LEARNING DAILY

Ephesians 6:14: Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH,

Jonathon Moore, Lead Pastor at NorthRock Church, has begun a series on the armor of God. It is a very appropriate teaching today as the body of Christ is experiencing more and more spiritual warfare, from an unseen realm. Ephesians 6;12 reminds us that this battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces. This battle has been waged for a long time; it is intensifying because the days of the enemy are drawing to a close and his hatred for God, His Word, and all who follow Him continues to grow. The days we live in are growing darker and more and more evil. Every Believer must know how to prepare and do battle in their lives; it begins with standing firm in what you know about God’s Word.

The belt was important for the Roman soldier; it was where he would carry his sword. He would also pull up his garment and tuck in his belt giving him more freedom of movement during battle. Pastor Moore said, “The belt of truth stabilizes my life; it strengthens my core”. In the notes my granddaughter Audrey gave me, she wrote, “There is comfort living in the truth”. Pastor Moore went on to refer to Jesus saying, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). When we put these thoughts together, the Believer’s confidence “to stand” increases in the face of false teaching and false beliefs. “The truth is not relative – it is absolute” (Moore). That keeps believers from chasing after every wind of doctrine that comes our way. There is no need to write about all the false teaching and lies that are in this world. There is no need to write about all the lies and deceitfulness in the world. It is all around you.

At the ridiculous sham of a trial for Jesus, Pilate asked Him, “What is truth?” He asked this question after Jesus had told him, “He had come to bear witness of the truth and everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:37-38). Jesus had earlier declared that “He was the way. and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Today, Believers find truth in the Bible, through prayer and worship because Jesus is the truth! (from Audrey’s notes). Understand there are teachers that teach to trust your feeling for truth. Feelings vary from day to day, from week to week -- they cannot be trusted! To know truth each Believer must “filter everything we hear and read by the truth written in God’s Word (Moore)! This is so important because Satan and his followers are always whispering in our ear to question God’s Word. We put on the Belt of Truth, daily, in order to recognize the lies of the devil.

If you leave your Bible on the table or desk and never read it, it does you no good! Pastor Moore stated, “Some of the things about your life are lies from the devil!” Stop believing those things and begin to believe what the word of God says about you. Pastor Moore suggests that you begin to speak what the Bible says about you out loud; say it every day in order to build your faith and to destroy the works of the devil.

I went for a walk in the neighborhood a while back and I was feeling pretty down because of something. I was trying to pray and probably feeling sorry for myself when I came to one of the two churches that are in the area. I looked up and the church reader board read, “You are Chosen”. Let me tell you my countenance changed. Speak the Word over yourself every day. Every believer is a child of God! Chosen by Him and a new creation. The old has passed away and you are new in Christ Jesus. Your identity has changed because Jesus Christ has set you free and placed the Truth in you. The Truth is the person of Jesus Christ! Stay close to Him and that is staying close to the Truth.

Have you put on the Belt of Truth today?