Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11:1

Worship Devo with Rebeckah Hastings

Dive Deeper

Armor of God- Swipe
Slide

“Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1

Armor of God- Behind the Scenes
Slide

This week, we’re talking about the shield of faith. The Bible tells us in Ephesians that this shield is given to us to extinguish the flaming arrows of the enemy. When we look back at warfare practices of the time, we see that a common tactic that armies would use was to shoot flaming arrows into the opposing army. These arrows, often dipped in pitch or other extremely flammable materials, were not necessarily meant to harm the soldiers, but more to distract them. Instead of causing bodily injury to just one person, the arrows would lodge in the ground, on trees, and even into people, setting a fire that spread quickly through the entire army. The soldiers, distracted by the flames rising around them would drop their guard to put out the flames, making themselves more susceptible to greater attack and more easily ambushed.

Slide

Likewise, our enemy loves to shoot flaming arrows into our lives, not necessarily to kill us or even to wound us. No, he has learned that it is far more effective to distract us, to cause us to be running around in circles, distracted from the real fight and with our eyes fixed on the flames. He knows that we will spend much more time putting out a fire than tending to a wound. He knows that the pain of a wound will often draw us more fervently into battle. Whereas the distraction of a flame will pull our eyes off the real fight.

Slide

And even more, he knows that we are much more likely to bring others into our flames, drawing their attention from the battle, and occupying their focus as well. Instead of just taking one of us out, he can effectively derail an entire army, a whole group, a whole department at work, a whole church, with just one flaming arrow. One distraction, one addiction, one entitlement, one sexual scandal, one argument, one financial crisis... just one arrow and entire groups of people are taken out of the fight and rendered useless for the actual cause.

Slide

So, what do we do? We put up our shield of faith. This shield is big enough to completely protect us. It is strong enough to withstand the blow of the arrow and also uniquely made to put out its flames on contact. It is also designed to be interconnected with the shields of our fellow soldiers, linking their faith with ours so we can stand as one, covering each other and protecting the entire army from the ground at our feet to the tops of the plumes on our helmets. This shield of faith is firm and designed by the Maker of heaven and earth. It is pure and helps us to see clearly. It keeps our eyes fixed on the real battle and protects us as we advance on the enemy.

Armor of God- Make it Real
Slide

But what is faith? And how do we use it as a shield? Our verse today explains that faith is the certainty of things hoped for and the proof of things not seen. I don’t know about you, but for a long time that explanation really confused me. What does that really mean and how does that apply to my life?

Slide

We live in a world that tells you to just have faith, to just believe, and everything will work out okay. But so many of us have learned that positive thoughts and hopeful thinking just don’t hold up the reality that life just falls apart sometimes. It doesn’t just magically fix everything. So, faith for faith’s sake doesn’t work. In fact, I would argue that faith for faith’s sake is like going into battle with a paper mache shield. Not only is it useless at stopping the arrows, but one little flame and it too is set ablaze! Faith and hope for the future, if not rooted in something more than ourselves leaves us aimless and disappointed.

Slide

But God’s version of faith is far greater. It is rooted in truths that supersede what we can see with our eyes. It is something that goes beyond the physical, beyond the realities of this world. See the faith of God is grounded in something much more eternal- Himself. And because faith in God is grounded in Him and His character, it cannot let us down.

Slide

So, when we cling to faith, this trust in the God we cannot see with our physical eyes, we are certain in a way that is not of this world. We are secured in the truth of the Gospel, written not only on the pages of our Bibles, but on our hearts through the sealing of the Holy Spirit. And this faith becomes the ever-revealed proof of who He is because it gives us the means by which to truly see Him. It is the lens through which we glimpse more of Him and understand Him better.

Slide

When we say yes to Jesus, when we allow His Spirit to take up residence inside us and guide us, we are given a defensive weapon that extinguishes the flames of the enemy. And the truths of this faith help us to keep our eyes on the real fight, not distracted by the many flaming arrows the enemy throws our way. Instead, now as the arrow comes whizzing toward us flames licking behind it, we need only to hold up this perfect shield and watch as the flames simmer and die.

Slide

Where we would be distracted and set off course before, now we have something to anchor our souls. Where we would be discouraged and disillusioned before, now we have something to help us see the hope and the future God has planned for us. Where we would be caught off guard by shame and fear, we have the truth of our salvation and the love of God to remind us of who we truly are and that we are forgiven and set free. The arrows that once would cause us to panic have now met their match. And this faith, rooted firmly in the love and truth of a perfect God, stands as our shield against anything and everything our enemy could ever dream of throwing our way.

Armor of God- End in Prayer
Slide

Jesus,

I choose faith in You. I choose to follow You. Help me to use this faith well. Show me what it looks like to believe in You and trust in Your truth in a way that renders every tactic of the enemy useless. Give me eyes to see the distractions and the ability to hold up faith in You to put out the flames.

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen

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“Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.” 

Hebrews 11:1

Behind the Scenes

This week, we’re talking about the shield of faith. The Bible tells us in Ephesians that this shield is given to us to extinguish the flaming arrows of the enemy. When we look back at warfare practices of the time, we see that a common tactic that armies would use was to shoot flaming arrows into the opposing army. These arrows, often dipped in pitch or other extremely flammable materials, were not necessarily meant to harm the soldiers, but more to distract them. Instead of causing bodily injury to just one person, the arrows would lodge in the ground, on trees, and even into people, setting a fire that spread quickly through the entire army. The soldiers, distracted by the flames rising around them would drop their guard to put out the flames, making themselves more susceptible to greater attack and more easily ambushed.  

Likewise, our enemy loves to shoot flaming arrows into our lives, not necessarily to kill us or even to wound us. No, he has learned that it is far more effective to distract us, to cause us to be running around in circles, distracted from the real fight and with our eyes fixed on the flames. He knows that we will spend much more time putting out a fire than tending to a wound. He knows that the pain of a wound will often draw us more fervently into battle. Whereas the distraction of a flame will pull our eyes off the real fight. 

And even more, he knows that we are much more likely to bring others into our flames, drawing their attention from the battle, and occupying their focus as well. Instead of just taking one of us out, he can effectively derail an entire army, a whole group, a whole department at work, a whole church, with just one flaming arrow. One distraction, one addiction, one entitlement, one sexual scandal, one argument, one financial crisis… just one arrow and entire groups of people are taken out of the fight and rendered useless for the actual cause.  

So, what do we do? We put up our shield of faith. This shield is big enough to completely protect us. It is strong enough to withstand the blow of the arrow and also uniquely made to put out its flames on contact. It is also designed to be interconnected with the shields of our fellow soldiers, linking their faith with ours so we can stand as one, covering each other and protecting the entire army from the ground at our feet to the tops of the plumes on our helmets. This shield of faith is firm and designed by the Maker of heaven and earth. It is pure and helps us to see clearly. It keeps our eyes fixed on the real battle and protects us as we advance on the enemy. 

Make It Real

But what is faith? And how do we use it as a shield? Our verse today explains that faith is the certainty of things hoped for and the proof of things not seen. I don’t know about you, but for a long time that explanation really confused me. What does that really mean and how does that apply to my life?  

We live in a world that tells you to just have faith, to just believe, and everything will work out okay. But so many of us have learned that positive thoughts and hopeful thinking just don’t hold up the reality that life just falls apart sometimes. It doesn’t just magically fix everything. So, faith for faith’s sake doesn’t work. In fact, I would argue that faith for faith’s sake is like going into battle with a paper mache shield. Not only is it useless at stopping the arrows, but one little flame and it too is set ablaze! Faith and hope for the future, if not rooted in something more than ourselves leaves us aimless and disappointed. 

But God’s version of faith is far greater. It is rooted in truths that supersede what we can see with our eyes. It is something that goes beyond the physical, beyond the realities of this world. See the faith of God is grounded in something much more eternal- Himself. And because faith in God is grounded in Him and His character, it cannot let us down.  

So, when we cling to faith, this trust in the God we cannot see with our physical eyes, we are certain in a way that is not of this world. We are secured in the truth of the Gospel, written not only on the pages of our Bibles, but on our hearts through the sealing of the Holy Spirit. And this faith becomes the ever-revealed proof of who He is because it gives us the means by which to truly see Him. It is the lens through which we glimpse more of Him and understand Him better. 

When we say yes to Jesus, when we allow His Spirit to take up residence inside us and guide us, we are given a defensive weapon that extinguishes the flames of the enemy. And the truths of this faith help us to keep our eyes on the real fight, not distracted by the many flaming arrows the enemy throws our way. Instead, now as the arrow comes whizzing toward us flames licking behind it, we need only to hold up this perfect shield and watch as the flames simmer and die.  

Where we would be distracted and set off course before, now we have something to anchor our souls. Where we would be discouraged and disillusioned before, now we have something to help us see the hope and the future God has planned for us. Where we would be caught off guard by shame and fear, we have the truth of our salvation and the love of God to remind us of who we truly are and that we are forgiven and set free. The arrows that once would cause us to panic have now met their match. And this faith, rooted firmly in the love and truth of a perfect God, stands as our shield against anything and everything our enemy could ever dream of throwing our way.  

Crystal Garnett

Crystal Garnett

ACF Digital Discipleship Director

End in Prayer

Jesus, 

I choose faith in You. I choose to follow You. Help me to use this faith well. Show me what it looks like to believe in You and trust in Your truth in a way that renders every tactic of the enemy useless. Give me eyes to see the distractions and the ability to hold up faith in You to put out the flames.  

In the name of Jesus Christ, 

Amen 

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