Standing in Truth
Ephesians 6:14
Series: Armed and Dangerous
July 1, 2007
Morning Service
Introduction
A couple of hunters chartered a plane to fly into the Canadian wilderness. Two weeks later when the pilot came to pick them up, he saw the two animals they had bagged and said, "I told you fellows I could only take you and one moose. You’ll have to leave the other behind."
"But we did it last year in a plane this size," protested one of the hunters, "and the other pilot let us take two moose."
"Well, okay," said the pilot. "If you did it before I guess we can do it again."
So the two moose and the hunters were loaded in and the plane took off. Because of the heavy weight, it rose with difficulty and was unable to clear an obstructing hill. After the crash, the men climbed out and looked around.
One hunter said to the other, "Where are we, anyway?"
His companion surveyed the scene. "I think we got about half a mile farther than we got last year."
Sometimes people have a strange problem with the truth. They either seem to forget it or ignore it completely. Truth seems to be underrated when it comes to our society. Sadly this fact is seen even in the church.
George Barna, one of the leading Christian social researchers, released these findings about Christians in America. While an estimated 74 percent of Americans strongly agree that "there is only one true God, who is holy and perfect, and who created the world and rules it today," an estimated 65 percent either strongly agree or somewhat agree with the assertion that "there is no such thing as absolute truth."
It is impossible to have faith that saves without believing in the Truth. It’s been said that nothing ruins truth like stretching it.
5 Realities of Truth
Truth is a way of living
a.) Truth is the essence of our lifestyle Psalm 119:30-32
b.) Truth is said to be our walk with God Psalm 26:2, Psalm 86:11, 3 John 3-4
c.) Truth is part of the way we speak Psalm 15:2
Truth needs to be our desire
a.) We call on God through the truth Psalm 145:18
b.) We should give all to obtain the truth Proverbs 23:23
Truth needs to be seen in our actions
a.) Honesty is to be a high value for God’s people Proverbs 16:13
b.) Truth needs to be at the heart of our motives Isaiah 48:1
c.) Truth needs to be part of our priorities Isaiah 59:14-15
d.) Truth needs to be part of our speech Zechariah 8:16-17
e.) Truth goes hand in hand with love 1 Corinthians 13:6
f.) Truth brings spiritual growth Ephesians 4:15-16
g.) Truth purifies our lives through obedience 1 Peter 1:22-23
Truth is the essence of what we believe
a.) Truth brings us t saving grace 2 Thessalonians 2:9-13
b.) Truth can be accepted and then rejected James 5:19-20
Truth becomes a part of who we are in Christ
a.) Being in the light envelopes us in the truth of Christ Ephesians 5:8-10
b.) We must accept the truth about our nature 1 John 1:5-10
c.) Truth is found in Christ 1 John 2:20-23
d.) We belong to the truth and must act in truth 1 John 3:18-20
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist Ephesians 6:14
The belt was an essential part of Roman armor. The belt would have been the first item the solider would put on. This was important for several reasons. First, the belt held down the soldier’s personal clothing to keep it from moving during battle. Second, the belt served as a point of support, much like a weight lifting belt. Third, the belt was used to support the rest of the armor. It was used as a connector. The breastplate would be connected to the belt to keep it in place. The scabbard would be attached to the belt to hold the sword.
The belt was literally provided a point of stability for the rest of the armor. Today, we may use belts as a decorative accessory or simply to hold our clothing in place. The belt was one of the most important pieces of a soldier’s armor.
Pontius Pilate may have asked one of the greatest questions in all of history. What is truth?
It is an age old question that many of us seem to be searching for the answer to.
The Greek word that Paul uses here for truth is aletheia. The word means what is true in any matter of consideration. For us today, Paul is speaking about truth in its absolute form. It is truth that pertains to God and His relationship with humanity. Paul describes here truth that never changes and never fades.
Paul is giving us a special glimpse of the nature of truth. He uses the Roman soldier’s belt to show us the working nature of truth.
Another poll sheds light on this paradox of increased religiosity and decreased morality. According to sociologist Robert Bellah, 81 percent of the American people also say they agree that "an individual should arrive at his or her own religious belief independent of any church or synagogue." Thus the key to the paradox is the fact that those who claim to be Christians are arriving at faith on their own terms -- terms that make no demands on behavior. A woman named Sheila, interviewed for Bellah’s Habits of the Heart, embodies this attitude. "I believe in God," she said. "I can’t remember the last time I went to church. But my faith has carried me a long way. It’s ’Sheila-ism.’ Just my own little voice."
Charles Colson, Against the Night, p. 98.
The truth acts like the Roman Soldier’s belt in a number of ways.
Truth gives stability: Just as the soldier’s belt was used to stabilize their clothing. Truth stabilizes us in our daily living.
Truth gives strength: Truth offers us the strength that we need to survivie the daily grind of life
Truth gives support: Truth supports us in our claims to faith
Truth comes through Jesus
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus embodiment of Truth
a.) God shows us His Truth through Jesus
b.) When we look to Jesus we will see the picture of God’s Truth
Jesus is the communicator of Truth
a.) Jesus makes the Truth clear – His teaching is true
b.) Jesus reveals the right way to the Truth
Jesus is the liberator of Truth
a.) Jesus removes the rift between God and humanity
b.) Jesus sets us free – frustrations, fears and fatigue
The Truth Sets us free
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32
Truth sets us free from doubt and despair
a.) The search for Truth is over – we no longer have to wander or wonder about it
b.) Jesus has revealed the Truth to us
Truth sets us free from sin
a.) We no longer have to struggle against sin
b.) We no longer have to struggle with shame and guilt
c.) The power to overcome and defeat sin is found in Jesus alone
Truth sets us free from death
a.) We no longer need to fear death
b.) Jesus conquered death through the resurrection
c.) Jesus lives now and forever
d.) Truth gives us hope – life in eternity
Truth sets us free from judgment and Hell
a.) We no longer have to face the fear of an unknown future and looming judgment
b.) Jesus reveals that he bore the punishment for humanity
Truth sets us free to be saved
a.) Truth brings us the completion of all good things – love, joy, peace and hope
b.) Truth reveals that Jesus has power to save
Conclusion
A woman’s red station wagon was crushed by an elephant at a circus. The owners of the animal apologized, explaining that the animal, for some reason, simply liked to sit on red cars. In spite of the damage, the woman’s car was still drivable. But on the way to the garage she was stopped short by an accident involving two other cars just ahead of her. When the ambulance arrived a few minutes later the attendants took one look at her car, then ran over to assist her.
"Oh, I wasn’t involved in this accident," she explained. "An elephant sat on my car." The ambulance attendants quickly bundled her off to the hospital for possible shock and head injuries, despite the lady’s vehement protests.
Those who would find truth must:
Desire it
Pray for it
Study it
Practice it
