Lecture 1
Polished and Ready for Use
The next garment we will look at is the breastplate of righteousness.
Read Proverbs 4:23
How are we supposed to keep our hearts? Why?
Define Diligence.
A breastplate covers the major organs of one’s body, most notably, the heart. The heart must be covered because the heart, which is the seat of motivation, is said to be treacherous, so much so that we are told to guard it because it is the “wellspring of life”.
Read Jeremiah 17:9
Why is the heart said to be treacherous?
Define Treacherous.
The Bible has more to say about the heart than that it is treacherous. Take a look at the conditions of the heart listed in the picture below and read over the scriptures for each condition listed.
I only listed one bible verse for each so that you can actually do the research to find others. There are many verses, both Old Testament and New Testament, that speak of the condition of the heart.
[ In the blank columns on the file insert two additional scriptures that also identify the particular condition of the heart listed (preferably an Old Testament scripture and a New Testament scripture). ]
This file will be useful during times of battle (in the evil day) when your heart comes under attack. You will simply need to identify what you are feeling/experiencing in your heart, and consider the scriptures that were listed alongside the condition so that you can sure up your armor to help you to cover your heart.
The fact that you will already have this written out is what will make it valuable during those times of trial and tribulation that come upon us unexpectedly. This is another reason why preparation is NEVER lost time. The time to prepare is not during an extreme situation but beforehand. You would just need to make sure to keep it where you can easily see and refer to it.
who ministers to the minister?
Yet another reason why this is beneficial is due to the fact that there will not always be someone around when you need them. Humans will fail you. It’s not that we mean to. I chalk it up to the fallen condition of human nature that we have all inherited.
With that being the case, one thing that I have learned is that we need to know how to encourage ourselves during that time when no one is around to encourage us. By now, you know that I always look for my two or three witnesses to support that which I am hearing in my spirit. It’s one of the ways that I test the spirit by the Spirit which is what we learned when learning to gird our loins with Truth.
So here are my two witnesses:
Witness 1: King David experienced depression because the people were angry over their families being captured and they wanted to kill him. When everyone turned their backs on him, he encouraged himself in the Lord.
Witness 2: Jesus Christ was stressed about the cross that lay before him. Though all 11 disciples went with him to the Garden of Gethsemane, He took the three who were closest to him, Peter, James, and John as he went off to pray. He asked them to pray also with him. To intercede with him. To stand in the gap for him in prayer. But they all fell asleep. Who ministers to the minister? Jesus acknowledged something that we need to keep in mind also. He said “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” A similar statement we make today is “charge it to the head and not to the heart.”
Matthew 26:38-43 New King James Version
38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
A part of protecting our heart with the Breastplate of Righteousness is knowing how to encourage ourselves in the Lord.
Looking at both witness examples, did you see the answer to the question, “Who Ministers to the Minister?”
Many times you hear that statement said in a ridiculing manner as a way of saying that no one is there for you when you are there for others. But the truth of the matter is that God tells us to run to Him, to trust in Him, to call on Him and not on man.
Therefore a huge part of wearing the breastplate of righteousness is about trusting in the Lord and looking to the Lord for the answer to whatever it is that we are dealing with.
Please Proceed to Module 3 Lecture 2
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