KEEPING THE FAITH | Put on the full armor of God
While it is true that “no weapon formed against you shall prosper” or be able to fulfill its intended purpose, it does not imply the nonexistence of the device, situation or circumstance. This week’s missive is to embolden the faith of those who have been bruised and wounded, yet remain committed to the works of ministry.
Paul shares an encouraging word to the people of his day that has application in our own lives. In Ephesians 6:10-19, he provides a final word of exhortation:
Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Paul also sought the covering of prayer, asking for God to give him the right words so he could boldly explain God’s mysterious plan, that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. He concluded by acknowledging his current situation as a prisoner in chains, yet still preaching the message as God’s ambassador.
Notice Paul refused to let persecution or prosecution to mute his message. In truth, distractions don’t look like distractions until they finish distracting you. Case in point: Fiery darts are not the dangerous element. It’s the one that comes quickly afterwards that injures you, as your attention is diverted toward the fire.
What exactly are these darts? They are called archers and they are introduced for the first time in Genesis 49:23. They shoot destructive thoughts and unbelief into the hearts of the righteous to destroy their foundation of faith. They do not go after failures but those who have the potential to succeed. If you are experiencing an unprovoked attack from enemy it is because you are deemed a threat.
Pastor Charon Cuprik shared a profound testimony for those who may encounter personal attacks from the enemy in a public environment:
“When trouble comes your way, count it as a time of joy. Why would we do that? Trouble is not a joyful experience. I have learned firsthand that it can actually be joyful. You see in this season my endurance has grown enormously. I’m ready for anything. I learned the importance of putting on my full armor of God every single day to protect me from the wiles of the enemy. My mind is sharp and my heart is pure. Although I have grounds for anger, I have chosen to have no bitter root in me. I have learned to not rob myself in trusting people, but to set healthy boundaries with unhealthy people.”
She continued on to share that many people are truly trusting.
Cuprik is determined not to bleed on those who did not cut her. She has learned to pray for her enemies, even blessing them with a healthy heart. Because of “the cross,” her home is determined to enjoy living in love, forgiveness and wisdom beyond their years.
So you see, when trouble came, truth became them! For His glory, they are humbled that God built up their endurance through this season of trouble. Pastor Cuprik contends from these fresh experiences that the Cupriks are stronger, wiser, healthier and more anointed than ever.
The cross means more than just a man dying. Jesus was the ultimate example on how to live. Joy is released when trusting in God alone. God has great plans and it is an honor to be chosen to do hard things which ultimately reveal what we are made of. Jesus did hard things. So when you have done all to stand — maintain your ground and keep the faith!
Get your house in order
The pandemic upended and caught many families off-guard, resulting in legal and estate challenges. I’m reminded in II Kings 20:1-2 when King Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message:
“This is what the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.” However, when Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord.
I am sharing this information to encourage you to have your own affairs in order. Make sure all bank accounts have direct beneficiaries. In the event of death, the beneficiary will only need only go to the bank with the certified death certificate and their own identification.
- If you own a home, completing a Transfer on Death Deed and filing it with your county saves your heirs thousands of dollars. This document allows you to transfer ownership of your home to your designee. All they need to do is take their ID and your death certificate to the county building and the deed is signed over. Doing this will avoid the home having to go through probate court.
- A Living Will allows you to put in writing exactly what you want done in the event you cannot speak for yourself when it comes to health care decisions;
- A Durable Power of Attorney allows you to designate a person to make legal decisions on your behalf if no longer competent to do so;
- A Power of Attorney for Healthcare allows you to designate someone to make healthcare decisions for your person;
- A Last Will and Testament designates to whom personal belongings will go to;
- A Funeral Planning Declaration allows you to say exactly your wishes as far as disposition of the body and the services.
If the above documents are done, you may possibly avoid probate. If all the above is not done, you will likely have to open an estate account at the bank. All money that doesn’t have direct beneficiaries goes into this account. You have to have an attorney to open the estate account. The attorney also has to publicize your passing in the newspaper or post publication at the county courthouse, to allow anyone to make a claim on your property. It’s a complete pain, and public.
Make a list of all banks and account numbers, all investment institutions with account numbers, lists of credit cards, utility accounts, etc. Leave clear instructions as to how and when these things are paid. Make sure heirs know where life insurance policies are located. Make 100% sure someone who is trustworthy knows your Apple ID, bank ID account logins, passwords and where your documents are maintained. Ensure you have titles for all vehicles, campers, motorcycles, etc.
Talk with those closest to you and make all your wishes known. Talk to those whom you’ve designated, as well as those close to you whom you did not designate. Do this to explain why your decisions were made and to avoid any lingering questions or hurt feelings.
I hope this helps. I hope this lights a spark to encourage all your friends and family to take care of these things and make it easier for those we all leave behind. I encourage you to discuss these matters with an attorney and financial advisor of your choice. It is my hope that this helps you start an important conversation with your loved ones.
How This Works Series
Come see how Youngstown City Council works today from 4:30 to 6;30pm via Zoom.
Please note that while members of council are invited, they cannot discuss or conduct business in accordance to public meeting regulations. It will be an opportunity for civic engagement.
Charity at home
The Needle’s Eye Christian Life Center will be the beneficiary of a pasta dinner fundraiser hosted by the Knights of Columbus at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4500 Norquest Blvd., Austintown, today from noon to 5 p.m. The $10 meals include pasta with meatballs, salad, bread and butter and dessert.
Needle’s Eye has a sterling reputation of addressing drug and alcohol abuse for nearly 50 years. Founded by the late Erma Davis, the mission continues her brand of tough love and a no-nonsense approach to address matters of recovery, youth development and prevention services.
Charity abroad
A committee of parishioners of St. Nicholas and Infant Jesus of Prague Byzantine Catholic churches will be raising funds for Ukrainian relief during a stuffed cabbage dinner today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Byzantine Center at the Grove, 3801 Shady Run Road, Youngstown. The dinner will include stuffed cabbage, mashed potatoes, corn, a roll with butter and dessert.
The dinner is carryout only, and while walk-ins are welcomed, preorders are recommended. The dinner is $14, and additional stuffed cabbage will be sold for $4 each or $40 for a dozen. To place an order, call 330-782-6388. Father Mykhaylo Farynets, the pastor of the churches, and his family are from Ukraine. All the benefits from the sale will be donated to Eparchy Mukachevo in Western Ukraine.
Pastoral installation
The members and staff of the Cathedral Church of God in Christ, 2940 Martin Luther King Blvd., Cleveland, will formally install Elder Emmitt L. Nevels Jr. as senior pastor. Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle John Drew Sheard Sr. will officiate the services. There will be special seating for clergy and spouses for the service. For further information, call 216-721-0572.
HOPE Conference 2022
The Covelli Centre, 229 E. Front Street, Youngstown, will host the annual HOPE Conference on Thursday, May 12, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The major focus of event is for re-entry from correctional facilities, however, any individual in need is welcome.
There will be community partners, agencies, organizations and potential employers in attendance. Representatives from the bar association will also be on-hand to address sealing of records and records modifications through the Certificate of Qualification for Employment. Staff from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles will discuss Ohio’s Suspended License Intervention Program.
Kingdom conference
Power of the Kingdom will be hosted by Apostle Michael and Pastor Wilena Scott of Lighthouse Covenant Ministries, 1755 Shehy Street, Youngstown, on May 13 to 15. Speakers include Pastor Deniela Williams of Akron, Apostle Robert Jenkins of New Orleans and Minister Jon Paul Henderson of Cincinnati.
Elder speak
I often cite the African proverb, “A library is burned when an elder dies.” The repository of information within these now-silent vessels often compels me to attempt to salvage random truths and thoughts to rebuild the archives of our own memories. I actually am guided by the sage thoughts of those who embrace truth however and wherever it manifests itself. Consider these thoughts for personal reflection:
“Remember, no human condition is ever permanent. Then you will not be overjoyed in good fortune, nor too sorrowful in misfortune.” — Attributed to Socrates
“Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but certainty that something makes sense regardless of how it turns out.” — Václav Havel, former president of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic
“Treat strangers like friends and friends like family.” — Bob Evans
“The spiritual significance for me is that whatever time I have on this earth will be spent trying to bring about better relationships between people.” — The late Rev. Lonnie Kwajo Asim Simon, humanitarian and pastor emeritus of New Bethel Baptist Church
“My experiences changed me from a traditional church pastor to becoming involved in the community. It’s more than just preaching and teaching on Sunday morning.” — Rev. Lonnie Kwajo Asim Simon
“God is a Spirit. God is for all people” — Rev. Lonnie Kwajo Asim Simon
