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THE GIRDLE OF TRUTH – PART II By
Pastor W. Reynold Storr The better we know the Bible, the better fitted we are to meet the assaults of our enemy, yet most Christians are not studiers of the word of God. This is a clear call for a reaffirmation on the part of all Christians to an in-depth study of doctrine. Believers need to know doctrine. Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Mark 11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him, for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. Doctrine is the truths of the word of God organized
and categorized, so that we can think clearly about the issues of life.
Bible study is essential to victory over Satan. Books and magazines may
have their place, but far too little time is being given to serious study
of the word of God itself. We need God’s word to govern our conduct and
guide our course of life. Consequently, many professing Christians are
“ tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by
the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie
in wait to deceive” Ephesians 4:14. God expects us to learn the truth. That is one of the reasons why churches have Sunday school classes and provide other Bible study opportunities for Christians to arm themselves with the truth. God has called Pastors and Church leaders to teach the word of God, not provide entertainment. These insights into God’s command to put on the girdle of truth shows the ignorance and explains why so many Christians are falling these days. It is possible for us to go through our Christian lives knowing enough to engage in an intelligent conversation with other equally unformed believers, but then are unable to use the truth against Satan. If God’s people will take unto them the girdle of truth, which is the knowledge about God and His word, and make that the pursuit of their Christian lives, Satan will be put out of business very quickly as we will be able to see things from God’s point of view.
More than anything else it was Paul’s desire that
the churches that he ministered and wrote to, would arm themselves with
the girdle of truth. Ephesians 1:15-19
Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus,
and love unto all the saints Cease not to give thanks for you,
making mention of you in my prayers
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father
of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of him. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of
the glory of his inheritance in the saints. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. Satan’s number plan is to deceive us but he cannot do this if we know the word of God and have on the girdle of truth. Living The Truth Paul is not only talking about the truth of God, he is talking about the truth in us, and moreover he is talking about living the truth. This includes truth in the subjective sense as well as the objective sense. Objective truth is what we know about God; subjective truth is what is true of us. How do we compare to the truth? Truth means sincerity, freedom from falsehood and error, from hypocrisy and sham. The one who possesses truth is open and sincere. It is wholeness (the meaning of the word integrity); to possess the truth is to be a whole person. We may describe it like this: “wherefore take unto you the girdle of truthfulness.” The child of God who is to go into the battle must be clothed first of all with truthfulness, with integrity of character, with sincerity. This gives him courage to do battle against the enemy. Nothing so demoralizes and discourages a warrior than to be involved in a spiritual battle knowing there is a problem of character and integrity in his own life- trying to do warfare against Satan. Outwardly everything looks all right but inwardly he knows he is harboring some sin. He is unfaithful to God; he is not what he appears to be. Paul is saying when we go to war we better go with integrity, honesty and sincerity. If there be any sin in our lives we must confess it to God I John 1: 8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a
liar, and his word is not in us 3rd John 1:4 I have no greater joy
than to hear that my children walk in truth. This walk is demanding only after we have confessed
our sins to God. Such a walk implies a stern, strict, dealing with sin and
self, allowing no conscious hypocrisy and insincerity, no compromise with
known sin, any excuse or vindication for wrongdoing. No
condoning sin such as temper, worry or depression on the ground of
physical causes or domestic circumstances. It compels us to face things
just as they are and call them by their right name. (Hebrews 12:1). He
who is truth encompasses our whole bring making every part true beginning
with the inward character and ending with the outward conduct. When you do
battle with Satan there are no pretenders, there is no faking it. We have
to be real from the inside out and from the outside in. One of the reasons we suffer so much in the church today and why so many of us are loosing the battle is because most of us are second generation Christians who have grown up learning how to play the game of Christianity. We know all the right words. We know how to do everything as everybody expects us to do it. It is easy to play the game we get so good at. Then all of a sudden we enter into a battle doing warfare with the enemy where reality is demanded and we understand that we are not real. We are exposed and vulnerable in the place of attack because there is no truthfulness in us. We are not to live our lives outwardly so that people can think well of us. We are to live our lives from the inside out knowing that God is the ultimate Judge and he wants us to be real. The reality of the Christian life is the greatest asset the warrior has in the battle. Let’s ask ourselves the question. Am I Real? Am I Genuine? Nothing less will suffice.
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