5 Minutes of Hope

As kids, in our growing up years, there was no such thing as a twig or a tree branch that we couldn’t turn into a pistol, a tommy gun, or a machine gun. “Ratatat TAT, your dead!” we screamed.

We played cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, good guys and bad guys every chance we got. We and the neighbor’s kids would go at it hours on end.

Hello friend and welcome to 5 Minutes of Hope.

Today’s topic is: Weaponry

Now then, you wouldn’t bring pillows to a water pistol fight. You wouldn’t use water balloons for a snowball fight. Hey, THAT might have been cool! See what I just did there?

You wouldn’t bring a water gun to an actual war, and you wouldn’t bring rifles to a pillow fight. Your choice of weaponry depends upon the battle.

WELL, the battle is the Lord’s, yes! But … guess who is wearing the uniform?

God fights for His children but guess who dons the armor of God? The FULL armor of God.

Listen to Paul’s admonition to the church:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil‘s schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6:10-18

Pastor John DeSanctis of Glad Tidings church in Shrewsbury, New Jersey quite often quoted a line from that old chorus, “It’s a battlefield brother, not a recreation room. It’s a war and not a game.”

We are NOT playing “pick up sticks” on the schoolyard playground!

We are in a spiritual struggle.

This is NOT a political war.

It is NOT a war between the races.

It is most certainly NOT a war between the sexes.

And by the way, you DON’T need a degree in biology to tell the difference between a woman and a man. Check the plumbing in your pants, Patty!

… male and female, created he them. Genesis 1:27

God have MERCY on THIS generation. 72 genders out there, we’re being told. Our forefathers would roll over in their graves if they heard this folderol and foolish talk. AND, they want to ram this demonic and devilish drivel down our kid’s throats today. This is a spiritual battle, the likes of which we’ve never seen before. The devil is alive and well … and, well …

♫ When the power of darkness comes in like a flood, the battle belongs to the Lord! He’s raised up a standard, the power of His blood, the battle belongs to the Lord! We sing glory, honor, power and strength to the Lord. We sing glory, honor, power and strength to the Lord!

– Jamie Owens-Collins

To arms!

TO ARMS, Church of God!

Let us rise UP and get DOWN to business and fight this battle through the weaponry God has given!

Mighty God, we thank you that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Help us FIGHT the good fight of faith. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, we pray. Amen

Friend, may you be FILLED with hope today and share it with others.