Becoming a Christian Soldier - BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Becoming a Christian Soldier - BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

 Today we continue learning about "Becoming A Christian Soldier" and learning how to "put on the full armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11) - Now, I have to be very clear - I am NOT talking about becoming a physical soldier and I am NOT saying that you should go out and physically fight (although I appreciate and respect anybody who has served or is serving in our army, navy or air force).  What I'm talking about in this series is on a spiritual level.  If you look at Ephesians, chapter 6 verse 12: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood..." that is the exact point - we are not talking about a physical fight and we are not talking about physical training.  Becoming a Christian soldier is all about our relationship with God;  about our spiritual training and about our spiritual self.

A few weeks ago we learned about who our enemy is and then most recently we learned about the BELT OF TRUTH.

Click HERE to read INTRODUCTION to this series.
Click HERE to read "STRENGTH FROM GOD"
Click HERE to read "4 Ways To STAND"
Click HERE to read "BELT OF TRUTH"
Click HERE to read "BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS"
Click HERE to read "FEET FITTED WITH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE"
Click HERE to read "SHIELD OF FAITH"
Click HERE to read "HELMET OF SALVATION"
Click HERE to read "SWORD OF THE SPIRIT"

Click HERE to read "PRAYER"

Our God is all powerful, all knowing, He is our Protector and Provider - He would never throw us into a battle without fully equipping us first.  Today we continue learning about the "full armor of God" and specifically "the breastplate of righteousness." 

It is interesting to me that there is an order to the verses in Ephesians chapter 6 - first we must prepare, train and draw from God's power ( "after you have done everything" - verse 13 ) and then we must STAND.  It's not all about the preparation, eventually we must "do" or "act" - we must implement what we learned in our training.

I've always thought of "righteous" as meaning "arrogant"  but that is not a true definition - so that is why I looked it up in the dictionary.  

"Righteousness - acting in accord with moral or divine law: free from guilt or sin.  Morally right or justifiable, arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality." 

Isn't it interesting that our condemnation started by one person's sinful act (we are talking about eating from the forbidden tree in the garden of Eden) and then our salvation began by Jesus' one act of righteousness.  The latter eliminates the first and we are justified through Christ for eternity.

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;  by his wounds you have been healed."  1 Peter 2:24

In the verse above we see that we are to live for righteousness because of Jesus' sacrifice. 

"The Breastplate of Righteousness"

The "breastplate" referred to in Ephesians was made of metal and it protected the soldier's torso and specifically it protected the heart.  The modern version of a breastplate would of course be the bullet proof vest.  To me "righteousness" comes from the heart - from the inner most part of our being;  the emotion center and the force of our existence.  That place in our body where we feel the pain of injustice and the place where we feel that rush of knowing what is right and wrong and where we feel the urging of what justice needs to be done.

Being righteous is good for you and those around you obviously benefit from your acts of righteousness also! - take a look at the verse below:     

"He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor."  
Proverbs 21:21

"Life, prosperity and honor" is yours when you live & act in a righteous way based on the way that Jesus lived.  Living righteously is being Christ-like.

"Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."  
James 3:18

In the verse above we go back to what we were talking about last week - to "stand" is not going on the attack and it is not running away - in a sense it is peaceful.  Yes, you need to be on guard and ready to act in a Godly manner but there needs to be peace before you make that next step.  You need to stand in peace in order to hear what God is telling you to do.  Then and only then will you "raise a harvest of righteousness."

Righteousness is Godly emotions in action. 

Be sure to keep "The Breastplate of Righteousness" securely in place in your life.

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