(Eph 6:14) “Stand firm
therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the
breastplate of righteousness,”
This verse is in context with verses in Ephesians 6:11-18. It is one
of the most significant passages in the Word concerning our walk and the
warfare. There is nothing we face as sons of God and warriors in His Kingdom
this passage does not reveal as our eternal resource.
The entire passage is given
within the context of faith. There is nothing within the sphere of sonship,
salvation and the Kingdom of God that is not born out of faith. The Word
declares in Romans 14:23 “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” So
then, our armor is an armor of faith, and faith is what makes it the reality of
our lives.
I am aware that in
Ephesians 6:11, we are told to put on the whole armor of God that we may
be able to stand against the schemes (methods) of the devil. Notice that the
armor is something in which we stand or wear all the time. The armor of God is
something given us by the Lord and is a permanent, fixed, eternal work. There
may be times when we need to consciously recognize it, but not something we must
put on anew everyday. If we lose the armor while we sleep it would give the
enemy a field day in assaulting our flesh before we put it on each morning. No!
The armor is something in which we constantly stand, even in our rest. The
Scripture declares it as something we have already put on, i.e., and having
put on the breastplate of righteousness.
The breastplate is
simply a piece of armor that covers the breast. I am sure there are all manner
of breastplates; a breastplate of ambition, of religion, of pride, of lust, of
power, of self-righteousness, of culture, of greed to name a few. Whatever the
nature of the breastplate may be, it protects and fortifies itself. If it’s not
the breastplate of righteousness, it may ultimately develop into a stronghold or
fortress the apostle Paul referred to in 2 Cor 10:4-5.
But this Scripture called our
breastplate the breastplate of righteousness. It is unique. There is not
another like it. It guards the heart for we are told,
(Prov 4:23) “Keep thy heart
with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Righteousness is not resident in the
natural man, the adamic nature. The Word is clear.
(Rom 5:12 KJV) “Wherefore, as by one man sin
entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for
that all have sinned:..”
Sin and righteousness cannot live together in the new creation. They are in
conflict with one another. The Word reveals,
(Gal 5:17) “For the flesh
sets its desire (lusts) against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;
for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things
that you please.”
We are born again, or (Greek
- anothen) from above. Our lives are now from an eternal realm, not of this
world order.
The chief characteristic of sin is that it is
self-serving. This is borne out in the definition of the works of the flesh
given in Galatians 5:19-21.
{19} “Now the deeds of the
flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
{20} idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy,
outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
{21} envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things
like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who
practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Righteousness is a precious treasure. It is a gift of incalculable worth. It is
that which permits us to enter the presence of God and fellowship with Him. The
apostle Paul described it’s value and meaning to him when he wrote,
(Phil 3:8-9) {8} “Yea
doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do
count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
{9} And be found in him, not having mine own
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: .. “
Righteousness is more than a condition or state of holiness,
it is a living reality within us which produces precious fruit. It is an
expression of the very nature of the Kingdom of God.
(Rom 14:17) “..for the kingdom of God is …
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Peace within the
righteousness of the breastplate is a fundamental part of it.
(Phil 4:7) “And the peace of God, which surpasses
all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
The Greek word for guard in this verse is a
powerful one. Strong’s Dictionary defines it as phroureo, pronounced
froo-reh'-o; to be a watcher in advance, i.e. to mount guard as a sentinel (post
spies at gates); fig. to hem in, protect:--keep (with a garrison)..
One does not have to live long without
peace because of unrepentant sin to realize how precious peace really is. It is
a miserable condition in which to live. It can lead to all kinds of
psychological and physical problems. I remember reading years ago a report which
said that 85% of all hospital beds were filled with people with psychosomatic
problems. I’m not sure of the statistic, but even if it were half as much, it is
enormously significant. It verifies the trauma of the lack of peace.
Joy is another quality of the
breastplate. It is an abiding joy, something not at all dependent upon
circumstances. There are some fundamental, eternal things concerning joy in
which we are blessed, and which we share with the Lord Himself. First, He has
given us His joy as our strength.
(Neh 8:10) “Then he said unto them … for the
joy of the LORD is your strength.”
In the Old Testament book of Zephaniah, we His
people are told that we are truly the object of His loving care. Hear the Word.
(Zep 3:17) “The LORD thy God in the midst of
thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest
in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”
What a testimony of the Lord! It is the only reference in the entire Word which
speaks of His singing. Furthermore I cannot imagine what kind of singing voice
the Lord has. The wonder of it is unimaginable to the human mind. I’m sure He
can sound like the whole choir without any help. The closest thing I have ever
heard to this took place in a congregational gathering. There was high praise
and worship from the people, and when they stopped singing and worshipping in
audible praise, there was a lingering sound above us as if God or an angelic
choir had joined in our praise. It is one of the most awesome moments I have
ever been a part of.
In John 15, during His lengthy discourse with the Disciples right
after the Last Supper, and just before He was accosted by Judas and the Roman
soldiers, He spoke these words to them.
(John 15:11 KJV) “These
things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your
joy might be full.”
Joy is such an important part of our relationship in and with Him. It is a
remaining or abiding joy, because it is His joy within us. But, He also gave it
to them (and us) that we may be full of His joy. (It is my personal belief that
His intercession for us
before the Father is filled with His joy.)
He even prayed that we might be filled with His joy. We see here that
His joy in us is a fulfillment, something overflowing as we worship, honor and
serve Him.
(John 17:13 KJV) “And
now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have
my joy fulfilled in themselves.”
We see a literal example of this in the Word. In Acts 16, when Paul and Silas
first visited Philippi, they cast a demon out of a girl, were thrown in jail
because they had destroyed the income of the men who were using her for
financial gain as she spoke demonic, prophetic words over people. They were put
in bonds in jail with many others. But the Word records,
(Acts 16:25-26) {25} “But about midnight Paul
and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners
were listening to them;
{26} and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so
that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the
doors were opened, and everyone's chains were unfastened.”
It was surely the joy of the Lord that brought forth the praise and worship by
Paul and Silas at that time. It was certainly not the circumstance. Christ’s joy
was fulfilled in them. I am convinced He would do nothing for Paul and Silas
that He will not do for us, anytime, anywhere and under any circumstance.
It’s part of the breastplate of righteousness.
There are some other spiritual qualities
within the breastplate.
(1 Th 5:8) “But since we are of the day, let us
be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, …”
Since we have already touched
the subject of faith, we will turn our attention to love as defined in the Word.
The Greek word for love in this passage is agape. It is that which
defines God’s love. The Biblical example that follows is one of the clearest in
the Word.
God’s love (the Word says He
is love) is so vast it is beyond the human mind. It is something we can only
know in the spiritual mind, for it is of the eternal. One of the most quoted
verses in the New Testament gives us a glimpse into it’s unfathomable depth.
(John 3:16 KJV) “For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The so loved
defines it’s depth, the gift of His Son defines the cost of that love, the
whosoever defines the object of His love, and the fruit of His gift is
everlasting, eternal life to whoever will believe and receive the Son. It is
the very ground of redemption.
After Jesus’ resurrection and before His
ascension, he visited the Disciples as they were fishing. They were fishing,
because it was the only thing they could think to do. They had lost their
Saviour, their friend, their Lord and their sense of purpose. He directed them
in the miracle of catching a large amount of fish, and then invited them to come
and eat breakfast with Him. During this time Jesus spoke to Simon Peter and
asked him these words.
(John 21:15) “So when they
had finished breakfast, Jesus said^ to Simon Peter,
"Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said^ to Him,
"Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said^ to him,
"Tend My lambs."
