Truth
Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. Ephesians 6:14
Pastor Prince, in his book Spiritual Warfare, explains that the belt of truth is used to overcome darkness in our lives. The areas we have fear, worry, and even self-pity. “As long as you are in the dark or ignorant about something you will be fearful” (Spiritual Warfare). Truth really is like a belt that keeps us secure. God showed me the difference between favor and favoritism and my fears, doubts and worries departed because I was no longer living in the dark under the misconception that favoritism is okay.
We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love…Eph 4:14-15
Sometimes I talk about ’speaking the truth’ when it’s just plain facts. An example of a fact is, according to the Union agreement, every worker must get a fifteen minute paid break for any stretch of work over four hours.
Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
Facts are the belt of truth, whereas, God’s Truth, the Word of God, is the sword of the Spirit. A LOT OF STUFF CAN BE TIED BACK INTO God’s word. It’s a fact, according to EOE rules that favoritism is wrong but it’s also truth according to God’s Word.
My perception of truth was one of wielding it like a shield or a sword. But facts aren’t a shield or sword, they do dispel the darkness but they aren’t a shield or a sword.
His truth, the Word of God, is a shield and buckler (a small round shield held at arm’s length). Psalms 91
In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Ephesians 6:16
We are commanded to stand our ground in regards to the facts but they are not our shield or sword. Faith is our shield, and WHEN SPOKEN, God’s truth, His Word, is both a sword and a shield. “SPEAK THE Word of God into your fear. I discovered that you cannot reason away fear. You cannot analyse it away. Whatever your fear is, use the sword of the WORD OF God. DECLARE, it is written, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but on of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (Spiritual Warfare)
Recently, I found even watching a sermon on the TV in the breakroom can be a declaration of God’s truth into the workplace as everyone comes in for their break and hears God’s word being spoken. I was watching a sermon about Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and Ishmael. I knew God was speaking into my career situation; about me having to be patient and wait on God’s promise and not try to make his promise come true through my own means.
Abraham and Sarah had waited ten years and received confirmation at least a couple times from God in various miraculous ways but they still tried to ‘help’ make God’s promise come true. Sarah suggested Abraham conceive a child through, Hagar, her Egyptian maidservant. However, the TV pastor pointed out that Hagar wouldn’t have even been their servant if Abraham hadn’t lied to the Pharaoh and told him Sarah was his sister.
And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone spoke of Sarai’s beauty. When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace. Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. Genesis 12:14-16
Hagar was probably one of the female servants that Abram received so if he hadn’t told this lie they wouldn’t have had Hagar to use as a surrogate mother ten years later. Why is this a big deal? Because Hagar gives birth to Ishmael, who is the father of the Arab nation which has been fighting against Israel to this day. That’s a pretty big a consequence for their sin.
So what did God show me in this? That not only can we speak truth into the darkness but we can speak lies over other people and experience serious consequences. My wife and I got into an argument and I said some things about her that weren’t true and then I realized what God was showing me through this sermon, so of course I apologized and said they weren’t true.
Lastly, I took a sick day when I was exhausted and needed a mental health day because of the chaos at work. Is this about standing my ground (based on the facts) or do I have a lack of faith (in his strength and protection)? I’m still trying to figure this one out.
