Sundays March 4th – 25th

Swords & shields!

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 2 Corinthians 10:3 NKJV

The Full Armor of God 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. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Ephesians 6:13-17 NKJV

…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Sharpen Your Sword …the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. A Roman Soldier’s sword was the most expressive part of his armor. This is what he used to attack the enemy, as well as to defend himself.

Keep God’s Word as TOP PRIORITY! “But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4 NLT Don’t allow life’s important issues to distract you from the most critical matters of life.

When pressure hits, God’s Word is the only guaranteed solution! “The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 MSG

Keep a Strong Shield “… above [over] all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” A Roman Soldier’s shield was the size of a small door that was made of light wood or a rim of brass and covered with several layers of hide. It was meticulously cared for: regularly polished and rubbed with oil so that arrows and darts would easily glance off of it. This was protection for the entire body as it could be turned in any direction.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV Our faith in God’s love to us and His commitment to bring about good for us is the first line of defense in spiritual warfare. If we can be deceived to think that somehow God is the one either responsible for our challenges/hardships in life or He is just negligent in stopping them, we are already wounded and on the verge of suffering a great defeat.

Take good care of your Shield Feed your faith with the Word of God Stretch your faith in Prayer & Worship Exercise your faith in Service to others