February 9, 2022
The Breastplate of Righteousness
Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Protection – “...but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13b).
Ephesians 6:13–14 (ESV) — 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness…”
The next piece of armor Paul tells us to put on is the breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate typically covered a soldier’s chest and back, protecting their vital organs. What many Christians try to do is replace this piece of armor with one they've fabricated themselves – called self-righteousness. Through their own effort and strength, they pull themselves up by their own bootstraps to try to impress God with their good deeds. Satan will still be able to penetrate that line of defense, because self-righteousness cannot protect you. The only thing that can protect you is Christ's righteousness that's been given to you as a gift through faith. Isaiah says, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord...for he has covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10). To be clothed with His righteousness means, as a sinner, you have been justified by God's grace through simple faith in Christ crucified, where you now stand before God not condemned for your sins, but accepted, because Christ was condemned in your place.
This is incredibly important, because what Satan loves to do is accuse and condemn us of certain sins that we’ve already repented of and which Christ has already forgiven. Revelation 12:10 says, "he accuses people day and night before our God." Satan accuses us by continually throwing confessed and forgiven sin back in our faces and will continue to condemn us for it. What the righteousness of Christ does is this, it says, "There is therefore now no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). The apostle John says, "I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). Satan cannot penetrate the covering of Christ's righteousness. When God declares you righteous in his sight because of what Jesus has done, Satan cannot change that declaration. If he's still accusing and condemning you, call it what it is and remember that God no longer condemns you or accuses you. You can stand firm when you rest in that truth.
Consider:
What accusations is Satan continually bringing back up in your life?
Prayer Points:
Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Protection – “...but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13b).
Ephesians 6:13–14 (ESV) — 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness…”
The next piece of armor Paul tells us to put on is the breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate typically covered a soldier’s chest and back, protecting their vital organs. What many Christians try to do is replace this piece of armor with one they've fabricated themselves – called self-righteousness. Through their own effort and strength, they pull themselves up by their own bootstraps to try to impress God with their good deeds. Satan will still be able to penetrate that line of defense, because self-righteousness cannot protect you. The only thing that can protect you is Christ's righteousness that's been given to you as a gift through faith. Isaiah says, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord...for he has covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10). To be clothed with His righteousness means, as a sinner, you have been justified by God's grace through simple faith in Christ crucified, where you now stand before God not condemned for your sins, but accepted, because Christ was condemned in your place.
This is incredibly important, because what Satan loves to do is accuse and condemn us of certain sins that we’ve already repented of and which Christ has already forgiven. Revelation 12:10 says, "he accuses people day and night before our God." Satan accuses us by continually throwing confessed and forgiven sin back in our faces and will continue to condemn us for it. What the righteousness of Christ does is this, it says, "There is therefore now no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). The apostle John says, "I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). Satan cannot penetrate the covering of Christ's righteousness. When God declares you righteous in his sight because of what Jesus has done, Satan cannot change that declaration. If he's still accusing and condemning you, call it what it is and remember that God no longer condemns you or accuses you. You can stand firm when you rest in that truth.
Consider:
What accusations is Satan continually bringing back up in your life?
Prayer Points:
- Thank God for the righteousness you are clothed in and for cleansing you of all sin.
- Ask the Lord to protect your mind from accusations of the Enemy and to remember the truth of Christ’s righteousness in order to stand firm against these accusations.
Posted in 2022 Prayer and Fasting