The Shield

Ephesians 6:16 KJV 1900

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

The shield, for a Roman soldier of that day, was a large piece of armor. It was large enough, usually more than 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide, that a soldier could be entirely covered by it.

The roman soldiers, in their batallions, would march in formation shield to shield, so that the enemy would be faced with row upon row of shielded men. They were a terror to their enemies, because they could press through almost any attack.

The shields were often made of thick leather, and they would be soaked in water before battle. This was for the purpose of defending against the flaming missiles launched in battles. The flames would hit the shield, and even if they stuck into it, they would not burn it up, because the water would extinguish the flame.

This is the exact image that Paul uses in this verse, and he relates this shield to our faith.

Paul says that our faith should be a shield for us in that it covers us completely so that we are not exposed to the attack, and that it should be able to strike down whatever attacks the enemy launches at us.

Faith is firm belief, confidence. This confidence, of course, is God-ward.

Acts 20:20–21 KJV 1900

And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith is toward the Lord, because the Lord is the object of our faith.

The shield is used often in the Old Testament as a picture of God’s protection.

Genesis 15:1 KJV 1900

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Psalm 5:12 KJV 1900

For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; With favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

What is our protection to be? It is to be a constant faith in the protection of God Himself.

We are to take up this shield - apply it and carry it with us - because only in God’s protection can we extinguish the attacks of the evil one.

What’s the Big Idea?

Having been born again by faith, we live each day by faith in the protection of our faithful Savior.

What to Know

We must know the purpose of a shield.

The purpose of the shield, again, is to “extinguish” the darts of the evil one.

It is very important to know that faith in Christ does not eliminate the attacks. It is often falsely taught that coming to Christ is a way to be rid of your troubles.

What affect could this bad teaching have?

No, faith in Christ does not eliminate attacks, it shields from attacks and allows us to endure them.

John 17:15 KJV 1900

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

It is not God’s will that we should be removed from all trouble and all attacks, but that we should be able to endure.

Otherwise, there would be no need of a shield.

We must know the function of a shield.

A shield only works if you take it up! And if faith is our shield, then this is a call to exercise our faith.

By the very nature of faith and trusting God, it is admitting that we are insufficient.

We know we are saved through faith, but what about our day to day life?

The Just shall live by....?

What does daily faith in the Lord look like?

What are some practical ways to exercise our faith?

We must know the makeup of a shield.

We are told plainly, again, that the shield is a shield of faith.

Faith is a huge theme in Ephesians. Let’s look at a few examples.

Ephesians 1:13 KJV 1900

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

What is the result of belief in that verse?

sealing with the Holy Spirit. A Mark of being the Lord’s, a comforter and helper.

Ephesians 1:15 KJV 1900

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

What is our faith in?

Again, the object of our faith is critical, because it is not just general belief, it is a specific faith - faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:19 KJV 1900

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Out faith is toward Jesus Christ, but what is toward us who believe, who have faith in Him?

Ephesians 2:8 KJV 1900

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

What comes through faith?

Ephesians 3:17 KJV 1900

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

What comes by faith?

So what is the makeup of our faith? What is wrapped up in faith in the Lord?

Well, just in these few verses

Jesus Christ, the object

sealing with the Holy Spirit

the power of God on our behalf

salvation through faith

the indwelling presence of Christ.

What to Believe

We must believe that faith is our victory.

You know the hymn, perhaps, faith is the victory? What does that say?

“O, glorious victory that...”

1 John 5:4–5 KJV 1900

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

We read in ephesians 2:8 that we re saved by grace through faith. Our salvation is described also in ephesians 2 as being brought from death to life. And John, here, describes it as being born of God.

John 3:16 KJV 1900

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Believing, trusting in Christ is the victory that overcomes the world.

Revelation 12:10–11 KJV 1900

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Who did they overcome?

How did they overcome?

What is the word of our testimony?

We believe! It is faith.

We must believe that faith is not empty.

1 Corinthians 15:14–15 KJV 1900

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

What are some ways that the world minimizes our faith?

What does the statement, “my truth” misunderstand about real faith?

we must believe that faith is strong because the object of our faith is strong.

This, perhaps, is one of the most important things to know.

The fact is, our faith cannot be separated from the object of our faith.

I am asked all the time by believers who are struggling, how can I have assurance?

The simple answer is, we can have assurance because our salvation and our protection is not based on our performance or our total perfection, but on the strength of the object of our faith.

That is the very essence of it. We trust in Christ because He is the one who is worthy, faithful, strong, and will not fail. Otherwise, we wouldn’t need to trust in him.

Luke 22:31–32 KJV 1900

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

What to Do

Pursue in faith.

The daily reminder we need, when it comes to faith, is that our faith is God-ward. it is Christ-ward. That means, we always turn toward him. We look to Him.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

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.

Who is God a rewarder of?

A life of faith is a life of seeking God because we love Him and want to please Him.

A life of faith is a life of the pursuit of God. We have been brought from death to life, had our eyes opened to see his beauty, and now we can seek Him with our whole heart.

Persevere in faith.

We pursue God daily, and in the hard days, we are reminded to press on because Christ has pressed on, he will never relent.

Hebrews 12:1–3 KJV 1900

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

What does that scripture compare out life to?

A race

patience/endurance

What do we look at when we are running?

keeping our eyes on the prize.

Peter walking on water.

What are some practical ways that we can keep our eyes on Christ?

Gather in faith.

The last thing is very practical, and that is simply this. The life of faith is personal, but it is not designed to be lived out alone.

Hebrews 10:23–25 KJV 1900

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Hold fast - what does that mean?

stand firm! Just like Paul’s encouragement to us.

Why should we hold fast?

because the one who promised is faithful.

What are we to do while we are holding fast?

provoke one another to love and good works.

not forsake the assembling.

Remember that picture, the Roman army, shield to shield to shield, an impenetrable wall.

Christ builds his church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.