THE WARRIORS BREASTPLATE

Zechariah  2:5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

THE WARRIOR'S BREASTPLATE

Before going to battle, strap on God’s breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate of righteousness is only available to the sons of God. John wrote, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). As a Christian, you can count on this armor for protection in the heat of battle. You already know we have no righteousness of our own and can’t work our way into right standing with God. Biblical righteousness is only imparted to the repentant of sins and through faith in Christ’s redeeming blood on the cross at Calvary. “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (atonement for sin) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:21-26) Going through spiritual warfare is not fun, that’s why we call it includes hardship, trial, and tribulation. James said, “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4). So we learn then that the breastplate of righteousness is available to us through the redeeming blood of Christ and is cast in faith and tried by fire (1 Peter 1:7). God imputed righteousness to Abraham because of his faith. Abraham was called the friend of God because he believed against all odds that God was well able to do what he promised. Scripture confirms that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). What God did for Abraham he will do for you.   “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:18-25) The warrior’s breastplate protects the chest, lungs, and, most importantly, the heart. Scripture says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). To keep your heart means to guard it. I’m convinced the only thing Satan has to work with is what’s in you. Jesus said, “For the prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me” (John 14:30). Guarding your heart requires mindfulness of what you see, hear, and say. “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:5-6). The bottom line for the spiritual warrior means the breastplate of righteousness is yours to strap on because of the ministry of the Lamb of God. “For (God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). As the righteousness of, God you can boldly declare, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).