 Good afternoon, Pastor David. Hey John. Welcome everybody to a random moment with Pastor David unfiltered Pastor last night's message on the shield of faith was so practical. There was the You addressed that the what the actual weapon that we use how it's used for short hand-to-hand combat by using it as a weapon and you also shared how it's used to protect from the long-range darts of the wicked one the enemy and But I really liked when there was a picture that was shown when all these shields were together huddled together and It was you were talking about the teamwork the unity and how the enemy will use those wicked darts or those darts from the wicked one to so discord among the brethren or to Cause divisions and very practical as you're sharing out of Ephesians chapter 6. I want to go down that same thread And the importance because you mentioned it last night in the study being in God's word being in in in fellowship Being part of being in ministry in terms of being with other brothers and sisters Today, I wanted to speak a little bit along that same line on spiritual warfare and the importance of Being in God's word being in prayer, you know in second Kings chapter 6 it It tells about the Syrian king and a Syrian army surrounding and camping Elisha and Dothan and The servant comes out Elisha servant. It says alas my master and he comes out and he's afraid and Elisha goes on to tell him that The army that God has is greater than what you see and what I found interesting and it lines up with what you're sharing last night That Elisha prays That his eyes would be open and he was able to see after that What's the importance past era of first intercessory prayer in spiritual warfare for others? But again being in God's word and being in prayer Part of what paul speaks about as he concludes the weapons of our warfare Is he talks about prayer? He actually ends the weapons of our warfare after sharing about the helmet and all But he speaks of continuing in prayer and so prayer is what what If you will gives life To the rest of the pieces of armor that he supplied us with the the pieces of armor as you see him, you know the The having your your loins gird with truth or a breastplate of righteousness Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace Taken up the shield of faith and all you know and the sword of the spirit and helmet of salvation the various Well, every one of those things are actually tied together and when you look at them, there are also qualities that Describe Jesus Christ, you know righteousness and And and and the peace and all of that So you're putting on christ is simply another way of saying you're putting on christ in the battle But also you have prayer because prayer Is what energizes it's that dependence That you have on on god and his help Because without him inter intervening, you know all of your Armament is really it's it's not going to have its full effect Because we ask god Lord would you would you would you be here in this battle with us because the battle that ultimately is the lords and so Prayer is is one of the keys to spiritual warfare Because it's the lord who moves on your behalf. He's the one who energizes the armor. He's the one who's clothed you in christ But he's the one who gives you the victory And so I I I know that if you don't enter in well-prepared if you don't receive your directions from From headquarters, you know and you do that through the word of god in prayer And sometimes even through speaking to others of like mind who are mature in the faith and can Say this is what I've learned of the lord that all takes place in spiritual warfare um If you're not praying if you're not seeking the lord if you're not asking him to reveal to you What he would have you to do and even in the the story that you mentioned Where the request was open up my servants eyes So you can see it so he can see that there are more with us than are against us If if you don't have that spiritual eyesight the reality that you may be in a skirmish, but In christ you're going to win you're victorious in the battle in the campaign You're you're going to be victorious and and if you just hold fast And even if it appears that you're losing because sometimes it can appear that you're losing um No, the battle is the lords and god never loses And so what happens is even the things that we feel that we may have failed in and perhaps we did We actually gain because we gained experience and we realized that was a shortcoming on my part Should have held fast I let go is something I needed to learn Kind of like when the apostle peters walk it on water And notices the storm and conditions around Him and he says, you know, well the scripture says he began to sink and he cries out lord Save me. Well, well that was a learning lesson and though the the man in the boat could have teased him about it later on The fact is they all remained in the boat, right and he was the one who learned that lesson, right? And so that's how it works john You know, I know that I'm wearing the armor. I know that there are certain pieces that I take up in in battle I'm supposed to pick up the the shield in battle You know, that's when you use it So I have my feet and everything girded and ready But in that individual battle that spiritual war that's when I learned to put this up and use it and I I like the the idea of Of remembering that I'm not alone in the battle. I have my god And it's all I really need but I have His children with me who are united and and I really believe that as I shared yesterday that One of the big problems in the church today Is this tendency to pit churches against churches? We've we have had that for a long time where people Will say well, I'm part of your the church that competes against you. I've even had that word used I we're part of your competition You know and That's the church is not to to compete against one another were to compliment one another One ministry may have a a wonderful approach to a certain thing And we have a different approach But if the kingdom of god is being furthered Then why would we be in competition when in fact we have the same enemy? And we ought to be united and that's what I was trying to share last night And it was a very it was a good study practical and for those who have missed it you can actually go to youtube And look up last night's study under under uh pastor david's teachings and Ephesians as you've been going through this A series on spiritual weapons, you know this servant that went out there saw things through the eyes of the flesh Elijah were able to see things through the eyes of the spirit and the lord you can see said me the lord opened his eyes The servant would have remained in the flesh had god not had god not opened his eyes So the request is lord open his eyes that he may see And that's what we do because some people can get into the flesh and want to do spiritual warfare in the flesh And it's always going to be unsuccessful It has to be the lord energizing his armor working through his his warrior And ultimately gaining the victory like that the lord It is a one that energizes the armor. I think sometimes we think it's us Well pastor, thank you so much for sharing that I thought again What a practical study that was last night. We were able to celebrate In communion. And so what a special time it was I want to invite you guys to come out and join us on sunday morning at 8 30 and 10 45 and Invite your friends. It's uh, you know the The covid things over Yeah, that's what the president said, right? So now we can come back to church Should should have a long time ago because it's been over for a long time Yeah, but we want to invite you guys to come out and a reminder. We want to keep this in front of you We have our Israel trip coming up in march. You can register online and and got a quality number of people We've got a good amount. I'm real blessed by that And so pastor david and marie would love for you guys to come out and join the team and What a great opportunity is to to walk the land work for christ. Amen. Thank you pastor david Thank you guys for tuning in and god bless you