Consistent Obedience: Holiness Requires Practice, Not Theory (Leviticus 19:37)

Holiness is not a theological position we hold but a practiced reality we live. It's the daily choice to obey all of God's commands (Lev 19:37), fulfilled through Christ (Matt 5:17-19), demonstrated through action (James 1:22), and proven through consistent walking as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). Theory without practice is self-deception; consistent obedience is the mark of genuine faith.

Foundation in the Law

"Keep all my decrees and laws. I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:37)

This command concludes the holiness code of Leviticus 19, which covers everything from caring for the poor to honest business practices. The emphasis is on "all"—selective obedience is not holiness.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 reinforces this daily practice: God's commands should be on our hearts, taught to children, discussed at home and on the road, bound as symbols, written on doorframes. Obedience isn't occasional—it's woven into the fabric of life.

Jesus Affirms Ongoing Obedience

Matthew 5:17-19: Jesus didn't come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. He warns that anyone who sets aside even "the least of these commands" and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom. Righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (v. 20)—not in external rule-keeping, but in heart transformation that produces genuine obedience.

John 14:15, 21, 23: Jesus repeatedly connects love with obedience: "If you love me, keep my commands." This isn't legalism—it's the natural outflow of relationship. The one who has Jesus' commands and keeps them is the one who truly loves Him.

Doers, Not Hearers Only

James 1:22-25: "Do not merely listen to the word... Do what it says." James compares mere hearing to looking in a mirror and immediately forgetting what you look like. Consistent practice makes the difference between self-deception and blessing.

James 2:14-26: Faith without works is dead. Abraham was considered righteous for what he did when he offered Isaac (v. 21). Rahab was justified by what she did (v. 25). Theory and profession mean nothing without corresponding action.

Knowing God Through Keeping His Commands

1 John 2:3-6: "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands." The one who claims to know God but doesn't keep His commands is a liar. But whoever obeys his word—in that person God's love is truly made complete. We prove we're in Christ by walking as Jesus walked.

Anyone who does what pleases God will live forever (1 John 2:17)

1 John 3:7: "The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous." Action reveals identity.

Holiness as Pursuit and Practice

1 Peter 1:15-16: "Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" This quotes Leviticus 11:44-45, connecting Old Testament holiness to New Testament living.

Hebrews 12:14: "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Holiness requires effort—it's pursued, not passively received.

Philippians 2:12-13: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you." We work because God works in us—divine empowerment meets human responsibility.

Meditative, Daily Practice

Joshua 1:8: "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it." Success comes from doing what's written, not just knowing it.

Psalm 119 (the longest chapter in the Bible) celebrates God's law with phrases like:

• "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin" (v. 11)
• "I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts" (v. 45)
• "Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long" (v. 97)

Transformation Through Consistent Action

Romans 12:1-2: Present your bodies as living sacrifices—daily, ongoing surrender. Don't conform to the world's pattern but be transformed by renewing your mind. Transformation happens through practiced obedience.

2 Peter 1:5-8: Add to your faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. These qualities, in increasing measure, keep us from being ineffective. Growth is incremental and practical.

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Ice in a cold windy city.

Enjoying Knowing God yet living in sin leads to destruction (Hosea 8-9) and thinking about the current moment the culture of Minneapolis finds itself with fraud, waste, and abuse. It's a good time to repent from sin, return the the Lord and pray for all people to receive a fresh start. 

 “They have planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind. The stalks of grain wither and produce nothing to eat. And even if there is any grain, foreigners will eat it. Hosea 8:7 (NLT)

My pastor had a good word this last Sunday, Be focused on Jesus not the current story but the greater story God is telling. As Stephen was killed, Saul approved - but later become the apostle Paul. Stephen models a legacy worth following. Live with clear mission, share the gospel. Desire forgiveness for sinners, not judgment. See people through eternity, not politics. Stand bold at death. Stephen dies praying, forgiveness and confident in Christ. Acts 7:59-60 He confessed to feeling "nuclear till they glow" in his heart toward people rather than, forgive them as we give up our lives as a heart attitude. 

I've been reminded lately of my friend Don Z, "the best thing I can do for those I'm leading is stay holy to the Lord." Hosea 8-9 captures why this is true. 

A) The Problem with "Knowing God" yet Living in Sin (Hosea 8)

8:1-3) Alarm! Covenant-Breaking Despite Claiming to Know God

Additional References:

• Titus 1:16 - "They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work."
• Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father... I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."
• 1 John 2:3-4 - "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar."
• James 2:14-17 - "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?... faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
• 2 Timothy 3:5 - "Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people."
• Jeremiah 11:1-10 - The covenant curse for those who don't obey the covenant terms
• Deuteronomy 28 - The blessings for obedience and curses for covenant-breaking

Application: True faith isn't a crisis hotline to God—it's a covenant relationship that transforms how we live daily.

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8:4-10) Planting Wind, Harvesting Whirlwind

Additional References:

• Galatians 6:7-8 - "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
• Job 4:8 - "As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same."
• Proverbs 22:8 - "Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail."
• 2 Corinthians 9:6 - "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."
• Romans 6:21-23 - "What fruit were you getting from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death... the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life."

Application: Every choice is a seed—you cannot plant rebellion and expect to harvest righteousness.

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8:11-14) Forgotten Maker, Building Their Own Greatness

Additional References:

• Deuteronomy 8:11-20 - "Take care lest you forget the LORD your God... Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.'"
• Psalm 106:13, 21 - "But they soon forgot his works... They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt."
• Jeremiah 2:32 - "Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number."
• Psalm 127:1 - "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain."
• Proverbs 16:18 - "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
• Luke 12:16-21 - The parable of the rich fool who built bigger barns but wasn't rich toward God
• Genesis 11:1-9 - Tower of Babel: humanity's attempt to "make a name for ourselves"
• Isaiah 22:11 - "You did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago."
• Habakkuk 1:16 - "Therefore he sacrifices to his net... for by them he lives in luxury" (worshiping our own efforts)

Application: When we forget God is our Creator, we become our own creators—building monuments to ourselves that will burn.

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B) Wasted Life Ends in Destruction (Hosea 9)

9:1-6) The Wasted Life: Spiritual Pollution and Homesickness

Additional References:

• James 4:4 - "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
• Ezekiel 16 & 23 - Extended metaphors of Israel's spiritual adultery
• Jeremiah 3:1-20 - "Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful."
• Romans 1:21-25 - "For although they knew God, they did not honor him... but became futile in their thinking... they exchanged the truth about God for a lie."
• Ephesians 2:1-3 - "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked... carrying out the desires of the body and the mind."
• Philippians 3:19 - "Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things."

On the Elder Brother (Luke 15:25-32):

• Matthew 20:1-16 - Workers in vineyard who complained about grace to latecomers
• Jonah 4 - Jonah angry at God's mercy to Nineveh
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 - Without love, even right actions are nothing

Application: You can waste your life in two ways—the prodigal's reckless rebellion OR the elder brother's resentful religion. Both are far from the Father's heart.

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9:7-9) Payday for Sin: Hostility to God's Messengers

Additional References:

• Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
• 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 - "The LORD... sent persistently to them by his messengers... but they kept mocking... until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy."
• Matthew 23:29-37 - Jesus condemns those who kill prophets: "You serpents, you brood of vipers!"
• Acts 7:51-53 - Stephen: "You stiff-necked people... you always resist the Holy Spirit... Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?"
• 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 - Those "who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets... displeasing God and opposing all mankind"

On Sin as Default Occupation vs. Vocation:

• Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
• Colossians 3:23-24 - "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."

Since sin pays death but God gives eternal life, present yourself to Him and live as one freed from sin and bound to righteousness. (Romans 6:11-23)

• Reject sin’s rule. You are dead to sin and alive to God, so do not let sin control your body. Under grace, offer yourself to God as an instrument of righteousness and live out the Law of Love.
• Renounce old patterns. Sin’s power has been broken. Leaving impurity behind protects you from increasing wickedness and from the shame that sin produces.
• Offer yourself fully to God. Obey from the heart. Become a servant of righteousness that leads to holiness and ends in eternal life through Christ.

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9:10-14) From Fresh Grapes to Barrenness

Additional References:

• Isaiah 5:1-7 - The Song of the Vineyard: "He looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!"
• Jeremiah 2:21 - "Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?"
• John 15:1-6 - "I am the vine; you are the branches... If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers."
• Luke 13:6-9 - Parable of the barren fig tree given one more year
• Matthew 21:18-19 - Jesus curses the barren fig tree
• Deuteronomy 32:32-33 - "For their vine comes from the vine of Sodom... their grapes are grapes of poison."

Application: God plants us to bear fruit for His kingdom. Barrenness isn't neutrality—it's judgment.

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9:15-17) Rejected for Disobedience: Homelessness

Additional References:

• 1 Samuel 15:23 - "Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king."
• Jeremiah 6:19 - "Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not paid attention to my words."
• Hebrews 12:25 - "See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape."
• Proverbs 1:24-31 - Wisdom rejected leads to calamity: "Because you have ignored all my counsel... I also will laugh at your calamity."
• Lamentations 1:1-3 - Jerusalem's desolation: "How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow... she weeps bitterly in the night."
• Duet 32:52 - "So you will see the land from a distance, but you may not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel."

On Listening and Obeying (Jesus' Teaching):

• James 1:22-25 - "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
• Matthew 7:24-27 - Wise builder builds on rock (hearing + doing); foolish builder builds on sand (hearing only)
• John 8:31-32, 47 - "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples... Whoever is of God hears the words of God."
• Luke 6:46-49 - "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?"
• Revelation 3:20 - "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door..."

On Salt and Light (Luke 8-14 themes):

• Matthew 5:13-16 - "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world."
• Luke 8:16-18 - "No one after lighting a lamp covers it... For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest."
• Luke 11:33-36 - "Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light."
• Philippians 2:15 - "That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."

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Summary Cross-References on the Central Theme:

The Danger of Empty Religion:

• Isaiah 29:13 / Matthew 15:8 - "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."
• Amos 5:21-24 - "I hate, I despise your feasts... let justice roll down like waters."
• Micah 6:6-8 - "What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

The Path to Life:

• Deuteronomy 30:15-20 - "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil... Choose life!"
• Joshua 24:15 - "Choose this day whom you will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
• John 14:6 - "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Final Application: Knowing about God means nothing without knowing and obeying God. The fruit reveals the root.

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Trinity: Christians interpret the Old Testament with a lens of the New Testament

Deuteronomy 6:4 - The Shema: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one"

1)LORD, 2)God, 3)LORD is ONE

We read the Old Testament through the lens of New Testament revelation.

Jesus taught that the Scriptures find their meaning in Him. Luke 24:27 says He interpreted “in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Hebrews 1:1–2 explains that God spoke “in many times and various ways” through the prophets, but has now spoken definitively through His Son. Paul affirms in 2 Corinthians 3:14–16 that the veil over the Old Testament is removed only in Christ. Peter adds in 1 Peter 1:10–12 that the prophets were serving future generations as the plan of salvation unfolded.

Christ is key to understanding Old Testament prophecies.
Jesus claims fulfillment: “These are my words… everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44). Matthew anchors Jesus’ life repeatedly with “this happened to fulfill…” (Matthew 1:22–23; 2:5–6; 2:15; 2:17–18). Jesus applies messianic passages directly to Himself such as Isaiah 61 in Luke 4:18–21. Peter preaches that all the prophets pointed to the suffering and resurrection of Christ (Acts 3:18, 24).

Progressive revelation brings later clarity to earlier hints.
Hebrews 10:1 explains the law was a “shadow of the good things to come.” Colossians 2:16–17 says feasts and Sabbaths were “a shadow,” but “the substance belongs to Christ.” Ephesians 3:4–6 teaches that the mystery of Christ was “not made known” in earlier generations as it has now been revealed. John 1:17 contrasts Moses’ law with the fuller grace and truth in Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:23–25 describes the law as a guardian until Christ came.

The Trinity is revealed gradually across both Testaments.
Hints appear early: Genesis 1:26 says, “Let us make man in our image.” Isaiah 48:16 and Isaiah 61:1 show the Speaker, the Lord, and the Spirit in a shared work. Psalm 110:1 reveals the Lord speaking to the Lord, a key text Jesus uses in Matthew 22:41–46. Clear revelation comes in the New Testament: Jesus’ baptism shows Father, Son, and Spirit together (Matthew 3:16–17). The Great Commission commands baptism “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). John 14–16 presents the mutual sending of the Son and the Spirit by the Father. Paul concludes with a Trinitarian blessing in 2 Corinthians 13:14.

Shama

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The Shield of Faith: Trust Under Fire (part 2)

 Expanding on The Shield of Faith: Trust Under Fire

I. The Military Reality Behind the Metaphor

Gotquestions teaches the Roman shield (thureos) Paul references wasn't a small buckler. It was a full-body shield, approximately 4 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide, capable of protecting the entire body. Roman soldiers would link shields in formation, creating an impenetrable wall.

Spiritual Application:

• Faith doesn't just protect one area of life; it covers our entire being: mind, emotions, will, relationships, and purpose. Romans 12:1-4
• Faith is both individual and communal; we stand stronger when our shields overlap with other believers. Faith overcomes the world. “Everyone born of God overcomes the world” because Jesus is the victory that secures our endurance (1 John 5:4–5; John 16:33).
• The shield was held, not strapped. Faith requires active engagement, not passive possession. “...Take up the shield of faith” because it extinguishes every flaming arrow aimed at you (Ephesians 6:16).

Reference: "Above all, taking the shield of faith" (Ephesians 6:16a, emphasis added). The phrase "above all" can mean "in addition to" or "most importantly." Faith either integrates all other armor pieces or ranks as the most critical defense.

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II. The Anatomy of Flaming Arrows: Understanding the Attack

The Delivery System

Ancient flaming arrows were designed for maximum psychological and physical impact:

• Wrapped in oil-soaked cloth
• Designed to ignite panic as much as to injure
• Effective at long range, giving no time to trace the source
• Multiple arrows could be launched simultaneously

Modern Spiritual Equivalents

Accusatory Arrows:

• "You're not good enough for God to use"
• "You've sinned too much to be forgiven"
• "Your prayers don't matter"

Reference: Romans 8:1, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Faith quenches accusation with truth about our position in Christ.

Comparative Arrows:

• "Your ministry is smaller than theirs"
• "Everyone else has it together"
• "You're falling behind"

Reference: Galatians 6:4, "Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else."

Circumstantial Arrows:

• Financial pressure timed with ministry opportunity
• Health crisis coinciding with major decisions
• Relational conflict during spiritual breakthrough

Reference: Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Doctrinal Arrows:

• Subtle theological distortions: "if you are the son of God..." (Matthew 4:3, 3:17)
• Half-truths mixed with lies ("ism's" instead of following Jesus Christ)
• Questions designed to create doubt: "Did God really say...?" (Genesis 3:1)

Reference: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

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III. How Faith Specifically Extinguishes Each Type of Arrow

Faith Counters Accusation with Identity

When the accuser whispers "You are your sin," faith declares:

• "I am crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20)
• "I am a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• "I am being transformed" (Romans 12:2)

Faith Counters Fear with Sovereignty

When panic rises, faith remembers:

• "God has not given us a spirit of fear" (2 Timothy 1:7)
• "Perfect love drives out fear" (1 John 4:18)
• "He who began a good work will carry it to completion" (Philippians 1:6)

Faith Counters Doubt with Evidence

When questions flood, faith reviews:

• Past deliverances: "Thus far the LORD has helped us" (1 Samuel 7:12)
• Present promises: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5)
• Future certainty: "He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23)

Faith Counters Temptation with Alternative Satisfaction

When desire whispers, faith responds:

• "I have learned the secret of being content" (Philippians 4:12)
• "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11)
• "What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?" (Mark 8:36)

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IV. Faith Formation: How the Shield is Forged

Through the Word (Romans 10:17)

Faith doesn't grow through experience alone. It grows through exposure to God's promises:

• Reading: Taking in Scripture systematically
• Hearing: Sitting under sound teaching
• Memorizing: Storing truth for instant access
• Meditating: Letting truth reshape thinking patterns

Practical Application: When a flaming arrow hits, the shield's effectiveness depends on how much Scripture has been absorbed. A shield without substance cannot protect.

Through Testing (James 1:2-4)

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

Each attack we survive strengthens the shield:

• Previous victories build confidence for current battles
• Tested faith becomes proven faith
• Perseverance develops maturity

Reference: 1 Peter 1:6-7, "These [trials] have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith (of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire) may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Through Community (Hebrews 10:24-25)

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Isolated faith is vulnerable faith:

• We need others to hold up our shield when we're wounded (Exodus 17:12, Aaron and Hur holding Moses' arms)
• We strengthen others' faith through testimony
• Corporate worship reminds us of God's worthiness

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V. Faith Integration: How the Shield Works With Other Armor

The shield of faith doesn't stand alone. It protects and enhances every other piece:

With the Belt of Truth (Ephesians 6:14a):

• Faith believes truth even when feelings contradict it
• Truth gives faith its content and direction
• Without truth, faith becomes wishful thinking

With the Breastplate of Righteousness (Ephesians 6:14b):

• Faith receives Christ's righteousness (Romans 3:22)
• Righteousness gives us confidence to approach God (Hebrews 10:19-22)
• The shield protects the heart that righteousness guards

With the Gospel of Peace (Ephesians 6:15):

• Faith stands on reconciliation with God
• Peace gives stability under pressure
• We can advance (feet ready) because faith secures our position

With the Helmet of Salvation (Ephesians 6:17a):

• Faith protects our assurance of salvation
• Doubt about salvation is a primary target of flaming arrows
• Settled confidence in our eternal security frees us to fight effectively

With the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17b):

• Faith wields the Word offensively
• Jesus modeled this: "It is written..." (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10)
• The shield protects while the sword strikes

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VI. The Faith Crisis: When the Shield Feels Heavy

Honest Biblical Examples of Faith Under Strain

Job's Lament:

• "Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?" (Job 3:23)
• Yet: "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him" (Job 13:15)

David's Desperation:

• "How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?" (Psalm 13:1)
• Yet: "But I trust in your unfailing love" (Psalm 13:5)

Habakkuk's Confusion:

• "How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen?" (Habakkuk 1:2)
• Yet: "Though the fig tree does not bud... yet I will rejoice in the LORD" (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Key Insight: Faith doesn't mean absence of questions or emotions. It means bringing those questions and emotions to God rather than letting them drive us from Him.

Reference: Mark 9:24, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" This paradoxical prayer is perfectly valid.

When Faith Feels Inadequate

The Mustard Seed Principle:

• "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move." (Matthew 17:20)

The issue isn't the amount of faith. It's the object of faith:

• Small faith in a great God moves mountains
• Great faith in a small god accomplishes nothing
• The shield's power comes from God, not from our grip strength

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VII. Faith in the Dark: When God Seems Silent

The Valley Experience

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me" (Psalm 23:4)

Notice:

• Through not "stuck in." Valleys are passages, not destinations
• Walk. Keep moving even when you can't see the path
• For you are with me. God's presence, not His explanation, sustains us

The Silence of God

Sometimes the greatest test of faith is God's apparent silence:

• No answered prayers
• No clear direction
• No emotional confirmation

Reference: Psalm 22:1-2, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest."

Yet David continues praying. Faith persists in prayer even when answers don't come.

Historical Example: Horatio Spafford wrote "It Is Well With My Soul" after losing his four daughters in a shipwreck. Faith doesn't deny the pain. It anchors through the pain.

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VIII. Corporate Faith: The Shield Wall Formation

The Power of Collective Faith

When Roman soldiers locked shields, the formation became nearly impenetrable. Similarly:

Reference: Ecclesiastes 4:12, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Practical Applications:

• Prayer partnerships for specific battles
• Accountability relationships for recurring temptations
• Small groups for mutual encouragement during trial
• Church family for sustained support through prolonged difficulty

Reference: Galatians 6:2, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Faith Declarations in Community

• Corporate worship declares God's character when individual faith wavers
• Others' testimonies strengthen our confidence
• Shared Scripture memory becomes collective ammunition

Reference: Hebrews 3:13, "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

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IX. Faith and Prayer: The Shield in Motion

Mark 11 Expanded: The Prayer of Faith

Context: Jesus curses the fig tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-25)

• Disciples are amazed it withered
• Jesus responds: "Have faith in God"

The Connection: Faith and prayer are inseparable:

• Prayer without faith is mere words
• Faith without prayer is passive belief
• Faith-filled prayer moves mountains

Critical Verse Unpacked: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:24)

This is not blank-check theology. It's relational theology:

• "Whatever you ask" is filtered through relationship with God
• "Believe that you have received it" means trusting God's wisdom and timing
• "It will be yours" acknowledges God's sovereign choice in how/when to answer

Qualifying Verses:

• "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." (1 John 5:14)
• "You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives." (James 4:2-3)

The Forgiveness Component (Mark 11:25)

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Unforgiveness creates a breach in the shield:

• Bitterness is a slow-burning arrow we shoot at ourselves
• Holding grudges gives the enemy a foothold
• Forgiveness isn't excusing. It's releasing the debt to God

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X. Offensive Faith: Beyond Defense

While the shield is primarily defensive, faith also enables offensive action:

Faith Advances

Reference: Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Faith doesn't just block attacks. It moves forward into enemy territory:

• Evangelism requires faith that God will work
• Obedience to difficult calls requires faith in God's provision
• Risk-taking for the Kingdom requires faith in God's plan

Faith Claims Promises

Reference: 2 Corinthians 1:20, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God."

Faith doesn't passively wait. It actively claims what God has promised:

• Healing (James 5:15)
• Provision (Philippians 4:19)
• Wisdom (James 1:5-6)
• Peace (John 14:27)
• Strength (Isaiah 40:31)

Faith Confronts

Hebrews 11 Examples:

• Moses confronted Pharaoh (11:27)
• David confronted Goliath (implied in 11:32-34)
• Prophets confronted kingdoms (11:32-33)

Faith gives courage to speak truth to power, challenge injustice, and stand against cultural compromise.

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XI. The Ultimate Example: Jesus and Faith

Jesus as the Author and Perfecter of Faith (Hebrews 12:2)

"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Jesus modeled perfect faith:

• In the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11): wielded Scripture against temptation
• In Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39): submitted will to Father even in agony
• On the cross (Luke 23:46): trusted Father even in abandonment

Jesus' Trust in the Father's Plan

Every flaming arrow Satan could design hit Jesus:

• Physical suffering
• Emotional isolation
• Spiritual darkness ("My God, why have you forsaken me?")
• Temptation to escape ("Come down from the cross")
• Mockery and accusation

Yet Jesus' faith never wavered. He is both our example and our empowerment.

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XII. Practical Faith Exercises: Strengthening Your Shield

Daily Disciplines

1. Morning Declaration: Speak truth before lies arrive
   • "This is the day the LORD has made" (Psalm 118:24)
   • Personalize promises: "God works ALL things for my good" (Romans 8:28)
2. Scripture Saturation: Memorize verses for specific vulnerabilities
   • Anxiety: Philippians 4:6-7
   • Inadequacy: 2 Corinthians 12:9
   • Temptation: 1 Corinthians 10:13
3. Testimony Review: Keep a record of God's faithfulness
   • Journal answered prayers
   • Note coincidences that reveal God's hand
   • Remember deliverances
4. Gratitude Practice: Thanksgiving neutralizes arrows
   • "Give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
   • Gratitude shifts focus from problem to Provider

In-Battle Responses

When a flaming arrow hits:

1. Identify the lie: Name the specific accusation/fear/temptation
2. Counter with truth: Speak Scripture that directly addresses it
3. Pray immediately: "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief"
4. Reach out: Contact someone who can pray with/for you
5. Worship: Declare God's character regardless of feelings

Example:

• Arrow: "You're a failure as a parent"
• Truth: "God's grace is sufficient; His power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9)
• Prayer: "Father, I feel inadequate, but I trust You're working in my children's lives"
• Action: Text a trusted friend for prayer support
• Worship: "You are faithful even when I am faithless" (2 Timothy 2:13)

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XIII. Faith's Ultimate Victory

The Guarantee

"Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." (1 John 5:4-5)

Faith wins. Not because we're strong, but because:

• Christ already defeated the enemy (Colossians 2:15)
• We're sealed until redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14)
• Nothing can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:38-39)

The Present Reality

We fight from victory, not for victory:

• The war is won (Revelation 12:11)
• Battles remain (1 Peter 5:8)
• The outcome is certain (Revelation 21:4)

Reference: 1 Corinthians 15:57, "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

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Closing Application: What This Means Monday Morning

Faith isn't just Sunday theology. It's Monday reality:

• At work: When pressure mounts, remember "God has not given me a spirit of fear"
• In relationships: When conflict erupts, remember "Love keeps no record of wrongs"
• In finances: When lack threatens, remember "My God will meet all your needs"
• In health: When diagnosis comes, remember "By His wounds we are healed"
• In calling: When obstacles appear, remember "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

The shield of faith is raised daily, moment by moment, arrow by arrow.

It is not perfection. It is direction. It is not arrival. It is movement. It is not absence of struggle. It is presence of hope.

Faith trusts that God is working even when we can't see it, that He is good even when circumstances aren't, and that He is faithful even when we are faithless.

The shield stands because the One behind it never falls.

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The Lord is a protective wall of fire, light and purification makes us glorious (Zechariah 2:5)

 

Zechariah 2:5 - A Profound Promise

"'And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the LORD, 'and I will be its glory within.'"

This verse comes in the context of a vision about Jerusalem's future restoration. The angel declares that Jerusalem will be inhabited "as towns without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it" (v. 4)—then God makes this stunning promise.

The verse contains two revolutionary declarations:

1. "A Wall of Fire Around It" - God as Protector

The Radical Reversal

Ancient cities depended on walls for security. Jerusalem had been destroyed partly because its walls failed. Now God says: Don't rebuild walls; I AM your wall.

This transforms security from:

• Human effort → Divine presence
• Static stone → Living flame
• Physical barrier → Consuming holiness that enemies cannot penetrate

Fire as God's Protective Presence in Scripture

Exodus 3:2 - The burning bush: Fire that doesn't consume, revealing God's holy presence Exodus 13:21-22 - Pillar of fire by night guiding and protecting Israel through the wilderness Exodus 14:24 - Fire protecting Israel from Egyptian army: "The LORD looked down from the pillar of fire... and threw the Egyptian army into confusion" Exodus 19:18 - Mount Sinai: "The LORD descended on it in fire" - unapproachable holiness Isaiah 4:5 - Future promise: "Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy" Psalm 97:3 - "Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side" 2 Kings 6:17 - Elisha's prayer reveals horses and chariots of fire surrounding them

The Dual Nature of Fire

• For enemies: Consuming judgment
• For God's people: Protecting presence, warmth, light, purification

2. "I Will Be Its Glory Within" - God as Presence

Glory (Kabod) - The Weight of God's Presence

This is the Shekinah glory, God's manifest presence that:

Exodus 40:34-35 - Filled the tabernacle so completely Moses couldn't enter 1 Kings 8:10-11 - Filled Solomon's temple: "the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple" Ezekiel 10:18-19 - Departed from the temple before judgment (devastating moment) Ezekiel 43:1-5 - Returns to the restored temple in vision: "the glory of the LORD filled the temple"

The Stunning Implication

God is saying: I won't just visit a building; I will BE the glory dwelling in the midst of My people.

This shifts from:

• Glory visiting a structure → Glory dwelling among people
• External protection → Internal presence
• Localized worship → Intimate relationship

The Biblical Trajectory: God's Progressive Revelation

Old Testament Pattern

1. Garden of Eden - God walked with humans directly
2. Patriarchs - God appeared at specific times/places
3. Tabernacle - God dwelt in mobile tent, behind veil
4. Temple - God's presence in permanent structure, Holy of Holies
5. Exile - Glory departed (Ezekiel 10-11)
6. Zechariah's Promise - God Himself becomes both wall and glory

New Testament Fulfillment

John 1:14 - "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory"

• Greek "eskēnōsen" (dwelt/tabernacled) - Jesus IS the glory dwelling with us
• God doesn't just protect and indwell Jerusalem; He becomes human and walks among us

Matthew 18:20 - "Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them"

1 Corinthians 3:16 - "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?"

2 Corinthians 3:18 - "We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image"

Ephesians 2:21-22 - "In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit"

Ultimate Fulfillment: Revelation 21-22

Revelation 21:3 - "God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them"

Revelation 21:22-23 - "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp"

Revelation 22:3-5 - No more curse, God's servants will see His face, "They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light"

Related Themes and Passages

God as Surrounding Protector

Psalm 125:2 - "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore"

Psalm 34:7 - "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them"

Isaiah 26:1 - "We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts"

Expansion Beyond Physical Limits

Isaiah 54:2-3 - "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide... For you will spread out to the right and to the left"

Zechariah 2:4 - The city will overflow with people—God's blessing can't be contained by walls

Testing of Protection

Zechariah 2:8 - "Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye" - God's jealous protection

Zechariah 12:8 - "On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem"

Theological Significance

For the Original Audience

After exile, returning to ruins, they faced:

• No walls = vulnerability
• Destroyed temple = no visible glory
• Small remnant = discouragement

God promises: You don't need stone walls or a golden temple. I Myself am both your security and your glory.

For Us Today

1. Security isn't in human strength - Our ultimate protection is God's presence, not our defenses
2. God's presence is the true wealth - Not buildings, programs, or systems, but God dwelling with us
3. Fire speaks of holiness - God's presence both protects and purifies; enemies can't penetrate, but sin can't coexist
4. The progression continues - From temple → Jesus → Church → New Jerusalem where God and humanity dwell together completely
5. Internal transformation - Just as God became "glory within" Jerusalem, He dwells within believers by His Spirit
6. Expanding boundaries - Where God is, walls become unnecessary because His presence itself creates sacred, protected space

The Heart of It All

Zechariah 2:5 reveals God's ultimate desire: Not to be distant Protector or occasional Visitor, but intimate Dweller.

He doesn't want to merely defend us from outside or visit us occasionally—He wants to BE with us, around us, within us. The wall of fire keeps enemies out; the glory within draws us in.

This is the gospel arc from Genesis to Revelation: God pursuing intimate, unbroken fellowship with His image-bearers. Every covenant, every promise, every prophecy points toward God dwelling with His people—first in Christ, then by the Spirit, ultimately in the New Creation where "they will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God" (Revelation 21:3).

The prosperity of Zechariah 1:17 finds its meaning here: True prosperity is God Himself as our protector and glory, dwelling among and within His people forever.

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