The Art of the Surge: 9 am

Devotional

Day 1: Wear God's full armor to move and advance.

The Christian's call is not to huddle defensively but to put on the full armor of God and surge forward. Truth as the belt holds everything together; righteousness protects the heart; salvation secures the mind; faith is the daily shield maintained by the Word and the Spirit; and the sword of the Spirit makes the believer proactive against lies. When all pieces are worn and tended, the body of Christ moves as one advancing wave rather than a fearful remnant. [02:48]

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NASB)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

Reflection: Which piece of the armor are you neglecting right now? What concrete, daily practice will you start this week to fasten truth, polish your faith shield, or wield the sword of the Spirit in opposition to the lies you most often believe?

Day 2: Wait, listen, then act at God's timing.

God sometimes calls for patient waiting so He can prepare the path and bring angelic help ahead of the surge. David inquired of the Lord, waited for the precise signal, then moved and won a decisive victory; rushing would have invited defeat. Practicing patience is not passivity but disciplined readiness until the Lord says, "Now." [12:29]

2 Samuel 5:24 (NASB)
24 Now when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.

Reflection: What situation are you tempted to rush through instead of waiting on the Lord, and what will you do this week to listen for His specific timing before you act?

Day 3: God's protection shields the righteous amid chaos.

When the righteous live in God's truth and walk in the gospel of peace, hostile circumstances may rage yet not reach them. Psalm 91 pictures divine protection so the believer can stand firm while storms rage around them and still behold the downfall of the wicked. That stability is rooted in identity—justified, righteous, and protected in Christ. [05:52]

Psalm 91:7-8 (NASB)
7 A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you.
8 You will only look, and see the recompense of the wicked.

Reflection: In the last month, when did you feel pressured by what you saw in the world or media, and what truth will you rehearse aloud to anchor yourself in God's protection this week?

Day 4: Use divine, not fleshly, weapons against strongholds.

The battle begins in the mind and is waged with spiritual weapons—truth, prayer, Scripture—not with human reasoning or reaction. Those weapons are divinely powerful to demolish strongholds and to take captive every thought that rises against the knowledge of God. Discipline your mind by daily renewing it with Scripture so the enemy's schemes lose their foothold. [09:20]

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NASB)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

Reflection: Identify one recurring thought or lie that undermines your obedience; what specific Scripture will you memorize and speak back to that lie each morning and evening this week?

Day 5: Those who know God will act boldly.

Knowing God produces boldness that looks like audacious obedience—surging when others shrink back, creating atmosphere for the Spirit, and keeping the enemy off guard. Faith that moves is not polite hesitation but forceful, holy insistence on kingdom gains; God responds to that boldness and sends heaven to assist. Be willing to look unusual, step out in faith, and let the church advance. [25:41]

Daniel 11:32 (NASB)
32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant will be corrupted by flatteries; but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.

Reflection: What is one bold step of obedience God is asking you to take—something that might look risky or strange—and what is the first practical thing you will do in the next 48 hours to begin that step?

Sermon Summary

God is calling us to surge—sweep forward like a wave—rather than live stuck in defense mode. Many of us are feeding our fears by sitting under a steady stream of news and social media, then wondering why our hearts feel heavy even after time in the Word. We’re meant to advance. Ephesians 6 shows us how: put on the full armor of God. Truth is the belt that holds everything else in place; without it, righteousness feels shaky, salvation feels uncertain, and peace slips off our feet. Faith is not a trinket—it’s a shield that must be cared for daily, like the Roman soldier’s leather shield that needed oil and water so it wouldn’t crack and could quench fiery darts. The sword of the Spirit makes us proactive: when the enemy lies, we answer with truth.

This is a spiritual battle, and it starts in the mind. We don’t fight with fleshly tools, but with God’s power to pull down strongholds and take every thought captive. Armor is for movement. We don’t wear it to huddle; we wear it to advance.

The enemy is strategic, but our Father is more so. David shows us the art of the surge: inquire, listen, obey, and move in God’s timing. When the Philistines came twice, God didn’t give the same plan twice. One time it was “go up,” another time “circle around and wait until you hear marching in the tops of the balsam trees.” Timing mattered. Waiting mattered. When it seemed like nothing was happening, God was going before him. The kingdom does not advance through passivity. Life does not yield its ground to fear or hesitation. The key to spiritual victory is not merely surviving an attack, but initiating a surge—moving in obedient faith so the enemy is always reacting to our next step.

Boldness matters. God responds to those who step when He speaks, even when it looks unusual to others. He is not looking for spectators but partners—hands and feet He can move through. Know your God, keep His voice the loudest, tend your shield daily, and surge. Those who know their God will be strong and do exploits.

Key Takeaways

1. Armor is for forward movement Our gear is not for hiding but for advancing. Truth steadies the whole person so righteousness, peace, and salvation can function under pressure. Movement requires clarity, and clarity comes from truth held close and lived out. If we wear the armor but refuse to move, we miss the point of why God armed us. [09:20]
2. Maintain and soak your faith shield daily Faith cracks when it lacks care. Oil it with the Word, refresh it by the Spirit, and “soak” it so fiery darts are quenched on contact. Yesterday’s preparation can’t protect today’s heart; daily tending builds a resilient, ready faith. Consistency in small disciplines creates strength in big conflicts. [05:52]
3. Seek fresh strategy, not assumptions David asked God again, even when the enemy looked familiar, and God gave a different plan. Assuming “what worked last time” often puts us where God is no longer moving. Inquiry keeps us responsive; presumption makes us predictable. Fresh guidance is how God keeps us alive to His wisdom rather than our routines. [12:29]
4. Wait for the marching in the trees Timing is not a delay tactic—it is a weapon. Waiting until God goes before you turns battles into walkthroughs and pressure into peace. What looks like silence often hides angelic activity on your behalf. Patience is faith stretched over time, and it positions you for decisive victory. [19:21]
5. Bold obedience keeps the enemy reactive The kingdom advances through people who initiate by faith, not those who wait for ideal conditions. Bold steps—often unusual ones—create space for the Spirit to move and disrupt the enemy’s rhythm. When you act on God’s whisper, hell scrambles to keep up. Obedience is the surge that turns the tide. [22:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:48] - Armor essentials: truth to salvation
[05:52] - The faith shield: oil and water
[09:20] - Armor is for movement, not hiding
[12:29] - David anointed; Philistines press in
[16:08] - Inquiring of the Lord is a habit
[19:21] - Waiting for marching in the trees
[22:50] - Offense over defense: initiate the surge
[25:41] - Boldness that creates an atmosphere
[29:08] - Partnering with God to do exploits

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (NASB)
Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

Observation questions

Ephesians 6:11–13 commands believers to “put on the full armor of God” and “stand firm.” In what ways does the passage imply posture for movement rather than passive hiding? [09:20]
Verse 14 lists the belt of truth first. How does truth function like a belt for the rest of the armor in this passage—and why would the belt be foundational for the breastplate, feet, helmet and sword? [09:20]
Verse 16 calls the shield “faith” and Ephesians 6 shows it as able to extinguish flaming arrows. What details in the passage explain how that shield works in battle? [05:52]
Read Ephesians 6:17–18. What role does the “sword of the Spirit” and continual prayer play in moving from defense to proactive spiritual engagement? [09:20]

Interpretation questions

What does “stand firm” (v.11, v.13) mean in light of the command to “take up the full armor” and the sermon’s claim that armor is intended for advance rather than retreat? [09:20]
How should “taking every thought captive” (see the sermon’s reference to pulling down strongholds) shape daily habits of thinking and speech in a way that supports spiritual advance? [09:20]
Why might God give a different battle plan at two different times (as with David and the Philistines), and what does that suggest about the relationship between obedience and strategy? [12:29]
How should “waiting until you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees” be understood as a spiritual discipline rather than passive inactivity? What does the timing signal teach about God’s movement ahead of us? [19:21]

Application questions

The mind is a battlefield; constant news and social media can feed fear. What one practical fast or boundary around media will you set this week to protect your mind and create space to hear God? [02:48]
The shield of faith needs daily care—“oiling” with the Word and “soaking” in the Spirit. What specific daily routine (Scripture reading, short prayers, worship, journaling) will you commit to for the next seven days to tend your faith? [05:52]
The belt of truth steadies the whole person. What truth from Scripture do you need to rehearse aloud this week when lies attack (for example: identity in Christ, justification by faith, God’s provision)? How and when will you rehearse it? [09:20]
David inquired of the Lord before he moved. What is a current decision or step you need to “inquire” about—who will you ask God, how will you wait for His answer, and what will count as confirmation for you? [12:29]
The sermon emphasized waiting for God’s timing as an active weapon. Describe one area of life where you tend to act too quickly. What concrete practice will help you wait on God’s timing there (e.g., a 24-hour pause, a prayer period, counsel from a mature believer)? [19:21]
Bold, unusual obedience can keep the enemy off balance. What is one bold, obedient step—small or large—you feel led to take in the next two weeks that would advance God’s kingdom in your context? What would be the first practical move you’ll take? [22:50]

Observation, interpretation, and application questions are written to help groups reflect on Ephesians 6 and the life of faith: caring for the shield, listening for God’s direction, practicing patient timing, and stepping forward in obedient boldness. Use them to guide honest sharing and concrete next steps.

Sermon Clips

before they actually went into battle they would take that shield that they've been taken care of and they dip it in water and so when they would go out in formation when they would go forward they would hold that shield in front of them and it would look like one big tank your faith covers you when the enemy shoots those fiery darts at you why can you extinguish it because you've been taking care of that shield so when the enemy hits your face shield it extinguishes that fiery dart so it is so necessary forfor us to take care of the faith shield in order for us to surge in order for us to advance [00:07:02] (44 seconds) #FaithShieldMatters

don't be fooled come in the church one day out the week is not enough again you have got to all of that faith shield every day every day because it is a spiritual battle armor is for movement our armor is not just to to sit and protect ourselves fromevery little thing that comes along no our armor is for movement [00:09:30] (26 seconds) #ArmorIsForMovement

knows better than we do because he sees the whole chessboard so even though the enemy is strategic in what he does don't be fooled and think oh well this is what happened last time see that's where we mess up because we make the assumption that the warfare is going to be the same i don't know why god told him to go a different way i just know he did and so god knows better so the bible says when david inquired of the lord i like that aboutdavid this is not the only place in scripture where he did that david had a habit of inquiring of the lord [00:15:39] (38 seconds) #GodSeesTheWholeBoard

i rather he go out and make the way straight for me and i just show up i rather just i've missed it i've gone before god on some things but in his grace i'm so glad he didn't abandon me but it would have been a whole lot easier if i would have waited because god's timing is the right time [00:19:27] (22 seconds) #WaitOnGodsTiming

you see when it seems that god isdoing nothing and it's is silent he's actually up to something even in daniel chapter 10 i love i often i love that chapter because it's a reminder to me there's some stuff going on in the heavenlies that has nothing to do with me but the angels are worried in my behalf so if i just wait and allow him to work then it's gonna work out for me [00:19:50] (28 seconds) #GodWorkingBehindScenes

life is not gonna wait or produce for those of us that are tempted those of us that are sitting back that are cowered um in fear life doesn't produce for that we're not to be laying waiting a lot of us we sit and we waiting on god to move we waiting on god to do some things but he's waiting on you he's waiting on your words he's waiting on your boldness he's waiting on you to make a movethe enemy is kept off balance when we just act when we just make a move [00:23:20] (38 seconds) #MoveDontWait

spiritual victory is not in surviving an attack but in initiating a surgemoving in obedience and faith that the enemy will always be reacting to your next step don't you want to live life like that where you can keep the enemy off balance keep him trying to figure out what's next confusing the confuser right he's the master computer but keeping him in confusion amen [00:23:59] (32 seconds) #SurgeNotSurvive

our challengeour challenge our challenge is to partner with god we have to partner with god again he's waiting on you we're waiting on him but he needs a body he needs hands he needs feet everybody's sitting in here you have a place in the body of christ your members in particular every joint is dependent on the other joint every joint every joint and those hidden parts are the most important how long you gonna livewithout a heart how long are you gonna live without lungs [00:27:51] (47 seconds) #BeGodsHandsFeet

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