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"Wherefore take unto you the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able
to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand."
Ephesians 6:13
The Armour of GOD;
Part 2. Breastplate of Righteousness
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"Stand therefore, having your loins girt
about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness;"
Ephesians 6:14
In combat, both in ancient times and today,
the breastplate section of the armour is
certainly crucial to a sucessful battle and
often times means the difference between life
and death.
The breastplate is the last resort of blocking
and incoming weapon or projectile. In ancient
times, if a shield did not sucessfully block
an arrow or sword, and the soldier's sword did
not block the incoming strike, the breastplate
would absorb the shock being made of metal itself.
In current times, we can think of the
breastplate as being 'body armor' or perhaps a
bullet proof vest. When all else fails, the
'vest' is worn to stop a bullet.
The Apostle Paul, in the letter to the
Ephesians instructs the church to put on the
"breastplate of righteousness" as part of the
whole armour of GOD. How does this line up,
as defending against the 'fiery darts of the
wicked one?"
The name 'Satan' means SLANDERER. And when
there is a saint of GOD, out on the battlefield
for the Lord, active in winning souls and
sharing the uncut gospel of salvation, we can be
assured that that saint will come under certain
persecution from the world, of whom Satan is the
prince [John 14:30]. We know this because GOD's
word tells us that;
"Yea, and all that will live godly
in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
2nd Timothy 3:12
So, according to scripture, we are talking
about a saint of GOD who has given his or her
whole heart over to the Lord, and is seeking
to follow Jesus with their shoulder to the
plow, as they pass through this world. They
have a bright and shining light, which is the
holy Spirit of GOD in them. They have an
effective witness and ministry to the lost.
This person (as seen in 2Tim 3:12) will suffer
persecution for sure. One of the ugliest
weapons that Satan uses is the lie. Yeshua
said that the devil was the father of lies.
Therfore this saint of GOD will be subject to
the firey darts of slander, admid other types
of persecution. This makes it extremely
important, that a brother or sister in the
LORD have on the breastplate of righteousness.
Some would say right away, "Oh, I wear the
righteousness of Christ," and this is of course
correct and I am sure that Paul realized this
as he wrote these words to us under the
inspiration of the holy Spirit, instructing us
to put on this breastplate of righteousness.
Yes, we have the righteousness of Christ,
because HIS Spirit is alive in us. I would
suggest that this righteousness is not a
"pseudo" righteousness nor is it a "magic wand"
righteousness. Instead the Holy Spirit of GOD
that indwells the believer will be evident and
reflected in the life of that believer through
the process that the Bible refers to as
'sanctification' which is to be set apart from
the world. A new creation, just as scripture
calls the new believer;
"Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature: old things
are passed away; behold, all things
are become new." 2nd Corinthians 5:17
So why is it important? This breastplate of
righteousness? It is because when a public
testimony is made of one's salvation, that
person is going to be watched, moreso than
someone who does NOT name the name of Jesus.
Watched by co-workers, watched by family
members, watch by all who would seek to
discredit them and bring reproach upon the
name of the Lord. (Romans 2:24)
This is where the rubber meets the road. Take
for example a preacher of the gospel who sets
out to declare this gospel of salvation.
Plain and simply put, if that preacher is
living in adultery, or fornication, you can be
assured that this is going to come out. We
certainly have enough examples of this in the
last decade.
But the preacher, who has on the breastplate
of righteousness, and his loins girt about
with truth, thought Satan fling fiery darts of
rumour and accusation against him, they will
be deflected by all who see, as the people
close to him, know him, and have observed his
life.
We must practice what we preach. And this is
common sense in any application of life, but
perhaps most especially for the believer in
Yeshua Ha Mashiach who certainly will come
under scrutiny from a liberal press, and other
critics in general.
Praise GOD that the victorious walk for the
believer, is not a work so much as it is a
natural way of life, that is to sow to the
Spirit of GOD, and to HIS holiness and to
HIS righteousness, as we yield ourselves
by HIS Spirit which lives within us.
"Nay, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through him
that loved us."
Romans 8:37
Go to: Part 3. Shield of Faith
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