The Book of Ephesians Pt. 56 The Mighty Shield of Faith
Paul has taught us much truth in his letter to the church at Ephesus. He gave three chapters of apostolic doctrine followed by three chapters containing the application of the doctrine. He taught us how marriage, family and master/servant relationships are to glorify God.
Our attention was directed to putting on the whole armor of God. We need His protective armor so we can stand firm in our faith in Christ, immovable and not yielding up any ground to our enemy, the Devil. Putting on the whole armor of God must be done every day.
God's protective armor includes encircling us with His truth and righteousness, and having our feet prepared with the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:10-15 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
The Shield of Faith.
Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
So far, we have been given three pieces of body armor: the breastplate of righteousness, the girdle of truth and a foot covering of the gospel of peace. These depict a believer being born again and having the righteousness of Christ imputed to his or her account (Matthew 7:21-23). They depict a believer learning to faithfully and consistently take in the Word of God and having our minds renewed (Matthew 7:24-27). They depict knowing Jesus Christ because He is the way, the truth and the life, and through Him we have peace with God (John 14:6; 1 Corinthians 1:3).
Each piece of armor joins together to protect our torso, loins and feet. The words "above all" means we are given a piece of armor that goes over and across the breastplate, the girdle and the foot covering. Paul follows the words "above all" by naming two pieces of defensive armor: The shield of faith and the helmet of salvation.
What is the shield of faith? The word "shield" refers to the large oblong oval door-like shield of the Romans, four feet long by two and a half feet wide.
Faith in Jesus Christ is pictured like a large defensive shield that protects the whole body of a soldier. It is our faith in God as our Father, faith in Christ as our Redeemer, faith in the Spirit as our Sanctifier and Strengthener, faith in all the promises and revelation of God.
What does the shield of faith do? The shield of faith will certainly intercept and “quench" all the "fiery darts” that Satan unleashes against us. The word "quench" specifically means to put out or extinguish a fire.
A "fiery dart" is a weapon tipped with inflammable materials, curiously constructed and adapted to set on fire anything that it strikes. Known as Greek fire, it had a highly combustible coating that could not be extinguished by water. The Greek, Roman and Byzantine empires used it as a highly effective naval weapon to destroy enemy ships.
The picture before us is that Satan launches fiery darts that are spiritual weapons designed to ignite a fire within us that cannot easily be put out.
Satan's fiery darts fueled by lust.
James 4:1-3 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2) Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
James pinpoints a primary cause of discord among the brethren. Discord and dissension in the church comes because of lust driven desires that we all have. People push their agendas as if their ideas are the only ones that matter. They lust for things that they do not have or lust for things that God says we cannot have. This causes fighting and warring within our own soul and between brothers and sisters in Christ.
Love of the world fuels lust in us.
1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
John commands us in clear terms not to love the world. Why? Because the world is full of fleshly lusts, lusts driven by what we see and pride in our lives that is ignited by lust.
Metaphorically, Satan's fiery darts aim for our minds and hearts to inflame lust, pride, revenge, or other evil feelings. Lustful passion and unchecked emotion can erupt suddenly in the mind, and they are the painful experience of every Christian. None of us are immune to his fiery darts, yet God tells us with every temptation He also makes a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Faith is essential for a right view of God & creation.
Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2) For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3) Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Faith is believing in things we cannot see and putting our trust and hope in the promises of God. Faith brought Old Testament saints into a right relationship with God. Faith in God brings a right worldview, where we understand that God created all things and gave life to all living things. God governs His creation and sustains all life. Therefore, He is worthy of our worship and praise and love.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
God is not pleased with unbelief. God will reward those who earnestly seek him by faith.
Faith brings the mighty working of God.
Hebrews 11:32-34 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34) 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.
Hebrews 11 is a chapter that tells us about many people of faith from the Old Testament. This text is kind of a summary of how God responds to faith. Enemy kingdoms were defeated by faith. The righteousness of God was put on display through faith.
Faithful believers obtained promises from God. Daniel's faith stopped the lions from attacking him. Faith put out the violence of fire. Faith helped people safely escape battle. Faith brought courage to those who were weak.
Thus, the shield of faith will quench those fiery darts launched by the Devil. The shield of faith will put out a sinful emotional eruption and stifle an ungodly passion of lust in us.
Notice some of our Lord's statements about faith.
Faith that God will provide for our daily needs.
Matthew 6:30-34 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Jesus taught His disciples that our Father in heaven will provide for our physical needs just as He provides for our spiritual needs. He sends rain and sunshine on both the righteous people as well as the unbelievers. He provides for food, clothing and shelter. Therefore, Jesus said not to spend time and energy fretting about things the Father will provide. Rather, our energies should be given to seeking the kingdom of God first.
Lack of faith causes fear.
Mat 8:25-27 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26) And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27) But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Jesus rebuked His disciples many times for being afraid due to a lack of faith. They had witnessed many miracles yet lacked the faith that Jesus could feed 5,000 people. In this text, they were in a boat and Christ was sleeping. They encountered a strong storm and were afraid of sinking when they woke Jesus. He rebuked them once again for having a lack of faith that caused their fear.
Faith is required for sins to be forgiven.
Matthew 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
This may seem very obvious, but we must exercise repentant faith in Jesus Christ in order to be born again. In this text, Jesus healed this man's physical malady and forgave his sins.
Faith believes that God will do what He promises to do.
Hebrews 11:13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14) For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15) And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16) But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Faith means believing that God will keep His promises and do all the things that He has promised to do. We do not see or fully realize His promises in this life. The fruition of each promise comes when God calls us home to Himself. Meanwhile, we live each day as a stranger and pilgrim, seeking our heavenly home as we live in a manner to honor and glorify God.
Thoughts to Ponder...
There are some important principles for us to think about as we consider the shield of faith.
First, we receive salvation by grace through faith in Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Our Christian life began the moment we received Jesus as our personal Savior. This confirms our salvation by His grace which we have received through faith. While salvation is a free gift from God by His grace, faith is the channel to which salvation abounds in us and is our response to God’s invitation of salvation.
We can never please God without faith and
without faith, we cannot receive the best gift that God has prepared for us. It
is further written that faith without good deeds is dead (James 2:26). Good
works are a result of our faith and the fruits of salvation.
Second, through faith we overcome the world and lead a fruitful life.
1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
We can withstand the works
of the devil through our faith in Jesus (1 John 2:16). The devil has already
been defeated and has no more authority over us, for Jesus has paid the ransom
with His own flesh and blood. We need not wait for heaven to experience victory
in our lives, for it is God’s purpose that we are blessed with a victorious life
even while we are still here on earth. He wants to bless us so we can live life
abundantly (John 10:10).
Third, we overcome trials and troubles through faith.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
In 1 Corinthians 10:13, we learn that each of us shall go through trials and temptations that are common to man. God allows these trials to come our way so that through all these trials, we are drawn closer to Jesus. The more difficult our trials, the clearer His image is inscribed in our hearts as we grow more like Jesus. Each trial is designed such that Jesus will see us through it. He never leaves us alone and through our faith in Him, we can overcome trials.
In times of trials, let our prayers be for a renewed mind and a strengthened spirit that the armor of God provides. The pain and troubles we go through are temporary and if we persevere in endurance with the spirit, the difficulties we face are nothing compared to the joy that awaits us (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
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