Why Is the Loin Belt of Truth in the Armor of God Powerful?

The loin belt of truth is an astounding and necessary piece of the armor of God. Truth is a big deal – can we say a super big deal, especially in dark times? I ran across this quote that raised my eyebrows. Here it is: “Little by little evangelical Christians these days are being brainwashed. One piece of evidence is that increasing numbers of them are becoming ashamed to be found unequivocally on the side of truth. They say they believe but their beliefs have been so diluted as to be impossible to clear definition.”¹ My my! What a dangerous habit to not take sides with the truth. It’s lethal because the loin belt of truth is what holds all of the armor of God together. Paul listed the pieces individually for us in Ephesians six. In today’s podcast, we dive into this radical piece of God’s armor meant for the believer. Why Is the Loin Belt of Truth in the Armor of God Powerful? — that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.
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Study these individual pieces of armor and maintain the spiritual attitudes that they represent.

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Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.
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Question: How has your prayer life changed since you have practiced God’s Word and put on the whole armor of God? Share your story in the comments section below.

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of Ephesians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 45 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 40 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Podcast Notes

The Armor of God:

Ephesians 6:14–17 (ESV): 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

The Armor of God: The Belt of Truth

The loin belt is the most essential of the pieces of armor a believer must clothe himself with.
Notice that it’s first in the list of armor that you put on.
The first piece of armor that a child of God should focus on is the belt of truth.
The Word must be a part of your life.
Study it — look at it — think about it — work with it.
With that thought, here is something that I want you to hear.
This is a prophetic word that came forth from Lynne Hammond in one of her meetings.
You know we have several audio breaks in our podcast that with affection we call the Definition of the Day, the Quote of the Day, the Historical Background of the Day, and the Illustration of the Day.
But, for now, we don’t have for a prophetic from God.
You know First Corinthians fourteen references this type of Holy Spirit manifestation.

1 Corinthians 14:1–3 (ESV) — 1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

Holy Spirit prophecy is for upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
So with that thought, here is a prophetic word given by Lynne Hammond and I guess we could call it the Prophetic Word of the Day.

The Loin Belt of Truth: A Prophetic Word

Many in this room need to spend more time in the Word. Not necessarily getting messages or something to feed someone else, but your own personal time in the Word. That the light that is in that Word can begin to penetrate your spirit and cause you to rise up to another degree. Make you taller. Make you greater. Make you more stalwart and make you (tongues) make you stronger in things, for these things that are about to break upon the whole world. For in your spending time in the Word, you will be like an athlete and that athlete would be exercising himself to become stronger and stronger. So I hear the Word of the Lord saying, “Exercise yourself more in the Word and you shall build spiritual muscle that in the time to come that reservoirs can flow through you by the Spirit of God. You will be ready. You will be transformed. You will be transparent of the Spirit. And He can see and you too by your eyes, He will make your eyes to see. (tongues) He will make you more alert. He will make your eyes more penetrating into realms that you need to read by the Spirit.” (tongues) So more. More and more time with Him. Not just only praying in other tongues. Not just only worshipping Him, but time in the Word of God where the Holy Spirit can speak to your spirit (tongues). In doing so, light, more light will begin to flow to you. More light from the Word so then you will begin to pray by revelation and inspiration rather than what someone has already told you or something of the past or what is already written in the Word. You know those things already. I am wanting to release you,” saith God “to a higher flow. To a greater knowing. To a greater of the spirit of seeing and knowing. That there would flow out of you rivers of living water. Rivers. Not one river. Not just the same river. Not that you would even stagnate in the pool that you were in but there would be rivers that would flow out of you. So there are new places. There are new tributaries by the Spirit of God that you are to (tongues)… New tributaries. There is a flow. There is a flow and a flow until rivers flow out of YOU. Not anemic trickling from dried up creek beds but rivers of living water to flow out of you in prayer. In other realms too, but in the realm of prayer. Say that right now – “Rivers are going to flow out of me! Rivers of living water!”²

Did these words encourage or motivate you to action?
The action of getting into God’s Word so that rivers of living water can flow through your life is a necessary thing.

The Loin Belt of Truth: First Thing First

Getting this kind of action requires that first things be first.
The Word of God, the loin belt of truth, must be first in your life.
Proverbs says it this way.

Proverbs 4:7 (KJV 1900): — 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: And with all thy getting get understanding.

The Hebrew word ‘principal’ means beginning or what comes first – best or choicest portion.
The Word of God is the Wisdom of God.

Psalm 119:97–99 (ESV) — 98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.

The Psalmist David said the source of wisdom is the commandments that come from the lips of God.
He went on to say that because of God’s Word, he had more insight and more understanding than all those who had taught him.
The word ‘understanding’ means to have success, to understand, or to comprehend.

Psalm 119:104 (ESV) — 104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

The word ‘understanding’ here is the same Hebrew word used back in verse ninety-seven of this same Psalm of David.
How do you get this understanding? — they come from God’s precepts.
The word ‘precepts’ means commandments, directions, or orders.
Again, the Word of God is the wisdom of God — that’s the point.
Wisdom is the principal thing – it’s what should come first in your life.
So, Bible study, the source of the wisdom of God, is vital to your life.
Time spent in the Word is central to your God effectiveness.
That’s why truth or the loin belt is the first piece listed among the Armor of God and it is also the reason why it’s the centerpiece.

The Loin Belt of Truth: Israel Forgot about Pursuing Truth

Back in Isaiah’s day, God’s people got away from the Bible.
They let loose of the loin belt of truth.
They quit pursuing God and got off into death-dealing sin.
What was the result?
Their pants fell down around their ankles.
It’s hard to stay upright — it’s impossible to stand.
The scripture says that having done all to stand, we are to stand.
How do you stand if your pants are tripping your feet?
So here you are now, down on the ground.
If you are spitting dirt, how can you tread on serpents and scorpions – Luke 10:19 style?
You must be upright to tread.
You tread means to walk hard.
This inability is one result of the Word not being central to a person’s life.
The Spirit of God warned Israel about their negative behaviors via the spirit of prophecy in Isaiah’s day.

Isaiah 5:11–13 (ESV) — 11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them! 12 They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord, or see the work of his hands. 13 Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge; their honored men go hungry,

Strong drink and partying became the center of the Israelite’s existence.
They rose up early to engage in these activities.
The result?
Israel went into exile for a lack of knowledge of God’s Word.
Exile is not standing – it’s not having done all to stand – stand as we have already read.

The Loin Belt of Truth: The Holy Spirit’s Role

So, we must give the Word the right place in our life.
The Holy Spirit is your special helper in this endeavor – He is wonderful to the max.

John 16:13 (ESV) — 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

The Holy Spirit is your guide to the loin belt of truth.
You need a guide — someone way smarter than you to lead you to a place called understanding.
One day an Ethiopian Eunuch needed a guide — the book of Acts declares this.

Acts 8:26–35 (ESV) — 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

So this man, this Ethiopian Eunuch was reading the Bible out loud.
Just like we are doing in these podcasts.
Here we don’t just give the scripture reference and keep on going.
No, we take our time and read the Bible verse out loud as part of the podcast.
I mean, we could just quote the reference that but there is something powerful about hearing the Bible.
Your ears are a gateway to your spirit man.
You know Romans ten and verse seventeen says that?
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Of course, there is a doing side of the Word that is essential.

James 1:22 (ESV) — 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

All of this is part and parcel of the loin belt.
And with that thought, here is the Quote of the Day.
This quote is from A.W. Tozer.

You think you know truth. People memorize the Scriptures by the yard, but that is not a guarantee of knowing the truth. Truth is not a text. Truth is in the text, but it takes the text plus the Holy Spirit to bring truth to a human soul. A person can memorize a text, but the truth must come from the Holy Spirit through the text. Faith comes by hearing the Word, but faith is also the gift of God by the Holy Spirit.³

So the Ethiopian Eunuch answers Philips’s question, ‘Do you understand what you are reading’ with these words.

31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

This man needed a guide and Philip by the supernatural move of God became that guide.
Getting the Holy Spirit involved in your study of the Word is essential. After all, He did inspire the words that are found in it.
He is the Supreme Guide.

The Loin Belt of Truth: The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation

There is a prayer in Ephesians one that you can pray that will help get the ball rolling in this area.
We did a podcast on this and you can find it here.

Ephesians 1:16–19 (ESV) — 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might

There is a dangerous part to avoid here – don’t just pray and stop.
Praying alone will activate the loin belt of truth.
There is a doing part, a corresponding action part, that must be in place to get the job done.
You have to put ‘legs’ to your prayer.
The hard work of study must be embraced.
Prayer without digging into the Bible with a gospel shovel, that, with a spirit of expectation, will only ‘blow you up’ like a hot balloon.
But, when you pray while trusting the Great Teacher, the Holy Spirit, AND study to show yourself approved, you won’t just blow up, you’ll GROW UP!
Your being will become strong to stand.
You may look at all this and say ‘Wow, that is a lot of work!’
This is the loin belt of truth — it’s Bible study, not microwave cooking.
It’s Bible study — not listening to TV preachers.
Do I dare say, it’s not even listening to this podcast?
You need to study the Bible for yourself.
Crack open the leather cover – read – study – and ask questions.
There are no shortcuts here — none to anywhere worth going anyway.
This is the twenty-first century, and today the things of God still have the same cost as they always have.
Technology is an aid not a substitute for study.

The Loin Belt of Truth: Buckle Up Yourself

Don’t let others study the Bible for you.
That’s not what the Word of God teaches.
Read it for yourself.
The scripture says for you to put on, to clothe yourself with the whole armor of God.
Put on your own loin belt of truth.
Don’t let someone else buckle you up.
Think of a car – think of a booster seat – it’s always an older one who buckles a child in the seat.
Get out of your booster seat – buckle yourself up.
Put on the loin belt of truth.

The Loin Belt of Truth: The Link to the Rest of the Armor.

The loin belt of truth attaches to the other pieces of armor.
The shield has an attachment so that it hooks to the belt.
The sword has an attachment that allows it to hang from the belt.
The breastplate attaches to the loin belt of truth.
The belt holds all of the other pieces in place.
What’s that saying?
It says what we have already said — the Word is of central importance.
It’s the first piece that goes on — it’s the first piece listed.
When you get dressed in God, the loin belt is the first piece to put on.
Jesus said.

John 17:17 (ESV): Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

The Psalmist David declared.

Psalm 119:160 (ESV): The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Your study of God’s Word should include all of the other pieces of armor.
Here’s what I mean.
Let’s look at the breastplate of righteousness.
How do you put this piece on?
You start with the loin belt of truth, that is, you take your Bible and study righteousness.
How long do you study it? — you engage the Word until righteousness molds itself around your chest.

Hebrews 5:12–14 (ESV) — 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Let’s look at the shield of faith.
How do you put this piece on?
Once again, start with the loin belt of truth, that is, you take your Bible and study the subject of Bible faith.
How long do you study it? — you stay with the Word until faith hammers itself into a shield that you use to quench the devil’s fiery darts.
How about the Sword of the Spirit?
Same deal – study the Rhema Word of God until it weaponizes your life.
Move on now to your shoes — how do you put on the gospel of peace?
Begin where you have begun before with the loin belt of truth, that is, you take your Bible and study the gospel of Jesus Christ and how it produces peace in your life.
How long do you study it? — you stay with the Word until it forms a shoe around your feet that will allow to walk anywhere in life both experiencing peace and producing it.
We still have one more piece of armor – the helmet of salvation.
You are sharp and quick and because you are, you know that you start with the loin belt of truth, that is, you take your Bible and study God’s salvation through Jesus.
How long do you study it? — you stay with the Word until the understanding of salvation covers your head, covers your thinking like a soldiers helmet that cannot be penetrated.
The Helmet of Salvation means you need understanding of God’s plan of salvation and your part in that plan.
You need to know what being saved is.
You need to understand the new birth and what happened to you the day you got saved.
You understand very little of that when you first came to Jesus.
Just because you repeated the sinner’s prayer does not mean that you are a maven at salvation.
It’s one thing to receive Jesus, it’s another thing to live for Jesus.
You need to become a salvation expert.
There are some truths here that you need to settle once and for all.
I’m saved and I know I’m saved….
Did you get anything out of this podcast?

Now Father God, in the Almighty Name of Jesus, that Name that is above every name, I pray for the people right now. Thank you for this wonderful armor and the revelation that we need to use it properly – to wear it correctly – to wrestle in it so that we can stand and occupy the ground that you have given to us. Thank you today for allowing us to wear your clothes — I praise you and I give you all the glory and all the honor once again in Jesus Holy Name, Amen.

You guys have a great God week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

Reasons to Study Spiritual Manifestations

__________
References:

A. W. Tozer and Harry Verploegh, The Quotable Tozer II: More Wise Words with a Prophetic Edge (Camp Hill, PA: WingSpread, 1997), 185. ↩
https://lynnehammond.org ↩
A. W. Tozer and Harry Verploegh, The Quotable Tozer II: More Wise Words with a Prophetic Edge (Camp Hill, PA: WingSpread, 1997), 187. ↩

emeryhorvath.com

Equipping people to pursue God's glory

Why Is the Loin Belt of Truth in the Armor of God Powerful?

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Nine

by Emery Horvath

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe in PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of Ephesians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

The Armor of God:

The Armor of God: The Belt of Truth

The Loin Belt of Truth: A Prophetic Word

The Loin Belt of Truth: First Thing First

The Loin Belt of Truth: Israel Forgot about Pursuing Truth

The Loin Belt of Truth: The Holy Spirit’s Role

The Loin Belt of Truth: The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation

The Loin Belt of Truth: Buckle Up Yourself

The Loin Belt of Truth: The Link to the Rest of the Armor.

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe in PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of Ephesians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

The Armor of God:

The Armor of God: The Belt of Truth

The Loin Belt of Truth: A Prophetic Word

The Loin Belt of Truth: First Thing First

The Loin Belt of Truth: Israel Forgot about Pursuing Truth

The Loin Belt of Truth: The Holy Spirit’s Role

The Loin Belt of Truth: The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation

The Loin Belt of Truth: Buckle Up Yourself

The Loin Belt of Truth: The Link to the Rest of the Armor.

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