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Taking Warfare to the Streets IV
Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Paul uses a Roman soldier to illustrate the Armor of God, and if the soldiers where going to battle they had big shields (4 ½ feet tall and 2 ½ feet wide). The soldiers walked in lines and the first line holding up the shield and it became one big barrier, one big wall. The shield was firmly protected for the incoming flaming arrows of the enemy. Everyone behind that shield was pretty save. A single shield is not a good protection for the people behind, that’s why they lined up. This is also why we need the church. The church is like a hospital, there you get healing, rest and preparation for the battle you’re going into.
But what is faith?
Faith means taking trust with a risk
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
New King James says: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen
Substance means reality. Faith is the exact representation of things we hoped for, the proof of things not seen, or faith is living as if the things we hoping in is reality. That is faith.
It is saying that I am going to trust God and I am going to walk this way, I am going to look this way, I am going to talk this way, I am going to do whatever it takes to line up with my confession in what I trust in!
It does not mean that you should never talk about that you are for example sick or ill. This is something natural that we are living in. But faith is saying I am going to look for the healing which I believe it is from God, to get rid of my natural sickness and I am going to walk forward in faith that I am healed in Jesus name! That is what faith is all about. But do not deny reality. If you brake your arm, don’t say I’m fine. Don’t deny reality but live above the reality in the natural. The only reality is the spiritual reality! Faith is living as if it’s what you hope for is reality. God promised the land he showed to Abraham. Abraham didn’t say: Hé, God, there are people living on my land, let’s drive them out” But he lived with the people as a good neighbor and he protected the people if it was his land, because the land was his in a spiritual way. Living the promises as reality, knowing that in that way it will become reality. You see what God is doing, and you life in that way, God does something with it.
It does not mean that you do not have to be prepared, because you have the faith. If you don’t know Gods call and you don’t have the armor of God mentioned before, you will go in your faith the wrong direction. What is the vision that God has for you and how do you live your vision by walking in faith?
Matthew 21:20-22 I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
Faith is a very powerful thing and a very affective shield. But what does the fig tree represent. The fig tree is everything that comes against us. The flaming arrows. Why cursed Jesus the tree, because it was not the season to bear fruit. Sometimes trees bear fruit out the season, and this tree looked that it has fruits but it misled everyone because of it’s leaves. The tree was a hypocrite. God give us the authority to curse that, not cursing people but cursing the attacks of the enemy (Satan).
John 14:12-14 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Mark 9:22-24 “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boys father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Flaming arrows are for example these thoughts in your mind: does God really love me?, do I do enough for God?, you can’t do anything to get in His favor!, you can’t do what He did!
Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteous that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “the righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 8:1 Therefor, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Exercise your faith by reading Gods Word.
Romans 10:14-17How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
