Nov 14, 2021 - The Armor of God (The Shield of Faith))

Ephesians  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  52:26
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As we continue today - making our way through the book of Ephesians...
Specifically through chapter 6 and the Armor of God that we’re called to ADORN ourselves with...
We COME today - to the 4th piece of Armor that will help us in the battle we face - against our TRUE enemy...
the Spiritual forces of evil at work in this world...
So far, we’ve seen that we’re called to adorn ourselves with...
The Belt of Truth (God’s truth)
The Breastplate of Righteousness (God’s righteousness)
The Shoes of Gospel Readiness (taking the Gospel of Peace to the world)
And what we’ve seen building - is really the BLUEPRINT - the model - of Jesus Christ Himself...
Paul says.... PUT ON...
The TRUTH of Jesus
The Righteousness of Jesus
The WILLINGNESS of Jesus to GO to the World to SAVE sinners...
Like we’re constructing a - SUPERHERO...
TODAY - we see the next piece of Armor to PUT ON...
Ephesians 6:13–16 ESV
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 firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
What I want to do today - is to dive into this next piece of Armor - The Shield of Faith...
And so let’s lay out how we’ll approach today...
First - we’ll get into what FAITH IS...
AND then - we’ll close by staying in CONTEXT here in v16 - and looking at how OUR FAITH - as a SHIELD (defensive weapon) extinguishes the flaming darts of the evil one...
So first things first… If we’re called to adorn ourselves with the Shield of Faith...
we should 1st know what FAITH is...
A nationwide poll was taken in the United States on religious questions. When asked whether they believed in God, 95 percent of those polled answered “yes.” When asked whether religion in any way affected their politics and their business, 54 percent said “no.” They had a belief, but they did not have a directing faith. Faith is action. Faith encompasses the entire spectrum of life’s encounters and experiences.
it seems that the more we try to handle this thing called "faith", the more we struggle holding onto it.
What do I mean?
Let’s do a thought experiment...
When we think about the difference between a BELIEVER and an UNBELIEVER...
We would say..
an UNBELIEVER - does NOT believe in Christ (that He existed, was God, died for sins, etc..)
And...
a BELIEVER believes what?
• Jesus is the Son of God
• Sin deserves punishment
• Judgment is coming
• Jesus is the judge
• Jesus has authority over life
Is that fair to say?
Ok, let’s look at scripture to test this...
Matthew 8:29–31 ESV
29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.”
• So - here we see demons speaking to Jesus.
• Looking at these verses, let's see what demons believe:
1. That Jesus is the Son of God
2. That sin is punishable - they expected to be punished (have You come here to torment us...)
3. They believe that judgment is coming at an appointed time
4. That Jesus is the judge
5. That Jesus had authority over them (begged Him...send us away into the herd of pigs)
• So we look at that list and think, "Wellll - yeah, they had faith".
• Well, NO clearly they didn't. We know they didn't.
• So how do we handle this?
• See believing all of these things comes with faith, BUT "faith" is more than that.
- So you’ve all come in here today believing that Jesus is the Son of God.
- You’ve all come in today believing that sin deserves punishment, that judgment is coming, that Jesus is the judge, and that Jesus has authority over life.
- But Faith is more than that.
- Do you have faith?
• We're going to go to Hebrews chapter 11 to see what "faith" is - - BEFORE we look at FAITH as a SHIELD!
First thing…what does Romans 14:23 say
Romans 14:23 ESV
23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
So THAT MEANS - if your belief does not proceed from "faith"....it's sin.....it’s a damning belief.
Let’s go to Hebrews 11
Hebrews 11:1–3 ESV
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
These 3 verses basically summarize what true biblical "faith" is:
- Substance (assurance)
- Evidence (conviction)
- Witness
It’s ALL 3 - and Hebrews 11 goes on to show us DEMONSTRATIONS of faith…
It just DESCRIBED IT - and now Demonstrations OF it...
Let’s look at characteristics of FAITH now...
SLIDE: Faith Worships God Alone

Faith Worships God Alone

Hebrews 11:4 ESV
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
• The background of this story of Cain and Abel is found in Genesis 4.
• Abel was a righteous man because of "faith".
• God had revealed to Adam and his descendants the true way to worship, and Abel obeyed what God wanted, and how He wanted it, by faith.
• Abel made a better sacrifice than Cain, and his sacrifice was accepted.
TRUE Faith - worships God alone!
Abel didn’t KEEP BACK for himself - the best of his offering...
WHY?
Because TRUE Faith - doesn’t worship SELF...
Faith worships GOD alone!!
Not only that - but...
SLIDE: Faith Seeks God Alone

Faith Seeks God Alone

Hebrews 11:5–6 ESV
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
• Our faith in God grows as we fellowship with Him, seeking after Him.
• Do you desire to please God?
• Are you diligent in your seeking after Him?
• Do the decisions you make reflect an attitude of "I've gotta have HIM!!" - "I want more of Him!!"
• There's Bible Study tonight?
Where?
What time?
I'm there!
• Where there's a lack of diligence, there's a lack of "faith".
• Where "faith" seeks after God alone, unbelief chases its own tail.
• Faith will search for God in all situations and circumstances...
• ...Unbelief will search for solutions, remedies, and outcomes outside of God….and then when those don’t work, it’s back to unbelief…
- which starts the cycle all over again.
• ...and that is a futile pursuit.
• Enoch sought after God. He walked with Him, and he pleased God.
• AND so - where Abel's faithful obedience lead to a voilent death / Enoch's faithful obedience lead to him bypassing death
EITHER way - they had FAITH - and in HAVING true faith - they had God!
Not only does Faith:
Worship God Alone
Seek God alone
SLIDE: Faith Works

Faith Works

Hebrews 11:7 ESV
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
• From this verse we can see the 3 elements of "faith" that we talked about: (Assurance, Evidence, Witness)
• Noah's confidence (ASSURANCE) in the salvation of his household was rooted in the "conviction" that God would do what He said He would do - bring the rain...
• ...And God gave witness to Moses through the salvation of his household.
• Does this sound familiar?
Compare it with this verse...
James 2:17 ESV
17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Thats why we KNOW - Faith WORKS!!
Pulling On Both Oars
An old Scotsman operated a little rowboat for transporting passengers. One day a passenger noticed that the good old man had carved on one oar the word “Faith,” and on the other oar the word “Works.” Curiosity led him to ask the meaning of this. The old man, being a well-balanced Christian and glad of the opportunity for testimony, said, “I will show you.”
So saying, he dropped one oar and plied the other called Works, and they just went around in circles. Then he dropped that oar and began to ply the oar called Faith, and the little boat just went around in circles again—this time the other way around, but still in a circle.
After this demonstration the old man picked up Faith and Works and plying both oars together, sped swiftly over the water, explaining to his inquiring passenger, “You see, that is the way it is in the Christian life. Dead works without faith are useless, and “faith without works is dead” also, getting you nowhere. But faith and works pulling together make for safety, progress, and blessing.”
So not only does FAITH:
Worship God ALone
Seek God Alone
Work
SLIDE: Faith Waits on the Lord

Faith Waits on the Lord

Hebrews 11:8–10 ESV
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
So by faith, Abraham obeyed, going out, not knowing where he was going.
• ...and so similar to Peter out on the water, Abraham's faith supported him, held him up as he went.
• His "assurance" of the blessings of God...
• ...was rooted in the "Conviction" that God would fulfill His promises.
• He heads out, and waits on the Lord.
Hebrews 11:11–12 ESV
11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
• So God promises Abraham and Sarah a son (even though they were too old), but even then they had to wait 25 years for that promise to come to pass.
• Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. Do you think maybe father and son wore diapers?
• Waiting on the Lord is probably the hardest thing we have to do as Christians.
• Why?
• Because with our belief, a lot of times there's unbelief.
• Mark Chapter 9 tells us of a story of a young boy who is demon possessed, and the boys father comes to Christ and asks Him to help him.
Mark 9:22–24 ESV
22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
• How many times could we have spoken those same words?
And so - FAITH:
Worships God Alone
Seeks God Alone
Works
Waits on the Lord
• But if we go back to verse 9 in Heb 11, it shows us that:
SLIDE: Faith Holds Possessions Loosely

Faith Holds Possessions Loosely

• God decides what house you live in, not you. God decides what kind of car you drive, not you.
• Now that can only be true in your life, if you are living by faith.
• If you're not living by faith, then you yourself decided what house you're gonna live in, and what car you're gonna drive...what job you're going to have.
• So let's apply this back to Abraham:
• God calls Abraham to go out.
• At this point, Abraham doesn't say, "well, i have this nice house here, so God must have meant, go travel for a couple days, and then return to your nice surroundings."
• Abraham doesn't take inventory, and then try to figure out a way to have his cake and eat it too.
• He simply obeys...confident in his convictions that God will sustain him.
• He shows God - Here's my life, here's a blank check, do what You will!
And there’s a BATTLE there right?
Let’s face it - the American Dream battles against that thought!
And DEEPER than that - our FLESH battles against that!
WHICH MEANS...
SLIDE: Faith Wars Against the Flesh

Faith Wars Against the Flesh

The FLESH - DOES NOT desire to say - Here’s my life - a blank check - do what YOU will!
Hebrews 11:23–26 ESV
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
• Moses chose to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.
• Is that easy?
• Is it easy to forgo what the world dangles in front of us? No it's not...because of our flesh.
• We often want to blame the world for our problems....
• We'll say - "this world is trying to destroy our kids"...NO....
• ...our kids are trying to destroy our kids....sin is trying to destroy our kids....their flesh is trying to destroy them.
• ...AND where faith wars against the flesh, unbelief tries to tame it.
See - the FLESH wants us to HATE GOD!
The flesh wants us to WORSHIP SELF....to DELIGHT in self!
But we need to know:
SLIDE: Faith Delights in the Lord

Faith Delights in the Lord

If we go back to verses 25-26, we see this..
Hebrews 11:25–26 ESV
25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
Moses’ joy - rooted in GOD - and NOT in the pleasures of sin!
And BECAUSE JOY in GOD - IS the fight of the faith....
SLIDE: Faith is Fearless

Faith is Fearless

Hebrews 11:27–29 ESV
27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.
What happens here?
Moses didn’t fear what was seen (pharoah, the red sea), but instead - pursued what was unseen.
Fearless!!
Not only that...
SLIDE: Faith is Victorious

Faith is Victorious

In Hebrews 11:32-40
We see that Faith is - VICTORIOUS!
By faith men and women of old conquered kingdoms,
performed acts of righteousness
obtained promises
shut the mouths of lions
quenched the power of fire
escaped the edge of the sword
from weakness were made strong
became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight.
• Nowhere in chapter 11 of Hebrews do we read about the MANY failures of Israel....you know why?
• ...because those failures were a result of 'unbelief'.
• See Faith is Always victorious....either in this life or the next.
• God doesn't always show us the victory, and He didn't for many of the people mentioned in chapter 11...
• ..but they did ULTIMATELY receive the promise of reward.
THIS is what FAITH IS!
SLIDE:
FAITH WAITS ON THE LORD
FAITH SEEKS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORSHIPS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORKS
FAITH HOLDS POSSESSIONS LOOSELY
FAITH IS FEARLESS
FAITH WARS AGAINST THE FLESH
FAITH DELIGHTS IN THE LORD
FAITH IS VICTORIOUS
And so when thinking about our call TODAY...
To ADORN ourselves with the SHIELD of FAITH...
Let’s go back to our text...
Ephesians 6:16 ESV
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Back to our list...
SLIDE:
FAITH WAITS ON THE LORD
FAITH SEEKS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORSHIPS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORKS
FAITH HOLDS POSSESSIONS LOOSELY
FAITH IS FEARLESS
FAITH WARS AGAINST THE FLESH
FAITH DELIGHTS IN THE LORD
FAITH IS VICTORIOUS
How do THESE things - extinguish the flaming darts of the evil one??
How does FAITH - SHIELD us from the evil of this world!!
If we were to look at just one example of FAITH in the Bible....we’d see all of THESE THINGS play out...
Let’s go and look at an example and then come right back to this list...
Matthew 14:25–31 ESV
25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Ok - so we GOT the story....
First thing - we KNOW this story is about FAITH…because of what this last verse says...
Peter began to sink - and Jesus lets us know WHY...
“Oh ye of LITTLE FAITH, why do you doubt?”
SO - this is all about FAITH...
Back to our list...
SLIDE:
FAITH WAITS ON THE LORD
FAITH SEEKS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORSHIPS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORKS
FAITH HOLDS POSSESSIONS LOOSELY
FAITH IS FEARLESS
FAITH WARS AGAINST THE FLESH
FAITH DELIGHTS IN THE LORD
FAITH IS VICTORIOUS
IN v28, Peter said - LORD, if it is you, command me to come to You on the water!”
And so what’s Peter doing here?
FAITH WAITS ON THE LORD
FAITH SEEKS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORSHIPS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORKS
FAITH HOLDS POSSESSIONS LOOSELY
FAITH IS FEARLESS
FAITH WARS AGAINST THE FLESH
FAITH DELIGHTS IN THE LORD
FAITH IS VICTORIOUS
He’s waiting on the Lord!
NOW - Peter often DIDN’T wait on the Lord...
Often - Peter got out AHEAD of the Lord...
BUT - in this case - he waited on the Lord!
AND SO - what we need to know is - THE SHIELD of FAITH - will PROTECT US FROM the OPPOSITE of these things!
The Shield of Faith: Protects us From Seeking Control
Faith - SHIELDED Peter from TAKING the WHEEL!
Faith WAITS on the Lord!
He wasn’t going to RUSH out onto the water…without first WAITING to hear specifically from Jesus!
What happens -
Jesus says - COME...
And so = Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water - and CAME to Jesus!
Why?
FAITH WAITS ON THE LORD
FAITH SEEKS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORSHIPS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORKS
FAITH HOLDS POSSESSIONS LOOSELY
FAITH IS FEARLESS
FAITH WARS AGAINST THE FLESH
FAITH DELIGHTS IN THE LORD
FAITH IS VICTORIOUS
Faith Seeks God alone!!
AND SO -
THAT MEANS - The Shield of Faith: Protects us From Seeking Self as Our Highest Treasure
On the water - Peter SOUGHT JESUS!
AND SO - Faith - SHIELDS us from the FLAMING DART - of putting ourselves on the THRONE!
Which ties right into a similar point....
FAITH WAITS ON THE LORD
FAITH SEEKS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORSHIPS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORKS
FAITH HOLDS POSSESSIONS LOOSELY
FAITH IS FEARLESS
FAITH WARS AGAINST THE FLESH
FAITH DELIGHTS IN THE LORD
FAITH IS VICTORIOUS
WHICH MEANS - The Shield of Faith - Protects Us From Worshipping Self
Peter - in walking on the water - was WORSHIPPING God alone!!
Peter wasn’t bowing down to HIMSELF on the throne!
He worshipped God ALONE!!
Not only that - but He got out ONTO the water…WHY?
BECAUSE:
FAITH WAITS ON THE LORD
FAITH SEEKS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORSHIPS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORKS
FAITH HOLDS POSSESSIONS LOOSELY
FAITH IS FEARLESS
FAITH WARS AGAINST THE FLESH
FAITH DELIGHTS IN THE LORD
FAITH IS VICTORIOUS
Faith WORKS!
That’s what FAITH does!
AND SO:
THAT MEANS - The Shield of Faith: Protects us From Deceiving Ourselves
What do I mean?
James 1:22 ESV
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Christian works - CALLED FRUIT - proves God is feeding the ROOT
Our fruits DISPLAY our faith...
As we said earlier - FAITH - itself - witnesses of Jesus Christ!!
AND - in walking on the water - we also know THIS...
FAITH WAITS ON THE LORD
FAITH SEEKS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORSHIPS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORKS
FAITH HOLDS POSSESSIONS LOOSELY
FAITH IS FEARLESS
FAITH WARS AGAINST THE FLESH
FAITH DELIGHTS IN THE LORD
FAITH IS VICTORIOUS
WHICH MEANS - The Shield of Faith: Protects Us From Idolizing Creation
When Peter got out of that boat - was he HOLDING his possessions TIGHTLY?
NO - Peter was holding his possessions LOOSELY!!
How do we know?
Because when you decide to step out ONTO STORMY SEAS - AT NIGHT...
You ARE - in that MOMENT - holding your possessions LOOSELY!!
EVEN his OWN life!
And SO then THAT MEANS - - to be so DRAWN as to step out onto the HIGH - STORMY WAVES…at NIGHT....
we see that -
FAITH WAITS ON THE LORD
FAITH SEEKS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORSHIPS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORKS
FAITH HOLDS POSSESSIONS LOOSELY
FAITH IS FEARLESS
FAITH WARS AGAINST THE FLESH
FAITH DELIGHTS IN THE LORD
FAITH IS VICTORIOUS
FAITH is FEARLESS!
Which MEANS - The Shield of Faith: Protects us From Seeking Our Comfort Over God’s Command
FAITH - STEPPED OUT of that BOAT that night!!
It’s FEARLESS!!!
Peter wasn’t seeking COMFORT...
He was SEEKING - Jesus! - who IS our comfort!
Do you GET IT!??
SOOO many people place their PILLOWS on the mountain tops of this world...
THAT’s where they = REST
That’s NOT where Peter was resting that night!
NO - he was resting OUT ON THE CHAOS
He found REST - out where it was SEEMINGLY scary! ON the WAVES
HOW?
Because Faith RESTS in Jesus - not circumstances!! Faith is FEARLESS!
And so - the SHIELD of Faith - protects us from resting in circumstances…from Seeking OUR comfort over God’s command!
And BECAUSE that’s TRUE...
FAITH WAITS ON THE LORD
FAITH SEEKS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORSHIPS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORKS
FAITH HOLDS POSSESSIONS LOOSELY
FAITH IS FEARLESS
FAITH WARS AGAINST THE FLESH
FAITH DELIGHTS IN THE LORD
FAITH IS VICTORIOUS
Faith WARS against the FLESH!
Why?
Because our FLESH - SEEKS OUR OWN COMFORT - OVER - God’s command!
And so the BATTLE ensues!
There’s a FIGHT - And when OUR COMFORT is ATTACKED - The SHIELD of Faith - goes to work!
WHY?
Because the flaming darts of the Evil one - WANT US to - HATE GOD!!
The BATTLE ensues!
Why?
FAITH WAITS ON THE LORD
FAITH SEEKS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORSHIPS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORKS
FAITH HOLDS POSSESSIONS LOOSELY
FAITH IS FEARLESS
FAITH WARS AGAINST THE FLESH
FAITH DELIGHTS IN THE LORD
FAITH IS VICTORIOUS
Faith DELIGHTS in the LORD!
Faith does’t Hate God!
Which Means - the Shield of Faith - Protects Us From Hating God!
- We all this week - have LITERALLY seen - THIS FAITH - play itself out in the lives of our very own here at AFBC...
I spoke with JONI yesterday - and to SEE God at work...
to SEE His strength on display in such a PROFOUND way...
Even for us who BELIEVE - we’re just AMAZED...
We continue to pray - for SUSTAINED strength…and joy IN GOD
When Peter got out of that boat - He did so - FOR THE JOY set before Him...
His delight was in - Christ!
And so - for the Glory of God - and for Peter’s JOY - he made his way out to Jesus!
In that moment - his joy in Christ superceded his joy in his possessions...
in his family
in his favorite food / favorite hobby
in his job
in money
in his life
And it’s something we KNOW to be true because when Jesus Christ - becomes our highest DELIGHT...
We GAIN - Christ!
AND SO...
FAITH WAITS ON THE LORD
FAITH SEEKS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORSHIPS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORKS
FAITH HOLDS POSSESSIONS LOOSELY
FAITH IS FEARLESS
FAITH WARS AGAINST THE FLESH
FAITH DELIGHTS IN THE LORD
FAITH IS VICTORIOUS
WHICH MEANS - the Shield of Faith: Protects us from Defeat
Now you might be thinking - WAIT - didn’t Peter sink in the water?
Yes - but let’s go to it...
Matthew 14:29–31 ESV
29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
So yes - Peter did sink - why?
His FAITH wained!
His faith - DOUBTED!
And so - in this world - there will be times we DO sink!
Times we DO doubt!
BUT - Ultimately what happened?
Peter cried out - Lord SAVE me!!
And Christ did what? - -
Ultimately - Peter was - VICTORIOUS!
…IN CHRIST!
The Shield of Faith: Protects us from Defeat!
This is what Faith does
FAITH WAITS ON THE LORD
FAITH SEEKS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORSHIPS GOD ALONE
FAITH WORKS
FAITH HOLDS POSSESSIONS LOOSELY
FAITH IS FEARLESS
FAITH WARS AGAINST THE FLESH
FAITH DELIGHTS IN THE LORD
FAITH IS VICTORIOUS
THEREFORE - Adorn yourself with the Shield of Faith...
in order to battle the Spiritual forces at work in this world - at work in your life
Adorn yourself with the Shield of Faith...
For His glory and for your joy...
AMEN
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