LESSON
43
The Armor of God
Part 3
The Breastplate of Righteousness
Eph. 6:10-14 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power
of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil. For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able
to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about
with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.
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The armor is for your
mind. Each piece of the armor is a
revelation and is put on My entering into that
revelation.
Righteousness is the
quality of being right or just. In
reference to God we are speaking of God's character. He is by character right and just.
Righteousness is a plum
line. A plum line is what carpenters
use to set a straight line. They use a
plum line so it lines up. It provides
uniformity. Righteousness is the line
upon which we are to be cut, formed and made.
In the Old Testament
when they built the temple they used boards.
They created a master board from which all other boards where
created. In our lives the master board
is Jesus. God conforms
us into the image of Jesus along the plum line of the righteousness of God.
Righteousness means you
are in line with God.
Rom.
Phil.
Matt. 5:6 Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled.
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Remember the purpose of
the breastplate is for the protection of your mind.
Matt. 6:33 But seek ye first
the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Seek to be lined up
perfectly with God and all these things will be added to you.
When you line up with
the righteousness of God, His power begins to flow through your life. The reason the power of God was released in the upper room was
they began to get lined up with God and God couldn't hold the power back.
Eph. 4:22-24 That
ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts; And
be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness.
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The new man is created
in righteousness. Put off the old man
and put on the new man.
2 Cor.
Christ died that we
might have the righteousness of God.
Whoever controls the
mind of a man controls that man. So when
the righteousness of God controls your thoughts, you will act like God.
Col. 2:9-10 For
in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead
bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head
of all principality and power.
God wants you to lay
down yourself so that what is inside of you, Jesus, can come out.
Luke 9:23 And
He said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
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When the image of Jesus
begins to come out, you cannot hold the power back. You won't be able to hold the miracles
back. You won't be able to hold the
breakthroughs back. Jesus is our
example.
Phil.
Gal.
The righteousness of God
brings forth tremendous things in our lives.
John
John
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The Holy Spirit was sent
to transform us into the image of Christ as we die to self. He will manifest the nature and
characteristics of Christ in and through our lives.
Understand that Jesus
never did one thing out of His own strength.
Phil. 2:5-8 Let this
mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God: But made Himself of no reputation,
and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of
men: And being found in fashion as a man,
He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the
cross.
Jesus never used His
divinity to accomplish His work here on the earth. He emptied Himself of all His divine
attributes before He came to the earth as a child. It would not be right for Him to ask us to do
something without His divinity that He did through His divinity. He relied on the working of the Holy Spirit,
just as we are to do.
Jesus was a man totally
dependent on the Holy Spirit just as we are to be. He is our example.
Matt. 5:48 Be ye therefore
perfect, even as your
Father which is in heaven is perfect.
1 Pet.
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God would never command
you to do something that He didn’t provide the power to accomplish.
Before Jesus came and
put His righteousness in you, you could not follow God. When He set you free from the sin nature and
put His righteousness in you, He enabled you to walk as He walks.
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The righteousness of God
enables you to fulfill the heart of the law.
Mark
God has enabled
you. Now He is simply leaving the choice
up to you.
In Review:
1.
Explain righteousness.
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2. What
caused the power of God to be released in the upper room?
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3. Who
or what was Jesus totally dependant upon?
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4. What
enables you to fulfill the heart of the law?
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