The Apostle Paul in, Ephesians 6:13-14, tells us that when we have done all that we can to stand, we need to stand, “having your loins girt about with truth.” There are times when we have done everything we can possibly do to stand and it is at this time we have to put on the armour of God and stand. The first piece of equipment mentioned is the girdle or belt of truth. This wide belt is wrapped around the loins of the soldier. The loin, externally, is the hip area of the body. Internally, the loin is the procreative power. The girdle or belt was made of leather and studded with nails. It was used to protect the loins and it was also used for supporting the sword.
One of the ways that the enemy attacks us, is by speaking lies into our lives. These lies don’t have to make sense and many times they don’t. They are just things the enemy of our souls will speak to weaken and destroy us. In doing so he is able to cripple us and is often able to put a stop to our fruitfulness. As Jesus said he is a thief and has come to steal, kill and destroy!
It is from the belt that the weapon of the soldier is secured. Suspended from the belt, the sword is close to the hand of the soldier. It is always ready and available for him to use it. It is ready to swing into action! You will also notice that the sword is tied to the belt. When we discuss the sword, we will find it to represent the Word of God. Truth and the Word of God are tied to each other. To try and separate them is impossible.
Truth is so vital to our survival! Truth is what will keep us pure. Jesus, while praying for His disciples to be kept pure said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
Truth is what will keep us from stumbling along the path of life. “Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend (cause to stumble) them” (Psalms 119:165) (words in brackets added by author).
Jesus told his disciples, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth”: Truth is given to us for a guide or a teacher. When we are filled with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth becomes a part of us. As we wrap truth around us, we are allowing the Spirit of truth to teach us. As the enemy attacks us with his lies from hell, the Spirit of truth recognizes the lies and reveals them as such to us. It protects us from the lies of the enemy.
When we have wrapped ourselves in truth, we allow our lives to become fruitful. Paul tells us we are light in the Lord so we should walk as children of light. Why? “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” If we are wrapped in truth, we will produce truth in our lives! (Ephesians 5:9) Our lives will be a reflection of Jesus Christ and will cause others to want Him. If we fail to protect ourselves with truth then our lives will be destroyed as well as our testimony.
Many people look at truth as only knowledge. I have seen people shout when something is preached that they have a revelation of. I actually had an individual come to me one night after church and say, “I got so excited when you got to preaching truth! I had to dance me a little jig!” I asked him, “When wasn’t I preaching truth? What I preached came right out of the Bible!” He had knowledge and understanding of one part of the message and became excited when what was preached agreed with what he knew. Yet he failed to open his heart and mind up to more truth as it was being revealed to him. He should have been shouting because God found him worthy of more truth.
Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” (John 8:32). However, He is speaking of more than knowledge. He is speaking of action as well. The verse above says, “If ye continue in (obey) my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”; In John 3:21 Jesus also said, “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” Again, Jesus is speaking of action when He is talking about truth. It is more than just the knowledge of the scriptures and how to apply them. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”: (John 14:6) (Words bracketed were added by the author.)
When we wrap truth around us, girting up our loins with truth, we are doing more than just learning the scriptures. We are living truth or we are living the scriptures in our daily walk. When the enemy tries to attack us, we are protected because truth is what we do, rather than it being just what we know.
This is a portion of chapter two of the book I am currently writing.
