Today as we continue our study of the armor of God, we will be spending
time on verse 16 of Ephesians 6 which says,
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."
Along with the other pieces of armor, we Christian soldiers are told to
take into our spiritual battles the shield of faith. In war, the shield
was a broad piece of defensive armor usually 4 feet by 2 feet and was
used in battle for the protection of the body. The shields of the ancients
were of different shapes and sizes, triangular, square, oval etc. and
made of leather or wood- covered leather and worn on the left arm. As
the soldier held it before him, it was a good defense against arrows,
darts, and spears. Sounds like a pretty important piece of equipment
if you ask me!
Do you think the shield of faith is important? Really? Are you taking
hold of it? Just like the soldier facing physical battle, the shield does
you and I no good unless we reach for it and take firm hold of it....
The Bible tells us in Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the Word of God."
Ladies, this is the way we take up our shield of faith - by spending time
in the Word of God - ABOVE ALL else we do. I hope you are reaching for
your Bibles more often than just on Sunday mornings! It is living faith
that the Christian soldier needs, for it is a weapon which protects us
from Satan's fiery darts every day. In the apostle Paul's day, arrows
dipped in a flammable substance and ignited were shot at enemies. Nothing
much has changed since then, for when it comes to Satan's arrows, he sends
out fiery darts as well! He is a pyromaniac - the devil loves to start
fires! He shoots those fiery darts at our hearts and minds with the intent
of igniting disobedience against God within us. Been hit by one of those
lately? If so, you forgot to take up your shield of faith.... You did
not consider it important above all else.
Psalm 119:114, "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy
word."
You never know when Satan will shoot a dart at you, so why not be prepared
and use that shield for protection - stay in your Bible, soldier!! The
more you read the Word, the bigger your shield of faith gets, and the
less likely you are to ever be hit by one of his darts again... I didn't
say they wouldn't be sent out - I said you wouldn't be hit! My Bible
tells me that standing behind our shield we will be able to quench ALL
the fiery darts of the wicked, no exceptions! What victory faith brings
to our lives when it comes to fighting spiritual battles....
1 John 5:4, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and
this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
Let's review faith... Faith is utter dependency upon God, upon His presence
and His power. Faith puts God between you and the enemy. Faith trusts
God for safety and security and marches forth obediently into the battle,
fearless and unharmed. As the fiery darts of the enemy are shot toward
us, they simply bounce off our shield and fall to the ground unable to
accomplish their efforts to destroy us. Praise God! We can enjoy the
same spiritual victories with the saints gone by....
Hebrews 11:33-34, "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence
of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong,
waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens."
What an invincibility is ours, all of which is accomplished by faith in
the Lord and obedience to His Word! Doesn't that just make you want to
shout??
Deuteronomy 28:7, "The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against
thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee
one way, and flee before thee seven ways."
Ladies, when you and I come to the place of realizing that God will help
take care of our enemies, then we can rest behind our shield of faith.
However, there is no rest for our souls when we don't pick up our shields
and hold them in front of us! Nor will they be of any value if we don't
hold them in high regard.... Instead of experiencing peace in battle,
we would be worrying every moment when the next dart might be sent and
what direction it might come from! When trusting and resting in the Lord
and His Word, we won't get tired in the battle or fall out of the fight,
nor will we be holding our shields while trembling for fear... God Himself
is our protector!
Proverbs 30:5, "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that
put their trust in Him."
In what way might your faith need to be increased? Are you daily trusting
in God as you diligently look into His perfect and pure Word to increase
your faith? Are you looking to the Lord for help when Satan targets your
heart and mind with lies, blasphemous thoughts, doubts, fears, hatred
toward others, burning desires for sin? If so, you have picked up your
shield and will be safe in battle. But if not, you'll be set on fire
of hell... Hold tightly to it and use it, for there is no other guarantee
of spiritual protection without this important piece of armor!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
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