Summary
Bishop Hugh Daniel Smith teaching Spiritual Wrestling: The Shield of Faith at Embassy Metro Detroit. Full sermon with transcript.
Transcript
Transcript begins at the message. The video above includes the full service — welcome, worship, and announcements. Auto-processed from the live-stream captions; the video is the source of truth.
And there are three points that I’m going to make today from the text. And that’s number one, we got to talk about the shield of faith. Number two, we have to talk about public servants. And number three, we must talk about spiritual backlash. Let’s look at the text.
We read this several times. You guys should be very comfortable with this. Verse 10 says, “Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the ws of the devil.” So if we put on the whole armor, we are able to what? Stand.
That’s the key. you get dressed, you can stand. If you don’t wear the armor, you won’t be able to stand. But he guarantees victory if we put on the entire armor of God. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood. We see that in verse 13.
Verse 12. Verse 13 says again, “Wherefore take unto you what? Whole armor of God that you may be able to.” So not only can we stand, but we can also withstand provided we put on the whole armor of God. So we must be that’s mandatory. No armor, no ability to stand.
That’s what you have to see there. No ability to stand. No armor, you will faint. And the reason that some are fainting because they’re simply not dressed. Verse 14, what does it say?
Stand therefore, having your loins girded about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness. We did talk about that one. Your feet shot with the preparation of the gospel of peace. We talked about that. And now we need to talk about verse 16.
What does it say? Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. So, I’m going to talk about the shield of faith as the armor that we must put on. The Roman soldier is likely the Apostle Paul’s inspiration uh part of his inspiration, I should say, uh as to why he uses the term shield of faith. Um because the Roman soldier carried a shield that looked almost like a small door.
It wasn’t the round shield that you see uh with Captain America. It wasn’t that kind of shield, but it was a long a rectangular shield and it could cover almost the entire body. Not the entire body, but it could cover a great portion of uh the body. And while they were in the battle, this would this is notice what he says above all or in addition, take this, you already have on your helmet, you already have on everything else, but in addition, he says, make sure you have your shield of faith. Uh because there’s going to be some opposition that only this shield can deflect.
And so you’re going to have to have it. See, opposition is going to come. But what is the shield of faith spiritually speaking? It’s exactly what it says. It’s a shield that is our faith.
So our faith is a shield, but it’s not just faith generically. is faith in God. My faith in God becomes my shield. But not just faith in God, but my faith in God’s character. My faith in God’s giftings becomes my shield. And not just saying I have faith in God’s giftings, but faith so much in his attributes and his character and his giftings that I deploy them in the midst of battle.
When I deploy his love because I believe in his love or when I deploy his wisdom because I believe in his wisdom. When I deploy his exusia power, whatever power it is, I raise my shield in the battle. And when the shield is raised, it will deflect or it will quench the opposition that’s coming in my direction. So believers must be at a place where they are protected by God who is their shield. Say, God is my shield.
But it requires the believer to be able to raise the shield. And the shield can only be raised by operating in the character of God. When they go low, they’re using a different character. They’re using a different nature. We must use God’s nature because I have faith in him.
Do you see what I’m saying? If I have faith in him, then when I’m in trouble, I raise his shield. When something goes wrong and I’m under pressure, I find something in his character to raise and then the shield goes up and the enemy is not able to penetrate the shield of faith.
But here’s the challenge. Many times, unfortunately, people when they are in trouble, they reach for other attributes. I’ve heard the saints say out of their own mouths, “You don’t know who I used to be.” And if you keep pushing me, you’re gonna find out that I’m not the one to play with.
Now, what they’re suggesting is they getting ready to pull a different kind of thing out. You’re getting ready to see the other side of them that they really trust in. Are you hearing me? They trust in the shield of flesh. Is anybody talking back to me?
I said they trust in the shield of flesh, not the shield of faith. While they’re in church, we parade the shield of faith verbally. But you find out what shield people are carrying when they don’t have no money and the pressure, the alligators is on their heels. And when everything in their life is going south or when enemies are coming in like a flood, you find out whether they have the shield of faith or the shield of flesh. and the shield of flesh cannot quench the fiery darts of the wicked. Evil only begats evil and so it’ll cause it to proliferate in one’s life.
Uh uh responding out of the old nature is precisely what the enemy wants us to do because it’s an indicator that our shield is down and he will have free access into our world. But if you believe in God’s character and you decide to raise his shield under pressure, this is warfare. In the midst of war, not at peace times. I said in the midst of war, when evil is all around, I got one thing I believe in. I know I know his mercy endureth forever.
I I know I know his truth is everlasting. I know he’s the alpha and he is the omega. I know he’s the author and the finisher or developer of my faith. I I know that he is my God.
So, I’m going to raise something out of the arsenal that represents his character. I know his wisdom is past finding out. So, while you’re coming at me, I’m listening for God’s wisdom.
And soon as I get his wisdom, bang, shield of faith. and he will not be able to penetrate it if I raise the shield. God told me to tell you there are there are assaults coming into your life in this season that you are going to have to defend yourself against. And so you’re going to have to learn how to say shields up. That’s going to become our new mantra around here. Shields up everybody because the assault is coming in your life and you can’t sit back and say why did the Lord let this happen to me?
He says, “I gave you the shield of faith, and it was meant to quench the fiery darts of the wicked, but you got to hold that shield up in the time when you need it most.” Somebody shout, “Sields up.” Shields up. The need to protect the soul or the self is a godgiven need. Self-preservation is not a evil thing. It is something given by God because the soul was meant to be protected. If the soul is left unprotected, it can be severely damaged.
It is the life of people. If the belief systems are tarnished, if their codes are messed up, if their memories are mangled and their emotions are are are splintered and fragmented, you can destroy a person’s life by attacking their soul. And this is why everybody who tinkers with the soul must give an account to God. Shepherds are there to become the watchmen for the soul. The soul is so delicate that God God designates a watchman to care and to watch for the soul.
The soul is vulnerable because whatever gets in it is like good ground. It’ll come forth. If you put the wrong thing in someone, they’ll bring forth many harvestes from that wrong thing. that some people still bringing forth fruit from years ago, pain and unresolved trauma, and they’re still tripping over something that happened years ago because it was rooted in the soul. And the devil said, “I can stop this boy be from becoming the preacher because I know God called him, but while he is four, I’mma have somebody molest him and I’m going to brand that experience on his soul and he’ll trip into drugs and he’ll trip into sexual perversion and never be prepared for the calling on his life because somebody didn’t watch out for his soul.
But God told me to tell you, even if that’s somebody’s story, God’s able to redeem the soul. God’s able to heal the soul. God’s able to bring people back. Come on. I got some testimonies in the house today.
I know some people have been through a whole lot, but he’s able to save the soul. That’s what Jesus came to do, to seek and to save that which was lost. And a lost soul is one that has been damaged by the hand of the enemy, confused as to who it is and living outside of the privilege and the power of God.
But there’s an anointing on me today. And there’s an anointing in this church that’s getting ready to find the lost souls. And he’s going to recover what was lost and bring it back into the house of God. It doesn’t matter how far it they have strayed. God’s going to bring them back.
God’s going to bring them back. Somebody say back. They’re coming back. They’re coming back. The soul was designed to be covered and shielded.
Never. Very similar to a woman who’s meant a female. Uh the soul is a type of female. You know that uh very similar to a female who’s meant to be covered all the days of her life. Uh from the time a female uh comes forth from her mother’s womb, her dad should be right there. and to put a covering on her because she’s so delicate.
Because if the wrong stuff gets in her, she’ll produce. Females are producers after whatever’s planted in them. And if she’s uncovered, it’s like food that you leave out in your refrigerator. Everything withers on the inside if there’s no covering. And I know we live in a time where people haven’t been covered by their fathers and haven’t been covered by men in their life.
And and and for this reason, many females have struggled to overcome a lot. and some have been covered and still certain things got in and they’re working to overcome some of those things. All of that is exactly what happens to a soul that is left without a covering. And so God says, I’ve given you a shield of faith to cover you, number one, and protect you. And number two, the soul will flourish when it is secure. One reason that some people struggle with for flourishing because they are insecure.
Not insecure in a in a psychological sense, but they don’t feel safe. If people don’t feel safe in their life, giftings will never come forth. When people feel unsafe in their life, uh they struggle to produce the things of God. And and and the enemy says, “I want to attack your soul and cause you to feel unsafe most of your life.” And the power gifts that God put inside of you can never come forth because you have never been made to feel safe.
And so God says, “I’m going to give you a shield of faith.” A shield of faith. Everybody say, “A shield of faith.” Because when you have the shield of faith, it secures the believer. And when the believer feels secure, they will go into production and every dormant gift will be activated and all the good God put in them will come forth.
And so it’s important that people are in a safe place in order for them to be productive. You grew up in a household with a lot of hollering and screaming and cussing and fighting and shooting and all of that. The kids don’t feel safe and they shut down and the soul goes on lock and now they can’t bring forth and everything that’s hitting them in life. The answer was inside of them because they were the treasure, but they couldn’t pull the treasure forth because the enemy shut them down by creating a hostile environment.
But God said, “If you come to me, I’m going to give you a shield of faith. I’m going to show you how to protect yourself, not with a flesh shield, but with the shield that I give you.” People have tried to protect themselves with the shield of of a digital image on social media and they look at that as something to protect themselves. Uh look at how I look on social media and it don’t even look like you have the time and and and this is me and so I feel good. I’m protected. See my curated social image on this media.
But but God says that won’t protect you. That’s not going to protect your soul. And others try to protect themselves with status. I’m up here now.
So, I’m protected. But status alone can’t protect you. Others will try to protect themselves with money and and and money answers a number of things, but money by itself cannot guard the soul. Other people will try to protect themselves with joining associations and certain groups. I belong to this and I belong to this.
Aren’t I special now? But none of that stuff can really protect the soul. God has given us a few coverings for the soul. Number one, the man is supposed to cover his children and cover his wife. Number two, the pastor is supposed to cover and watch for the soul.
And then the individual responsibility gave us was every man is supposed to be able to raise their shield to cover their soul while they are in the midst of conflict. But unfortunately so many people have lived with uh uh uh lived in such peril that being unsafe has become normal for people. But it is not normal ladies and gentlemen to be unsafe. God is about to make you relax in this next season. God is about to cause some people to feel secure in this next season. and you getting ready to bring some stuff out of you that’s going to change the the the world that you live in because the answer to what you’re looking for is inside of you.
You’re the currency. You’re the answer to many of your challenges. And as opposed to looking outside of yourself, God says you got to look on the inside, but you got to feel safe enough to unlock yourself so other people can see what’s inside of you. I want to declare a time of safety coming to the people of God. God’s going to show you how to raise your shield.
And if daddy wasn’t there, mama wasn’t there, and nobody else going to cover you, you going to learn how to cover yourself, not with a flesh shield, but with the very presence of the most high God. And there’s coming such a peace on your life that you’re getting ready to unfold in one year and produce more in one year than you did in the last 15 20 years because there’s peace coming in your life. I declare I declare somebody say shields up. Come on. Shields up.
If we can just get some safety in our lives where we’re not afraid to tell somebody what we really think and we’re not afraid to share our true dream and we’re not afraid to step out on the water and say, “I’m going to do it anyway.” You keep holding back cuz you afraid that it’s going to fail and that people are going to laugh at you and you don’t think you have the ability to get it done. But the ability is inside of you to do everything that God has ordained for you to do. But God’s going to make a believer out of you in this next season. You are full of anxiety, but the shield of faith will quiet anxiety more than money will calm your nerves. The shield of faith will bring you to a place of peace and God will bring out of you.
Everything that he put inside of you. Now lift those hands and worship him and say, “Shields raised.” Glory to God. Glory to his name. We’re almost there. I got a little bit more to go.
I want you to see this here. So, the soul must be covered. Say it. The soul must be covered. If the soul doesn’t feel safe, it won’t produce. and you’ll be watching other people producing their lives while you are living with barrenness.
But I’m declaring no more barren seasons for you. There are people who can’t even conceive a child because of so much internal turmoil and anxiety. But God is saying no more bearing seasons over this house. When this shield is raised, you going to rest on the inside. And you’re not just going to conceive natural seed, but you’re going to conceive the dream of God for your life and have the ability to bring that thing forth.
I want you to see this here. Uh you will flourish in this season. It’s a flourishing that happens. Psalms 92 and 12. Look at the scripture.
Psalms 92 and 12. What does it say? Psalms 92 and 12. Read everybody. The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree.
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Verse 13. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the court of our God. If they’re planted in the house of the Lord where their shields are up and they’re safe, they’re going to do what? Everybody say flourish.
So, this is a time of flourishing for the people of God. The scriptures even said that we’re going to flourish in our old age. As long as we’re planted and safe, God has a harvest in every season. Just when you don’t think you can bring forth nothing else, something else is coming out of you. And I know some of you tired and some of you tired of fighting, but if you just relax, you’re going to bring forth something else.
My God, I’m going to bring forth something in this next season. I feel it right now. I feel it right now. I’m gonna bring something in this next season. And not only that, when I’m about 65, I’m gonna bring forth something else.
And just when they say he’s done, I’m going to bring forth something else because you flourish even in your old age. Are you hearing me? All you got to do is relax. Everybody say, “Relax. Relax.
Relax.” Shields up. God crams you with seed is what I’m trying to get you to see. Most people die without ever bringing forth much of what’s really in them. People die and they go to the grave with dreams that have never come forth. God crammed you when you got filled with the Holy Ghost.
You got more in the in you than you’ve ever produced. But if you relax, it starts coming out on its own. Like one of those mothers or one of those young ladies who bring forth children. They be like they didn’t know they was pregnant. I don’t know how that happened.
But I read stories about young ladies who say, “I was pregnant. I didn’t even know.” And the baby just came out on the bathroom floor. I said, “You went nine months and didn’t know you was pregnant.” Well, I guess it’s possible.
But God says, “Some of you going to go to do it the same way. You’re going to be so fertile. You’re just going to start bringing forth stuff in your life without trial, without tribulation, because you’re going to produce more than the devil can resist you. You’re going to bring forth more than the devil can stop you. I’m declaring a fertile womb right now in the name of the Lord and good ground in the name of the Lord.
How many believe that’s you that I’m talking to? This is your fruitful season. This is the time of flourishing. We’re moving from the purge to the surge. And you’re going to be fruitful in this season.
Mark my word. If you relax, that’s the key. It’s a prophetic word, but you have to have the shield up. Those of you without the shield up, you’re going to continue uptight and hinder your own outcomes, surviving, living in survival mode. And that’s what the enemy wants to do.
He wants to threaten your life with something so you can so he can trigger survival mode. And survival mode is a physical and psychological and spiritual state in which a person’s primary focus is preserving their safety, avoiding pain and maintaining existence, then pursuing growth and purpose and calling. the survival mode. The question is no longer how do I flourish. Instead, the question is how do I make it through the day? You can tell who’s in survival mode cuz they’re just trying to get through the day.
They’re taking it one day at a time. And we should all take it one day at a time. But when you’re not in survival mode, you can see a future. You believe in an expected end. When you’re not in a survival mode, my God, you you see uh life as an opportunity to flourish and achieve things and accomplish what God has ordained for your life.
But if you if you’re in survival mode, you’re just trying to get past what’s in front of your face. And God told me to tell you to get out of survival mode today because survival modes will choke the dream of God in you and it will bury the purpose of God inside of you. You cannot stay there. that the enemy will continue to threaten you with something. Threaten you with the loss of money, threaten you with the loss of life, threaten you with the loss of ministry, the loss of a wife, the loss of a husband. As long as you’re under threat, the amygdala kicks in.
And the amydala is the part of the brain that deals with flight or flight response. As long as you’re in that mood, you are not being constructive. You’re just going to hit them in the mouth or you going to run from them. All you want to do is get past the moment. And the devil wants you to live 20 years in fight orflight mode where you’re very unproductive.
But God’s getting ready to shut all that down right now because we’re getting ready to raise up the shield. Somebody say shields up. Glory to God. Shields up will break flight or fright uh survival mentality. And you’ve been in that mentality.
Some of you for a long time grew up in it. Household used to be in it. Everybody trying to make it, trying to survive, scratch it and survive it. trying to get ahead. All you know how to do is survive and fight and fuss.
But God says you’re in the kingdom of God now. You got to let all that stuff go. And you got to know that God is your shield and God got your back. And you got to believe it to the degree where you’re going to relax in the midst of a war. In a war, you’re going to relax.
Not in peace dive. I’m relaxing in the middle of the battlefield because I got my shield up. And when you’re relaxing, you’re clearheaded and you can focus and you’re strategic in your maneuvers.
But when you’re not relaxing and you’re full of fear and anxiety, your brain will freeze up and you make bad choices. You can’t even think when you are full of anxiety. You you you do you you devolve down to the level of animalistic behavior. And the devil wants you to operate with maladaptive behaviors and be and become like an animal because you’re devolving because you only see fight or flight. And you don’t see opportunity.
But God didn’t create you to be an animal at the base level. You’ve been born from above. You are anointed with the power of the Holy Ghost. And you’ve got to learn how to transcend and say, “I’m a king. I’m not going to take no thought to what I’m going to eat, what I’m going to drink, what I’m going to wear, or what I’mma put on.
I ain’t worried about a thing. But I’m going to seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and everything’s going to be added unto me. Somebody shout, I ain’t worried about a thing because God’s got my back. Say it again. I ain’t worried about a thing.
I ain’t worried about a thing. You got to get that in your spirit, man. Because it’s those that don’t worry that bring forth the must fruits. They become the good ground.
And so part of the warfare is to trigger survival mentality. Somebody tell somebody, “I’m a survivor. I ain’t going to give up.” Ain’t no praising all of that. Okay, we thank God you’re still here.
But you were born to be more than just still here. You were born for more than that. What kind of achievement is that? I didn’t die. You weren’t brought here to not just die.
You were brought here to live. Jesus says, “I’ve come that you might have and that you might have it more.” But it’s our mentality that determines the flow of life. The Donner party in 1864, a group of American pioneers became trapped in the battle of mountains and they didn’t have any food supply and many of them were exposed to starvation and the account of history suggests that they stoop so low to survive that they start eating each other. cannibalism. You can’t trust someone who’s in survival mode. You can’t.
I promise you can’t. They’ll cut their mother to live. They’ll cut you, too. If people don’t learn to overcome survival mode, they can never be trusted by no one. When you don’t put your confidence in the arm of man’s flesh, I don’t trust in anybody’s flesh.
I don’t trust my own flesh. I holla crucify that brother. I’m not trusting in my flesh and I ain’t trusted in your flesh either cuz I know there ain’t no good thing in the flesh. The flesh is full of survival instinct and animalistic behavior.
And so if you’re determined to walk in the flesh, you can’t be trusted by anyone because all you need is to be pressed hard enough and we’ll see you eat people too. And you say that ain’t in me. Well, get down to that level and let’s see. There’s no good thing in that flesh. You activate that flesh.
Old nature. Cannibalism is in the old nature. And in order for people to protect themselves, they have sold their children. They will betray people. And many have experienced those things.
That’s why they find it hard to trust people. But I trust God for people today. I trust God for people because if you can’t if you can’t trust, you’re not going to be able to get nothing done in your life. You got to trust somebody.
But don’t trust their flesh. Trust God for people. What do you mean by that? When we enter into covenant, I’m trusting God. May the Lord watch between me and thee.
But while we are absent one from another, you mess up, he going to get you. If I mess up, he’ll get me. And if you hit me, he’ll heal me. You got to be able to trust somebody. Come on.
You got to trust. Don’t trust their flesh. Trust their covenant with God. And this is how we make it through this life. The whailing ship in 1820 uh a a after a sperm whale sank uh an entire ship.
They drifted for days according to the historical records and they too stooped to the level of cannibalism. World War II had many kind of issues and situations that brought about sieges into certain cities and uh people lose their moral compass and the fear dominates their mind. Judgment can become distorted. Loyalties shift when people are under pressure. The very ones that you didn’t think would turn.
It’s in them to turn on you. You can’t be afraid of betrayal. You shouldn’t be afraid of any of that. is in everybody to portray betray everybody if they’re operating in the flesh. It’s the Adamic nature.
But if we make a covenant with God and we learn how to transcend the old man, then we can flourish in the court of our God in the midst of conflict. And that’s the opposite that we’re preaching here today. It is my job to get you to believe that to the degree where you release your flesh shield and you put it down forever and you’re determined to raise up the shield of faith. Can I get somebody to renounce their flesh shield? I know you know how to cuss people out, but lay that stuff aside.
Lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily beset you. Come on. Lay aside the trickery. We know you know how to trick and manipulate. Not you here, but some people do.
We know some people know how to make things happen in the flesh. We know you can do it. But but but who cares? All right. A whole lot of people can do that.
Can you lay down that flesh shield and pick up the shield of faith because it’s the only one that can quench the fiery darts of the wicked? I’m not threatened by anything these days. Not threatened by the gas prices. I’m not I’m not I got my shield up. I got my shield up.
I got my shield up. I’m not threatened by the gas prices. I’m not threatened by anything. I’m not threatened by anything. Everybody say, “I’m not threatened.” I’m not threatened.
I’m not threatened at all. I’m not threatened by gerrymandering. I’m not threatened by redistricting. I’m not threatened by economic inequality. I’m not threatened by jobs being replaced by AI.
I’m not threatened by predator systems. I’m not threatened by systemic conditions. I’m not threatened by corrupt culture. I’m not threatened by people. Come on.
You got to get to the place where you say nothing threatens me cuz I got my shield up. There it is. Because as long as you’re under a threat, you’ll move into survival mode. And the enemy intentionally tries to trigger that in your spirit. He wants you to be off balance, but you’ve got to be determined.
I will never again be off balance. I want you to look at Psalms 1, Psalms 3 and3 really quick. And we’re almost coming to an end. Psalms 3 and3. What does it say?
Read. But thou, oh Lord, art a shield for me, my glory and the lifter up of my head. So if you believe that, you’re going to say shields up because he is a what? Shield for me. And when he when his shield goes up, what happens?
Your head comes up. He’s the lifter up of my People say that, but if they got the wrong shield up, their head won’t be lifted up. If you stay in despair all the time and your head is down, the shield is down.
But you can’t raise his shield without him lifting up your head. Thou art a shield to me, oh God, and the lifter up of my head. Uh Genesis 15:1, go there really quick. Genesis 15:1, what does it say? After these things, the word of the Lord came unto Abraham.
Abram in a vision, saying, “Fear not, Abram, I am thy shielding and thy exceedingly great reward.” He told Abraham up front, “Shields up. I’m going to send you on a journey, but be secure because I’ve got you covered.” Proverbs 18 and10. Read this one, everybody. The name of the Lord is a strong tower and the righteous. So the name of the Lord is his character.
It is the strong tower. So who shall I fear? Who shall I be afraid of? When I have the Lord who is my shield, he’s my shield and my buckler. The Bible says, who can penetrate the shield of faith?
I just have to have the courage to raise it in the midst of the battle. If you’re looking for somebody to protect you, you may not be protected in all situations, but if you put your confidence in him today, and this is what God is calling us to do, because there are battles that are ahead of us. There are there are art there there are assaults that are coming to the house of God and the people of God.
But God always gives the answer before the question. And he says, “You just got to raise your shield.” In this day, we’re not going to say, “Hey, we we in warfare. The devil is attacking us.” We just say, “Shields up.” And that’s what the Roman army would do. They would raise their shield and while they were in the battle, they would move forward. March forward.
Because when your shield is up, it means you’re advancing. Shoot me all you want, but I’m getting closer and closer to what belongs to me. If you don’t have a shield, you’ll retreat and you’ll run and you’ll backpaddle.
But in this day and time, we don’t have time to go backwards. as we got to go forward in our fight against the uh the powers of the dark one. And the only way you can do it is to feel secure. Everybody say security. To feel safe. To feel safe.
To feel like you’re not threatened and nothing can disturb your peace. Lift those hands to him right there and worship him. Meditate. Meditate on him. Make a decision.
Make a decision that you will not trust in the arm of flesh from this day forward. But you’re going to trust in God who is your shield. You’re going to trust in God who is your shield. And because we’re running out of time today, I want to skip to point number three, which is spiritual backlash. Spiritual backlash has everything to do with the response that we get from the demonic world.
Whenever you take territory from him, you cannot take territory and not experience spiritual backlash. It’s a part of this journey. And this is his backlash is intended to frighten believers to the degree that they are unwilling to take more territory. You took the territory and got your family saved, but you got to fight to hold it. You took the territory and started the job and the business that God has ordained.
But now you have to fight because as soon as you take territory, it it ignites a war on your family. It literally does. And he comes after every weak point in your life. And if you’re weak in any areas, he’s going to exploit those weaknesses.
But the Bible says that the shield of faith can quench all the fiery darts of the enemy. And what they would do in the Roman days, they would take swords and they would dip them in fire and poison and they would shoot fiery swords at their opposition. And they would see these fiery darts or swords or arrows I should say, not swords, arrows come in their direction. And the purpose of these arrows was to penetrate and set ablaze. They not only wanted to penetrate the flesh, but they wanted to set them on fire.
If we equate that with what happens spiritually is the enemy’s desire is to shoot arrows at believers to set to penetrate and to set ablaze their old nature. The purpose of the arrows in the warfare is to activate that carnal part of us. And so he’ll shoot until that hatred comes out of us that we never dealt with. He’ll shoot until that depression comes out that was never dealt with. Whatever is weak in a person’s life, he’ll shoot until it comes up because he wants to activate the old you.
Sole purpose of the warfare and the fiery dice is to activate the old you because he knows once the old you comes in, the shield goes down and then he’ll penetrate. And so when you see people going into their old self in the middle of the battle, you know that the fiery darts has hit them and they are activated their old flesh person. And once that old nature is activated, he wants your tongue now to take over and self-destruct and destroy your whole life. Because once that old nature kicks in and then your tongue picks up, your tongue will spread that chaos all over your world. And he wants you to destroy your own family.
He he he he tries to make people enter into what he calls self-sabotage. I want you to see it in the scriptures. Go to James chapter number three verse number six. What does he say? Read everybody.
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. So is the tongue among our members that it defileth the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature and it is set on fire of hell. What he wants to happen is the old nature to be activated. Then he wants your tongue to give voice to the old nature and it will activate the course of nature. The course of nature then means your whole life will be affected.
That old nature has kicked in. Now when you talk to the kids, venom comes out of your mouth and you destroy the kids. And when you talk to your wife, venom comes out of your mouth and you destroy the marriage. And when you go to work, venom comes out of your mouth and you destroy your career. Everywhere you go, he wants your tongue to express the old nature and set on fire the course of your whole life to selfdestruct.
But that doesn’t have to happen to any of us if we raise the shield. Because the shield of faith, the Bible says, will quench the fiery darts of the wicked. Meaning if I trust in God, trust in his love, trust in his peace, trust in his fruit, trust in his gifts, and hold that high and operate in that way, no fiery darts will activate the old nature.
And so I’m declaring today that the old nature will not be activated in our life in the midst of this battle. Nobody’s going to go to cussing. Nobody’s going to go acting crazy. Nobody’s going to go get in the flesh and start operating contrary to what God ordained you to be. The the the pressure is coming.
I’m prophesying to you. But you going to be just as cool as a cucumber because you going to have the shield of faith up and you’re just going to breeze through this pressure. You’re going to breeze through this one because God has warned you. You, some of you going to get a call this week about something and you’re going to hear my voice saying, “Don’t let the old nature activate.” You going to hear my voice saying, “Shields up. Shields up.” And all you got to do is go love somebody at that time.
Be generous at that time. Intercede for somebody at that time. Do something spiritual in that moment. And your shield will quench the fiery darts of the wicked. The devil can’t stop you when you know who you are.
He can’t overtake you when you know how to raise up this shield. You are safe. Glory to God. You are safe. The name of the Lord is a strong tower. and the righteous run into it and they are safe.
I’m here to tell you, you’re safe in his arms. No, nothing can reach you. Nobody can disturb you when your shield is up. You are safe. You got to get that in your spirit.
You’re in an environment where you can flourish. It doesn’t matter what happens to you or what people try to do to stop you. You are safe. You got to start telling yourself, “I’m safe. Though I lost this, I’m safe.
Though I lost that, I’m safe. Though my money’s not right, I’m safe. Though people are against me, I’m safe. Though I don’t have what I need, I’m safe. Though I’m struggling with a habit, I’m wrestling and I’m safe.
I’m safe while I’m wrestling. I’m safe while I’m down. I’m safe because I got my shield up. The Lord is my shield and my buckler. He’s the present help in the time of trouble.
I’m safe from everything that’s going on in this world. I’m safe from what people are prophesy and do. I’m safe from the future. I’m safe in my present. I’m safe in my past.
My past ain’t going to come up and destroy my present because I’m safe. God’s got me surrounded. God’s got me in his bubble. I’m safe in the hands of the most high God. You got to get that in your spirit.
I’m safe in his arms. I’m safe. I’m safe. I’m safe. Somebody say, “I’m safe.
I’m safe.” And so I’m free to love. I’m free to grow. I’m free to flourish. I’m free to be me. I’m free to do what I’m called to do.
I’m safe. I ain’t worried about a thing. I’m safe. I’m not worried about losing nothing. I’m free to do everything he called me to do.
I’m free to be myself. I’m free to unfold. I’m free to bloom. I’m free to blossom. I’m free to flourish.
Cuz I’m safe. I’m safe in his arms. Somebody shout, “I’m safe.” And give God a praise right now. Oh yes. No self- sabotage.
I will not destroy my life with my time. I’m not going to activate the old man and destroy what God has built. Everybody on your feet. Shields up. Shields up.
That’s what you got to tell somebody. You see I’m going through. Say shields up. more so a prophetic thought we want to release on you today. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you.
Safe and secure from all alarm. Thank you. Safe. Safe. Safe. safe.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Roke.
Glory to God. Shakata. Simple truth, but guess what? It penetrates deep if you let it. Safe.
Glory to God. I’m free. When you’re safe, you’re free. When you really believe you’re safe, that’s when you’re free. You’re not free until you feel safe.
Rabasha. Glory to God. Free to be. Free to do. Thank you for the shield of faith.
My faith in God, his character, and his gifts, and my willingness to operate in that will make me safe. Thank you, God, for the old nature has been crucified. No fiery dart is going to activate that old man again. You get news that somebody has broken your house. That’s a dart trying to activate the old you.
You get news that somebody stole something from you or somebody assaulted one of your relatives. That’s a dart trying to activate the old you. You get some bad news as opposed to reacting in the flesh. flesh. You’re going to say, “Shields up.” And God’s going to show you what to do from his nature to address that situation. Oh, you got to address it, but you got to address it from the nature of God.
Hallelujah. Glory to his name. Glory to his name. We’re almost there. We’re almost there.
I feel the Holy Ghost just lingering in the room right now. Somebody’s getting some healing. Somebody’s getting some healing. Many of you have been assaulted and your soul has been damaged and you’ve been fighting through that for years and you’ve never felt safe another day in your life since that occurrence. You’ve been trying to protect yourself.
You you built a wall around yourself. That’s a flesh wall. That’s flesh safety. You got a wall and it’s protecting you, but it’s also a prison. It’s locked you in and you can’t become what you were meant to be because now you built your own walls.
But today, God says, “Let the walls down in the name of the Lord.” The Lord says, “I got your shield right here.” So when the shield goes up, let down your walls. Glory to God. Some of you knew how to joke with people and you knew how to crack jokes. That was your safety. They said something to you, you could talk about their mama.
You could talk about their shoes. You could talk about that the way they look and that was your safety in in joking and and the ability to talk slang to people. But God says let it go right now in Jesus name. When you hold on to that stuff, you you you suggest that the shield of faith has not made you safe. Whatever your flesh protection, I want you to lay it at the altar, sayeth the Lord.
I want you to identify it right now and lay it at the altar. Lay it at the altar. put a name on it and lay it at your feet at at at at at God’s altar and say, “I’m giving it up.” There are men that have been molested when they were kids and they became womanizers trying to prove to themsel that they were straight and that became their flesh shield. God said, “Let it go today and get healed from what happened to you. You are straight, but you don’t have to prove nothing to nobody. You’re safe in his eyes.
Come on. Come on. Let it go. Let it go. I hear the Holy Ghost saying, “Let it go.
Let it go.” I want you to put something down and let it go today. All kinds of personality traits are products of you trying to protect yourself from injury and from threat. And that’s the very thing stopping you in this season. Glory to his name. Glory to his name.
Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah. The Bible says you have to confess certain things to people. If you’re bold enough, I want you just confess what you’re letting go of to somebody next to you. If you’re bold enough, you don’t have to, but if you’re bold enough, say, “I’m releasing this today.” I dare to tell somebody that. Cuz once you get it out, bring the light to it, that’s when the power of God starts working.
Come on, confess to somebody today. The Bible says, “Confess your faults one to another and you’ll be healed in the name of the Lord.” Confess your faults one to another and you’ll be healed. God says, “Be bold enough today to try to confess what you’re releasing in this moment.” Oo. Yeah. Hallelujah.
You getting ready to surge after this. You getting ready to surge after this. Ooh. Therapeutic message today. You’re getting ready to surge after this.
Too many people feel unsafe. Just so unsafe. And that has become a prison. You trying to protect yourself has become a prison.
But today is your outdate. He has come to set the captive free. Throw away the key to that prison today. The Lord says, throw away the key to the prison. The Lord says, and you are going to be fruitful.
I’m declaring the new season of flourishing on your life. You’re going to flourish in the court of your God. Yes, you are. You thought it was the devil. The devil exploited the weakness.
He knew you would keep yourself locked up for years if that happened. But today is the day of salvation. God setting you free right now. Woo! Woo!
Hallelujah. Oh, can we have a season of worship right here? Can we build an altar right where we are? God said the window is open. The window is open.
Your life will never be the same today once you drop that key and step out of that jail. Step out of that prison of self-p protection and trust God to protect you. Some of you got a nasty attitude and a nasty personality and you use it to protect yourself. You know how to cut people to the quick with your words. God said, “Let it go today.” That’s your protection.
I know it is. You feel threatened. That’s why you do it.
But God said, “Let it go today.” He says, “Shields up. I got your back.” This will be one of the most fruitful seasons of your life. If you let it go, I ain’t worried about a thing. I need to get a shirt and say, “I ain’t worried about a thing.” Glory to God. And every time I say that, somebody get me a shirt.
I got all kind of shirts. The little things we say, but we need one that say, “I ain’t worried about a thing.” I or one that say, “Shields up.” I don’t know. But I need a shirt to remind me that I ain’t worried about a thing. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat. I am safe. I am love. I am shielded.
I am safe. I am love. I am shielded. I am safe. I am love.
I am shielded. Okay. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Heat. Hallelujah. to go down. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Heat up here. Heat. Heat. Glory to his name. Glory to his name.
Glory to his name. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I’m going to ask the altar chief if you would come up.
The altar cham please come up. If you need prayer from him, I want you to come to this altar today. You want to join the church, I want you to come to this altar. You want to give your life to Jesus. I want you to come to this altar tonight.
Today. Today is your day. You want to lay aside and you want to trust God. Don’t let nobody step on them. You can leave them there.
Leave them there. Leave them there. Just don’t let nobody step on them. I want you to come on up here today. You’re going to lay aside the weight and the sin that does so easily beset you.
Self-preservation has to go and you’re going to trust God today. So your whole life can shift. Today is your day.
Today is your day. Today is your day. Today is your day.
Today is your day. Today is your day. Today is your day. together. Thank you. Where the spirit of the Lord our God is at rest that is free.
You can be free from bondage and heal from brokenness. joy when the spirit of the Lord our God is set is free. You can be free from bondage and heal from brokenness for joy. be free. When the spirit of the Lord our God is at rest and is free, you can be free from bondage and heal from brokenness and full of joy. Be free when the spirit of the Lord our God is at rest there is free. You can be free from bondage and heal from brokenness and full of joy.
You are the spirit of the Lord our God is at rest. There is freedom. You can be free from bondage and heal from brokenness and full of joy. be free when the spirit of the Lord our God is at rest. That is free. You can be free from bondage and heal from brokenness and full of joy.
Free and spirit. The Lord our God is at rest. There is freedom. You can be free from bondage and heal from brokenness and full of joy. Be free when the spirit of the Lord our God is at rest.
There is free heal from you can be free. You can heal from heal from brokenness and full of joy. be free. For the spirit of the Lord our God is at resting is free. You can be healed from you can be healed from bondage and brokenness. The Lord our God is free.
You can be healed from bondage from brokenness and oh joy be free be free be free when the spirit The Lord our God is everlasting his freedom. You can be free from bondage and heal from brokenness and full of joy. Be free when spirit. The Lord our God is at rest is free. You can be free from bondage and heal from brokenness and joy.
When the spirit of the Lord our God is at rest there is real. You can be free from bondage from brokenness and full of joy. Be free. Be free. Be free.
Free. Be free. Free. You are savior free. You are savior free.
You are savior free. You are savior free. You are savior. I’ll never leave you. I’ll never leave you be free.
I’ll never leave you free. I’ll never leave you be free. Cuz you are savior. Yeah. Cuz you are savior free.
Oh, you are savior. Yes, you are saveior. And I’ll never leave you. I’ll never be free. I’ll never leave.
I’ll never leave. Right here in his hands, you’re right here in his hands. Your Yeah. Right here in his hands. Your right here in his hands.
Your Cuz the Lord is my shepherd. Yes, I have everything I need because the Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need. Because the Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need.
Because the Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need because the Lord is because the Lord is my shepherd. I have I have everything I need because the Lord is my Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need. I have everything I need.
Because the Lord is my Lord is my shepherd. I have I have everything I need because the Lord is my Because the Lord is my sheer. I have everything. I have everything I need. That’s why I’m That’s why I’m That’s why I’m save because my I have everything I need.
I have everything I need. You’re my best like you. You’re where my help comes from. Jehovah, my provider. Jehovah n you’re my There’s none like you, Lord.
You’re where my help comes from my Thank you, Jame. Thank you. Thank you, Jame. Thank you. doesn’t like you, Lord. You’re where my help comes from.
We’re going to receive our offering at this time and prepare for dismissal. But before we go, I want everybody to know that Bishop Michael Kushman, who has been with us for several years, um will be moving permanently to San Antonio, Texas. He and his wife, Sister Kushman. They said, “Oh, did you hear?” No, Bishop Kushman came here um when we were in the church at the church in Troy and he has been an incredible support and pillar uh to this ministry, uh personal relationships with different individuals in the house and also the relationship that I have been privileged to share with him. And um he brought a level of intellect.
He brought a level of spiritual wisdom and natural wisdom and fight to the things that we’ve always believed. And so we’re grateful for the time God permitted him and his wife to be with us. We’re really happy. We’re happy for him. his family, their family is in San Antonio and everybody wants to be with their family, you know, at a certain point in their life. He has some family here, too.
But, uh, God has worked it out where that’s the direction he’s guiding them. But we appreciate the both of you so much. uh you’ve been hanging around uh people who are maybe have your maturity uh in wisdom and knowledge and understanding and and biblical comprehension and yet you just came right in and lifted up some and supported others and you both came in so sweet, so gentle and so wise. Sometimes having someone of his caliber, you know, he used to be the presiding bishop of his of an organization, Church of God. um and having someone of that caliber, they will find it hard to metriculate in a church. Uh because they’re used to certain things, but I never sense that in him. He was always there, both of them, to support.
And my wife and I have had the privilege of going to some of their favorite restaurants and our favorite restaurants. And I and I really like the restaurant that we used to go to on what is that 8 Mile Road. Is that it? Yeah. Yeah.
That diner. Some very wonderful things happened at that diner. good conversations and that that’s his place. I wasn’t familiar with it, but I learned uh but he he’s been a they’ve been a great allaround benefit to this house. Let’s clap our hands for the Christmas. Let’s clap our hands for the Christmas really.
And I’m going to ask that they come up here. They come up here and we just want to pray for them as they go. And I’m going ask congregation to stand as we pray. We’re going to stretch forth our hands uh for them to them rather and pray God’s strength and God’s blessing. God’s strength and God’s blessing on them.
Good people. Good people. Face the congregate so they can see you. Yeah. Good people.
Look at these good people. Hallelujah. And and we’re going to be having a reception for them for those of you that would like to greet them and hug on their neck and all of that before you go. Special reception just for them um after service here today.
And so we’re grateful them. Stretch forth your hands to the Kushman. Father, I so appreciate you for sending this the this gift to this house at the time when we needed it the most. You said you’ve given some apostles and some prophets and these were called gifts of the spirit. You sent us a mature gift to help stabilize our journey.
So, first of all, I say thank you. Thank you to you, Bishop and Lady Kushman, who allowed us to unwrap the gift and to handle the gift and to benefit from their ministry. And so now we just ask God that you would give back to them, give back to them something from us for their service in this house. So you promise you would never forget our labor of love. We won’t forget and I know you won’t forget.
And so you give reward them for the work, the contribution that they made at Embassy Covenant Church International. God, the souls that have been touched, the word that has been deposited, the things that have been held up, reward them, oh God. Reward them physically. Reward them by touching their children. Reward them by answering the prayer that’s on their heart.
And ultimately reward them when they go to glory with you. But I pray blessings upon the Kushvas. The Lord bless them with strength in their senior years. The Lord blessed them to flourish in the court of the Lord. Yet this season in their life, even when they’re going to relax and retire while they’re they have while they’re sitting back with their feet up, let them still be fruitful in that time.
And let them want for no good thing in this season of their life. And put it on somebody’s heart to send them a check every now and then. And put it on somebody’s heart to go by and see them every now and then. Let them lack nothing in this time in their life. No fellowship, no word, no encouragement, no monetary gift.
I pray full blessing on their life now in the mighty name of Jesus. Let their marriage continue to be sweet. Bless their children and their offspring to the third generation. We command that blessing now on them until we see them again in Jesus’ name.
Amen. Amen. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Yes.
Let’s thank God for the Christmas. Let’s receive the offering at this time. Raise those gifts up before the the Lord. Raise your gifts up before the Lord. Father, we pray you would bless these gifts.
Bless these gifts. Bless these gifts. We ask God that you would redeem money. redeem it from the life experience of other people who have maybe suffered for that money to come into their hands. We pray for the redemption of all money and we set it aside for your purpose. Let there be a flourishing.
Let there be increase on everyone’s life in Jesus name. Amen. Please bring those gifts from the back. Hey, I am sold out. My mind is made up.
I am so out. My mind is made up. Who can separate us from the love of Jesus? Not dead for life. Jesus paid the price.
Now free from sin. I am sold out. My mind is made up. I am so out. My mind is made up.
I come through the fire. I come through the rain. But God, he never left my side. He’s my comfort through all the worst pain. I am sold out.
My mind is made up. I am so out. My mind is made up. My heart is my mind up. No, no vacancies.
I’m all filled up. His spirit lives in me. And that’s the reason I’m so down. Yeah, my heart is fixing. My mind is f no, no sees I’m walking.
His spirit lives in me and that’s the reason I’m out. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Hallelujah. Praise God.
Praise God. Amen. Amen. There is going to be a reception for the Kushman’s immediately after this service. You can head out to the healing and prayer room where we will celebrate them and celebrate their lives.
Amen. When you leave out, it is in the corridor to the right, to our right, and to your left. We’re going to receive our announcements at this time. On behalf of Bishop Hugh, Pastor Letha, and your Embassy Covenant Church International family, happy birthday to all those born in May. Mark your calendars to join us as we celebrate our graduates on Sunday, June 7th here in the sanctuary following 10:00 a.m. morning worship.
Parents or students, please take a moment to tell us about your graduation or your graduate, what you’ve accomplished, and all the things you’d like us to join you in celebrating. See the midweek email to make your submission by Tuesday, May 26th. Bishop Smith is calling a 7-hour prayer on Friday, June 19th. As we move from the purge to the surge, we will gather together as one collective body in prayer and worship. Make plans to be in the building Friday, June 19th at 700 p.m.
See the midweek email for additional details. Embassy, mark your calendar for Sunday, June 21st. Our 10:00 a.m. morning worship is set aside to celebrate the fathers in our house. Come and celebrate the men who have built well. The fathers, the granddads, the stepdads, the men who fathered you when no one else did.
Bring him. Bring your sons. Bring your whole family. We have a gift for every father, a father’s day tribute, and the father’s day honorable awards where we will be calling some of the men up by name. Sunday, June 21st, 10:00 a.m.
We will see you there. The ECCI church anniversary weekend is quickly approaching. Mark your calendars for June 27th and 28th. Saturday, June 27th will be our fellowship in the park and that Sunday, June 28th will be our friends and family Sunday. Additional details will be provided in your midweek email and additional communications.
Embassy family, as we continue to receive guests from across the body of Christ, we want to make sure we honor our visiting leaders with excellence and proper protocol. If you are inviting or aware of a senior pastor, overseer, bishop, apostle, dignitary, or other ministry leader who will be joining us for Sunday worship, please let our office know in advance. You may do so by completing the guest form on our website located in the footer of the website homepage or by contacting the office directly. If they arrive the same day, please have them sign the guest book and indicate their leadership role. This will help make Bishop aware so that he may properly acknowledge and honor them from the pull pit.
Thank you for helping us receive our guest with order, warmth, and excellence. The men and women in making registration is now open for boys and girls ages 9 to 17. See the midweek email or scan the QR code to sign up today. Are you interested in serving in the Gifted and Called Academy? Sign up in the midweek email or scan the QR code located on the screen and the Gifted and Called Academy team will reach out to you to get started.
Are you interested in serving on the baptism team? Well, you’re in luck. The baptism team is looking for you. Every role plays an important part in creating a welcoming, smooth, and meaningful experience for those taking the next important step in their faith. See the midweek email or scan the QR code on the screen to sign up today.
Embassy’s guest service team is looking for friendly, welcoming, and dedicated members to join our guest services team as ushers. This ministry plays a vital role in creating a warm atmosphere for all who come to worship with us. No experience is needed. See the midweek email to sign up or see someone at guest services. Thank you for choosing to worship with us.
Stay connected with the Embassy Covenant Church family by visiting our website.