him. 1
Cor.4:5
God works in our hearts. He opened Lydia’s heart. Acts
16:14 The Lord gives us the Holy
Spirit in our hearts as a seal and pledge.
2 Cor.1:22; Gal.4:6 Christ must be set aside (sanctified) as
the Lord of our hearts. 1 Pet.3:15
To be a Lord means that we let Him be the master of our heart.
Righteousness is the covering that we
need over our heart. This means life or
death of our spiritual live. We must
take heed that our hearts are not hardened.
Heb.3:12,13 We need never think that we alone can be
righteous. We take on the righteousness
of Jesus as He takes on our sin. 2 Cor.5:21
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