Protected with Faith
February 11/12, 2023
Daniel Im

Your Faith Will Grow:

1. In every situation
· “The church concentrating on the 4,000 hours, seems to have made spirituality into a leisure-time, discretionary-time involvement when the workday is over. But true spirituality is more subversive than that. It sneaks into the center of our lives, compelling us to find God in the down-to-earth rather than the up-in-heaven.” - R. Paul Stephens
· In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16 CSB)
· Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2 CSB)

2. Behind the shield of faith
· In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16 CSB)
· God and Shields in the Bible:
o God is our shield (Genesis 15:1; Psalm 18:2; Isaiah 58:8)
o God is our protector (Psalm 12:7; 32:10)
o God is our refuge (Psalm 144:2; 119:114)
o God is our help and strength (Psalm 28:7; Deuteronomy 33:29)
o God is faithful (Psalm 91:4)
o God gives us victory (Psalm 18:35)
o God shows us favour (Psalm 5:12; 84:9-11)
o (Adapted from: Dictionary of Bible Themes by Martin H. Manser)

3. By extinguishing the flaming arrows
· Contemporary cathedrals/temptations:
o Blue-Dome Cathedrals
o The Cathedral Market
o The Cathedral Mall
o Cathedral of Sports
o Cathedrals of Experience
o The Cathedral Celebrity
o The Corporate Cathedral
o The Cathedral Kitchen
o The Cathedral of Self
o (List from Leonard Sweet)
· In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16 CSB)
· “Faith lays hold of the promises of God in times of doubt and depression, and faith lays hold of the power of God in times of temptation.” - John Stott
· No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 CSB)