The Belt of Truth

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: The Belt of Truth
Keyword: “truth”
Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation.

Never — neither here in Ephesians 6 nor anywhere else — does the Bible tell Christians to attack the devil. The devil attacks us — and we are not to attack back. We are to simply stand firm. AND, we can be confident that we have the capacity to stand firm or we would not be commanded to do so!

Our standing firm, though, will only be successful as we use the armor Paul lists. That armor is described in verses quoted below. For the next few days, we are going to take a look at the armor Paul recommends we use in the fight to stand strong in the day of sexual temptation.

Passage: Ephesians 6:10-20*

10. Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.

11. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

14. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15. and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16. in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.

17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

19. and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

20. for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Questions

1. Look at verse 14 — Of what use is a belt? What special use could you imagine a belt having for a first century warrior?

 

2. Why did Paul refer to truth as a belt?

 

Practical help

The clothing of the first century warrior was held together by a belt around the middle. Obviously, he would have to tie that belt tight before he rushed into battle. It would be dangerous — to say nothing of silly looking — for a soldier to race on to the battlefield with open robe billowing in the wind. The belt gave the soldier freedom of movement in the action.

Paul says here that this is the effect of truth in the Christian’s life. Truth is what holds the Christian together when Satan attacks.

We are protected against the schemes of the devil when we tell the truth. Integrity is a tremendous spiritual safeguard. Truth-telling will hold you together. Any falseness is fatal in the fight.

Satan fights dirty in his temptations to lure us into sexual sin. He hits below the belt. To make sure you are equipped to stand when he strikes, cinch up that belt tight — and tell the truth.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."