Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.
Put On The ‘Full Armor Of God’ For Hope
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11 NIV).
We all experience times in our lives in which we feel hopeless. For some, these periods linger into years and years. Given these circumstances, I would like to equip readers with some thoughts on how to maintain hope when all hope appears to be gone. In this article, you’ll find some thoughts on the importance of hope in your life. For your consideration, Job was a strong disciple of God, but had all of his possessions taken. He expressed hopelessness in Job 17:15 saying, “Where then is my hope — who can see any hope for me?”
I have heard it said before that the most dangerous man is one without hope. He feels he has nothing to lose and no future. I have seen the look in someone’s face when there is no hope. I have seen this in hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, hospice facilities and even in church.
One of the greatest goals of the enemy is to convince you that you have no hope and that God has forgotten you and you have no future. I recently heard on a Christian radio station, “If you do not believe in the promises of God, then by default you are believing in the lies of the enemy.” Carefully read the following premise: You must know that you are a beloved child of God that is very precious in his sight. He desires you to seek Him and for you to be happy. He will walk with you always and never leave you. All of your sins have been paid by the blood of Jesus.
The enemy appeared in the Garden of Eden with the same goal as today – divide, destroy, and deceive. The relentlessness enemy wants to rob you of your hope and joy.
Ephesians 6 goes on to explain how to fight the enemy.
The Belt (of Truth): “Stand firm in the belt of truth buckled around your waist,” Ephesians 6:14. The belt of truth involves our hearts and our minds. Truth keeps us close to Christ and is essential in the Christian walk. The belt of truth holds our amour in place. Commit yourself daily to be in the Word. “Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!” Psalm 86:11.
The Breastplate (of Righteousness): “With the breastplate of righteousness in place,” Ephesians 6:14, a soldier with a breastplate goes into battle boldly with confidence. The enemy is constantly attacking with lies to steal our hope. Without the breastplate of righteousness, these will penetrate your heart. Become aware of who you are in Christ Jesus. Come boldly into His presence, (Hebrews 4:16).
The Shield (of Faith): “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one,” Ephesians 6:16. The shield not only defends our whole body, but also our armor. The shield of faith has a very specific function: To stop all the fiery darts of the wicked.
The Helmet (of Salvation): “Take the helmet of salvation,” Ephesians 6:17. Satan’s target: Your mind. Satan’s weapon: Lies. The enemy wants to make us doubt God and our salvation. The helmet protects our minds from doubting the truth of God’s saving work for us. Our mind is the battle ground. “Since we belong to the day, we must be serious and put the armor of faith and love on our chests, and put on a Helmet of the Hope of Salvation,” 1 Thessalonians 5:8.
The Sword (of The Spirit): Put on “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Ephesians 6:17. The sword of the Spirit is the only weapon of offense in the armor, but the Word is also a tool for defense. Lies and deception are all weapons the enemy uses against us. With the Sword of the Spirit, God’s word, the people are equipped to deal with them all. We need to trust in the truth of the Word.
It is so important that you begin each day with hope. Romans 5:3-4 tells us, “we know that suffering produces perseverance; and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” So if you feel that there is no hope in your situation, be patient and realize that you will develop perseverance, then character, and finally hope. It is a promise from God. Be blessed!
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for Your provision and protection. Deliver us from all that is evil. Amen.
Meet the Author
Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
We welcome your comments below.
Liked this post?
Read more below or search for more topics...
-
Showing Humility Is Showing Jesus
Showing Humility Is Showing Jesus “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather; in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others" (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV). Jesus walked the earth and engaged in meaningful and transformational relationships with people. Today, we are called to be in relationship with Him and with others. But how can we be the Face of God to others in our relationships? Some may dismiss this notion out of hand because we are not Jesus. How can we be expected to show His face? The simple... -
You Got Questions? So Does God!
You Got Questions? So Does God! “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9).We all have questioned God when adversity or disappointment occurs. I suspect we all excel at clearly telling God what we want. How many times have you questioned God? When will I get promoted? Why did my good friend die? Where am I going to live when I can no longer care for myself? What does God want from me? Who am I? A teacher encourages their students to learn. Of the 90 times Jesus was directly addressed in the gospels, on 60 occasions He was addressed as “Teacher.” ... -
What Is A “Real” Man?
What Is A “Real” Man? I recently heard a term that caught my attention. A friend commented on a movie actor that he liked because the actor is a “real man.” He plays tough-guy characters that don’t put up with any nonsense. A segment of pop music encourages boys and men to be “real men” by selling drugs, killing rivals, and prostituting women. Some TV sitcoms portray “real men” as clowns, grouchy, or unable to communicate with their family. I reject all of these notions of a man and submit to you five characteristics of a real man:A real man honors...