The first piece mentioned in the panoply of the "armor of God" for the Christian is "the belt of truth." But, what is truth? Why is it listed first? Why is it vital and what does it protect? Jesus said to Pilate, "To this end was I born, and for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth." (18:37)

2. 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the
Lord and in the power of His might. 11
Put on the whole armor of God, that
you may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not
wrestle against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of
this age, against spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly places.

3. The Believer’s Battle Commands:
Ø “Be strong in the Lord” (κύριος [kyrios])
Ø “Put on the whole armor of God”
πανοπλία (panoplia)
Remember
Archilles

5. Deuteronomy 20:2–4
2 So it shall be, when you are on the
verge of battle, that the priest shall
approach and speak to the people. 3
And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O
Israel: Today you are on the verge of
battle with your enemies. Do not let
your heart faint, do not be afraid, and
do not tremble or be terrified because
of them; 4 for the LORD your God is He
who goes with you, to fight for you
against your enemies, to save you.’

6. Hebrews 4:14–16
14 Seeing then that we have a great
High Priest who has passed through
the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let
us hold fast our confession. 15 For we
do not have a High Priest who cannot
sympathize with our weaknesses, but
was in all points tempted as we are,
yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore
come boldly to the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of need.

7. The Believer’s Battle Commands:
Ø “Put on the whole armor of God”
1) “having girded your loins with truth”
2) “having put on the breastplate of righteousness”
3) “having shod your feet with the gospel of peace”
4) “taking the shield of faith”
5) “take the helmet of salvation”
6) “(take) the sword of the Spirit”

9. Ø Function
Ø Identity
Ø Association

10. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of
God, that you may be able to withstand
in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded
your waist with truth,

11. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of
God, that you may be able to withstand
in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded
your waist with truth,

13. Representative Jarrold Nadler (D-NY) said,
“Religion is no excuse for discrimination in
the public sphere, as we have long
recognized when it comes to race, color,
sex, and national origin, and it should not
be an excuse when it comes to sexual
orientation or gender identity.”

14. If it passes the U.S. Senate will
compel churches, religious
(especially Judeo-Christian)
businesses, and other employers
to hire those who deny the very
principles of the organization by
their lifestyle choices.

15. 1. Includes the part of the body between
the ribs and the hipbone on both sides
of the backbone; the mid-section.
2. Biblically includes the sex organs, "the
fruit of his loins" (Gen. 35:11; I Kgs.
8:19; Acts 2:30; note also Prov. 31:17)

16. 1. Crucial to the provision of strength and
mobility in combat. Deut. 33:11 "Smite
through the loins" (hit below the belt)

17. 2. The bowels are in this region, which to
the Hebrew was the seat of emotions
("bowels of mercies"), affections
• Isa. 21:3 "my loins are filled with pain"
• Nah. 2:10 "much pain (is) in all loins”
• girding loins with sackcloth was a sign
of mourning (I Kgs. 20:32; Isa. 32:11;
Jer. 48:37)

18. 3. Modern idioms expressing the same
thought as the ancient Jew:
• “Intestinal fortitude” = perseverance
• “Belly-aching” = complaining
• “Gut-reaction” or “visceral response” =
emotional response
• “Having the stomach,” “the guts or
gonads for it” = strength, courage

19. 1. WHERE? Your Enemy (Satan =
adversary) of your soul - attacks your
emotions, affections
a. "Wiles" (methodeia) = strategems,
cunning craftiness, a clever
camouflager, nefarious powers to
undermine
b. "Principalities, powers, rulers...spiritual
wickedness"

20. 2. HOW? Lies
• Jn. 8:44 "He is a liar (Devil = diabolos),
and the father of (lies)"
• I Cor. 15:33 "evil communication corrupts
good manners"

21. a. Encourages Personal Disobedience
by undermining God’s character &
credibility
• Question & Doubt God – Gen. 3:1
"Hath God said?”
• Contradict God's Word – Gen. 3:4
“you shall not...die”
• Impugn God's motives – Gen. 3:5
“you shall be as God”

22. b. Confusing us (believers & non-
believers) with false doctrines
• Gen. 3:13 "the serpent beguiled
me, and I did eat"
• Eph. 4:14 "tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind
(spirit) of doctrine"

23. Eph. 5:6 "let no man deceive you with vain words"
Acts 20:29, 30 "grievous wolves enter in among
you, not sparing the flock. Also, of your own selves
shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw
away disciples after them"
• I Tim. 4:1 "Doctrines of demons"
• Mt. 7:15 false teachers who come "in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves"

24. Mt. 24:24 "if it were possible, they shall
deceive the very elect"
II Cor. 11:14 Satan's greatest disguise has
always been to appear before men as an
"angel of Light"
II Tim. 3:13 "But evil men and seducers shall
wax worse and worse, deceiving and being
deceived." Jude, John, Peter, and Paul, all
warn us against false teachers.

25. Elements: leather with an
iron, brass or
steel cincture
Size: fitted to the soldier
Function: Service
Indicated: Readiness Truth

27. Daniel 10:5 I lifted my eyes and looked,
and behold, a certain man clothed in
linen, whose waist was girded with gold!
Isaiah 11:5 Righteousness shall be the
belt of His loins, and faithfulness the
belt of His waist.

28. Elements: white linen
+ 3 colors
Size: 2¼” wide, 48’
long
Function: Service
Indicated: Readiness Truth

29. Familiar Hebrew, idiom:
• Ex. 12:11 When the children of Israel were
called by God to leave for the Promised Land,
they needed to have their “loins girded”
• Prov. 31:17 “she girds her loins with
strength”
• Lk. 12:35 The Lord was talking about His
second coming when He said, "Let your loins
be girded about, and your lamps burning.”

30. Ø Greek: (alētheia)
Ø Latin: veritas
Ø Hebrew: (Amein)

32. Jn. 17:17 ”…Thy Word is Truth"
Jn. 8:31,32 "If you continue in My
word, then are you My disciples
indeed; and you shall know the
truth and the truth shall make
you free."
I Cor. 16:13 "watch, stand fast in the
faith"

33. Jn. 18:33 "To this end was I born, "Jesus
replied, "and for this cause came I into the
world, that I should bear witness unto the
truth. Everyone that is of the truth hears
My voice" (cf. Jn. 18:37).
Jn. 1:17 "For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
Jesus is God's absolute truth embodied in
human form for all men to see, receive and
follow.

34. Jn 14:6 "I am the Way, the Truth and the
Life."
Eph. 4:17-24 "But ye have not so learned
Christ, if so, be that ye have been taught by
Him, as the truth is in Jesus." Truth is more
than "blind faith" (presumption, foolishness)
and far more than "personal opinion" or
"feelings"

35. • Confess you know nothing
• Confess that Truth is in Christ
• Obey the Word of God

37. 813-677-5220
or
sanctitas@aol.com
http://TRUTHtransforms.com