Truth Be Told
“Stand therefore and fasten the belt of truth around your waist.”
(Ephesians 6:14a)
Day One
Introduction
In Biblical times, a soldier could not afford to be impeded or hindered while marching or fighting so he wore a leather belt that gave him a way to tuck in his loose tunic, protecting his lower abdomen, and giving him a place to hang his sword. In the same way when we arm ourselves with the belt of God’s truth (His Word) it helps us to not trip and fall over Satan’s lies. Also of importance to note is the fact that a belt is worn around our middle or center thus the belt of Truth protects the very center, the very core, of our being.
Lesson
One of our most basic and fundamental needs to get through life is taught to us at a very early age – knowing the difference between the truth and a lie. We are taught not only how to tell the difference between the two but we are also taught that when we lie, or believe/fall for, the lies of others, there are consequences for our actions Overall we learn that it is always best to tell the truth regardless of the situation.
I am going to assume two things here as I ask this question: one, that you know the difference between a truth and a lie and two, that you don’t like being lied to. So here’s the question: How many of us as Christians are quick to not only believe but accept the lies of Satan over the truth of God’s Word?
There are so many different avenues in which Satan plants lies in our head: TV, music, movies, books, social media, the words and actions of others, and the list goes on. Daily we are bombarded by Satan with lies that can affect all areas of our lives and will if we give in and choose to believe him. What makes it so hard to resist his lies (temptations) is that he makes them sound so good. We are especially vulnerable to falling when we are in a wilderness moment of our life (loss of loved one, sickness, financial hardship, loss of a job, depression, addiction, and so on). It is in these moments of weakness that we are most vulnerable to his attacks and are more likely to give into the lies, or the temptations, we normally would not. It is also at these times that we need to make sure that we not only have our belt of Truth on but that we have it on a little bit tighter.
To understand why we find it so hard to resist the lies of Satan, we need to understand who he is
- He is crafty: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made” (Genesis 3:1)
- Sometimes he speaks to us in half-truths but half-truths are nothing but full lies and it is then that we need to remember that he is void of all truth. At his very core he is a liar, the father of all lies: “You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
- Nothing that he says to us is for our good: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10a)
- He disguises himself as an angel of light: II Corinthians 11:14
- He is fierce and cruel: “Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).
While these are but a few of the scriptures that describe Satan we can see that he is proud, arrogant, powerful, cruel, fierce, deceitful, and subtle. In other words, he is pure evil. So why would we spend any of our time entertaining anything that he brings to our minds?
Conclusion
Billy Graham sums it up best: “Don’t think of Satan as a harmless cartoon character with a red suit and a pitchfork. He is very clever and powerful and his unchanging purpose is to defeat God’s plan at every turn – including his plans for your life.”
Application
- What are some of Satan’s lies you are struggling with right now?
- Why do you find it easier to believe those lies rather than God’s truth or, if that doesn’t apply to you, how have you defeated Satan so that you are able to believe God’s truth rather than Satan’s lies?
- Find some other scriptures that describe the characteristics of Satan and discuss them.
In day two we will discuss using the Truth of God’s word (the Belt of Truth) to combat Satan and be victorious.
Day Two
Scripture: ““Stand therefore and fasten the belt of truth around your waist.”
(Ephesians 6:14a)
Introduction
In day one we talked about Satan and how he is the father of all lies We pondered the question of why it is, at times, we find it easier to fall for his lies and his schemes rather than believing the truth of God’s word. Today we want to focus on the truth of God’s Word because it is so important in our battle against Satan. Knowing and applying God’s Truth (putting on the Belt) helps us to stand firm as a believer and to keep our balance in life even in the wilderness experiences. Not only does His truth protect us from Satan’s lies, the more we learn it, study it, apply it, the stronger our core and the firmer our foundation becomes. By way of the living Word (Jesus) and the written Word (the Bible), God has given us the best weapon we can have in fighting the lies of the great deceiver.
Lesson
The greatest thing about the Word of God, the Living Word of God (Jesus) is that it has been around from the very beginning: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Even before Satan came into existence there was Jesus. Not only that but John 1:14 goes on to tell us that one of the best reasons we have to believe Him over Satan is that, “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” While Satan is full of nothing but lies, Jesus is full of grace and truth. He came not to devour us, like Satan, but rather to give us life, a life that can be abundant and free (John 10:10).
Just as I listed some of the characteristics of Satan in day one that make it easy for us to fall for his lies, here are some scriptures of the truth of God’s Word that show us why it is our best area of defense in our fight against the lies of Satan.
- II Timothy 3:16-17: “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work”
- Hebrews 4:12: “Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
- Isaiah 40:8: “The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.”
- Psalm 119:130: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”
When we hear God’s Word, study God’s word and apply God’s word the result is, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).
Conclusion
The battle between believing the lies of Satan and the Truth of God’s word is real yet so are God’s promises. When we let God’s truth permeate our hearts and shape our lives, we become people of integrity, and that leads to the development of a firm foundation.
Application
- Why do we need to put on the belt of truth daily?
- In John 14:6 Jesus says, “…I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Why is this verse so important to believe when putting on the belt of truth?
- Why do these verses matter about the truth of God’s Word?
- Psalm 119:160
- Psalm 25:5
- I John 3:18
- John 1:14
- John 8:32
- How can you apply these things to your life today?
Author: Misty Grimes