260. Shielded by God's power.

We *'through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last days.'* - ( 1 Peter 1:5) Everyone expects to be shielded by God's power but God expects us to stand by faith. *'If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all'* - ( Isaiah 7:9) because access to grace is by faith! *'We have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.'* - (Romans 5:2) *'For surely, O Lord you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favour as with a shield.'* - ( Psalm 5:12) But the grace of God is not just his favour upon us, for it also means his power that is at work in us, since the Lord himself said to Paul, *"My GRACE is sufficient for you for my POWER is made perfect in weakness."* - ( 2 Corinthians 12:9) This power of God revealed in us is also manifested through the weapons we fight with. *'The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.'* - ( 2 Corinthians 10:4) Therefore, to be shielded by God's power, we ought to *'put on the full armour of God so that we can take our 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 spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.'* - ( Ephesians 6:11-12) We cannot refuse to buckle up the belt of truth, or take up the shield of faith or boot up with peace and still expect divine protection from these satanic hosts ! *'Therefore, put on the full armour 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.'* - ( Ephesians 6:13-17) Just as a soldier cannot expect to be protected unless he wears his body armour, we cannot expect to be protected unless we wear the armour of God. *'Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist',* which keeps us from becoming fearful and discouraged but makes us 'bold and courageous' ( Joshua 1:8-9); *'with the breastplate of righteousness in place',* which shields our heart from the accusations of the enemy 'who accuses us before God day and night' ( Revelation 12:10); *'and with your feet fitted with the readiness* ( to reconcile) *that comes from the gospel of peace'* which keeps us from stumbling, 'for whoever loves his brother lives in the light and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.' - (1 John 2:10) *'In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one'* because the enemy will try to shoot at us from his hideout. *'Put on the helmet of salvation',* with which God 'shields our head in the day of battle.' - ( Psalm 140:7) *'and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God'* in our mouths, with which we will be able to strike down the enemy. David trusted the armour of God more than the armour king Saul gave him when he went to fight Goliath - ( 1 Samuel 17:38-39). Instead David boldly declared to the Philistine: *"You come against me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me and I'll strike you down and cut your head ... All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD'S."* - ( Vs 45-47) It was his bold confession of faith that decided the outcome of the battle that day! David went on to fight many battles since then and was never fatally wounded. No wonder he testified to God's protection around him: *'He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.'* ( Psalm 55:18) This battle against evil will rage till the end but through faith we will be shielded by God's power until the second coming of Christ. Amen.