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Girded In Truth

"Therefore stand having girded the loins of you with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace."1

We are in a battle not against flesh and blood but against the ruler, against authorities, against cosmic powers of darkness, against spiritual forces of evil, in the heavenly realms.2 If one thinks we are not warriors then maybe they haven't entered the battle fully, it is important that we do not fight as the world does. We are to "take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand."3

"Stand having girded the loins of you with truth..." This word for gird means to gird all around, i.e. to fasten on one's belt (literally or figuratively.) Have you ever seen someone pull up their belt, maybe before giving a speech or before an interview? this is the idea of girding, knowing you are prepared in truth, now, I'm prepared, bring it on. It is standing in confidence of truth. Notice this is the first principle given by Paul, stand by girding yourself with truth. It speaks to no longer being tossed to and fro by traditions and doctrines of men, but to be firmly founded in truth. If one girds themselves in doctrines and traditions of men, he will eventually be exposed. We can not escape the truth.

"And having put on the breastplate of righteousness." Having put on, made preparation, stand in truth and righteousness. Notice this is a conditional statement; truth And righteousness And gospel of peace. The truth of righteousness is that it is in Christ, if we try to stand in our own righteousness or in the Law we will soon be exposed to the enemy. "But now, apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile..."4

"Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace..." This word for shod means to bind on, (be) shod, put on my feet. I am to bind on my feet, with preparation, the gospel of peace. This word for preparation means firm foundation, firm footing; preparation, readiness. It is the gospel, "good news" a firm foundation of peace. This word for peace is eirḗnē (from eirō, "to join, tie together into a whole") – properly, wholeness. This peace is not world peace but specifically the Messiah's peace.5 A firm foundation or footing is wholeness, it allows one to stand against the forces of evil.

An ambassador is usually given high honor in a foreign country, the word ambassador is derived from Latin ambactus meaning servant or minister.6 In the Bible it refers to "an older, venerated person" who "act as an ambassador" or a minister. It speaks to the nature of a minister. An Ambassador is a trusted, respected elder who is authorized to speak as an emissary of its country. Of course in the Kingdom of God, Ambassadors are given gifts to serve and minister to the church, people called out by God. 

Being an Ambassador is an important position, a place of high honor, but it is a position of respect that is earned, not demanded. There are a few high principles of being an ambassador in another land;
  • Mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty;
  • Non-interference in each other’s internal affairs
  • Respect for mutual equality
  • Non-aggression and the peaceful settlement of disputes
  • Cooperation for mutual benefit
Being an Ambassador speaks to the Biblical gospel of peace. Paul writes that we are ambassadors of Christ and we are to shod our feet with preparation of the gospel of peace. Not giving authority through a spirit of fear, intimidation, condemnation, guilt, nor shame. Respect for mutual equality and Cooperation for mutual benefit, speaks to such. A high principle of the Kingdom of God is that truth manifests itself in light. Such speaks to non-aggression and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Now, it also speaks to Liberty and bravery, not having a spirit of timidity, but girding oneself in truth, standing for truth. Truth fights against inequality. At the feet of the Statue of Liberty lie broken shackles of oppression and tyranny.7 

The way of darkness is to attack the Light. It uses its force and power to try to demobilize truth. It seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. It threatens you with force; using intimidation and fear. This is the way of the powers of darkness in the spiritual realms. However, truth manifests itself in the Light, it seeks Cooperation for mutual benefit. It says this is what I believe the truth to be, lets expose it to the Light, lets seek truth together. Truth does not judge hypocritically. Truth doesn't coward from darkness, it exposes the darkness to the Light. We are to be established in truth.

Many have adopted the tactics of the enemy. A great failure of Christianity today, I believe, is in not knowing what it means to be an Ambassador of Christ. Tactics of defeat, intimidation, condemnation such things are of the enemy and speak against the gospel of peace. The greatest ambassador was Christ, who came not to bring world peace but a sword of Truth, this is the truth of the Kingdom of God, He came not to condemn the world but through Him the world might know truth and be saved. An Ambassador must be firmly founded in the good news of peace and be girded with truth, so as to boldly make known the mystery of the good news and to proclaim it fearlessly.

"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, divine utterance may be given me, so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should."8

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