Faith, Like A Shield

Introduction:

LIKE the Spartans, every Christian is born a warrior. And similar to football, he should go on the offense and on the defense.

He will have to defend earnestly the faith once delivered to the saints; Jude 3.

He will have to resist the devil

He will have to stand against all his schemes; and having done all, to stand FIRM. Eph 6:13.

He will, however, not be a complete warrior if he doesn’t go on the offensive.

He must be able to say with David:

1 Sam 17:45 “45 You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.”

He must understand that our wrestle is not with flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers.

He must stand firm, and have the right weapons to engage in battle. Not Carnal weapons, but Spiritual ones

But I’m afraid that many of us fail to realize the war we engage in every day!

Paul says we are at War! And we are war with a great enemy!

He roars around as a preying lion

He rules the world with deception

He is the prince of LIES and every morning seeks to pull you away from God!

One of my professors spoke highly of his daughter.

Forget the name… but he loved her so much

I didn’t find out till much later on that his daughter was never born, a miscarriage.

And he told me how defeated he and his wife felt, in that moment.

But his faith lifted his spirit. And God gave him strength.

What would’ve been a fatal blow, His faith persevered.

Ephesians 6:16 NASB95

in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Faith is compared to a shield in 4 ways:

Faith Must Protect Us From The Enemy

Shield

Sometimes signified a door… b/c it covered the man entirely

Psalm 5:12 “For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.”

As the shield enveloped the entire man, so, we think faith envelopes the entire man, and protects him from all missiles wherever they may be aimed against him.

Remember the cry of the Spartan mother to her son: “Take care that you return with your shield, or upon it”

That implies something. That a shield was large enough to bear the body of that soldier home, and by extension, be able to cover the body of a live man.

That is the illustration here: Faith protects the whole man.

Protects the Head:

We can let Satan TRY to deceive us with wrong doctrine

We can let Satan TRY to tempt us with doubting the things we’ve come to believe

But a FULL faith in Christ preserves us from these things!

A man that has a strong faith in Christ, has got a hand that gets such a grip on the doctrine of Christ that you cannot unclasp it!

He knows what he believes, he understands what he has received! He could not and would not give up what he KNOWS to be the truth of God!

Protects the Heart:

When we are tempted to love the world… our faith reminds us of the REWARD that awaits the people of God, when we esteem Christ greater than the riches of this world.

Protects the Limbs:

When the enemy swings his sword to disable the arms of the Christian, FAITH protects him as a shield! So you may continue in the service of Christ

Protects the Feet:

When the arrows are aimed at our feet and the enemy tries to TRIP us in our daily life, from walking in righteousness and godliness… Faith protects our feet that we may STAND, and never fall.

Protects the Knees:

When Satan seeks to make us weak in prayer… to say God wont listen to you or heed to your voice! … Faith protects you!

Heb 4:16 “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Protects EVEN our Conscience:

When we are reminded of our past sin… faith protects you. And those fiery darts of Satan are quenched with the apostle Johns words: “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

So there isn’t any part of us that isn’t secure

Psalm 3:3 “3 But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.”

Faith not only protects the whole man, but Paul suggests that it also protects his armor too!

After putting on the belt of truth… the breastplate of righteousness… the shoes of the Gospel… he says: “Above All” So above all we see the shield serving as protecting for the armor!

Faith is armor, for his armor! How?

If Satan swings his sword to cut off our belt of truth… our shield protects us from it…

“Above all, take up the shield of faith”

If you sent a servant upon an errand, and you said to him, “Get so-and-so, and so-and-so, and so-and-so, but above all now see to such-and-such a thing;” he would not understand that he ought to neglect any, but he would perceive that there was some extra importance attached to one part of his mission.

Faith Must Receive The Blows

Some Christians may believe, especially younger Christians, that having faith means you’re life will now be peaceful like flowers and daisies. That we’ll just sing our way to heaven with no interference or trials or temptations to face. NOOOO!!

Why did we put on our armor at ALL if there were to be no more battles?

Why did we put our hand to the plow if we weren’t willing to do the hard work?

Why did we ENLIST, if we aren’t willing to FIGHT?

What good is it to have the greatest shield in the world but never use it?

Our faith, EXTINGUISHES the arrows.

Our faith, EXALTS our God, and His victory

Let us be ready when war comes, let us be ready for the blows of the enemy. Let us stay standing & protected behind that great shield of faith.

May it bear all the blows of the enemy and keep us standing to the final day

So faith is like a shield, because it has to bear the blows of the enemy

Faith Must Be Strong

What good is a shield in warfare that’s made out of cardboard?

The enemy sword would easily pierce through to reach your heart.

Here’s what Paul is illustrating:

Let your faith, be true.

Is your faith true?

Is your shield in TACT? To where the javelins and arrows of the enemy break on impact

A Faith that is STRONG… snd CANNOT be pierced!

For those who’s shield is broken and faith is weak…

Psalm 46:1 “1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”

Isa 40:29 “29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.”

Eph 6:10 “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”

GOD shall give you strength!!! But you must TRUST him! WITH YOUR LIFE!

You must have FAITH in the work of Christ you stand REDEEMED… resting wholly and entirely on him or else your shield will be of no use.

Rest your soul:

On truth… not the folly of men

For if our faith fails, if our shield fails, our life fails with it.

Look at your shield.

Is it strong?

Is it like the shields of Solomon made of pure Gold?

Or it like the shields of Rehoboam made of pure brass?

I pray that what would be found in your hands would not be a wooden shield, that could easily be destroyed.

Faith Must Always Be With You

A soldier would be silly, he went to battle saying, “I have a shield!” but in reality he left the shield at home. What good is that?

But there be some Christians who profess to have faith, but in reality it’s no where to be seen.

They have it with them when there are no enemies, like here in this building...

But when we actually NEED our faith its no where to be found?

Our faith must be with us at all times.

If our faith is STRONG, then it’’s be like Christs! :

“Turn these stones to bread” (v. 3) – It is written –  “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”  Jesus put His faith in God.

“If You are the Son of God throw yourself down.” (v. 6)  –  It is written.. you shall not tempt God.

“Fall down and worship me. (v. 9) – I’ll give you everything you want (and deserve) if you worship me.” Satan’s third arrow was strong, but it failed . It is written.. You shall worship God and Him only will you serve.

When Satan shoots his arrows… He’ll say:

“You are weak!” … “You are sinful” … “Leave Jesus and come to ME!”

And bolstering up our shield of faith we’ll say: “but he is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by him.”

Our faith must protect us from the enemies

Our faith must receive the blows

Our faith must be strong

Our faith must always be with us

COMCLUSION:

Faith, out of all the pieces of armour, is able to quench all the darts. The helmet can only keep off those that are aimed against the head. The foot is only and alone protected by the sandals, the breast alone is guarded by the breastplate, but faith protects against all attacks.

Take care of your shield!

Don’t live life without it.

Don’t cast it aside.

Proclaim every day “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him.”

Solomon — “My beloved is mine and I am his”

David — “Say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation’” “The Lord is my salvation” “The Lord is my shepherd”

Job — “I know that my redeemer lives” Job 19:15.

Paul — “I hope, I trust, I am persuaded”

Take care of your shield! Take care of your faith! Lest you fall prey to unbelief.

My wish is that you would believe in Christ today! Believe in his word:

In whom you CANNOT be condemned!

Proverbs 30:5– 5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 

1 Thes 5:8 “8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

Jesus Prayed we wouldn’t fall victim to Satan

John 17:15 “15 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.”

1 John 5:18 “18 We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.”

God is our Shield:

Genesis 15:1 “1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.””

Psalm 7:10-14 “10 My shield is with God, Who saves the upright in heart. 11 God is a righteous judge, And a God who has indignation every day. 12 If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready. 13 He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons; He makes His arrows fiery shafts. 14 Behold, he travails with wickedness, And he conceives mischief.”

Psalm 28:7 “7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.”

Psalm 5:12 “12 For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.”

Proverbs 30:5 “5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”

Psalm 3:3 “3 But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.”

Psalm 91:4 “4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.”

We are saved by Faith:

Ephesians 2:8 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;”

Saved by faith from what? The hands of Satan

Psalm 7:1-2 “1 O Lord my God, in You I have taken refuge; Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me, 2 Or he will tear my soul like a lion, Dragging me away, while there is none to deliver.”

1 Peter 5:8–11 (NASB95)

8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

2 Thes 3:3 “3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”

Mat 6:13 “13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”

1 John 5:4 “4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers 2.7: S. Cyril of Jerusalem, S. Gregory Nazianzen Lecture V

4. The lesson also which was read to-day invites you to the true faith, by setting before you the way in which you also must please God: for it affirms that without faith it is impossible to please Him. For when will a man resolve to serve God, unless he believes that He is a giver of reward? When will a young woman choose a virgin life, or a young man live soberly, if they believe not that for chastity there is a crown that fadeth not away? Faith is an eye that enlightens every conscience, and imparts understanding; for the Prophet saith, And if ye believe not, ye shall not understand.

Faith stoppeth the mouths of lions, as in Daniel’s case: for the Scripture saith concerning him, that Daniel was brought up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. Is there anything more fearful than the devil? Yet even against him we have no other shield than faith, an impalpable buckler against an unseen foe. For he sends forth divers arrows, and shoots down in the dark night those that watch not; but, since the enemy is unseen, we have faith as our strong armour, according to the saying of the Apostle, In all thinks taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. A fiery dart of desire of base indulgence is often cast forth from the devil: but faith, suggesting a picture of the judgment, cools down the mind, and quenches the dart.

To increase our faith, it is necessary to study regularly the word of God… Rom 10:17.

“Faith itself is accepted by God only when it has molded the actions of the body and made the body subject to its control” — David Lipscomb

Fiery darts are:

seducing temptation, impurity, lustfulness, greed, vanity, materialism, pride, anger, impatience, covetousness.

So when you sin, who do you believe? Satan. “But you deserve this, you have a right to this, you should enjoy this, you should do this. You don’t need to be restrained. You don’t need to be limited. Jump in.” That’s the fiery dart. And you have the remaining sin, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, and the system comes at that with a viciousness, and you either say, “You know, you’re right, Satan” or you say, “I’m going to trust God that His commandments are best, that His commandments are true, that His commandments produce the greatest fulfillment, the greatest satisfaction, and the greatest joy.”

Temptation of Jesus Mat 4.

So why is faith the solution? Why is faith the shield to quench the flaming arrows of temptation, trials, difficulty, and suffering that the devil shoots at us? Faith is the solution because unbelief is the basis for sin. Why did Eve eat the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden? Unbelief was the cause of her falling to the temptation.

Building Faith

Look to the Cross

Rom 8:32

Look to the Future

Heb 11:13-16

Look to the Scriptures

Rom 10:17.

Satan shot his fiery arrows at Jesus in Matthew 4. Each was a call to disobedience through the seed of distrust.

“Turn these stones to bread” (v. 3) – It is written –  “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”  Jesus put His faith in God.

“If You are the Son of God throw yourself down.” (v. 6)  –  It is written.. you shall not tempt God.

“Fall down and worship me. (v. 9) – I’ll give you everything you want (and deserve) if you worship me.” Satan’s third arrow was strong, but it failed . It is written.. You shall worship God and Him only will you serve.

B.   My faith can shield me just as Jesus’ faith shielded Him. If I am willing to confidently affirm my trust in what God has said, Satan has no reply. But too many times our response to temptation is not a confident affirmation of what we know God has spoken, but a rationalization or excuse as to why it does not apply to me.

Conclusion:  The only way to quench Satan’s flaming missiles is to believe God above all else. In Proverbs 30:5-6 – 5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.  6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.   Satan says, “I know God said that, but let me add this.” No. God is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

The Apostle John wrote, “Whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4). We win by trusting in God. Even though Satan hurls his flaming missiles at you, you will find strength by believing in His Word.