Breastplate of Righteousness
Ephesians 6:10-14
http://gbcgracenotes.podbean.com/2013/12/04/breastplate-of-righteousness/
Four times in these verses we are told to 'stand'. These are urgent, imperative commands. God's people are supposed to be on guard, and taking a stand against evil. There is a great culture war in America today. And the world is in a spiritual battle as well.
We must know our enemy...analyze our enemy. Next, we must utilize our weaponry, which we now study. Then we have to realize the victory. Remember, God has already won the victory. There's no doubt about the outcome in our war. Read the back of the book! There's no question about how it ends...but in the meanwhile, we are to fight the good fight, and we can win our own personal battles when we put on the armor of God.
• The initial defeat of Satan happened thru what Jesus did on Calvary. Just as Gen. 3:15 said, the seed of the woman crushed the head of the serpent! Satan and his demons had no idea what the effects of the cross would be.
1 Corinthians 2:8
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
At Calvary, Satan was led into an ambush. He inspired a crowd to do his bidding, and didn't realize he was accomplishing God's purposes! For 3 days the devil rejoiced, and then he found out what had really happened.
Colossians 2:15
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
• The final defeat of Satan -- currently, he has never been to hell, but he is on his way. And he's not going there to be in charge like in jokes, but to be tormented forever in outer darkness.
Which part of the body of Christ would you like to be? Some might say the head, to think like Him, or the heart, to feel close to him. How about the feet?
Romans 16:20
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.
• In between his initial and final defeats is the here and now, and the continual defeat of Satan is where we now focus.
In WWII there was a D-Day, when our allied forces invaded Normandy. That would end up sealing the doom of Hitler. But there was also a V-Day, victory day, about a year later. There was a time span in between the two. And that's where we're at now with our real enemy, the devil. The victory has already been assured and guaranteed, but there's a few more battles to face, and our success as individual soldiers will be based on how we're dressed. [armor]
Last time we saw the girdle of truth, the Word of God, Son of God, and Spirit of God protecting our heart, mind, and will. This helps us overcome Satan's attacks mentally, morally, and motivationally.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
It's like a vest, a coat of mail, covering both front and back from neck to waist. It protects us from one of the devil's most effective fiery darts...guilt. Few things will paralyze a Christian like the guilt of past sins. It may have already been confessed, forgiven, and forsaken, but Satan will dredge it up over and again to hurt you. [conviction of present sin is different...deal with it!]
ill.--
God convicts us in love...Satan accuses us in hatred.
God convicts of present sin...Satan only brings up the past.
God convicts using the Word...Satan uses feelings.
God convicts us, drawing us closer to Him...Satan's guilt moves us away from God.
God's conviction leads to devotion...Satan's guilt leads to depression.
God helps us look ahead in hope...Satan makes us look back and give up.
How do we put on the breastplate of righteousness?
Justification = imputed righteousness
Sanctification = imparted righteousness
This breastplate is justification, placed on us at the moment of salvation. We trade garments with Christ. We trade the list of our sins for His perfect righteousness. Our sins were laid on Him on the cross, and His righteousness was placed upon us.
Satan, the accuser, will come and try to put sins back on your account, but those sins have already been judged, and you are justified, just as if I'd not done those things!
How do we put on this breastplate? By trusting Christ!
How do we wear it every day? By trusting Christ!
4 reasons we need it:
1. Satan accuses us.
Revelation 12:10
... the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
ill.--that woman who had an abortion years ago now regrets it, God forgave her and forgot it, but the devil says tonight to God, "Look at her sitting in church acting so holy, but we know what she did!" God says, let's check the books, and all I see is righteousness!
2. We accuse ourselves.
Some Christians have the problem of perpetual introspection. It's self-examination gone wild, to the extreme of self-accusation...which is unhealthy, because Satan will convince you to put yourself on the shelf. He uses feelings and memories to condemn you. He works on your mind.
If God has forgiven and forgotten, then so should you. Satan is the accuser before God, and so God doesn't need you chiming in, reminding Him of your past.
If you get run down, sleepless, or beat down emotionally, Satan will capitalize on your feelings, fueling the fire in order to get you to forget that you are wearing the breastplate of righteousness!
So, don't trust your feelings. Entire false denominations have been built on feelings and experiences. [feelings come and feelings go, for feelings are deceiving. My trust is in the Word of God, none else is worth believing!]
Feelings are subject to moods and chemical changes, and outside influences. Even the climate! For this reason I mention one of the most confused phrases I hear Christians use: "God is leading me to..." and from there, I've heard it all, from dating an unsaved person to leaving a spouse, to take a questionable job, etc.
Just be honest, and don't blame things on God. Just say, "I feel like it."
Bring your feelings and memories to the Lord and leave them there, where He buries them in the deepest sea, as far as east is from west, and let Him remind you that they are under the blood, and you are wearing a garment He gave you!
3. Others accuse us.
Anybody who serves God will be falsely accused. From Nehemiah to David to Jesus Himself, it is God's job to silence these liars. Paul said that many false charges were brought against him. How could he stand it? He answered in...
2 Corinthians 6:7
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness...
Paul knew the truth about himself, and stood in that righteousness. Jesus was called everything from here to Sunday, but stood in His own righteousness.
Romans 8:31-34
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
4. Circumstances accuse us.
We get a case of the 'if onlys'. If only I had lived a different life, this wouldn't be happening to me. If only I were a better Christian, God wouldn't be punishing me now.
That's just what Job's 'friends' said to him in his suffering. It wasn't justified, and Job was!
The last thing a sufferer needs is guilt over their bad circumstances. It could be that God has chosen them for the lofty privilege of suffering for Him!
Had the man born blind sinned? Had his parents? Jesus said, it's for God's glory!
Ever asked God to remove your bad circumstance and He said no? Why might that be? It is not because of a negative about you, it's because of a positive about Him! He's got something planned!
ill.--handle grips vs. new bike
When did you put on the breastplate of righteousness? Is it still on? Are you aware of this daily? Don't let guilt beat you down. Don't let the devil work on your mind from the past or from present feelings? Rest in the fact that you are protected before and behind!
