A YEAR OF PRAYER

GET UP, DRESS UP, SHOW UP … FOR THE BATTLE

A PRAYER TO STAND FIRM AND FULLY PROTECTED WITH THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD

11  Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them.
12  But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory. —2 Samuel 23:11 - 12

10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 
11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 
12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
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.
14  Stand therefore… —Ephesians 6:10 - 14a

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place. —Ephesians 6:14

“THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS”

Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,
and faithfulness the belt of His waist. —Isaiah 11:5

For He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on His head;
He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. —Isaiah 59:17

THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:
“ALL THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD” 

My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness. —Psalm 119:172

RIGHTEOUSNESS DEFINED: 
1) THE RIGHTEOUSNESS, JUSTIFICATION GOD CREDITS TO THOSE WHO TRUSTED AND OBEYED HIM; OR
2) THE RIGHTEOUS WAY OF LIFE THAT GOD NOW EXPECTS HIS PEOPLE TO EXEMPLIFY IN THEIR LIVES. 

1. The breastplate of righteousness imputed by faith in Christ. 

And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. —Philippians 3:9

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. —Romans 5:1 - 2

21  But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22  even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24  being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25  whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
26  to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. —Romans 3:21 - 26

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. —Titus 3:5

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. —2 Corinthians 5:21

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. —Romans 5:17

2. The breastplate of righteousness put on through obedience to Christ.

And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. —Ephesians 4:24

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. —Romans 8:1

3  For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
4  that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. —Romans 8:3 - 4

14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
16  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17  and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. —Romans 8:14 - 17

I traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice. —Proverbs 8:20

3. The breastplate of righteousness kept solid and growing stronger in Christ.

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you. —Hosea 10:12

Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. —Philippians 1:11

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. —John 15:5

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. —Matthew 6:33

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. —Hebrews 12:2