The Full Armor: PANTS ON THE GROUND

In today's age of modern warfare depicted in news stories and video games, we often skim Ephesians six believing we have a firm grasp of it's meaning.  We have equivocated it with medieval armor and explained it away as a simple metaphorical task. But upon further examination, we find the armor of God to be an in-depth daily process required for effective living.

Each piece of armor was given for a specific purpose, and presented in a specific order.  Neglecting one piece, or attempting to assemble your armor out of order can lead to some very literal battle scars or fatal injuries.  So, today let's take a look at piece number one.  Ephesians 6:14 "Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth..."  In other words, Paul is saying, "don't go lookin' like a fool with your pants on da ground."

To understand each piece's specific purpose, we have to return to the culture and context of this letter to the Ephesian church, unfortunately it may not be the European chain mail we've seen in the pictures.

  In this time, "loins" osphys implied more than just the waistline of an individual; It was the source of generative power.  A person's loins were their ability to reproduce.  Their future.  Their spawn/creation. Everything that was to come came from the loins.  1Peter 1:13 implies that the "loins of your mind" are responsible for what reality you create.  Literally speaking, that which you create comes from the loins.

To "girt about" the loins was a very important practice....and still is.  I will never forget a particular skit I was a part of as a teenager.  I was running a little late for the evening service and could not find the belt that I needed to match my clean pair of pants.  So,  I left my shirt untucked and thought no one would be the wiser;  That is, until the "bad guys" picked my character up, and turned me upside down and began to shake as if my lunch money was going to fall out...Well, something fell out....ME!!!  But my pants stayed in the air.  And there in front of 300+ teenagers I learned the invaluable lesson that loins should always be "girt about."

In this Ephesian culture, the outer garment was loose, flowing robe-like material.  If the loins were not girt about,  the garment would hinder the movement of the soldier.  Girting about your loins made sure that everything stayed in its proper place,  movement was unrestricted, and the girdle would serve as the sheath carrier for the sword.

The girdle itself was equivocated with "truth."  The etymology of this word alētheia, meaning what is both objectively and subjectively true, is rooted in the word alpha.  This word, synonymous with Christ, signifies a definite beginning and end.  This is what we would call an "indeclinable noun."  Meaning "truth" has only one form and number.

It is no coincidence that truth is the "alpha" and first piece of God's armor.  If we are to reach the world for Christ (generative power) and produce a generation that is committed to Christ, its foundation must be in truth.  We must intentionally girt ourselves with truth.  Seek it out.  Pursue integrity and expel deception.  Apart from the "belt of truth,"  our movement will be restricted and our ability to carry God's Word severly  handicapped.  Loins girt with truth make us free to fight.

Deceit will trip you and slow you down. Have you intentionally put on truth today?  Or are you looking like a fool with your pants on the ground?

Do You Know, Or Do You KNOW?

One of my greatest pleasures comes from dusting off those "hidden treasures" within the pages of the Word. Through life's twists and turns, I was in search of some major help and big answers. So, as 2014 began, I issued a challenge over Facebook & Twitter for those who would resolve to walk through the Bible with me one time through this calendar year.  Nearly 100 people signed up,  but over the course of 3 weeks, that triple digit number dwindled down to less than 10 active viewers on our Facebook accountability group.

I too struggled to keep up with this "rigorous schedule" of multiple chapters a day.  I mean, who really has time to read the pages of God's word for more than our typical 15 minute allotment, or that 30 second "Word on the Way" from K-LOVE?  As I evaluate, I find that if you do not have enough time to listen to God,  you are doing more things than God wants you to be doing in a day. 

Even though my head grasps this fact,  the endless genealogies and regulations from Genesis on through Deuteronomy really bogged me down!  As a preacher, my job description requires evaluation of God's Word with intent to expository expound some sort of outlined principles each week.   I was evaluating Scripture passages by their ability to be broken down and masterfully reworded rather than searching out the face of the master.  How are these lists going to help me solve my daily problems?  In what way does that genealogy relate to my practical life?  God began to uncover some equal signs through the book of John that would forever change my approach to daily devotions. 

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

GOD = WORD | WORD = GOD

John 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth:  thy word is truth.

WORD = TRUTH |  TRUTH = WORD

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

TRUTH = GOD | GOD = TRUTH

John 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Knowing truth makes free.

I could continue on, verse after verse, where God equivocates himself with truth and his word. From these statements, I can surmise that there is no truth outside of God and his Word.  Every truth in life will line up perfectly with that Word.  No word from THE WORD will conflict with God and truth,  because God and truth are so intertwined that they are one in the same. GOD = WORD = TRUTH.

Understanding these equivalents dramatically changes the way I can view a devotional time.  For when I open the pages of God's Word,  through the power of the Holy Spirit I am gazing into the very heart of God.  Every word of God is pure and intentional beyond our understanding.  That which we skimmed as inapplicable and removed from modern practicality leads us to a deeper understanding of our Lord and Savior.  Freedom from sin's bondage is not found in a practical book of principles.  John 8:32 indicates "knowing truth" makes us free.  

You see, this word "know" translates from Greek ginosko as more than a perceived knowledge, but rather a personally acquainted relationship.  Ginosko is translated hundreds of times in reference to intimacy between a married couple.  For the Christian and unbeliever alike,  freedom is found in "getting to know" He who IS Truth by uncovering the Word that is Truth.  A simple head-knowledge of practical truth cannot make free.  Otherwise, every member passing through AA would find immediate freedom. As my relationship with Jesus Christ develops,  HE MAKES ME FREE.  Friend,  if you are searching for freedom,  shift your focus as you search the pages of Scripture. Do not open your Bible with the intent to find the magic verse to solve your problems....THE BIBLE IS NOT A SELF-HELP BOOK.  Begin each devotional time with prayer asking, "Father, please show me your face, hand, and heart in these passages.  May your Holy Spirit direct my thoughts and heart as I find you in these pages."  

Video Challenge Day 12: The Fishing Story Complex

God:  What you're doing right now is you're trying to play God in certain areas of your life than for me to BE God over your whole life.
Man: I did not say that!
God:  It's what you meant.
Man:  Yes it is...It's hard to talk to you, I mean you know everything I'm thinking...

What makes a story great? Drama, humor, thrill, suspense...These qualities separate a mediocre tale from THAT fishing story that your grandpa tells.  I mean, would you rather hear about the relaxing day on the boat where fish kept stealing your bait, or the 27 pound bass that broke the line, tipped the canoe, and nearly drowned your uncle who wouldn't let go of the fishing pole to save his life?  OF COURSE, the second one! An ability to create a vivid scene for a listener in an imperative for a skilled communicator.  Deep down, we all want to be heard, and for some, the only way to be heard is to build a story that is larger than life.

I come from a family of men who are skilled in the area of communications...specifically story telling.  My great grandpa Barnes could make you feel like you were walking right next to Jesus.  It is rumored that kids from up to miles away would ride their bikes to the porch of my great grandpa Groves' house to hear his evening story. Down the line to my grandpa Groves, my father, and to me this gift was passed.  A good story is told with expression, vocal inflection, posture, body language, and most importantly....DETAIL!  I would like to nickname this ability: "The Fishing Story Complex."

In Acts chapter five we find two people who have come up with the ULTIMATE fishing story...or so they thought.  We find Ananias and Sapphira in the midst of a time of revival.  People are selling entire pieces of property, all their earthly possessions,  everything, and donating it to the church.  Ananias and Sapphira definitely want in on this action!  They find a possession of great value and sell it.  Their plan is to keep back part of the money, but make a big show of "giving it all" to God.  There would have been NOTHING wrong with keeping back part of the money. The problem came when their hearts were filled with deceit and pride in wanting to present a false balance to God.  So, God killed them.

Like I mentioned earlier, I have been blessed and cursed with "the fishing story complex."  It takes little to no effort at all for me to create a scene that will have you on the edge of your seat ready to take action.  Telling a story for entertainment is one thing, but I allowed it to slowly creep into my regular conversation until it nearly compromised my integrity.  We are no different than Ananias or Sapphira.  Our pride preys upon our words which slowly creates a net that we will inevitably entangle ourselves in. We get so preoccupied in exorbitant detail that we even attempt to play this trick on God.  But God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart.

What may seem to be "just a fishing story" at this time will without a doubt develop into a lifestyle of deceit.  You won't even see it coming.  I have watched it envelop the lives of people very dear to me, and I nearly drowned had it not been for a couple lifeguards along the way.  God knows everything we are thinking.  To attempt to sway God with our verbal skills is a pointless endeavor.  He is a God of truth and transparency.  Let us begin our journey toward truth with being honest with ourselves, with our God, and with our neighbor.  It won't be so hard to talk to God when what we are thinking is what we say.