Shield of Faith
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Introduction
Introduction
A lot of us in this room probably love a good story. Whether that is by movie, a book, or someone just telling you a story by word of mouth. Stories can be moving for us, and when we hear a story there is a central theme of faith. The protagonist of the story is against unbelievable odds, and there seems to be no chance. The protagonist then begins to believe and trust, and the end of the story it all works out.
But what are they to actually believe in? That part of it seems to be missing. What are they/we to believe in? Ourselves. Teamwork? Destiny? The good vibes? It seems to be that the object of their faith is not that important but as long as they “have faith” and “keep on believing”
For the Roman soldier, this was a fully body shield that would be made out of metal or a special treated leather. It was about two and a half feet wide and four-and-a-half feet high.
In New Testament times the tips of arrows were often rapped in pieces of cloth that had been soaked in a flammable substance. Before the arrow was released, the substance would be lighted and the flaming arrow would splatter on impact igniting anything flammable in its contact. These arrows would pierce soldiers, and would also give them serious burns as well as burn their gear. The shields were design to deflect the arrows or extinguish the fire.
In Sparta, it was a dishonor to lose their shield. It was better for them to lose their helmet then to lose their shield. Theses soldiers lived by the shield and they died with the shield.
What can be misunderstood is a Christian’s faith. They do not understand a biblical sense of faith which is rooted in reality. We have a firm foundation of truth that we then can place our faith in God. It does not matter necessarily how much faith we have, but the object of our faith.
“faith is always to have a firm foundation in order for it to be meaningful.”
That is why the belt of truth is to be put on first. We are to know truth, and our faith is not to be blind faith, but based on truth.
To further this point, there is no power in the faith itself, but it is the object of our faith is where the power comes from.
Why is it important that your faith be built on truth?
And its important to note that when talking about the shield of faith that we are taking hold of the power of God. There are many Bible references to God being our shield.
1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
5 Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Proverbs
3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word.
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Spurgeon says that every Christian is born a warrior and it is his destiny to be assaulted. He will have to defend earnestly the faith once delivered to the saints; to resist the devil.
Verse 10 in chapter 6 of Ephesians says to be strong in the Lord. We are to take up the shield of faith. This the first piece of the armor that we are not to put on, but to take up. We need to put on the first three pieces, but this one we are to take up the shield of faith.
The shield was to stop the enemy’s arrows. Our enemy Satan is launching all sorts of arrows at us. Temptations, strategies, deceptions to inflame us and bring us to shame.
There are times when you see the enemy is coming. But there are times when you could not anticipate what was about to happen and your faith is about to be tested.
What do we do with the moment that fiery darts could fall on our head.
At all times
Through all circumstances
the believer is to hold fast to their faith in order to be victorious in battle.
Take up the Shield of Faith
Take up the Shield of Faith
We must know truth. And when we read the truth that God makes promises, we then must have faith that God will keep his promises.
Our shield is faith. When we live out what we believe and our faith is tested. Our faith is our shield.
Where does your faith most struggle: to believe either in God’s power, or his love, or his personal interest in you?
Its one thing to say what you believe. But faith does not get real until you find a situation in life where you have to trust in God to get you through it.
We can blame things in life on the devil, on those around us, and its none of their faults. It may be God taking something out of your life that you did not think you could live without.
If we didn't have any problems, we would not know that God can solve our problems. It is with our problems and trials and temptations that we can depend and trust on Jesus and His Word.
Extinguish the fiery darts
Extinguish the fiery darts
We have to take up the shield.
You don’t get victory by admiring the shield. You get victory when you take it up and you hold on. Faith is not what you know but what you do.
You do not know how strong your faith is until the storm is raging. Until the trial is so big that you can only trust in God.
Everyone lives with faith. Maybe not in God or the Bible, but everyone has faith.
Doctors and precriptions
Cars
Planes
Where does our food come from
Faith only is as good as its object.
English Standard Version Chapter 17
14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Paul who is encouraging these Romans is telling them that God gives them enough faith to get them through what they are going through.
16 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…extinguishes all the flaming darts of the evil one.
immorality, hatred, anger, covetousness, pride, doubt, fear, despair, distrust,
Whatever the enemy throws at you, if you hold on to your faith, it will give you victory over all the fiery darts.
Faith does not just deflect the fiery dart. It extinguishes it.
How do Jesus’s death and resurrection encourage your faith?