Source

In Eph 6 : 11 the Bible clearly state "Put on the whole armor of God [Why ? For this reason] that you may be able to stand"

When you go to prayer, you are entering the arena of spiritual warfare.You will come under attack .Therefore you need all the armor of God to protect you (the defensive armor) and the sword of the spirit ( your offensive weapon) to win the battle.

BREASTPLATES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Police in most nations are given a bullet proof vest.If shot by a low pistol, the vest stops the bullets from killing or injuring the policeman.
In ancient times ,the threat was from rocks ,spears or sword .The BREASTPLATE provided protection to the upper torso of the warrior against these.

The breastplate of righteousness does the same thing for you and me today.It provides protection in the battle we wage against sin and Satan.
The breastplate of righteousness is an important part of our spiritual armor.The breastplate protects and covers our heart (emotions and affections).Both need to be guarded if we are fend off the temptation of the wicked one.

There are two concept of righteousness in the New Testament. Both relate to our breastplate.

Source

RIGHT STANDING -IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS

One is our position of "right stamding" before a Holy God.It is the goodness of His character, which becomes ours in Christ Jesus when we believe. It is a gift of His grace "imputed" ( credited to our account ) when we put our faith in Christ as Lord and savior.

The Bible says ,"Abraham believe God ,and it was imputed to him as righteousness.......:Jas 2:23.It is what we receive when we put all of our sins in one pile,and all of our good works in another, and run from them both to Jesus.
When we totally trust Gods grace alone ,we are not only forgiven for our sins,but are clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
God sees us in His son as a sinless person because Jesus took our sins and gave us His righteousness.This is "imputed righteousness"

RIGHT BEHAVIOR-IMPARTED RIGHTEOUSNESS

what God Expects.

Not only does God "impute" His righteousness to us ,but He "imparts" (places) His righteous nature with us.By enabling power of His Holy Spirit, God wants us to express or live a righteous life.
We are to :

• have right motives
• think right thoughts
• speak right words
• do right deeds.

When Others See You.

This second kind of righteousness is holiness in character and conduct. It is expressing Jesus life through our life.
It is a very practical kind of righteousness which observant people can see as well as God.It means:,

• having pure motives,
• having right attitude,
• being obedient to authority,
• speaking the truth in love,
• being honest in all of our affairs
• working on our Job as if Jesus were our boss,
• serving other Joyfully,
• and much more....!

The Holy Spirit Is The Key.

We are told in Romans 8 that the key to living a righteous life is the power of the Holy Spirit.
The standard for the righteous life is the law ,but it cannot help us live it.Only the Holy Spirit can do that.
He is ,however ,a "Holy" Spirit.

Grieve The spirit and lose protection
Whenever we give way to unholy desire -lust or motives -our flesh ,He is grieved or saddened.His power in that area of our life is "quenched" or weakened.We no longer have the protection we need.

In effect ,we have laid aside our "breastplate of righteousness" and have laid open or exposed ourselves to the devil's attack.He will be sure to respond!

Let live a life pleasing to God ,for He cares so much about us.
Steemchurch where we lift the name of God High....

Stay bliss

This is odsam2 from #steemchurch #sc-g and #teamghana