God is Faithful
Putting on the Armor of God
The armor is all that Jesus Christ is in us.
Ephesians 6:10 KJV:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Ephesians 6:14 KJV:
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
The girdle (having your loins girt about with truth) is put first for a good reason; it is crucial to the soldier’s ability to fight. It holds everything together, including the sword.
Gird up your loins is an idiom. An idiom means something more than what the words mean. We have similar idioms, such as roll up your sleeves. The Hebrew idiom that this comes from means to make the source of your strength ready for action. The loins are the middle part of your body, and that’s where your strength resides.
Your strength must come from somewhere. The source of our strength is truth.
Psalm 18:32 KJV:
It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect [blameless].
2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal [physical], but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
I see this section in Ephesians Chapter 6 as the main weapons that we have.
The first pair of weapons is the girdle (belt) [truth, truthfulness, integrity, reliability, faithfulness] and the sword [Word of God].
It’s God’s faithfulness to His Word that holds it all together. The sword is the specific word you need in a given situation.
The Aramaic word for “truth” here is interesting. It comes from a verb that means to shoot straight, like an arrow. It hits the bullseye every time.
Malachi 3:6a KJV:
For I am the LORD, I change not;
These six things in Ephesians 6 are the common temptations that we all face. When we face temptations, we can consider which piece of armor we are not putting on. The armor is specifically given to us to provide a way for us to stand.
The belt of truth has to do with all kinds of attacks by words. The tongue is an unruly evil (James 3:8).
2 Corinthians 1:20 KJV:
For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
2 Corinthians 1:20 APNT:
For all the promises of God in him, in Christ, are yes. Because of this by way of him, we give an “Amen” to the glory of God.
Another word for promise in Aramaic means a declaration and is related to the noun for “king.” A promise is as if a king declared it.
Deuteronomy 7:9 KJV:
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Let’s look at some promises about God’s faithfulness.
1 Corinthians 10:13 APNT:
No temptation has come on you, except of men, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted more than what you are able, but will make a way out for your temptation, so that you will be able to endure [it].
1 Thessalonians 5:24:
Faithful is he who called you who will do [this].
2 Thessalonians 3:3 APNT:
(APNT) Faithful is he who called you who will do [this].
(KJV) But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
(NASB) But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
In Timothy, there are five verses that say the Word is faithful: 1 Timothy 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:11; and Titus 3:8.
Philippians 4:13:
(KJV) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
(APNT) I find strength for everything in Christ who strengthens me.
Jesus Christ made the source of his strength God’s faithfulness, His total reliability and integrity behind every promise regarding him. And we have Christ in us.
2 Corinthians 12:9 APNT:
And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ will rest on me.
In Greek, the word for “rest” means to fix a tent or have a habitation. In Aramaic, it means to overshadow or cover. We get a picture of God’s strength in Christ in us, making a tent over us.
Psalm 119:89– KJV:
89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. 90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. 91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
Scripture References
Scripture marked (NASB) taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
This teaching is also available on the Acts Now Fellowship website.
See Also:
Holding Fast the Faithful Word from the Acts Now Fellowship website.
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