The BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS
The breastplate as part of a soldier armour was strapped to the chest. The function was to protect the crucial organs of the heart and lungs. It was strapped on the front so that any attacks could be neutralised. It was made of the toughest steel or metal and sometimes was made into chain mail.
The CHRISTIAN has a breatsplate of righteousness to protect them from spiritual attack. These attacks are unseen and form forces much stronger than we are, so we need this protection every day.
What is RIGHTEOUSNESS?
Righteousness is acting rightly in a way that does not lead to guilt. It is doing only good, and wanting the best for others. It is obeying God and His righteous laws.
Righteousness is given to us.
We have no rightoeusness of our own.
God says our rightouesness is like filthy rags.
Jesus gives us His goodness when we trust in Him. His righteousness is perfect and with His holiness we can get into heaven.
The Christian must live a HOLY LIFE
We must wrestle with dark power, and our own sinfulness if we are to overcome in the power fo the Holy Spirit.
Some people will say that once you have been forgiven by Jesus, you don’t have to bother about goodness. Jesus will cover it all. That is true in that it is His righteousness that makes us right for heaven. The only way to heaven is to have Jesus’ righteousness in our lives. Then we persevere in seekign tolive His life, in our life every day. We must live holy lives and turn away from evil. This is difficult and it is the fight in the Christian life.
We can only overcome with the righteousness of Jesus, that He gives us, and we must learn His ways and follow Him very closely.
God says, whoever overcomes will recieve the crown of righteousness. So, there is great effort to be made. We want our own way, and often we will try to get out of obeying and try to justify ourselves and our sin.
This is not using the breastplate of righteousness!!
If I continue in my own way, the enemy will destroy my life and my testimony.
How do I live with the breastplate of righteousness on?
- I must fight sinful desires and sinful lifestyles.
- I must learn God’s ways and keep reminding myself of them every day…. Bible reading and study.
- Prayer is something I do every day and ofter talk to God about what is going on.
- Realise that God is personal and wants me to know Him. I realise how much I need Him and without God I will not make it.
- Having Christian friends who help and encourage me.
- Finding ways to serve God and share the message with other people I know.
Specifics
- Lets say you do something wrong at home. You know it is wrong, but hope no one will notice. Your Mum notices and asks what happened. You say “I dont know” We tell “white lies” Why? We might not want to get into trouble, or we dont want to admit our fault. It is very easy to let this go, as it seems not very important, but God sees no “white lies” They are all evil. We need God’s word to teach us what is right and wrong.
- Perhaps in school or college you say something to the person beside you. The teacher asks who is talking. You remain silent… we dont want to own up as it would look bad in other peoples eyes. We need to learn honesty and to do what we are asked in the first place…
- We all struggle with negative and hateful thoughts. When someone is mean to us, or we feel jealous of someone, we can find our minds thinking ill of people. We can rehease the bad things they do or say and rehearse what we would like to say back! Thoughts are very difficult to control and we must learn how to put them away from our mind. This is impossible without help…
I can’t do this!!
You are right you can’t. Without spiritual life in you, you will not be able to overcome these things and many more. Jesus is able to save us and give us the power to overcome the sins that trouble us. We must have the breastplate in place so that the firey darts of the evil enemy can’t get in. If we do not keep it there, we will not be overcomers.
Jesus is our Saviour and Lord, and He has overcome for us, but we must fight against all the wrong stuff in us and that which comes from the enemy. If you don’t Read, study, pray, excercise holiness/goodness, you will not be protected.
“The righteous will live by faith….” Romans 1:17
“The strong and powerful prayer of a righteous person, prevails with God..” James 5:16
“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:17-18
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteousrun to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10
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