The PRIMARY WEAPON take home sheet
The PRIMARY WEAPON The SHIELD of FAITH
“…above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.”
This weapon is defensive.This weapon is our chief defense. This weapon will shield us from the evil the enemy tries to thrown at us. It is really important that we know how to use it. We must keep it ready at all times because the enemy will attack us when we least expect it. Keep it on your arm so that when you see or hear the flaming arrows coming at you, you can deflect them.
The arrows of the enemy are hurtful and murderous. He wants to quench the faith of the Christian by firing firey darts at their hearts. These darts are fear, sorrow, doubt, lies, blame…
Dart of fear: “you will not make it to the end of the journey, because I am too strong for you…”
FAITH: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper…” Isaiah 54:17
Dart of sorrow: “Your sins are not forgiven because Jesus does not love you and He didn’t die for you…”
FAITH: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 “No one who comes to me will I will in no away throw out..” John 6:37
Dart of doubt: “You are too weak. You are not good enough. The Bible isn’t true anyway…”
“God has forgotten you and left you…”
FAITH: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
“Your word is truth.” John 17:17
“I will never leave you or forsake you…” Hebrews 13:5
Dart of lies: “You have done too many sins and God won’t forgive you.” “God is just spoiling your fun.”
FAITH: “wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross..” Colossians 2:14
“The Lord gives strength to His people and blesses them with peace.” Psalm 29:11
Dart of Blame: “Everything is your fault, because you are a failure.” “God loves other people but not you…”
“ you have missed your chance to be a Christian and now its too late…”
FAITH: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
“God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 2:6
Dart of temptation: “You really want this.. just give in..” “everyone else has one..” “This is a good thing to do…” “If you do this it will make you popular…”
“you have sinned too much and there’s no forgiveness” “God doesn’t really love you… He just tries to spoil your fun..”
FAITH: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
“Keep watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation.” Matthew 26:41
“Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.”James 4:7
These scriptures will protect you from many of the firey dats of the evil one. We recite them when under fire, and our faith raises the shield of beleiving these words and that is what protects us and comforts us in trouble. There are many more to learn and as you grow in the confidence that God is with you, He will help you to want the right things.
The Christian fails under temptation because they don’t trust God, and don’t use the shield of faith.
We fail because often we don’t want to resist the temptation and we give in.
No one has to give in, because God has promised to give us the strength to walk away from the evil and wrong things. I you keep walking away, it gets easier. You start to realize…
GOD IS WITH ME…!!
You start to see how great it is to have His company, and you will not do anything that would grieve the Holy Spirit and cause Him to be silent in your life.
God’s way is a way of sacrifice. It is a very testing way to walk… JESUS said…
“He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, isn’t worthy of me. He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39
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