Faith (Part 2)

Ephesians 6:10–18 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; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Introduction

New Series

Last week we started a new series where we are talking about vital aspects of our lives that the church needs today to accomplish the will of God in the earth.

Faith

And we began by talking about faith.

We discovered that faith is a gift that is given to all of us..

but that we must choose to activate it, use it, and live by it.

Offensive

For the most part, each time we’ve talked about faith this year

We’ve talked about it from the perspective as an offensive weapon..

Faith moves mountains..

Faith conquers darkness and brings forth salvation..

Faith breaks chains and brings freedom..

We’ve looked at faith as an active weapon we have in our lives to bring about the will and purpose of go in our lives and the earth.

Protective

But as I was driving home from church last week the Lord reminded me of another aspect of faith that we have yet to cover..

and so today were going to look at part two of faith..

and look at how faith is not just a weapon, but its also our protection..

That the faith that is gifted to us is not just something we activate in our lives to see God do miracles..

Its also the shield that protects us, as Paul calls it in Ephesians, in our lives that protects us from the attacks of enemy and prevents us from falling to the schemes of the enemy.

So were going to talk about the protective elements of faith..

as we talk about the Shield of Faith.

and then next week we will move on to the next element the church today needs to accomplish the will of god.

The armor of God

Paul is writing to the Ephesians here in ephesians 6..

and instructing them that they need to be prepared..

because they as he puts it in verse 12

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

…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.

Paul says..

listen..

your in a spiritual battle..

so you need to prepare for it..

and put on the spiritual armor need for this battle..

Pieces..

And he walks them through the different pieces of armor that we as believers needs..

The belt of truth which hold everything together..

The breast plate of righteousness which is the righteousness of Jesus covering our heart..

The shoes of peace which is being firmly planted in God himself..

the helmet of salvation covering our mind..

and the sword of the spirit with is the word of god..

And in the middle of this set of armor..

paul says in verse 16..

Ephesians 6:16 ESV

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

The shield of faith..

What is the shield of Faith?

What is the shield of faith?

Romans Shield

In Paul’s says one of the most well known shields was the roman Scutum shield.

Rome was the ruler of the land in that day..

and most of the soldiers would have been holding this sheild..

so its likely that the Ephesians would picture this shield when Paul spoke of the shield of faith..

or that Paul was alluding to it..

Scutum

The scutum was a large shield

it was as large as a door, bigger than mine..

and would cover the warrior entirely

It could be used in many ways..

not just defensively..

you could defend with it..

attack with it..

push back your opponent and more..

together

interestingly enough..

when a group of roman warriors was fighting together..

they could band their shields together

and form an enclosure called the testudo..

meaning tortuous..

this helped protect the group from arrow attacks especially..

Shield make up..

Most scutums were made of wood..

covered in leather..

and the leather would be soaked in water..

so that when flaming arrows were fired at the warrior

the water would extinguish the arrows..

Must be used

To state the obvious though..

a shield is only good if its used..

going to battle with a shield is good..

but if you dont lift it up.. and use it..

it wont protect you..

shield of faith..

So when paul is talking about the shield of faith..

He is tell believers..

listen..

Your faith is a shield that will protect you from the firery darts of the enemy..

You can hold up your faith and it will protect you from certain attacks..

You can hold up your faith and prevent certain issues..

You can lock together with other believers and form a wall that the enemy cannot penetrate..

BUT YOU HAVE TO USE THE SHIELD OF FAITH FOR IT TO BE EFFECT!

the shield of faith protects us if we will hold it up..

How so?

How does the shield of faith protect us?

My faith shields me from the attacks of the enemy

paul says my my faith can extinguish, render harmless, the flaming darts of the enemy..

Ephesians 6:16 ESV

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

Notice he doesnt say he wont fire the darts..

or that he wont try..

He says.. the Shield of your faith will render them useless.

isaiah

remember what god said through the prophet isaiah in 54:17?

Isaiah 54:17 ESV

no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed…

god didnt say the weapon would not be formed..

He said it wont suceed..

Were going to face attacks..

The enemy is going to attack…

We are at war…

BUT WE HAVE A SHIELD THAT PROTECTS US FROM ATTACK..

AND ITS OUT FAITH…

Lets look at a couple things the shield of faith protects us from..

My faith shields me from Deception

the shield of faith protects us against deception..

today

were living in a time where deception is rampid..

entire denomonations being lead astray with false doctrine and herisy..

The bibles tells us in the

Paul

Paul tells timothy in 2 timothy 4:3

2 Timothy 4:3–4 ESV

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

We are living in that day..

Faith

But its our faith in the sound word of god that protects us from deception..

when we know the word of god and the god of the word..

and we put our faith in him.. and fully trust and believe..

we will not be deceived..

and we will withstand the attack that tries to deceive us..

My Faith shields me from falling to temptation

my faith shields me from temptation..

James 4:7 ESV

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

When we submit ourselves to god.. fully give ouselves over to him and who he is..

and then STAND on that foundation of who he has called us to be.. resisting the devil..

then we overcome temptaion..

We do this in faith..

Faithfully trusting who god says I am and how I am to live..

My Faith shields me from fear, anxiety, and depression

Our faith shields us from fear, anxiety, worry, depression and more..

When I choose to believe and stand on the word of god..

Fully trusting in his plan, his purpose, and his will for my life..

believing who he says that I am and whos I am..

Fear

Its my faith that shields me from fear of this world..

I know Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world..

Worry and anxiety

Its my faith that shields me from worry and anxiety..

Because I know the word says to cast my cares upon him for he cares for me..

I know it says he already in my tomorrow and working all things together for my good..

Depression

Its my faith that shields me from depression..

because I know that even when I dont see it or feel it I know he is working on my behalf and will bring about his plan in my life!

ITS MY FAITHT THAT SHIELDS ME!!

WE HAVE TO RAISE OUR SHIELDS!!!!!!

How do I use the shield of Faith?

We raise our shield by releasing the word of god, speaking it

Choosing to believe it

and then standing on it..

When we do this the firey darts of the enemy lose their effect over us..

The Psalms

The psalmest tells us in psalms 119

Psalm 119:114 ESV

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

Proverbs 30:5 ESV

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

The Word is the shield we raise in faith against the attack of the enemy!

Its what protects us!

Jesus

Remember Jesus coming out of the wilderness after fasting?

His body was week because of the fasting..

and in his weakness the satan comes to fire darts of temptation at him..

and how does Jesus respond each time?

he says..

It is written…

The enemy comes.. and Jesus raises the shield of faith..

and says.. no no..

thats not what the word of god says..

Us

you see when the enemy speaks into our lives..

we can raise our shield and respond with the word of god and stand upon it..

Fear

when he trying to speak fear..

we can remember isaiah 41:10

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Self doubt

When he tries to tell us our life is worthless..

we can speak jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Self image..

When we tries to destroy our self esteem..

we can speak Psalms 139:14

Psalm 139:14 ESV

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Sickness

When he tries to get you to worry about the sickness running through the land..

We can speak Psalms 91

Psalm 91 ESV

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

Healing

When the enemy tries to tell me that I will never recover from sickness..

I can speak Isaiah 53:5

Isaiah 53:5 ESV

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Provision

When he tries to tell me that I am a no body..

I can speak john 1:12..

John 1:12 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Provisions

And worry tries to creap in about my bills and finances and needs..

I can quote JEsus himself..

Matthew 6:33 ESV

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

THE WORD

YOU SEE THE WORD OF GOD IS OUR SHIELD!!!

WHEN WE

WE SPEAK IT..

BELIEVE IT..

AND STAND ON IT..

THE ENEMY WILL NOT WIN!

Ending

Where do you need to throw up your shield of faith today?

Is it fear?

Worry?

Anxiety?

Temptation?

Where is the enemy attacking you that you need to raise your shield of faith?