Spiritual Warfare: Part 2 Girdle of Truth -- Let God Be True, But Every Man A Liar Spiritual Warfare: Part 2 Girdle of Truth

From my youth the concept of spiritual warfare has been a part of my daily life.  Knowing that we are bombarded and under continual attack from the forces of evil that broadcast in attitudes and thoughts every conscious moment; it is frustrating to lose a battle to the Devil.  No one in impervious!  Yes, the armor of God is impenetrable, but like any soldiers armor, it has to be worn 24/7.  The specifics of the armor must be predicated by these principles:

1.  Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might:  The biggest problem we have is trusting in our own strength and power.  No one sets out to be so foolish; but just as you can put a frog into a pan of room temperature water and slowly turn up the heat; our human nature will allow us to do the same and be gradually boiled to death spiritually.  The Devil is not going to say, “trust in yourself.”  He will attack the small things in your life gradually and he will do it with distractions.  We must be diligent and never let our guard down.

2.  Put on the whole armor of God:  The emphasis is the word “whole.”  This reminds me of winter.  From preschool age through Junior High School, Mom never let us out of the house without boots, hats, scarves, sweater under our coats and mittens.  When we got into High School, it became a losing battle for her.  For me, wearing a hat has always been a habit; once the temperature drops into the 40s.  Every couple of years, in the effort to look cool the hat gets let in the closet; only to be followed with a cold.  It’s just not worth it.  The whole armor for winter is necessary.  The same for spiritual warfare.

3.  Having done all, to stand:  God’s armor and His protection will only work for us if we take the responsibility; having done all, works of our faith; we turn it over to God.  We are always required to make a faithful effort.

Ephesians 6:10-14 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  (11)  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  (12)  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.  (13)  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.  (14)  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Wiles

The word “wiles,” means trickery or to lie in wait.  The Devil is always ready to ambush us!  Amor only protects so far.  Alertness to the patterns of the enemy; looking for the Devil’s ambushes requires our constant awareness.

The Armor of God: TRUTH

Our first piece of armor protects against the Devil’s No. 1 weapon; lies and deception.  The Devil is a liar and the father of lies.  We need to know God’s truth and beware of lies and deception.  The girdle or belt; protects our bowls and gives us intestinal fortitude, commonly called “guts,” or confidence.  No one can fight if they come down with dysentery.  Stomach problems can render a soldier helpless

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and 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.

Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Psalms 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

God wants His truth to be in our inward parts; in our mind, body and soul.  When we have fed on the WORD of God and placed it in our hearts; the bread of life, Christ, then we can’t we swayed by lies.  People live in fear because they do not have the truth.  The Devil becomes powerless when we claim the power of Christ.  Rebuke the Devil in Jesus’ name, claiming the promise and he must flee.  Hollywood has produced a lot of movies that gives the Devil more power than he has.  We have the power of God on our side, but we must know the truth and use it, claiming the promises.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We need to live in the promises of God, His truth; knowing that we are the heirs of promise.

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Our calling into the Kingdom of God, to rule and reign with Christ for all eternity, the reality of paradise that awaits us; must live in our bowels and inward parts.  We need truth!

Prayer:  Heaven Father, you have chosen me for the battle now.  Help me in this daily battle to never let down.  Keep me strong in your hands, in the power of your might.  Let your truth live in me; in Jesus’ name, Amen.

This is an Apostolic Devotional to nurture and edify the Saved and to lead the lost to SALVATION: 1) REPENTANCE; 2) BAPTISM IN JESUS’ NAME, for the remission of sin; 3) RECEIVING THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST.