Shield of faith.

Welcome knights. I would like to welcome and thank all of the new followers. I hope our Great God and King blesses you beyond your wildest dreams according to His riches in heaven.

Today we will learn about our next piece of amour. The shield of faith.

 [16] In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

(Ephesians 6:16 ESV)

Notice knights that it says “take up”. The words take up imply that you can choose to try to go into this battle without it. How far into this battle do you think you will get before taking a mortal wound if you do not have your shield to block the majority of the attacks the dragon will throw at you? We must take up this important defensive tool and use it the way our King instructs if we are to make it through till the end.

FAITH: [11:1] Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

(Hebrews 11:1 ESV)

Knights, I draw your attention to two words. Assurance and conviction. Faith is not wishful or hopeful thinking! The dragon will lie to you and whisper in your ear “that sounds nice but how can I believe that without seeing it or touching it?” We are to be assured and convicted that what our King has told us it true whether we can see it right now or not. We are not wishing for a better day tomorrow, we know that our King is on the throne and will return to take us to Himself when the time is right!

How are we supposed to gain this faith that we are to use as a shield? Once again it is the free gift of our King to prepare us for the battle before us. The King has provided a way for us to increase in faith and make our shield larger. Look to the words of our fellow knight Paul,

 [17] So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

(Romans 10:17 ESV)

Do not be lied to into thinking that you can fight this battle alone with out a band of brothers and sisters to strengthen you. The King has made us to rely on one another and learn from one another. If you do not have a band of kingdom residents to support you, I encourage you to find a body of believers in your area to worship with, learn from and hear the words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. If you are having a problem finding one, please contact me or someone you know is a believer in your area and we will be happy to get you hooked up with a local body.

I bring one precaution to you knights. We no longer live by the law but by faith. You will be lied to and our brother James’ words will be misrepresented to you. James says:

[26] For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

(James 2:26 ESV)

Works do not lead to faith or salvation! Paul tells us:

[28] For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

(Romans 3:28 ESV)

We are justified by faith and saved by faith. The Kings decrees even tell us that the faith by which we are saved is not even of our own so that no one can boast. How can these two verses both be true? Did our King make a mistake? No! The Word of our King stands true. Work does not save, justify or give us faith, that only comes from the King, but because of our true and genuine faith we do good works which is an outward expression of what our King has done for us on the inside. Continue with your good works knights out of a spirit of love and a grateful servant’s heart in honor to our King, not because you think it will gain you anything because it won’t.

“King and Father, I lift up your knights to you this day and ask your guidance and strength for each of them. Lead them to the place in Your kingdom where they will be feed and encouraged and grow in faith by hearing your word. Father, give to each of them the faith they need to be more than over comers in the battles they have ahead of them. Thank You for Your grace, mercy and love great King. May Your will be done here as you would have it done in your kingdom. Amen”

Please remember to pray for our brother Brendon and his family as his father fights cancer and keep each other in prayer. God bless you all.