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Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist\\u2026 (Ephesians 6:14).

Having planted our feet firmly on the ground, aware that we are in Christ, the Lord\\u2014surrounded and guarded not by our own might, but by His mighty power, let us get dressed up in the armour that our Father so gracious provides for us. And let us stand against the attacks of our enemy.

The first piece armour is the belt of truth which we buckle around our waists.

\\u201cHaving girded your middles with truth\\u201d is a more accurate rendering of the Greek. It shows a deliberate action we must take. We must put the armour on; it does not appear on us by magic. As Pastor Anthony said yesterday, standing in not loitering. Paul says we must equip ourselves so that we can stand. If we don\\u2019t get our minds involved, we will fail. Spiritual battle is not done simply by attending worship or by claiming we are Christians. Unless we personally put on the armour, we will not stand firm.

Before the armour can be put on, the garments underneath must be bound together. The metaphor of girding describes fastening loose fitting clothing securely around the waist. This made rapid movement easier and was vital preparation for any vigorous activity, such as running a race or fighting a battle. The most famous Biblical example is the Israelites leaving Egypt; God told them to tuck their cloaks into their belts (Exodus 12:11).

Mostly likely, Paul had Isaiah 11:5 in mind when he wrote our text. Isaiah says this about our Messiah-King, the shoot of Jesse, \\u201cRighteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist\\u201d. Thus, it is not doctrinal truths that Paul is referring to, but truth in the sense of integrity, truth in the inward being. The belt of truth suggests that our character and activities are shaped by the gospel. If we claim to be a Christian, we will desire to live as Jesus lives.

He has already instructed us \\u201cto put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness\\u201d (4:25) and told us that \\u201cthe fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth\\u201d (5:9). If this sounds too difficult, fear not, Jesus prays for us, "protect them from the evil one...Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth\\u201d (John 17:15, 17). While we are fastening our spiritual belt, the Spirit is simultaneously teaching and training us.

Committing to living in the truth will probably mean facing some unpleasant, even ugly moments. It might mean opening to the light of Christ some dark secrets we\'ve carefully hidden away and making them right. Satan loves the secret sins that we ignore. In those dark corners of our minds, he causes awful rot and infections that can affect our spiritual health, weakening us. For over a year, King David lied about his sin with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah. Psalms 32 tells of the price he paid, \\u201cWhen I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer\\u201d (3,4).

With the belt of truth buckled firmly in place, we seek to live by the light and in the light. We desire to grow up into Christ, putting away the deeds of darkness \\u2013 anger, fighting, envy, lusts. It means following God\\u2019s example, walking in the way of love, seeking out the will of God. Our goal is to allow all our words and actions to flow from the goodness, righteous and truth of Jesus.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:17-21).