Trail Life Troop
NC-613
Devotional – Godly Tools
Opening
- Today we learned a lot about man-made tools, now let’s see what the bible says about God’s tools.
- Read, or someone read the Teaching verse. FYI: The memory verse is further down
Ephesians 6:13-17 Therefore put on the full armor 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.
Devotional
Big picture God protects us. The Lord provides tools we can use to fight evil.
- Q: If you were a knight long ago, what weapons would you want to protect yourself in battle? (Sword, mace, shield, armor, helmet, maybe a horse, a spear maybe, a crossbow.)
- Weapons are tools, too. And, the Ephesians teaching verse talks about all the tools/weapons God gives us to help us in our daily battle with the spiritual forces of evil who want to harm you.
- God doesn’t leave you to fight your spiritual battles alone. He protects us because He loves us.
- However, the devil is no joke. There are evil things that want to kill, steal, and destroy us. The devil is the master of deceptions, and fights with lies, discouragment, and misdirection.
- Q: Like a knight in armor, according to the book of Ephesians, what are the tools that God gives us to fight sin and evil?
- Armor: The FULL armor of God. You are fully armored by God against the devil and his fallen angels. Every part of you is protected by God. You are fully armored for battle with spiritual forces of evil.
- A utility belt: The belt of truth. This belt is the truth according to God. We get God's truth from many godly sources: Bible, wise friends, prayer, etc. The world is full of lies and the devil and his minions whisper lies to you. But God’s truth is like a utility belt that holds all of God’s weapons in it.
- A breastplate: The breastplate of righteousness. This is extra protection for your heart above and beyond the other armor of God. The Bible says the devil shoots spiritual flaming arrows at us. If you do right according to what God tells us to do, and don’t do wrong, you have the breastplate of righteousness to protect your heart from the forces of evil. But if you do wrong, your heart is exposed to the enemy.
- Shoes: The shoes of readiness. Without good shoes you slip and fall. You don’t stand firm when life's pressures come against you. Ephesians says these good shoes are the gospel of peace.
- A shield: The shield of faith. The best protection tool God’s gives us is our faith. If you live by faith, daily, you will have this shield against what all the world and our enemies can throw at us.
- A helmet: The helmet of salvation. Knowing we are saved forever by our faith protects our thoughts.
- A sword: The sword of the Spirit which is the Bible. All the other things we have discussed are armor protection. But the Bible, is the word of God and it is powerful! Reading the Bible daily slays our enemy!
- So, remember these godly tools/weapons. God protects us because He loves us.
Memory Verse #1
Ask if anybody knows it yet and can say it? Read it together 2X Consider having a memory verse pamphlet for kids take home.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.
Topical Questions
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Truths, morals, peace, and faith are taught in the Bible and through godly people we know. What will happen if you look to those who are good examples?
This is sort of like being taught how to use armor. -
Only the sword of the spirit—the Bible—is also an offensive weapon. How can the Bible be used as a weapon to drive off the attacks of the devil?
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God’s tools are the Bible, truth, the gospels, and salvation. Use them together, daily, they protect you. What happens if you leave behind a piece of armor?
Closing Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for providing us protection from Satan and his evil friends. Help us to remember that faith is not believing in what is seen, but what is unseen. Help us remember there are dark forces of evil that we need protection from. Thank you, God, for loving us so much that you do not leave us without tools to protect ourselves from evil. In Jesus’s name we give You thanks. Amen!
