Shield of Faith

Ephesians 6:10–16 ESV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

Purpose of the Shield

First line of defense

Mobile move the shield to guard against attack

primary protection against arrows. arrows commonly hit the neck arms and legs where armor was at its weakest thus the shield allowed you to protect these areas.

Definition of Faith

Some have argued that Christians have blind faith that we trust God without any reason to do so. It is illogical and therefore a silly thoughtless act.

Yet Jesus says this Luke 14:25-33

Luke 14:25–33 ESV

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

You see Jesus wants us to consider to use our minds and calculate that is to determine the value of following him.

You must decide for yourself the value. On the one hand following Christ may mean loosing your family your home your job even your life is at stake yet he promises indescribable peace, unending love, overflowing joy, eternity with him forever in heaven, and adoption as sons/daughters. It is a trade of this life against the next. The cost is high and it is real. There are times that as a Christian I have had to deny myself pleasure for the sake of God. Yet I believe this cost is worth it because of what I will gain in the next life. This is much like the decision to devote oneself to work in ones early life so that one might gain an earlier and better retirement. This is a thoughtful rational decision though it may not be one that everyone would make still its logic can be seen.

Still others claim that faith in God is simply attributing things we do not understand to an act of God and if we simply gain more understanding then we can explain away these so called acts of God.

Yet all to often people have declared knowledge of some future event or described something in detail that was undiscovered or unheard of for hundreds or thousands of years. This level of knowledge cannot be explained by mere logic and reasoning or by science but always has to have a supernatural explanation. It is clear that someone or something is providing this knowledge and the existence of an all powerful God makes sense.

The Bible says Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Sometimes our knowledge and our understanding our thoughts fail us and we can only trust in the Lord to direct our paths.

Biblical description of faith

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith is more than what we can see or touch more than what we have knowledge of but requires us to believe in God the one we cannot see

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Faith is required to please God and God rewards those who place their trust in him

Hebrews 11:39–40 ESV

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Here we see two things Faith requires actions all the heroes of the Old Testament demonstrated their faith by their actions. Second the rewards are not always in this life but many await the next life.

Thus I would say a good definition of Faith is a person’s level of trust in God as demonstrated by their actions and obedience in response to His commands and promises.

Faith is not simply believing things about God or even believing He is God but rather submitting to his authority and trusting that his way is best.

The Protection of Faith

I think the temptations of Christ demonstrate the protection of Faith quite well

Matthew 4:1–4 ESV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

This first sin is lust of the flesh or selfishness. Whether we overeat smoke drink sexual sins or anything we do to seeking to satisfy ourselves rather than to be satisfied in God this is a sin. If your peace is found in the cigarette or the bottle rather than God it is a sin. If you gotta have chocolate to feel better about your self or you need sex to be happy then it is sin. Jesus says we should find that happiness that peace in the word of God. God is the source of Joy and peace.

Thus when we put our faith in God we overcome the sins of the flesh

The second sin is the sin of pride.

Matthew 4:5–7 ESV

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

We often think more highly of ourselves than we ought to and think that nothing bad can come to me I am a servant of God. Yet our dear brother Matt’s passing this weekend reminds us that none of us are guaranteed safety in fact Jesus said their would be not only worldly dangers such as crashes and health concerns but as Christians we face spiritual dangers that others do not face. Satan has marked us as enemies.

Yes Faith in God Reminds us it is not I who am strong but Christ in me and it demands humility to submit to him and his desires for my life even if it costs me or brings me harm for following the ways of God provides protection against the eternal death.

Finally the third sin is the sin of Idolatry

Matthew 4:8–11 ESV

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Satan loves to offer power to those who are willing to follow him. All to often history shows evil people in places of power as Satan rewards those who follow him. Yet the Christian knows that God and God alone deserves our worship. Giving worship to anything else is idolatry and is evil in the sight of God. This is one of the most condemned sins of Scripture. Yet for armed with the Shield of Faith we know the one we worship and He is the Lord Almighty the Creator and sustainer of the Universe. He is the giver of Life and the Ancient of Days. There is no one wiser no one stronger no one greater than God. It is Yahweh and faith in him guards our hearts against idolatry.

Brothers and sisters pick up your shields arm yourselves for the battle ahead. Let us not be idle talkers only let us be doers of the word and let us live out our faith that it might be true faith. And may that faith change the world for Christ starting right here at Trinity Baptist Church.