Armor of God Session 3 - "The Breastplate of Righteousness"

Wednesday night Bible study is so inspiring not only with Priscilla Shirer's teaching but with all the women who come and participate. I am always encouraged by the chatter that happens as soon as women walk through the door.  Patty Karzmarski, who is a retired elementary school teacher, had to flick the lights off (as she has done in her classroom at times) to get everyone's attention to start class. So funny!  I would rather have loud chatter and laughing than an absolutely quiet room.  Give me loud chatter and women who love to be together studying God's word and sharing their life and experiences any day.

Notes from Session 3:

Priscilla talked about "The Breastplate of Righteousness" found in Ephesians 6:14

"Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness."

Why put on the breastplate of righteousness?  Remember the story about the overturned boat and her fishing with her boys?  When the boat is overturned, a lot of creepy things gather underneath the boat.  When you turn it right-side up, all those creepy things will scatter.  I've experienced this myself.  An "overturned boat" (unrighteousness) is the perfect environment to attract demonic influence in our life.  It's the enemy's invitation if we do not have the breastplate of righteousness on.

"Choosing right-side-up living deflects the attacks of the enemy", Priscilla Shirer says.

The first three pieces of armor are our uniform to have on every day, every moment:

• Gird our loins with truth
• Breastplate of righteousness
• Feet shod with peace

Our choices need to align with God's expectations.  Righteousness is upright living.

She mentioned we are strangers, aliens to this world.  We should live distinct from the culture.  We should affirm God's standard (truth) and then align (righteousness) our behavior with His standard.

Priscilla said that "truth is the railroad tracks in our life and righteousness is the train of our obedience and behavior that align with the railroad tracks of God's truth.  The enemy, though, wants to derail us.

When we live an unrighteous life, it leaves us open to a full frontal attack from the enemy.  We can pray until we are blue in the face, she said, but if you are praying against the enemy and living and unrighteous life, our prayers will not be effective.

If we want the guarding, the protecting the breastplate gives, we have to put into practice first girding ourselves with truth.

The breastplate is about living in alignment with truth.  The breastplate was connected to the belt to lift the weight off of the shoulders of the soldier and have the belt carry some of the weight.  Makes perfect sense.  We are not meant to carry our own righteousness.

Righteousness cannot be attained by us performing or striving for perfectionism.  Ephesians 1:13-14 explains to us that the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us allowing us to do what we cannot do in our own power.  Righteousness starts on the inside.

Sanctification (a setting apart) is done by the Holy Spirit as well.  It is a process.  We cannot do this on our own.  The Holy Spirit molds us into the image of Christ.  It is the job description of the Holy Spirit.

Righteousness cannot be manufactured.  When we try to make ourselves better, or strive to be perfect, or try to change on our own, it's a temporary fix.  The Holy Spirit gives a permanent fix - from the inside out.

What is righteousness all about?

It's about our attitudes, our motivations, our deep down stuff.  When we try to change ourselves from the outside first, it's exhausting.  It's the Holy Spirits job to chip away at everything that doesn't look like Jesus.  The breastplate fortifies us from the schemes of the enemy.  It protects our vital organ - the heart.

Priscilla said this, "your spiritual heart is to your spiritual life what your physical heart is to your physical life."  The enemy is after our heart - the centerpiece of our emotions.

Our conscience is the microphone the Holy Spirit uses to allow us to hear the voice of God in our life. The enemy wants to short-circuit our conscience.  He wants to weaken our spiritual immune system.

When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, the righteousness of Christ is credited to our spiritual bank account.  The Father sees the righteousness of Christ when He looks at us.

We need to remember the truth of who we are Christ.  Don't be crippled by perfectionism.  The treasure of righteousness is available for us to use.

Priscilla said to:

• Live righteous
• Have accountability
• Rely on the Spirit

Don't fight the change God is trying to do in us to live righteous.  Don't fight the cutting away process.  Don't fight the pruning.

Scriptures used in this Session:

Ephesians 6:14  
Romans 7    
Romans 7:24      
Ephesians 1:13-14  
2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Thessalonians 2:13  
Philippians 3:9  
Romans 5:19  
I Peter 2:24    
2 Corinthians 5:21

Proverbs 4:23
Galatians 5:16

Coming Up:  Session 4 "The Shoes of Peace"