The Belt Of Truth Series

The Belt of Truth

Ephesians 6:10-13

Chenoa Baptist Church

Pastor Jefferson M. Willams

04-13-2024

The Belt of Truth

A couple of years ago, I learned how important a belt is. I was flying back from Trinidad and was in the Toronto airport. I had lost weight over the summer and my belt was the only thing holding up my pants. Of course, I had to take my belt off to go through security.

I was holding my pants up and the lady that took me through the X-ray machine told me I had to put my hands up. I told her that if I did that my pants would be at my ankles. She gave me a stern TSA look, and I obeyed her. My pants weren’t quite at my ankles but they were close. She laughed and said, “Well, you weren’t kidding, were you?”

Belts are important to hold up our pants. This morning, Paul will use the word picture of a belt to describe the first piece of armor that we are studying.

Last week, we began our sermon series on the armor of God from Ephesians 6.

As we walked through these verses, we learned of

The Christian’s power source

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10)

He begins by commanding them to “be strong.” It’s in the present tense meaning, “be strengthened.” It means to put power into something like when we put gas in a car. This is something done to the Christian continually by God.

But notice we are to be strong “in the Lord and His mighty power.” How strong you are is irrelevant. Our strength comes from our union with Christ.

The Christian’s Adversary

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 2:11)

This is a command - put on the armor now, don’t delay! This refers to the full preparation of a foot soldier for offense and defense.

Paul says this armor will help you “stand against” the devil’s schemes. The Greek words mean, “hold your ground,” “hold your position,” and “don’t give the enemy an inch.”

Pastor Watchman Nee writes:

“We do not fight for victory, we fight from victory. We do not fight to win but because in Christ, we have already won. Overcomers are those who rest in the victory already given to them by their God.”

He is called by many names - satan, the serpent, the accuser, the deceiver, the evil one. He was an angel who lusted for God’s throne and was cast out of heaven along with one-third of the angels who now do his bidding.

He is a created being, so he doesn’t have the “onmi’s” of God. He is not all-knowing, all-present, or all-powerful.

He is clever, insidious, merciless, has no love for God or you, and wants to kill, steal, and destroy your life, your dreams, and your future. He wants to discourage you, tempt you to doubt God, and damage your testimony.

The word “schemes” is where we get our word “methodical.” He is a determined enemy and he is always looking for a way to hurt us. He’s had thousands of years to watch humans and learn our weaknesses.

The Christian’s True Struggle

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12).

Paul wants us to understand that we are in a war and most of the battle is in the unseen, spiritual realm.

The word struggle means “wrestle,” literally “hand-to-hand combat.”

It can seem like we are in a war against evil people - human traffickers, the makers of pornography, genocidal warlords, and abortionists.

But Paul says they are not the true enemy. The true enemy is the one behind their evil actions.

Ray Pritchard says it this way,

“We are all foot soldiers in a vast invisible war that stretches across the cosmos. There is no release from the battle. If we go AWOL, we simply find a bigger battle on the other side.”

You can not be neutral in this conflict. That’s why Paul tells the believers to make sure we have on the armor of God.

The Christian’s Supply in the Day of Evil

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Eph 6:13)

There will be times when evil will be encountered in our Christian lives. Notice that he writes when the day of evil comes, not if. That will be the time to stand.

The Roman soldier’s shoes had spikes on the bottom for digging in.