Sermon Tone Analysis

Shielded, Part 2

2 The Flaming Darts Come With God’s Permission

3 The Shield of God’s Promise

Last week, in our study in the armour of God, we came to the piece of equipment Paul describes as ‘The Shield of Faith’.

Obviously, we can’t get into as much detail on any of these items, as I would like to.

But after last week, I just felt that there was so much I didn’t have time to talk about - that we really needed another week on the same subject.

I NEED ANOTHER WEEK ON THIS SUBJECT.

So here we are, dealing for a second time with verse 16 of :

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

SHIELD OF FAITH -

As we talked about, last week - this is not “Captain America’s Shield”.

This is not the light, easy to handle, Vibranium shield that my favorite Superhero would carry - - - the kind of shield that you carry everywhere you go - you use in hand to hand combat - when you’re face to face, mano et mano with an enemy that you have to take care of.

The shield of a Roman Soldier was like a door.

It was pretty much as big as the soldier himself and it wasn’t like the breastplate or the belt/girdle or the shoes that you put on and keep on whenever you are on duty.

The shield was only used for the time in battle when the Roman legion was storming the enemy’s city.

1 WHEN YOU NEED THE SHIELD

Here’s the picture: The army is on offense - the legion advances against an enemy.

The shield isn’t used in the hand to hand combat on the battlefield.

But the enemy, when it starts sensing defeat, runs back to its city and through the doors of the wall that surrounds.

The citizens of that city lock the doors tight and hide behind the protection of the walls that surround them.

They are safe inside.

The problem is that, NOW, the people inside those walls are under siege.

They can’t get supplies in.

They can’t get out.

They’re trapped.

After they are weakened - running out of food and maybe even water … the army on the outside judges the city to be sufficiently weakened … then they storm the gates and try to climb the walls.

And this is where the army on the outside is at its most vulnerable point.

This is where the battle hangs in the balance.

This is where you pick up your shield.

This is when you need that extra protection.

Why?

Because this is when the enemy on the inside has the advantage.

First of all - they are fighting for their homes and families - so they will fight like they have never fought before.

And second - because they have the advantage - they have the high ground.

So, as you are charging the wall - the enemy is up above, shooting flaming arrows at you.

Sometimes, they are just taking whole cauldrons of molten lead and pouring them over the wall down on top of you.

No matter how valiant a warrior you are … no matter how powerful you are or well trained in battlefield tactics - no matter how important all of those things are to soldiers - - none of them matter, when you have flaming darts raining down on your head.

You need the SHIELD.

One of the reasons an enemy under siege shoots the flaming darts and arrows is for psychological effect - to try and create fear and chaos in you … to TERRORIZE you … to get you so confused and in pain and agony of this firefight - that you forget your training.

you forget your superior force … and you turn and run.

Here is where the shield of faith becomes relevant to you, Christian.

You have your daily struggles with life in this world.

Every day brings spiritual battle.

PIPER QUOTE: “I feel like I have to get saved every morning.

I wake up and the devil is sitting on my face.”

But there are those times - when the battle is coming more fiercely than ever.

You are under attack from the devil’s flaming darts.

What does that mean?

What is a flaming dart?

Well, the word, ‘FIRE’ in the New Testament - is usually used to point to trials, suffering ...

What is a flaming dart?

It’s when you’re going along fine in your life … never perfect, but it’s pretty okay - you are making progress towards your goals … you’re making plans and achieving

… and suddenly, the boss calls you in - your job is gone.

… the one you think you couldn’t live without, tells you, out of the blue, that they can and, actually want to live without you.

Or mom and dad split up - rock your world … or your child whom you loved - imperfectly sure, but you’ve loved and taught and poured yourself into - turns their back and walks away.

...you get the news, ‘It’s malignant’,

FIERY DARTS.

Slamming into you.

so much more than the regular cuts and bruises of daily battle.

You’re confused, you’re terrified, you don’t even know what to believe anymore and you are ready to retreat.

THAT’S WHEN YOU NEED THE SHIELD

When you think about your own life - there’s not a Christian here who doesn’t know the fiery darts.

We’ve all experienced them.

And when you think about your own experience - don’t your spiritual life matches with the Roman military life that Paul is using as an illustration?

Don’t you find that the fiery darts usually come - not when you’re just on a march through the countryside, not when you’re just out on patrol … the flaming darts don’t come flying at your face when you’re doing the mundane ...

THAT’S WHEN YOU NEED THE SHIELD

… they usually come when you are at the enemy’s wall and about ready to smash through it.

You don’t get fire poured on you until you decide - “I’m going to make sure I getting the family to church is priority #1.

We’re going to get them up early, we’re going to get them fed, washed and dressed - we’re not going to fight on the way there - no matter how goofy they may be.

And we’re going to get to church on time with a smile on our faces - this Christian family that we are!” Have you tried that?

How’d it go?

, “… I find it to be a LAW that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.”

When you decide, “I’m not going to settle for being a ‘casual Christian’.

I’m not going to live a ‘lukewarm life’.

I’m going to get serious about pursuing Jesus Christ with all of my strength and all of my heart - - I’m going to get involved in ministry, I’m going to be the salt and light in my circle of relationships … stand out from the crowd and be counted as Christ’s.

That’s when the darts come flying.

Makes sense - as long as you’re just camped out in the field, eating your army rations - and writing letters to home from inside your tent … the Enemy doesn’t need to worry about you too much.

It’s when you’re standing at the foot of his city wall, with your leg raised to kick down the gate - that’s when he needs to bring out the bows … light the arrows.

Jesus life - tells us about when Jesus began his earthly ministry.

READ

He came out of the shadows, he was baptized in public - before the eyes of everyone - At that very moment, the Holy Spirit descends on him like a dove and the voice of God the Father speaks from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

He’s enjoying the presence of the Holy Spirit - the affirmation of the pleasure of the Father … this is a mountaintop experience - - it doesn’t get any better than this.

He came out of the shadows, he was baptized in public - before the eyes of everyone - At that very moment, the Holy Spirit descends on him like a dove and the voice of God the Father speaks from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

He’s enjoying the presence of the Holy Spirit - the affirmation of the pleasure of the Father … this is a mountaintop experience - - it doesn’t get any better than this.

So what’s next?

, “AT ONCE the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert 40 days, being tempted by Satan.

He was with the wild animals and angels attended him.”

There it is - The flaming darts start raining down.

You know what’s interesting?

Matthew, Mark and Luke all report on Jesus’ testing in the wilderness.

But Mark is the only one who mentions that He was ‘with the wild animals’.

Matthew doesn’t mention it.

Neither does Luke.

So why does Mark point that out?

I think it’s because Mark’s first readers were Roman Christians who were being persecuted - sent to the lions.

And Mark is telling them - - “You’re with the wild beasts - because you decided to get serious about following Jesus Christ.

You are suffering, you are seeing your loved ones facing the lions … There is NOT a single fiery trial you face but Jesus Christ has gone there first.”

Hear this - new Christians … “I don’t understand!

When I came to saving faith in Christ, I felt so close to God.

But, honestly - in the last little while - I feel like He’s drifted or I’ve drifted … something’s happened.