The Armor of God - Monday Manna

By Reverend T.J. Lucas

This past Sunday I prepared a sermon that I did not preach from our pulpit as we had a guest preacher. I did preach it at Calvin Presbyterian Church next door to us as I have been offering pulpit supply to them as needed. You can find Sunday worship with our guest preacher speaking and my sermon only both on our Facebook page (until it gets deleted automatically in 30 days).

That being said, our Monday Manna has to blend two messages for you today. Our guest preacher, Karen Bandemere, evangelist from Jacob's Creek Methodist Church shared a wonderful message to us centered on Ephesians 6:10-18. This passage urges believers to stay spiritually strong by wearing the armor of God in their lives--such as the breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, and sword of the spirit--to stand firm against not just evil in the world but anything that draws us away from God. Karen provided a lot of spiritual depth with other supporting scriptures to this passage as she encouraged us to take on our faith in a protective and prepared kind of way. If faith is good then why do we need to be protected?

Our world likes a prosperity gospel--a feel good message of the faith. We do not like to hear that life will be hard. Many Christians act like they are set apart from human suffering but Jesus even warned his disciples as he sent them out in Matthew 10, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves." That kind of message does not really sell butts in pews but it is the reality of living into the faith. The bible is full of the stories of a perfect God calling imperfect people into relationship with one another and the divine. I believe strongly God desires only goodness for us but just a read through Exodus and you will see how short-sighted and unfaithful people can be. The people God freed from slavery, who received a word of instruction alongside Mount Sinai in Exodus 19 to which they whole heartedly and unanimously agreed to live by were worship an idol in the form of a golden calf by Exodus 32. God could not give them an easy pathway to the promised land because they blocked their own blessings and this is where my sermon steps in.

I focused my message on our lack of faith and God's faithfulness illustrated mainly by Sarah in the book of Genesis. Sarah and Abraham were a people of the promises of God. And while they had faith in God, they did not always live as faithfully as they should and I argue that this delayed their blessings for much later in life. For example, in our scripture for Sunday in Genesis 18, Sarah overhears she will have a son by three strange visitors that they extend hospitality to that we are to understand as readers as the presence of God. She mocks the promise with a laugh to herself which she is called out for and she denies, thinking there is no way they heard it for it was a private internal laugh. Yet, there is nothing we can hide from God. Her laugh is a trauma response from a life that has led to disappointment in her old age. In her youth, she was a beautiful woman. So much so, Abraham feared for his own life during travel. This is where I believe they blocked their blessing.

Abraham, as her husband, should be a spiritual leader in the relationship. We submit to our husbands because our husbands are to be providers and protectors that gain that ability by first submitting to God. And don't forget, ,men submit to their wives as well as God has created women with divine purpose to support, multiply and nurture whatever he provides in the relationship. If you bring your wife trouble then that is what gets multiplied and mirrored back. If you bring your wife peace then that is what gets nurtured in your home. A happy wife is a happy life isn't just a funny phrase. There is some truth to it. Abraham was a good provider as a tent maker but during life's trials (see Genesis 12) there was a great famine that led them to Egypt where he told Sarah to lie and pretend to be his sister.

What he should have done was pray over her before they entered. As God (the third one in any marital union as a third cord string is not easily broken) could have been a source of strength for them as a couple. That would have been the right way to lead her instead of the way of deception. Pharaoh took Sarah into his harem (and this would not be the only time Abraham used his wife in this matter protect himself) and gave Abraham cattle as a reward. God being more faithful than her husband, knew she did not belong there and being the girl dad he is, sent plagues upon pharaoh who finally figured out it was due to Abraham's deception so he sent Sarah back and them both away. I will argue that this created a trauma wound in their marriage and in Sarah's womb.

She was a married woman forced into another man's bed by her own husband. You can't tell me that didn't come with deep hurt. And even when she hears the promise of a child in 18, that hurt remains. She has a deep distrust in her ability to bare children to this man. She even takes matters into her own hands in chapter 16, growing impatient with the timeline of God, and has Abraham sleep with her servant to conceive an heir.

Again, Abraham should have redirected her but instead agreed to the deceptive way of bearing a son. And while this couple is disloyal to God again, God remains faithful. God's blessings fall upon Ishmael and his mother Hagar even when they are later cast away. To draw on the wisdom our guest preacher shared, we truly do need to train ourselves daily in the Word of God and put on our spiritual armor regularly because the ease to which any of us to go astray or lean on our own understanding is daunting. The good news is that God is faithful every step of the way. God's timeline was intended to bring forth the very best for Sarah and Abraham just like God's timeline for us and for all of humanity is with the best of intentions. So one day we can all hold God's promises with laughter and song.

By Genesis 21, Sarah's laugh is transformed. It is one she shares instead of conceals or lies about. Sarah rejoices in God's faithfulness with laughter she shares with all as she holds the promises of God in her arms--Isaac (his name meaning one who laughs)

Kick of your week with the Word of God, putting on the armor with our weekly spiritual practice of Dwelling in the Word:

The Four Movements of Lectio Divina AKA Dwelling in the Word

Taking time to slow down and simply dwell in the Word is one of the most life-giving rhythms we can cultivate. In a world that constantly demands we read for information or efficiency, this spiritual practice invites us to read for intimacy and transformation. It is about letting the text master us, rather than us trying to master the text.

Here is a simple, four-step guide to help you sit with the Scriptures, followed by brief, clear summaries of the passages you’ve selected to guide your reflection.

Before you begin, find a quiet space, take a few deep breaths, and invite the Holy Spirit to speak.

• 1. Lectio (Read): Read the passage slowly, gently, and preferably aloud. Don't rush to finish. Just listen for a single word, phrase, or image that seems to shimmer or catch your attention.

• 2. Meditatio (Reflect): Read the passage a second time. Take that specific word or phrase and chew on it. Why did the Spirit highlight this for you today? How does it intersect with your current joys, burdens, or questions?

• 3. Oratio (Respond): Read the passage a third time. Now, turn your reflections into an honest prayer. Talk to God as you would a trusted friend—pour out your gratitude, your doubts, your requests, or your repentance based on what the text stirred up.

• 4. Contemplatio (Rest): Read the passage one final time. Release all your thoughts and simply rest silently in God’s presence, letting His love wash over you like a deep exhale.

  
  

Scripture Summaries for Reflection This Week

Use these one line summaries of the text to pick which scripture you will dwell in each day of this week. I have found staying in one scripture for a longer period of time can draw out more than bouncing between several. These are from the Revised Common Lectionary. You can read them in full all together here.

• Genesis 21:8–21 — God hears the cries of Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness, providing for them and reaffirming His promise to make Ishmael a great nation.

• Psalm 86:1–10, 16–17 — The psalmist pleads for God's mercy and deliverance, trusting in His steadfast love, power, and faithfulness.

• Jeremiah 20:7–13 — Despite suffering and ridicule for proclaiming God's word, Jeremiah cannot remain silent because God's message burns within him, and he trusts God for vindication.

• Psalm 69:7–10, (11–15), 16–18 — Enduring rejection and disgrace for devotion to God, the psalmist cries out for rescue, mercy, and redemption from overwhelming troubles.

• Romans 6:1b–11 — Through baptism believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, called to live free from sin and alive to God.

• Matthew 10:24–39 — Jesus teaches that faithful discipleship requires courage, public loyalty to Him, and a willingness to sacrifice even the closest relationships for His sake.