Fully Armed 4!

Fully Armed 4!

‭Ephesians 6:14 AMP‬

So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart),

And we come to the details of the armour that has been provided by God for my protection, sustenance and stability. To enable me to stand and hold my ground, I must know the enemy, his tactics and schemes, and also know how to counter whatever he throws at me. It is quite interesting to note that the first part of the armour mentioned is that which is first internal, before its effect and impact are seen on the external. It is easy to focus on that which is seen or felt, but it is important to sort out my personal convictions and principles first, before I can successfully counter the wiles of the enemy. What kind of fight can I really engage in, if I do not have adequate knowledge of the terms of engagement and the dictates of the battle? 

Again, it is not to say that one part is more important than the other, but God would have me first set up the inner guard, before I strive to set up the outer guard. In other versions, the wide band of truth is referred to as the belt of truth. See how it is explained in the verse above: personal integrity and moral courage. These are the seeds of a life that makes impact. It is inner strength that drives public impact. Many lives have been wasted or cut short because of the disconnect between their personal and public lives. The devil is smart; he knows how easy it is to keep a public profile, which is nothing like the private reality. It takes time for the private reality to become known to people, and by the time it is known, it is likely that damage would have been done. 

Can I truthfully say that my private conviction matches my public profession? Again, the breastplate of righteousness is the next part mentioned, and that is first the result of a private WALK, which then manifests in public WORKS of righteousness. I am made righteous by the work of Jesus, and when I come to the saving knowledge of Jesus, I take on His nature. My goods works now make sense in the light of the work of salvation and redemption that was done for me. My heart will always be critical to how the fight goes, and where it ends. I cannot trust my heart outside of the influence and control of the One who can help me win. I must give it to Him, so He can cover it with His nature, and He can nurture it to perfection. That is the pathway to victory, the type that lasts. Do not first focus on the outer fight; sort out the inner and God will definitely work out the outer. God's time of favour is here.