DRESSED TO KILL

Week 3 - The Belt of Truth

Ephesians 6:1-18

Truth: Conforming to fact, reality or actuality; the essence of real things, events and facts; a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality; fidelity to an original or standard.

Absolute Truth: Above us, from a higher source, universal, unchanging, having authority over us, worthy of belief by all.

Lie: Giving a false statement or false impression with the intention to deceive.

Romans 1:25 – Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever.

Ways we lie:

· Insinuate

· Exaggerate

· Manipulate

· Hesitate

Reasons we lie:

· Jealousy... Acts 6:10-13 – religious leaders

· Fear... Matt. 26:69-75 – Peter

· Pride... Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias and Sapphira

· Selfishness... Genesis 27 – Jacob

· Carelessness... Mark 14:10-11, 17-20 – Judas Iscariot

A Heart Issue
The truth is not just about our words and our actions – it’s about our HEARTS. Jesus said that it is out of your heart that your mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34).

So where does truth come from? Can we just make it up? Is it based on our preferences?

“People prefer to believe what they prefer to be true.”

Sources of truth:

· God – Romans 3:3-4

· Jesus – John 14:6

· God's word – John 17:17

· God’s Holy Spirit – John 16:13

· The gospel of Jesus Christ – Eph. 1:13

The Belt:

· Some versions translate the phrase as “gird up (tighten) your loins with truth.”

· The belt was a very wide belt, and it covered the entire loin area: represents the center of our being, closeness, intimacy, vulnerability.

· Word for “truth” can be translated as “truth in the inward parts.”

· Wearing the belt of truth implies having an obedient heart and a ready will.

· Slackening the belt is symbolic of slacking off – it’s where we get the word “slacker”

· For the soldier, to slacken the belt was to go off duty; to tighten it was to go on duty – are you on duty or off? Are you committed to God’s truth? Is your belt on? Is it slack or tight?

How to tell the truth:

· Completely... Joshua 7:19

· Consistently... Eph. 4:15

· Conscientiously... 2 Cor. 4:2

· Compassionately... Eph. 4:25

What it means to wear the belt of truth:

· Integrity

· Authenticity

· Honesty

· Sincerity

· Fidelity

· Commitment

In 2 Cor. 1:12 Paul said, “We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have been honest and sincere in all our dealings.” Can we say that? That’s what it means to wear the belt of truth.

The purpose of the belt:

· The belt held the breastplate in place – symbolizes righteousness

· The belt held the sheath for the sword to hang upon – symbolizes the Word of God

· Whether the breastplate of God’s righteousness stays on you, and whether the word of God is seen as believable or unbelievable, are dependent upon our truth.

The results:

When you tighten your belt, you are symbolically saying, "Lord, Commander, Master, Captain of my soul… I am ON DUTY. I will not be slack in the truth, in my integrity, my honesty, my sincerity, my fidelity. I will be authentic. I will be committed. I will be TRUE FOR YOU."