Vital Cover-up
By: Misty J. Grimes
Focal Scripture: “And put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14)
Introduction
The breastplate worn into battle by the Roman soldiers was made from leather or bronze and was covered with thin metal plates or chains. It was fitted with loops or buckles that attached it to a thick belt. If the belt was loosened, the breastplate slipped right off. The breastplate served as protection for some of the most important parts of the body as underneath is the heart, the lungs and other organs necessary for life. If a soldier did not wear his breastplate he was vulnerable to an attack that could result in instant death.
When we put on our spiritual breastplate we protect ourselves from Satan’s attempts to pierce our most vulnerable areas but especially the most vital, our heart. The heart is our most vital organ because from it springs our very life and thus it must be fully protected from the attacks of Satan: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
Lesson
Today we will look at what righteousness is and what happens when we choose to not wear our breastplate of righteousness. In Day Two we will look at how to wear it and how to live a life worthy of the call to righteousness that Jesus placed upon us when we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior.
What is the breastplate of righteousness? Righteousness is many things but the main thing it refers to is the righteousness purchased for us by Jesus at the cross: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Righteousness is also:
- The perfect holiness of Christ that comes from God alone.
- Specially designed by God to protect our heart and soul from evil and deception and has Christ’s name stamped on it.
- Comes to us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Because He took our place we now have a covering of righteousness: “For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).
- His righteousness covers our sin and identifies us as God’s child. When God looks at us He no longer sees our sin, but the righteousness of Jesus.
To be righteous means:
- To be in right relationship to God through Jesus Christ, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” His finished work is the only resource on which we can depend.
- To obey God’s commandments and live in a way that is honorable to Him: “Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times” (Psalm 106:3).
- To be right in God’s eyes.
- To be able to flee from the snares of temptation that Satan has setup.
- To follow God’s plan for our lives.
We fail to wear the breastplate when we decide to live a life based on our own desires rather than God’s and thus we make decisions that are harmful to ourselves and others. When we choose not to wear our breastplate our righteousness will be based on our own attempts to impress God.
The key to it is found in Ephesians 2:1-10: “You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ —by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
Conclusion:
When you were reading the description of the breastplate above, did you notice this important aspect of its design – if it is not held up by the belt (which is the truth of God’s Word) it would slip right off and thus leave the soldiers’ most vital organs unprotected. This helps us to see how important it is for us to put on the whole armor of God when we prepare each day to go into battle because without even one part of it we leave ourselves open to attack. Satan always knows where we are most vulnerable and will do everything he can to exploit that weakness in our armor. Without a breastplate we open ourselves up to attack from the enemy and we would be asking for death as any attack could instantly become fatal. With a sturdy breastplate the very same attacks become ineffective and useless as blows glance off the armor.
Application
Look up the following verses and discuss what Jesus says about righteousness:
- Proverbs 4:23
- Proverbs 11:4
- Proverbs 11:30
- Matthew 5:6
- Matthew 6:33
- John 3:16
- Romans 3:10
- Romans 6:18
Day Two
Focal Scripture: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
Introduction:
Wearing the breastplate of righteousness is very important in maturing in our walk with Christ and in being able to withstand the constant onslaught of Satan and his lies and schemes. Without the breastplate to protect our very life blood – our heart – we face certain death all day long. In Day One we learned what righteousness is and how we live a righteous life. Today we look at how we equip ourselves with the breastplate and how we use it to protect us fully.
Lesson:
How do we equip ourselves with the breastplate?
- By being knowledgeable of God’s Word which will allow us to understand how to live a righteous life that is pleasing and honorable to God. We must make a choice to regularly engage with Scripture (remember the Belt of Truth keeps our breastplate in place) and spend time with God daily.
- Through prayer we can ask God to empower us to resist temptation and do what is right according to Him.
- God gives us the Holy Spirit to steer us in the way of righteousness and away from sin.
So we have equipped ourselves so how do we live a life of righteousness?
- By turning to God when we face temptation. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
- By seeking God and His righteousness above everything else: “But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
- By avoiding those areas of our lives where we know that Satan can easily snare us such as people, places and things: “Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).
- We make Him and His ways our dwelling place: “You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).
- We delight in His commands and desire His way to become our ways: “Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors” (Psalm 119:24); “Your decrees are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart” (Psalm 119:111) and Isaiah 61:10: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels”.
- When God reveals an area of change to us, we obey and allow Him to work in us. At the point where we say “no” to God, we open a little crack in the armor where Satan’s arrows can get through: (Ephesians 6:16)
- We are to pursue righteousness by running away from anything that Satan can use to trap us and, instead, run toward God and His purpose for our lives. One of the best ways to do this is to remember: “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).
- Choose each day to live like Jesus because part of being righteous comes from our heart and in doing what is right in God’s sight. As we wear Christ’s breastplate we begin to develop a purity of heart that translates into actions. It creates a lifestyle of putting into practice what we believe in our hearts.
- Our righteousness is partly reflected by our attitude and by being upright in both our character and our actions. Again, choosing to live like Jesus. As our lives become more conformed to the image of Christ our choices become more righteous, and these godly choices also protect us from further temptation and deception.
Conclusion:
When we choose to equip ourselves with righteousness and live a life that reflects the righteousness of Christ, we acknowledge that apart from him we can do nothing: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
When we choose to wear our breastplate we see ourselves as in Christ and that, regardless of our failures, His righteousness has been credited to our account. When we follow the instructions of Hebrews 12:2, we are able to keep our breastplate securely fastened and thus resist the schemes of Satan: “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Application:
When we wear our armor daily and effectively we have positive results. Yet when our armor is abused or worn incorrectly, it can malfunction. Look up the following scriptures and identify the factors that can interfere with the effectiveness of our spiritual breastplate. Which one(s) do you struggle with the most? Pray and ask God to help you securely fasten your breastplate so you are fully protected.
- I Peter 5:8
- Hebrews 3:12
- Romans 6:1-2
- I John 3:4
- Hebrews 4:6
- 2 Corinthians 2:10-11
- Titus 3:5