Warm hellos once again friends, brethren, fellow laborers, spiritual family, and scattered children of God from here on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. My wife and I pray and hope this finds you doing well, and that again your week has been blessed.

I was sitting at a restaurant with brethren last Sabbath evening when two alarming texts came through to my phone. It was only just a few minutes later when most of the TV’s in the restaurant began to display former U.S. President Donald Trump being hurried off a stage at a rally after an apparent assassination attempt.

Most of this country and many nations around the world have had most news media outlets focusing on this event through this week.

What might you and I learn from this event? This was one of the main things going through my mind almost immediately and then through this week.

Let’s take a few moments to read Ephesians 6:10-17 (KJV)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Okay, we all know these verses, perhaps even quoting them often. But, why this focus, and why am I writing about these verses?

You’ll notice in verse 16 it says “wicked”…a better translation would be “the wicked one”.

We live in a world filled with a spirit of the children of disobedience. It is not God’s Spirit. This is not our Father’s world as so many like to sing.

Currently our Adversary, the Devil, is the prince of the power of this world.

Ephesians 2:2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

To me it is obvious Mr. Trump was either absolutely “lucky” to have turned his head just at the right time to avoid being killed, or he was supernaturally protected. I guess we’ll have to wait to find that answer out when Christ returns.

But what struck me was how important is the spiritual armor of God when it comes to protecting us from our Adversary?

Yes, we pray daily for physical protection as well we should. But, also we see, these “fiery darts” as mentioned in Ephesians 6 again in verse 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Those of you who like history-movies will recall how arrows laden with pitch would be fired into the thatched roofs of abodes that were under siege. Sticking into a roof they would quickly ignite, causing the home to be destroyed in short order. In all actuality, it was not this simple, but it makes for good theatre.

During the Crusades, Muslim defenders frequently hung bundles of straw against their walls as buffers against stones and rams; in turn, the Crusader archers would set these alight with flaming arrows.

There is a reason it says “above all taking a shield of Faith” to withstand this barrage. Quite a mental picture I would say if we think about it.

Galatians 2:20 also reminds us – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

With Christ living in us, His faith, through that same Holy Spirit, we are able to deflect, or might I say after watching the video from this shooting played hundreds of times over and over have us be “missed the mark intended” for our destruction!

Some things to think about, as this world continues down a path apart from God our Father, His Son, and the way that mankind was intended to live.

Make sure your spiritual armor fits well, is shiny, and always ready, for one never knows when he or she may be in the bull’s eye for destruction. These are indeed sobering times.

Arms up friends! Our sincere prayers and thoughts are with you daily. Thanks in advance for your heartfelt prayers for us.