The Whole Armour of God

THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD
THE BELT OF TRUTH
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth. Ephesians 6:14
The comprehensive description of all the pieces of the armour is very useful aid in discerning and
understanding them. The first piece of armour is our belt. A belt is made of truth, holding up and
keeping in place all the other pieces of the armour. Naturally speaking, a belt is used to hold things
in place; spiritually the belt of truth does the same thing. Truth keeps us secure in Christ and makes
effective all the other pieces of armour.
WHAT DOES THE TRUTH MEAN HERE?
1 Corinthians 5:8 therefore us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and
wickedness, but with the unleavened (bread) of sincerity truth.
2 Corinthians 1:12 for our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted
ourselves in the world in simplicity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more
abundantly toward you. (nkjv)
Truth is the sincerity of the heart .Sincerity leads us to be open to God. It keeps our motives pure,
devoid of malice and wickedness towards our fellow men. Are you seeking spiritual gifts as an aid to
popularity or a means of serving God better? Keeping our hearts pure is essential if we are to be
effective in spiritual warfare. This is the belt of truth.
The belt of truth in two places; in our hearts and in our minds.
In the heart
In the heart – 1 corinthians 5:8 and 2 corinthians 1:12 describes truth and how it relates to our
hearts. This kind of truth should influence our attitude. Holding malice and bitterness against our
fellow brothers and sisters in faith puts a big dent in our armour. It also leaves us wide open to
demonic attack. Our prayers of faith will be rendered in effective if we do not wear the belt of truth.
Truth is like a watch guard. It keeps us on the straight and narrow. Is your heart right to God?
Truth in our hearts means serving God with the right motives, and loving and serving our fellow
brothers and sisters in Christ with sincerity.
In our minds
1 peter 1:13-18. Therefore gird up the lions of your mind, be sober and rest ( your) hopefully upon
the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not
conforming yourselves to the former lusts, (as) in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you (is)
holy, you also be holy in all(your) conduct.
16 because it is written, “ be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on the Father, who without
partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your
stay(here) silver or gold, from your aimless conduct (received) by tradition from your fathers.(NKJV)
2 timothy 2:15. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (NKJV)
Truth in the mind means having clarity of sound doctrine. What do you believe? Are you aware of
what Christ has done for you? Does the mental knowledge of Christ victory on the cross translate
into godly living in your life?
Truth in our heart makes us sincere and teachable before God. Truth in the mind helps to strengthen
our wills toe serve the Lord. These two, a sincere heart and a determined will combine to give us a
firm girdle that keep us rooted and grounded in Christ.
Truth in our hearts is sincerity. A heart devoid of sin towards God and bitterness towards man is a
heart full of truth. Truth in the mind is exerting our will in serving the Lord. It is acting on what we
know is true. Truth is not a mental perception of the truth by rather an embracing and living of the
truth. How to put on the belt of truth.
Since the belt of truth involves our hearts and minds we have to make an adjustment in both these
places to put it on. Make it a daily habit of checking your armour of truth. Are you right with the
Lord? Is there any untruth lingering in your heart? Are you embracing known known sin? What
about your relationship with men? Any bitterness or malice being entertained?
Then make sure your mind is embracing sound doctrine. This will help to equip your will in serving
the Lord. Below are seven helpful aids in embracing sound doctrine as given by one of the old-time
teachers of the word-William Gurnall, a puritan who lived in the 17 th century in England. These
points have been rewritten in modern day English.
1. Be sincere in seeking the truth. Approach it with a sincere heart. This will make all the
difference- 1 tim 1:5
2. Receive the ministry of the word from those God has equipped to serve it. God has given
gifts to the body of Christ. A sincere heart will aid you in discerning the truth. Ep 4:11- 12.
3. Accommodate the whole body of Christ. Don’t restrict yourself to the teachings or doctrines
of any one particular group or denomination in your quest for the truth. God has not given
the totality of His truth to any one particular. We must discern the body if we are to grow.
4. Beware of curiosity 2 tim 4:3
Strange and sometime obviously wrong doctrine will appear. Witchcraft, New age and all
kinds of teachings will be repackaged as Christian doctrine. Don’t let curiosity take you
beyond the bounds of your hearts warning.
5. Be a humble seeker. Nevr assume perfection in any doctrine or teaching. Watch out for
pride. Pride can make you a stranger to the throne of grace and turn humble praying for the
truth into ambitious arguments.
6. Do not be offendedat thediffernt opinions. It will only allow bitterness and malice to fester.
7. Know the value of truth in heart. When you find truth embrace it and keep it. Let nothing
tear it away from you. More importantly live it.
Dele Oke 2001

The living Word Library
London. UK
http:// www.wordlibrary.co.uk
CRC.

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THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD

THE BELT OF TRUTH

WHAT DOES THE TRUTH MEAN HERE?

Dele Oke 2001

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