…aha moments
This morning in church I had two “aha” moments. One was about the fiery darts that the shield of faith quenches. The fiery darts are the doubts, fears and “oh-nos” that seem to come from our own minds. Sometimes, the enemy uses another human, often a friend, to cause us to question our abilities, our decisions, and our very faith. Those are fiery darts! So, how does the shield of faith quench those darts?
It is my strong opinion that the first step in acquiring such a shield is to know what faith is. Many people would immediately go to Hebrews 11:1, which says, “…faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” I can understand that we can’t always see what God is doing and so we must just believe what God has said. I think verse 6 is a much clearer definition of what faith is, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” In other words, faith is believing that what God has said He will do, He will do! Next, you must know what God has said He will do. That requires some prayerful reading - a little conversation between you and the Almighty! Then, just believe what He has said!! When those fiery darts come, put up that shield with a determined, “That is not what God says. He says….”
My other “aha” moment was about the “ites” and “isms.” In the Old Testament the whole world was full of gods. Every people group had their own god or gods whom they worshipped in various ways. The land of Canaan, which God had promised to Abraham, was filled with not only the Canaanites, but also the Perizzites, Horites, Amorites, Hittites, Moabites, etc. Each of these people groups had their own set of gods. The children of Abraham were to be the means by which God eradicated all those people and there gods who were such an affront to Him. They failed and became living proof that bad company corrupts good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33). Our current day “isms” hate God and Christianity and desire that we be “tolerant” and “inclusive.” And if we give in to the pressure of the world, we will be no better than the failed nation of Israel in the Old Testament.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13)