The Belt of Truth

enemy brings our way, the problem is that
we often do not use the resources God has already
given us. For this reason we are
commanded to “put on” the armor of God or to get
dressed for success!

b) “The whole armor”- The word “whole” (panoplia)
means to “not leave off one piece.” Let
me ask you, if you left off one article of your
clothing this morning would you have noticed
it?

Just think if you left off your socks this
morning or shoes. Sure you would, because you
would not be completely dressed.

d) “ Able”- (dunamai)- The explosive power of God.
e) “Stand”-(stenai)- So that you might be able to
stand eye ball to eye ball against the enemy.
(Palastrians).

As we receive this command to “put on” the armor of God, God immediately begins unveiling the wardrobe of armor. Interesting enough, the first article that God points out is “ a belt.... the belt of truth.”

Now, let me ask you a question, in the morning when you rise to get dressed, does your mind immediately and intentionally move to thoughts about “a belt’?

For me, my belt is the “last” article that I put on and sometime I get in a hurry and forget it. Don’t you?

But for the Roman Soldier, the belt was the most important item. You see, for the Roman Soldier depended on the belt because the loin belt:

1. Held the breastplate in place.- If it sagged vital
organs like the heart and lungs were exposed.
2. Had a clip on which the shield rested.
3. Had a clip on which the soldier hung his sword.

Therefore, when Paul says that God’s truth is like a belt, he is saying, that truth is foundational in your life and without it, the enemy has an advantage over you.

Illustration: TV Guide and the Bible

One of Satan’s strategies in our life is to sweep away the Bible and its importance out of our
lives.

A poet once wrote about the tendency to get into a slump allowing our commitment to God’s Word to wilt away as he writes:
“They lie on the table side by side; the Holy Bible and the TV Guide,
One is well worn and cherished with pride, not the Bible, but the TV Guide,
One is used daily to help folks decide, no, not the Bible but the TV Guide,
As pages are turned, what shall they see, oh what does it matter, just turn on the TV,
Then confusion reigns, oh, they can not agree, on what they should watch on the old TV,
So they open the book, in which they confide, no, not the Bible but the TV guide,
The Word of God is seldom read, maybe a verse or two before they fall into bed,
Exhausted and sleepy, as tired as can be, not from reading the Bible, but from watching TV,
So then back to the table side by side, lie the Holy Bible and the TV guide,
No time for prayer, no time for the Word, the plan of Salvation is seldom heard,
But forgiveness of sin, so full and free, is found in the Bible, not on the TV. (Unknown)


Application:

In this passage, God says that the truth should be found in the position of “a belt.”

Why was the belt so important to a Roman soldier? Simply stated, “The belt held everything else together.”

In the same way the “truth of God” is the stabilizing and securing hinge of our life that “holds us together” when we seem to be falling apart.

Therefore, in explaining the need for God’s Word, God commands us to daily make give it a central place and a dominant