Why the Shield of Faith Is More Than a Match for Devils

Our study on the armor of God brings us today to the shield of faith. What an essential piece of armor this is. You know in December 2004, a single question from a young soldier touched off a media firestorm. U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld had come to deliver a pep talk to the troops at Camp Buehring in Kuwait. But the usually unflappable secretary found himself blindsided by a bold query. As news cameras rolled, Army Specialist Thomas Wilson of the 278th Regimental Combat Team asked Rumsfeld, “Why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass to up-armor our vehicles?” Specialist Wilson clearly felt he was being sent into battle without proper protection. As Christians, however, we shouldn’t have that fear. Our Supreme Commander generously equips us with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. But it’s up to us to put them on and put them to use. Are you using the shield of faith?¹ Why the Shield of Faith Is More Than a Match for Devils, that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Manifestation of the Gift of Faith

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Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.
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Study these individual pieces of armor and maintain the spiritual attitudes that they represent.

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Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.
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Question: How has your prayer life changed since you have practiced God’s Word and taken up the Shield of Faith? Share your story in the comments section below.

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of Ephesians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 45 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 40 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Podcast Notes

The Armor of God

Once again, let’s talk about the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:14–17 (ESV) — 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

The Armor of God: The Shield of Faith

What is this shield of faith all about?
Well, we can gain some insight by looking at what the Roman warrior shield consisted of.
And, with that thought, here is the Historical Background of the Day.
This piece of background comes from the Exegetical Summary on Ephesians.

This is the large, heavy, oblong or rectangular shield that could protect most of the body, as opposed to the smaller, lighter, circular ‘buckler or target shield.’ It measured about 4 by 2½ feet and protected the body from the level of the eyes to the top of the greaves at the knees. It was usually made of light wood, or formed on a rim of metal, and covered with several layers of stout hide. The shield was normally carried on the left arm and on the inside surface had straps through which the arm was passed.

So, the shield was made of light wood covered with hide.
Roman soldiers would then take this shield and soak it with water BEFORE the battle.
This pre-soak would help to extinguish the fiery darts.
So, a Roman soldier prepared for the battle BEFORE there ever was a battle.
It would be unwise for a Roman soldier to wait until the battle was upon him before he took the necessary work into getting his shield ready for battle.
The spiritual application is this.
If you try to get faith when you need faith, you are too late.
Your faith shield must be ready to go before the battle ever takes place.
We are too crisis-oriented.
As Jesus followers, we always seem to be behind the curve.
We wait until the crisis comes before we get into our Bibles.
We know that’s how faith comes.

Romans 10:17 (ESV) — 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

We shouldn’t wait until the crisis is upon us before we begin hearing.
Even after the crisis comes, some believers won’t hear.

Proverbs 4:20–23 (ESV) — 20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

The scripture says to be attentive to my words — incline your ear to God’s sayings.
When you do so, God’s words become medicine to your flesh.
You should give God’s Words the same attention as you would the prescription from your doctor.
But, I’ve seen it again and again where believers who are in need of healing, do not put God’s Word into their hearing.
I make it a practice to play healing scriptures if I get to feeling a little bit off in my body.
Why? — God’s Word is medicine – so, take your medicine.
Do it ahead of time — when there is no crisis — that’s one lesson you can glean by looking at the makeup of a Roman shield.
So, your trust in God is like a shield that you carry.

The Armor of God: The Shield of Faith and Flaming Arrows

The scripture says, ‘take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.’
The Greek word extinguish is the one we want to look at and, with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.
The word extinguish means to cause an action, state, or faculty to cease to function or exist, quench, put out²
So there are two problems with flaming darts.
First, is the dart itself.
If a soldier didn’t have his shield up, he could be pierced, punctured, through with the arrow itself.
The second problem is the fire on the tip of the arrow.
Enemy combatants would take these darts or arrows and dip them in tar and light them and hurl them.
Even when such a missile was caught by the shield and did not penetrate the body, it caused panic, because its motion through the air made the arrow blaze more fiercely, so that the soldier was tempted to get rid of his burning shield and expose himself to the enemy’s spear-thrusts.³
So, the arrow in the hand of the enemy was a small flame, but when it was launched through the air, the wind made the flame brighter and hotter.
So here’s the thing; It’s the same dart – the same arrow.
But, it appears to be more of a problem than it is.
It’s vital to know your enemy’s tactics.
He wants you to be upset and panic because of the big flame appearance of the arrow.
Because panic will cause you to drop your shield.
Panic is another word for fear.
And, fear is the opposite of faith.
So, when you get into those modes where you start looking around and say, ‘What am I going to do, what I am going to do’ — that’s shield-dropping territory and now an enemy dart has a chance to penetrate.
Instead of vocalizing fear and panic, what should I do — how should I react to a flaming dart?
When you fall into these situations, ask yourself, ‘What does the Word of God say about this?’
And, instead of saying what you feel, say what the Word says.
Instead of allowing fear to pass through your vocal cords, begin to act like the Bible promise you just quoted.
If the Word of God says you’re healed, and it does, then act like a healed person would act because you believe what God said.
That’s keeping your shield up.
Again, some of the enemy’s tactics are designed to get you to drop your shield.
In several places, the Bible declares that God is your shield.
Take this for example in the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 30:5 — 5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

God becoming a shield and you taking up the shield of faith is the same thing.
In Genesis, the Lord said these words to Abraham.

Genesis 15:1 (ESV) — After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

To Israel the Lord declared.

Deuteronomy 33:29 (ESV) — Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! Your enemies shall come fawning to you, and you shall tread upon their backs.”

The Lord is the shield of your help and the sword of your triumph.

The Armor of God: the Shield of Faith Above All

Let’s reread our passage.

Ephesians 6:16 (ESV) — 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

The King James Version translates this as…

Ephesians 6:16 (KJV) — 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

The KJV starts out as ‘above all’ taking the shield of faith.
The ESV has it as ‘in all circumstances take up the shield of faith.
The words ‘above all’ would seem to imply that the shield is the number one piece of the armor of God.
It’s not the number one piece because the pieces were designed to work together as a whole.
Taking up the whole armor of God means you need all the pieces.
Instead of above all, the words should be translated ‘in addition to.’
In other words, in addition to the gospel shoes of peace, and the breastplate of righteousness, and the loin belt of truth, take up or add to that the shield of faith.

The Armor of God: The Shield of Faith

Now on the website, we have several Bible lessons on the subject of faith.
We should hone in on this shield of faith as there are over five hundred Bible verses that speak of faith and believing.

Ephesians 4:4–6 (ESV) — There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call — 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Today, we highlight this one faith that becomes a shield to your life and mine.

The Shield of Faith: Natural Faith Vs. Bible Faith

Everyone has faith in something.
We often use the example of a chair to illustrate the natural kind of faith.
When you sit in a chair, you are exercising a certain kind of trust, aren’t you?
You have faith that the chair you are getting ready to sit on will hold you up.
This is a natural humankind of faith and has little to do with real Bible faith.
Some even use natural faith in some form of religion.
This is a counterfeit faith that lends itself to works.
Jesus is about relationships, not religion.
He’s about worship, not works.
In this age we live, there is a push towards self-help programs.
Books abound by the thousands in this area.
Some have faith in these self-help programs thinking they can set their lives straight with a little education.
Education is good and right but it’s not Bible faith.
Some individuals consider themselves self-made people.
They glory in their abilities and fortune.
That’s faith in one’s self.
Again it’s a bogus imitation of the real.
The list is unending of areas where people place their confidence beside God.
Science has slithered its way to the forefront – along with evolution, atheism, and human reasoning.
This is a faux faith – an insidious substitute for faith in God.
But, there is only one real faith, can we say ‘real Bible faith’ that works for time and eternity.
It’s based on God’s Word — it’s founded securely on what He declares.
True faith is faith in the one true God—the God who made us, who will judge us, and who has paid the price to save us.
There is one Lord and one faith.
This faith spoken of in Ephesians is the one we need to grasp — it’s the difference maker.
It’s the one that becomes a shield to your life — a protector of your purpose, and a defense from destruction.

Hebrews 11:3 (ESV) — 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God

The Shield of Faith: A Saving Faith

This shield of faith is a saving faith, the book of Ephesians tells us.

Ephesians 2:8 (ESV): 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

The Shield of Faith: A Working Faith

This is real Bible faith, the one that only comes from hearing God’s Word is both a growing faith and a working faith.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 (ESV) — 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith works.
The scripture says it works by love.
Since it works, we should live a life bigger than what we are or where we are.
If we don’t, we’re dead, for faith without works is produces no more than a corpse.
That’s what Jesus righteous half-brother told us.

James 2:20 (ESV) — 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

Shall we stop here or continue on?
Continue on of course because there is so much more to say and learn about the shield of faith.

The Shield of Faith: A Justifying Faith

Romans 5:1–2 (ESV) — 1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

The upright faith is a faith that justifies, that makes us righteous, that makes us as though we had never sinned in our life.
This bleeds over into the breastplate of righteousness that we already spoke of.
So, do you see how all the pieces of armor connect?
Then, this faith is a shield but it’s also a coupling link to all the other pieces of armor.
Don’t believe it yet?

The Shield of Faith: A Firm Faith

2 Corinthians 1:24 (ESV) — 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.

Standing firm.
Do you remember the standing part?
Having done all to stand, stand, therefore?
Yes, we are back to that.
I mean isn’t this the purpose of the shield? — to keep you safe, to keep you whole, to keep you standing tall?
Shall we stop here or continue on?
Of course, we will continue on because there is still so much more to say and learn about the shield of faith.

The Shield of Faith: A Cleansing Faith

Let’s talk about purifying part of faith for a moment.
You find this concept in the book of Acts.

Acts 15:7–9 (ESV) — 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

The ESV uses the word cleansed — the KJV uses the word purifying.
The Greek word cleansed means to make or declare clean.
Louw Nida says the word means to heal a person of a disease which has caused ceremonial uncleanness—‘to heal and make ritually pure, to heal and to make ritually acceptable.’
This word is used for being physically clean.
It’s used for being ceremonially clean.
And, it’s used of being healed in your body.
Cleansing is healing?— yes it is!
That’s what Jesus said.

Matthew 10:8 (ESV) — 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

The leper came to Jesus asking this very thing.

Matthew 8:1–2 (ESV) — 8:1 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

Cleansed by faith is part of your faith shield.

Hebrews 10:19–22 (ESV): — 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

That’s shouting ground!!
Shall we stop here or continue on?
Continue on of course because there is, even more, to say and learn about the shield of faith.

The Shield of Faith: A Receiving Faith

Faith receives, it doesn’t beg.

Mark 11:22–24 (ESV) — 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

So you see, faith receives, it doesn’t just ask.
Asking is part of it, but there is something on the other side of asking.
The scripture said, and we just read it, ‘believe that you receive it’ and it will be yours.
It’s not name it and claim as some have indicated.
Say it like the Bible says it – ask in prayer and believe you receive.
So here’s a fellow believer who decides to ask God for wisdom for his situation.
How should he go about it?

James 1:5–7 (ESV) — 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

Where does the doubting part come from?
It comes from one of the enemy’s darts.
We are to ask without doubting – meaning you put your shield of faith up to extinguish this flaming dart.
Do you see this?
If you don’t combat doubt with your shield of faith, you will end up being all over the place where your request is concerned.
You’ll be wishy-washy — up and down – ‘Did God hear me, I’m not sure – maybe I need to ask again.’
This person won’t receive anything.
The Bible has several examples of people who believed that they received.
Looks at the example that Abraham left for us.

Romans 4:20–21 (ESV) — 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Abraham kept his shield of faith in place.
No unbelief made him waver.
Where did the temptation to not believe come from?
Again, it’s one of those fiery darts of the enemy.
Here’s how it works — you pray, you believe you receive, and then the enemy speaks doubt to your mind.
Instead of casting down imaginations, by the way, that’s another way of ‘taking up the shield of faith,’ you entertain that thought and you begin to waver.
Do you see why the scripture says that we ‘wrestle not against flesh and blood?’

The Armor of God: A Victorious Faith

And finally, as we get ready to close, remember that holding your faith shield high will; bring you to a place of victory.

1 John 5:4 (ESV) — 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

You have world-overcoming faith — that’s what the shield produces for you.
Never mistake it.
Victory is the will of God for you.
This faith—even our faith(!)—is an understanding, saving, living, growing, justifying, purifying, working, protecting, stable, asking, strong, triumphant faith!⁴
That my brother and sister is the shield of faith and that’s how it works.
Did you get anything out of this podcast today?

Now Father God, thank you so much for this precious piece of armor that you have provided for us. We give you all the praise and all the glory and all the honor for it. Help us today to walk in the light of these fabulous truths from your Word. Your Word is the Word of Victory. Your Word is the word of power. Your Word is everything and we set our Hearst to believe that we receive in Jesus Name, Amen.

You guys have a great God-week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

Manifestation of the Gift of Faith

__________
References:

Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 17 ↩
BDAG ↩
NICNT Col/Phm/Eph ↩
Source unknown, Galaxie Software, 10,000 Sermon Illustrations (Biblical Studies Press, 2002). ↩

emeryhorvath.com

Equipping people to pursue God's glory

Why the Shield of Faith Is More Than a Match for Devils

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Twelve

by Emery Horvath

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe in PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of Ephesians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

The Armor of God

The Armor of God: The Shield of Faith

The Armor of God: The Shield of Faith and Flaming Arrows

The Armor of God: the Shield of Faith Above All

The Armor of God: The Shield of Faith

The Shield of Faith: Natural Faith Vs. Bible Faith

The Shield of Faith: A Saving Faith

The Shield of Faith: A Working Faith

The Shield of Faith: A Justifying Faith

The Shield of Faith: A Firm Faith

The Shield of Faith: A Cleansing Faith

The Shield of Faith: A Receiving Faith

The Armor of God: A Victorious Faith

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe in PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of Ephesians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

The Armor of God

The Armor of God: The Shield of Faith

The Armor of God: The Shield of Faith and Flaming Arrows

The Armor of God: the Shield of Faith Above All

The Armor of God: The Shield of Faith

The Shield of Faith: Natural Faith Vs. Bible Faith

The Shield of Faith: A Saving Faith

The Shield of Faith: A Working Faith

The Shield of Faith: A Justifying Faith

The Shield of Faith: A Firm Faith

The Shield of Faith: A Cleansing Faith

The Shield of Faith: A Receiving Faith

The Armor of God: A Victorious Faith

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