Page 103 - Overcoming Addiction

lives. If we try to conceal our sin, or we make an excuse for it, or we call it
something other than the sin which it is, then God cannot work with us. We will
not be able to perform all Yahweh’s desire apart from agreement with Him.
This is why the first item of the Christian soldier’s outfit to be named is the
belt of truth. This is our starting point in our warfare. We must agree with God
concerning those things to which we are enslaved.

The Breastplate of Righteousness

The Greek word that the apostle uses here, which has been rendered as
righteousness, is dikaiosune (dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay). Strong’s Concordance defines
this word as “equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification.”
According to the 1933 edition of Webster’s Dictionary that I have on my
desk, the word equity is defined as: “the administration of law according to its
spirit, and not according to the letter.”
This symbol of a breastplate of righteousness that covers the heart of a man
is filled with insight. Where did God say that He would write His law in the days
when He established a new covenant with mankind?

Jeremiah 31:33
"But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after
those days," declares Yahweh, "I will put My law within them and on their
heart I will write it...”

This same concept is expressed by the apostle Paul in his letter to the church
at Corinth.

Romans 7:22
For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man...

Another way to phrase this is, “I joyfully concur with the rule of God in the
inner man.” Indeed, this is the definition of the Kingdom of God being established
within our being. When God is ruling over all of our parts, then the Kingdom of
God will be established in us. The breastplate of righteousness signifies this rule of
God over the heart of man.
The administration, or the carrying out of the law of God within us, must be
according to the spirit of God’s law, and not the letter. This is the definition of
righteousness, it is equity of act and character. It is important that we understand
the breastplate of righteousness in this manner. The Pharisees claimed to be
keeping the law of God, but they were deceived. They focused on the letter of the
law, and by their deceptive interpretations they ended up nullifying the intentions
of God. The spirit of the Law was violated.
Deception regarding what it means to have fulfilled the righteousness of God
is a great danger for the saint in this hour as well. Many hold to the letter of the
Law, but they have fallen far short of the spirit of it. They have not arrived at
Yahweh’s desire for them. The sermon on the mount provides numerous
illustrations of such shortfalls. Yahshua said: