Belt of Truth #
Reflections Of Last Week #
Last week was the introduction to the armor and why we need it. One major theme is the concept of standing firm in our day to day battles. We usually think of these battles being against ideals or behaviors in other people, but in reality the battle is against areas in our lives that we give up power that has been gifted to us. We do not stand firm in Jesus Christ, because we have accepted an easier path of escape.
Where in your life, since last week, have you noticed you have settled for a less wild lover and taken the easier path?
Verse & Intro #
Ephesians 6:14
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Standing Firm #
If we think about standing firm or standing one’s ground, we get this concept of not moving. Standing firm for a solder would be the difference between life and death, victory or defeat. There is a level of trust to our fellow solders that we have their back and will not run, leaving them exposed. Roman solders would have shields, as we will study later, and would form what they called “the Testudo” (Latin for “tortoise”). A formation where shields formed a wall of protection and breaking that formation exposed your fellow soldiers’ vulnerable areas. So, standing firm means that you have courage to protect your friends.
Belt #
The belt is a core piece of equipment. Today we think of a belt as mostly a means to keep our jeans from sagging or an accessory of fashion, but to a Roman soldier, it was the core piece of equipment.
The belt was used to support most of the equipment. The breastplate attached to the belt. The boots had armor that went up to the belt to make sure the front of the legs were not exposed. A soldier would carry their sword and lance (long spear) attached to their belt. There was a place to attach one’s shield to the belt to free up the soldier’s hands. Only the helmet was not supported by the belt.
Truth as a Core Value #
Just like the function of the belt, truth is a very integrated part of all the other spiritual equipment we wield in a life centered in Jesus Christ. An important fact is not all things that are true are truth. Let’s start with a definition of true and truth.
True:
- adjective
- in accordance with fact or reality.
- accurate or exact.
- adverb
- literary truly. = accurately or without variation.
- verb
- bring (an object, wheel, or other construction) into the exact shape, alignment, or position required.
Truth:
- noun
- the quality or state of being true.
- that which is true or in accordance as true.
- a fact or belief that is accepted at true.
Now, when we look at these definitions you might be asking: if true is used to define truth, how can that which is true not always be truth? Let’s stay with something close to my heart: if I just ran 20 miles, I might say something like, “I feel like I just ran a marathon.” That is a true statement, but is not truth. Yes, truly I feel like I ran 26.2 miles, but in truth, I only ran 20 miles. In the definitions, there is a very minute twist in there that says “the fact or belief” that is accepted as true.
Why is this important in our lives? Because the enemy, the powers and principalities, will use true statements and try to pass them to us as truth. In life, we will have true facts and beliefs that are not truth. Our enemy wants nothing less than to kill and destroy us and there are things that are true, that he will twist into lies about God, who is Truth. We will get more into this in the application section.
Let’s look at another example to get clarity on this idea that not all true things are truth. I think this one will clear up things a bit. Have you ever scored really bad on a test to measure your knowledge in a topic that you felt like you knew well? Maybe you read the book and had a good understanding of the subject but the day you took the test something was distracting you. You knew the subject well, but pulled in a solid 67% and knew you could have performed better. You accepted the fact that you performed badly, but the truth is, you knew the material. This is not based on feelings like above, but is based on one bad performance.
Scripture Questions #
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Think of a time in the past when you have encountered someone who was feeling something was true, when you knew it was not the truth?
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How did you convey to that person or yourself that what was true was not truth?
Application #
We see false truth destroy lives. Imagine you worked for the Air Force and you were the best mechanic in your squad, the top of the top. You were very skilled in your area and could take apart a jet engine and put it back together with precision. One day a pilot takes up a jet that you just put together. Almost everything was done right, but one bolt was missing. The pilot takes up that jet, and it fails, both the jet and pilot are lost. Investigation comes back and finds the fact that one bolt was missing and that caused the accident. It is true that you forgot the bolt, but the truth is, you are a good mechanic.
We have seen this play out in our lives where one true statement is used against us as truth. Yes it might be true that you have made mistakes with your children, friends, and coworkers, maybe the same thing over and over again. The truth is, you love your children and want the best for them. The truth is, you care about your friends. The truth is, you care about those you work with and do a good job in supporting each other. You are an important part of the team that is successful at what they need to do.
Same goes for our lives. Satan will make you question your Righteousness, because of a few times where you could not overcome a stronghold in your life. The Truth is, Jesus has overcome for you. You might never be able to break some strongholds in your life. You might never be able to let go of a less wild lover that you run to each and every time you encounter a situation where you have been so wounded. You might never be able to fully forgive someone who has harmed you so bad that you feel you can never recover. Do not lose hope because the Truth is, Jesus has overcome where you cannot.
In this series of lessons, we will explore areas of our lives where the things we want to do are not the things we do, but the things we do are not the things we want to do. Paul in Romans 7 let’s us know that these struggles are there in life and if we had the power to overcome them all on our own, we would not need the grace of Jesus as our Christ, or the mercy of God.
Romans 7:15-20 ESV
15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
There is a reason why Jesus died on that cross for us and the Truth is, we cannot do it. He has done it for us. He has overcome and if we surrender to him, we are also victorious in God’s reality.
Application Questions #
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When in your life have you accepted things that are true, that you know now are not Truth?
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What keeps you from accepting Jesus’ Truth?
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What are you willing to surrender to Jesus today?
Healing #
Today, we are going to focus on one true fact that we hold on to that is not Truth about who we are in Christ. These usually manifest themselves in our lives as strongholds or our need for “less wild lovers”. Where we chose to escape than enter into what God has asked us to be strong and courageous.
Let’s start with a biblical example: God asked Joshua to lead the people into the promise land after 40 years of preparation. Joshua has a spirit of false comparison to how Moses lead and how he feels. He is tempted to settle for a “less wild lover” and let God know he is not the man for this task. Let’s take a look at God’s response in Joshua 1:9:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
It is true that Joshua was not as experienced as Moses, who also had questioned God if he was the man for the job when he was called. The good news is, we are called and God will make us the person for the job. Our responsibility is to be strong and courageous, to step into the wild.
I would like you to recall a recent time where you have taken the easy route. You have settled again and again. So much so that you do not feel equipped to be the person God has called you to be. It is true that you have failed and you can feel that deep inside you.
Prayerfully surrender that to Jesus, and let him take you to where that all started.
Ask Jesus what the Truth is about you.
Can you accept that Truth? It is okay if it is hard to accept, just take time in the next week or more to accept the Truth in that area of woundedness. If you need help, ask someone you trust deeply to help you in this process.
The good news is, the Truth you get from Jesus is not only Truth at the place of woundedness, but is also Truth for today.
Healing Questions #
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Where do you feel the conflict that Paul talks about in Romans 7 about the things I want to do, I do not do and the things I do not want to do, I do?
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Where has God revealed your desire for a “less wild lover” based in the area of Truth?
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What Truth do you need today?
Going Deeper #
This Truth is a core value that we will apply each week in our lives as we seek the healing power if Jesus Christ in our lives. The battle is not out there with other people, they need to fight their own battle. With that said, we can become stronger, share our testimony, and walk with them. Truth is we are not to “judge” others, because that allows us to take our eyes off the true battle in ourselves. It is a way to divert our attention away from what we need to do. Here is an interesting observation, it is the sin in others that we notice the most, that is our own biggest struggles. In other words, it’s the behavior of others that bothers us the most that are prominent in us. Might not be the exact same thing, but it is related in most cases.
Truth is Jesus died for us and has the authority to forgive sin.
John 8:31-32
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Those are the words of Jesus, who is Truth and that Truth has the power and authority to set you free.
Truth is you are saved, you are sealed, God, through Jesus has put a seal over you, claiming you as his adopted child. You do not have the power to mess that up or to change that. Satan will try to bind you up, to keep you ineffective, but you can overcome and have freedom through Jesus Christ. It is a process of daily surrender and measured over the course of decades.
Challenge for this week is to find some scripture that applies to your life, struggles and victories, and claim them as your own. Memorize one of them and recall what Jesus has done for you.
Deeper Questions #
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What areas of life have you noticed bother you the most about other people?
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Where do you need freedom today?
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Are you willing to find another person in whom you can trust and share some deep healing work soon?