The Shield

The Shield of Faith

Ephesians 6:16 “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

What Is A Shield?

The shield has been around for thousands of years.

Evolves with technology

Still used today SWAT

Provides the ultimate protection

Just like the roman shields interlocked to cover all sides

So to does the interlocking of our faith.

What Is Faith?

Isa

Faith- when you……..have trust in something or yourself that. Knowing without knowing.

Nina

Faith- confidence and trust in someone or God with things unseen or uncertain that it will be ok.

Ella

Faith- I guess the Faith that goes to our church.

Des

Faith- Believing that as a believer, no matter what the circumstances are, God has my/our good in mind and His plan is perfect. Whether I see it or not.

Tori

Faith- Trusting in God and believing in his promises even when I can’t see the outcome. Believing that He has a purpose for my life and that He’s working things out for my good, even in the tough times.

Leilah

Faith- believing that something can happen

Heidi

Faith- The belief that everything works out as it should because God said it would.

Byron

Faith- faith is spiritual and for me to comprehend faith, I convert it to the physical, which is truth. Like gravity, you know it’s true.

Outside of Ella the answers are basically the same.

They are great answers they are for the longest time the same answer I would give.

But they are all missing something.......

The work!

Peter Walks On Water

Matthew 14:22–33 “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And…”

Peter didn’t just believe it was Jesus. He said tell me to move. He took action.

He literally stepped out in faith and did something impossible without Jesus’ power.

James 2:26 “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

The shield is protection, yes

But it is also meant to be moved.

The shield protects while you advance.

Roman soldiers mainly carried the short sword about 3 feet long.

The shield provided protection to close the distance.

But they HAD to move.

I think we miss this.

I believe God can do this.

Awesome! I believe with you.

What are we doing?

What action?

Church plant

God revealed this to me.

I have been looking for instruction

Looking for guidance

God what do you want me to do?

Where do you want me to go.

When we started this journey God showed Nina and I both that this was where we needed to plant.

We worked on His timeline.

We were led to this location.

Beyond that.......NOTHING!

But He showed me through this sermon that it’s not always waiting for His orders

Sometimes it’s moving forward shield in hand believing that He’s got me.

I believe that a lot of times God just needs us to move.

Step off that boat into the storm

It is a symbiotic relationship.

To move forward I need to trust

But I build trust by moving forward and realizing that my shield will hold.

Closing

It’s time to move.

So often we want to take the easy way and just have God do it.

How awesome would it be if I didn’t have to put forth any effort?

I can promise you that Nina and Isa would breathe a sigh of relief if I said we will never do set up again.

Do we need to?

I guess not, but this is the work that I am attaching to my faith.

So much of what we do does not seem to have a major impact but it’s the work we attach to our faith.

Believing God can and will is half the battle. We gotta go to work too.

Alter

Guests present:

If there is anyone here who can say I haven’t even taken the first step in faith.

I have not confessed that Jesus died for me and accepted Him as your savior please come.

No guests:

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