The Battle of Faith

The Bible tells us that our enemy is Satan… From what the Bible tells us, we know that Satan is a fallen angel; he is crafty, cunning, deceptive - He is known as the ‘Father of Lies’. “He masquerades as an angel of light.” () His goal is to keep as many people as possible from truly reverently knowing, fearing, and trusting God. He is opposed to God! He is a prowling lion seeking someone to devour.

Adrian Rogers writes: Know your enemy! The Lord Jesus Himself taught us to pray, “Father, deliver us from the Evil One,” and by saying that, Jesus clearly indicates the devil in not a figment of the imagination.

Ray Stedman writes: Discouragement, confusion, indifference -- these are the signs of the devil's working. Discouragement, with all that means in terms of depression of spirit, the playing over and over again vain regrets, and the dark outlook on life we call the blues.

Confusion, with its doubt and uncertainty, disillusionment, strife, discord, and argument.

Indifference, with its cynicism, callousness, coldness, and bitterness toward one another and toward the things of God.

These are the major evidences of the devil's working through the flesh, the evil channel of the inner man. To produce these things, as we have already seen, the devil approaches us through our circumstances, or feelings, and through the workings of our minds by implanting doubts and uncertainties.

Some people think if you believe in the reality of the devil, you believe some leftover mythology or medieval superstition. But the devil is Bible fact and present day reality.

His cleverest ruse is to make you believe he doesn't exist. Some people laugh at the idea of a devil. They see him as some sort of cartoon character in long red underwear with horns and a forked tail, holding a pitchfork. The image is comical, like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. That’s fine with the devil. Just as long as we don’t believe he’s real.

How do we fight against him?

We are to take up the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. The final two pieces of a soldier’s armor.

The first is the Shield of Faith

The first is the Shield of Faith

The Shields Design -

I made a simple shield for this mornings message just to give you and idea of the size and what it was intended to do.

4’ x 2 1/2’ It was made up of wood that was glued together… covered with linen or hide and bound with iron. It took a skilled, master craftsman to make it so that it would be effective and hold up in battle.

They were designed for soldiers to walk side by side, moving forward into battle creating a wall of defense against the fiery arrows that were shot at them. With the shield you could protect yourself as well as those around you by linking them together. They were meant to extinguish the fiery arrow that were shot at them.

In Battle, arrows were dipped in pitch and ignited with fire. They are meant to hit the soldier, causing clothing to catch fire; they were meant to fly over the walls and burn whatever they hit.

The shield

History tells us of one soldier that counted 220 arrows that were stuck in his shield.

The Shield of Faith Protects -

Our protective shield is ‘Faith.’ It is based on what you believe and the action that goes with your faith.

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

The Bible tells us that Abraham was a man of faith. In and the Lord was His Shield.

Genesis 15:1 NIV

1 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

Think of the many fiery darts that are shot at us every day! They are swift and indiscernible - impossible to see or clearly distinguish.

they are darts of temptation, anger, lust, revenge, bitterness, despair, doubt, fear, resentment, hostility, disunity… I’m quite certain you can add to this list very easily… Satan is ‘always’ looking for a way to destroy you personally and those around you.

So as Paul talks about spiritual armor, he says… ‘In all things’ take up the shield of faith… be aware of the fact that Satan is always looking for ways to bring you down or destroy your faith in God.

be aware of the fact that Satan is always looking for ways to bring you down or destroy your faith in God.

Paul is saying, “By faith these darts become ineffectual.

Paul is saying, “By Faith” in God you are able to extinguish them. Not “you might” but you are able!

1 Peter 5:9 NIV

9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

So, no matter how many flaming darts Satan fires against us, the shield of faith can extinguish them all. But that doesn’t happen automatically. Shields need to be picked up, and used.

So, how do we do that? Here are steps I have found helpful.

Identify the flaming dart...

Has someone said or done something to cause you pain? Does anger or Bitterness begin to set in? Other darts may be lust, envy, resentment, jealousy…

Does doubt about God invade your thoughts when you see all the wicked/evil things happening in our world? Have you ever heard the words, “If God is love, why is their so much hatred or evil in this world?”

Discouragement because of comparison or feeling financially strapped? Others seem to be doing much better financially than you? identify the flaming darts!

Trust that the darts can be extinguished

If we are not careful we can begin to think things are impossible. But God said, “Nothing is impossible with me.” Paul wrote, “take up the shield of faith so you can extinguish “All” the flaming darts.

This leads us to the offensive weapon of the Sword of the Spirit, which is “The Word of God.”

The Sword of the Spirit

The sword is supplied by the Spirit.

The Bible says this in ,

John 1:1 NIV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 NIV

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus lived among us. He was visible and thousands of people heard him teach about God and the way to live a godly life. What Jesus taught, was written down by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that we could and would have it at our immediate disposal.

,

2 Peter 1:20 NIV

20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.

2 Peter 1:21 NIV

21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

The Word is the ‘Gospel’ the Good News of Jesus, Jesus, himself, who came to save us from our sins. Paul writes in

Romans 1:16 NIV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

It is the Word of God brought to mind by the Holy Spirit that is our sword!

When Jesus was in the Wilderness for 40 days and tempted by Satan, He said in response to Satan’s temptation words from…

Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV

3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Jesus taught us to know God and His Word. he became the Words of God while on this earth and they are recorded for us to know; to use them in Battle.

Remember when Peter took out his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane? () He used a physical sword… his own might. He later learned at Pentecost in that the Holy Spirit Does a much better job.

A material sword will penetrate the flesh, but the Sword of the Spirit will penetrate the heart and soul.

In

Zechariah 4:6 NIV

6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

When we use knives for cutting food and vegetables, eventually they become dull and need to be sharpened. God’s word never needs sharpening. In fact, the more we use it, the sharper it becomes!

Hebrews 4:12 NIV

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Remember… It is God’s desire to protect you: Listen to Jesus Prayer for all of us

John 17:15 NIV

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

John 17:5 NIV

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Scriptures argument is the most powerful argument… Jesus said during Satan’s attacks on him, “It is Written...”

,

Psalm 119:9 NIV

9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.

Psalm 119:9–11 NIV

9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11 NIV

11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

So how do we fight agains the enemy? We put on the Armor of God:

The Belt of Truth

The Breastplate of Righteousness

The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

The Helmet of Salvation

The shield of Faith

And the Sword of the Spirit.

In

Proverbs 30:5 NIV

5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Faith means trusting everything God said. Faith is claiming God’s promises. Faith is having hope that leads to deliverance and fulfillment.

In

Psalm 40:1–3 NIV

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

One Author suggested turning this scripture into prayer. Turn the Scripture into part of your prayer time. Then he said, “God will strengthen your faith, help you see and feel the glory of God, and change your heart. You will move from feeling bitterness, hurt, and anger to feeling contentment, satisfaction, and joy in Christ.”

Illustration:

Confidence Brings Victory

Woody Hayes, the legendary coach of Ohio State, often told how he came to that giant university to coach after gaining experience at two small colleges. The first time Hayes stood in the middle of the empty OSU stadium, he saw those 86,000 seats and began having second thoughts. Woody’s young son was holding his hand. He must have sensed his father’s anxiety. With wisdom far beyond his years, the little boy said, “But, Daddy, the football field is the same size.” Wherever we do battle with the enemy, the Lord’s power can bring him down to manageable size.

Stone, S. E. (1995). Sermon Outlines on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. (S. E. Stone, Ed.) (p. 38). Cincinnati, OH: Stanrard

Remember this...Peter says, "Do not be surprised at the fiery trial which you must undergo, as though some strange thing were happening to you," (). The Lord Jesus himself said, "In the world you shall have tribulation," ( RSV). That is the nature of things. "But," he adds, "be of good cheer. I have overcome the world," ( RSV). The Apostle Paul says, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man," ().

Ray Stedman … "resisting the devil," (). This is the shield of faith. This is refusing to believe the lie that if you have doubts you cannot have faith. Because that is a lie. Doubt is always an attack on faith. The fact that you have doubts proves that you have faith. They are not opposites at all. Doubt is the proof of the reality that you do have faith. Therefore re-examine the ground of your faith and reassert it, and remember that feelings are not necessarily facts at all.

And James says that, if you keep on resisting the devil, "he will flee from you," (). Think of that! He will flee from you. You do it again and again every time the thought comes back. You resist it on that basis. You refuse to give up your position. And, sooner or later, inevitably, the doubts will clear. Your feelings will change, the attacks cease, and you will be back again in the sunshine of faith and the experience of the love and joy of God.

Illustration:

Confidence Brings Victory

Woody Hayes, the legendary coach of Ohio State, often told how he came to that giant university to coach after gaining experience at two small colleges. The first time Hayes stood in the middle of the empty OSU stadium, he saw those 86,000 seats and began having second thoughts. Woody’s young son was holding his hand. He must have sensed his father’s anxiety. With wisdom far beyond his years, the little boy said, “But, Daddy, the football field is the same size.” Wherever we do battle with the enemy, the Lord’s power can bring him down to manageable size.

Stone, S. E. (1995). Sermon Outlines on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. (S. E. Stone, Ed.) (p. 38). Cincinnati, OH: Standard

Prayer: Help me Lord Jesus to use the Shield of Faith to extinguish and flaming darts. Help me to remember your promises and to claim them under your authority. Help me to spend time with you each day, reading your word, meditating on it; memorizing it, so that the Holy Spirit can use it in my life against the many schemes of the Devil. I put my Faith in you Lord Jesus. Amen.