The belt of Truth . . . Jesus tells us the truth
(repeatedly in the Gospels) and is the Truth (John 14:6)
"Jesus
answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me." (John 14:6)
The breastplate of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10; Romans 3:22; Galatians 3:26-27)
"I delight
greatly in the Lord; my soul
rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and
arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a
priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." (Isaiah
61:10)
"This
righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." (Romans 3:22)
"You are all sons of God through faith in
Christ Jesus, for all of you who were
baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27)
Feet fitted with the gospel of peace [The peace Jesus
gives (John 14:27) . . . peace with God (Romans 5:8) . . . the peace of God (1 Thessalonians 5:23) . . . the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians
4:7) . . . from the Prince
of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)]
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give
you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be
troubled and do not be afraid."
(John 14:27)
"But God demonstrates his own love for us
in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"May God himself, the God of peace,
sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept
blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians
5:23)
“and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is
given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
The shield of faith [Beth Moore explains it as four
fingers & a thumb holding the shield]:
1.
God is Who He says He Is (Deuteronomy 7:9)
"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful
God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love
him and keep his commands." (Deuteronomy 7:9)
2.
God will do what He promises (Hebrews 6:13-20)
"When God made his promise to
Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by
himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give
you many descendants.” And so after waiting
patiently, Abraham received what was promised. Men
swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said
and puts an end to all argument. Because
God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs
of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God
did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God
to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly
encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the
soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on
our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:13-20)
3.
I am who God says I am (Colossians 3:12)
"Therefore, as God’s chosen
people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience."
(Colossians 3:12)
4.
I can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13)
"I can do everything through
him who gives me strength."
(Philippians 4:13)
5.
The Holy Spirit is alive and active in me (Romans 5:5)
"And hope does not disappoint
us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
whom he has given us." (Romans 5:5)
The helmet of salvation (Psalm 149:4; Philippians 4:7)
"For the Lord
takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation." (Psalm 149:4)
"And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
The sword of the Spirit (Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 45:3)
"For the word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and
spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
"Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty
one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty."
(Psalm 45:3)
Pray, be alert & keep praying (Daniel 9:4-10)
"I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, the great and awesome
God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his
commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have
been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the
prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and
to all the people of the land. “Lord,
you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah and
people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries
where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. O Lord,
we and our kings, our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we
have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful
and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we
have not obeyed the Lord our God
or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets." (Daniel 9:4-10)
This passage is also an echo of the
prophecy in Isaiah 59:12-21 . . .
12 For
our offenses are many in your sight,
and
our sins testify against us.
Our
offenses are ever with us,
and
we acknowledge our iniquities:
13 rebellion
and treachery against the Lord,
turning
our backs on our God,
fomenting
oppression and revolt,
uttering
lies our hearts have conceived.
14 So
justice is driven back,
and
righteousness stands at a distance;
truth
has stumbled in the streets,
honesty
cannot enter.
15 Truth
is nowhere to be found,
and
whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.
The
Lord looked and was displeased
that
there was no justice.
16 He
saw that there was no one,
he
was appalled that there was no one to intervene;
so
his own arm worked salvation for him,
and
his own righteousness sustained him.
17 He
put on righteousness as his breastplate,
and
the helmet of salvation on his head;
he
put on the garments of vengeance
and
wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
18 According
to what they have done,
so
will he repay
wrath
to his enemies
and
retribution to his foes;
he
will repay the islands their due.
19 From
the west, men will fear the name of the Lord,
and
from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory.
For
he will come like a pent-up flood
that
the breath of the Lord drives
along.a
20 “The
Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”
declares the Lord.
21 “As
for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have
put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your
children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and
forever,” says the Lord.
