The Armor of God to Battle Satan #2
The great Breastplate of Righteousness!
by
Keith Hunt
In fighting the battle over Satan and the demons, the apostle Paul told us in Ephesians 6 to put on the whole armor of God. The second piece of armor he mentions is the "breastplate of righteousness." It is that which covers the heart, to protect the heart, to keep the heart safe. The "heart" is used in Scripture for the DEEP TRUE EMOTIONS that lead to LOVING God in spirit and in truth. We talk about the "heart strings" as like an instrument of strings played in a way that brings harmony and true love towards a person. Love songs are heart songs moving outwards in the right wave length towards whom we have a heart felt love for; could be boy-friend, girl-friend, wife, husband, mother, father, brother, sister, or a friend. It is the heart strings being plucked in the manner that produces real quality and real "daily action" of works towards the one that the heart has a deep love for. Paul calls this piece of armor that we need to fight Satan and evil, the "breastplate of righteousness." Most of us instinctively know that righteousness means "doing that which is right." But what is "right?" For some this may be right in their eyes, while to another person the same thing is "wrong." Humans on their own can make their own list of what is right and what is wrong. And of course many do, living to their own standard, and the attitude of "Well I see it this way" philosophy. But what does God say is His righteousness? Can we find "righteousness" for how a person should conduct their lives, in the Word of God. Yes we can! The Word of the Eternal is not interpreted by the ideas of men or women. The Word of the Lord, the holy Bible, INTERPRETS ITSELF! So here is just ONE clear teaching from God as to what is righteousness. Mark it in your bible, maybe put it in a yellow high-lighter. PSALM 119:172 says: "...For ALL THEY COMMANDMENTS ARE RIGHTEOUSNESS!" Now isn't that simple? No fancy theological degree needed here. It is explained is simple words that a child can understand. ALL of the commandments of the Lord are righteousness! Look at Psalm 111. "His work is honorable and glorious: and His RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURETH FOREVER ... The works of His hands are verity and judgment; ALL His COMMANDMENTS are SURE. They stand FAST FOR EVER AND EVER, and are done in TRUTH and uprightness" (verses 3-8). More on all this later but for now some human examples of "righteousness." Quote: (1) In the Antarctic summer of 1908-9, Sir Ernest Shackleton and three companions attempted to travel to the South Pole from their winter quarters. They set off with four ponies to help carry the load. Weeks later, their ponies dead, rations all but exhausted, they turned back toward their base, their goal not accomplished. Altogether, they trekked 127 days. On the return journey, as Shackleton records in The Heart of the Antarctic, the time was spent talking about food-elaborate feasts, gourmet delights, sumptuous menus. As they staggered along, suffering from dysentery, not knowing whether they would survive, every waking hour was occupied with thoughts of eating. Jesus, who also knew the ravages of food deprivation, said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." We can understand Shackleton's obsession with food, which offers a glimpse of the passion Jesus intends for our quest for righteousness. (2) Good posture contributes to good health. That is what several studies and physicians suggest, says writer Brenda Kearns. "Poor posture can cause headaches," says back specialist Laura Fleck, M.D. "The problem is your head," says Kearns. "It weighs 20 pounds, and when it's hanging forward, it strains the muscle's that hold the neck vertebrae together." Dr. Fleck also says that "many patients with low back pain have it because of poor posture." A spine out of proper alignment adversely affects the spinal disks and overworks back muscles. Posture may have something to do with carpal tunnel syndrome. One study found that "women who practice good posture for most of their work day are four times less likely to get CTS. Chiropractors have long claimed that poor posture affects a person's blood pressure and heart rate by adversely affecting the nerves that run from the spine to the rest of the body. One of the visual words the Bible uses to describe a person of character is uprightness. Just as good physical posture contributes to health, so good spiritual posture - a righteous lifestyle - brings health to our spirit, soul, and body. From "750 Engaging Illustrations" by Craig Brian Larson. God gives us clear instruction on how to live UPRIGHT! It is all contained in His word, the laws and commandments of God are uprightness and righteousness! On the subject of self-righteousness, here is a classic: Quote: YEARS AGO Joe Bayly, the late Eternity magazine columnist, visited some German Christians who had been devoted soldiers in the German army during World War 11. Two of them had been put up for promotion to become second lieutenants in the Nazi army. The commandant told them he would approve the promotion on one condition: that they join the Officers' Club. Being a member of the club would require them to attend some weekend dances. These young men believed that dancing was wrong because it could lead to immorality. Because of their convictions, they turned down the promotion. Later in their military careers these same men were assigned to the death camps where thousands of Jews were stuffed into ovens and killed. Even though they did not directly participate in the slaughter, they knew what was going on. Yet they never voiced any protest. When Joe Bayly talked to them many years after the war, they looked back on their experiences with no regret, convinced that they had made right decisions. For them, not conforming to social pressure and refusing to dance was an act of righteousness. And conforming to patriotic mass murder and remaining silent while thousands of Jews burned in ovens left them with no feelings of unrighteousness. When we set our own standard of external righteousness, we are capable of any evil. When we are filled with His righteousness, no good is too great. - Haddon Robinson, "What Jesus Said about Successful Living" From the book "Swindoll's Ultimate Book of Illustrations and Quotes." .......... The study of God's righteousness and commandments would be a study
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