The Shield of Faith
Notes
Transcript
Scripture memory
Scripture memory
We’ve heard the passage as it was read to us. Now, let’s read it together. For this reading we have left out some words so that we can test our memories in key places.
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.
For this week, we are working on memorizing the passage we’ll be discussing today.
Find Faith
Find Faith
In the last week or so, Danielle and I began getting back into the Crown series on Netflix. I’m not exactly sure what it is about the story and their life that is so engaging, but we’re hooked - now in season two.
In one of the episodes, we were introduced to a woman who was a nun in a convent in Greece during the time of a military coup. We later learned that this was Princess Alice - a descended of the house of Windsor, and mother to Prince Philip - the Duke of Edinburgh - husband of the Queen. The Queen decided to bring Alice to London to keep her safe from military strife in Greece, much to Philip’s dismay. Philip and Alice had not seen each other in decades. Not only was he dealing with the memory of his tumultuous childhood, but her coming was poorly timed - in his opinion.
During the episode we learned of the terrible and challenging life that Alice endured - medical tests, being institutionalized, assumed to have mental illness and more. She endured a lot and clearly looked like it.
In the end of the episode, there is a scene when Philip and his mom finally talk face to face. He comes to her room to find her kneeling in prayer. You see, she was a woman of deep and consistent faith.
At one point in their conversation, she asks:
“How is your faith?”
To which Philip replied simply “Dormant.”
She then responds - “Find a faith…it helps. No....it’s everything.”
We demonstrate faith in so many different ways. We might say that we have faith in our judicial or political systems - or lack thereof. We have faith in the goodness of humanity. We even talk about faith in God or in one another.
Sometimes faith is described as a sincere belief or hope in some future outcome. Sometimes faith is seen as innocent, naive, or blind.
Today, as we continue our discussions on The Real War We Wage - this spiritual war, we will discuss this matter of faith. The Apostle Paul describes faith as a shield.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
So all of this talk of faith seems to beg the question...
What is faith?
What is faith?
The word for faith is used nearly 250 times in the New Testament. It’s is often used to describe the way someone believes or the fullness of their belief.
Several times Jesus said to people - “your faith has made you well” (e.g. Mt. 9:22; 9:29).
Some people are described as being full of faith - for example Stephen in Acts 6.
We are told that we receive salvation and the forgiveness of sins by faith.
But what is it?
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
So, according to scripture, faith is an assurance or confidence or conviction about things about which we have an expectation but have not yet seen or received.
The author of Hebrews goes on to describe exactly what he’s talking about as he illustrates the faith that we see in so many different Old Testament heroes.
If you have your bibles, let’s read a bit of this. As we read several verses, keep this definition that the writer of Hebrews describes in your mind - assurance of things hoped for, conviction of things not seen.
Read some of Hebrews 11 from the Bible (maybe 1-15).
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
In discussing Hebrews 11:1, the ESV Study Bible describes this faith in this way:
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 11
By defining faith (Gk. pistis) as “assurance” and “conviction,” the author indicates that biblical faith is not a vague hope grounded in imaginary, wishful thinking. Instead, faith is a settled confidence that something in the future—something that is not yet seen but has been promised by God—will actually come to pass because God will bring it about. Thus biblical faith is not blind trust in the face of contrary evidence, not an unknowable “leap in the dark”; rather, biblical faith is a confident trust in the eternal God who is all-powerful, infinitely wise, eternally trustworthy—the God who has revealed himself in his word and in the person of Jesus Christ, whose promises have proven true from generation to generation, and who will “never leave nor forsake” his own (13:5)
ESVSB p. 2381
Our faith in God is a faith that is sure and confident - not because of our ability to believe, but because of the object of our faith - God and his promises. There does seem to be some talk throughout the New Testament regarding the fullness or completeness of our faith, and yet - even Jesus said it doesn’t need to be that big.
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.”
Elsewhere Jesus described this mustard seed as the smallest of all seeds (Mt. 13:31).
Let’s consider briefly how the Apostle Paul uses faith elsewhere in the book of Ephesians- remember, context is key.
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
Paul had heard from a distance about how they were living out their belief in Jesus Christ. It seems that their faith in God was practical and put into action.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
We’ve seen this several times over the last few weeks - but here Paul notes that we are saved by grace through faith. Grace meaning that we are getting better than what we deserve. Our salvation comes through believing in what God did for us through Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension. We could even say that the saving faith we have is given from God - it’s not something that we have to muster ourselves. We don’t have to work up a good faith or a good believing. God seems to endow us with the ability to believe in who He is.
In this next verse, the Apostle Paul references the eternal purposes that we have in Christ Jesus...
in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Because the object of our faith - Jesus Christ - is sure and firm, we have boldness and access to God. We don’t have to fear Him - we have been saved, the wrath of God has been assuaged by His love.
In thinking back to the TV series The Crown - so many different people are allowed to come into the presence of the Queen - but there is a certain decorum and there are certain rules. But others have been given access to the Queen with permission to speak frankly and boldly. That is the same kind of access we have to God by faith in Jesus Christ. There is still reverence and awe - but we have no fear of wrath or retribution - we can simply come to Him.
Let’s consider another passage. This one is more than one verse.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
I love that passage. The profound nature of our faith in Jesus Christ - again - it’s not a blind faith. But here, Paul is praying that our faith would be rooted and grounded in love and that we would begin to understand, to plumb the depths of God’s love for us - knowing full well that we will never fully grasp his love.
In the very next chapter, Paul begins talking more practically about how we live - recognizing that as God’s people we are one.
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
We are apart of one faith - there is only one way to God - through Jesus Christ.
A few verses later, Paul talks about how God has put the church together.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
The idea is that God has given certain people in the church as instruments of instruction - in order to equip the rest of the church - toward unity of faith. Think about this - in Jesus’ so called “High Priestly Prayer” he prayed that his people would be unified (John 17). It seems that our time together in the church should be working toward unifying rather than dividing. That unity of faith or belief comes through maturity.
Other than talking about the shield of faith in 6:16, there is one other time that Paul use faith in the book of Ephesians...
Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here he is using it as more of a term of endearment - a salutation.
Time doesn’t allow us to dive deeply into all of the 250ish times that faith is used in the New Testament, but I hope you can see that faith is rich and full. It’s not a blind leap. It’s not naive.
Faith is being certain of something that we hope for. Our faith in God is the belief that he is who he says he is and that He will do what he says he will do.
But the Apostle Paul describes...
Faith as a shield.
Faith as a shield.
Roman soldiers would carry with them a large wooden shield that was overlaid with leather or animal skin. This shield was approximately 4 feet high and 2 feet wide. It was designed to cover the rest of the soldier that was not protected by the wearable armor- the belt or skirt, breastplate, shoes, helmet, etc. Often these shields were dipped in water so that they would have some moisture to them in order to extinguish the arrows of the enemy that had been dipped in tar and set on fire before being sent.
(O’Brien, Peter Thomas. The Letter to the Ephesians. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999. Print. The Pillar New Testament Commentary.)
In combat, arrows can be shot from an enemy that can’t necessarily be seen. Roman archers were accurate between 50 and 150 meters or 160 to nearly 500 feet or about 1.5 football fields. They could shoot as far as 230 meters (about 750 feet or 2.5 soccer fields). (https://www.warhistoryonline.com/ancient-history/archers-roman-army.html). Now we can see that far easily, but an archer can hide from that distance and we may never see the arrow until it’s too late.
In our spiritual battle, there are some attacks that we will receive that are overt - those close battles. We see this in the temptations that are right around us. We see this in our own sinful desires and inclinations.
But there are some spiritual attacks that are more subtle. We can’t see them coming - sometimes until after the attack has happened.
This is where faith acts like a shield - it protects us - keeps us sure and grounded even in the face of shaky circumstances. It provides us confidence - I think - in two ways.
First of all
Confidence in God
Confidence in God
Remember - God and his promises are the ultimate object of our faith. As we read his word, meditate on it and apply it, we put into practice our faith in God. We can encounter various trials and attacks and rest confidently knowing the God is still in control, He is still sovereign, He has a larger plan in the works.
This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be vigilant or active, but we should be confident.
Let’s think about it briefly in light of the election. I know there are Christians on both sides of the political divide. I know that the believers on both sides also can’t believe that some believers would actually choose the other side. I’m generalizing here, but Christians who are democrats can’t believe that any good Christian would vote for someone who seems to talk and act the way that President Trump does. Christians who are republicans can’t believe that a good Christian would vote for a candidate who would be pro-abortion. Beyond all of that, there are the various news media outlets who seem to be fueling the controversy and lobbing flaming arrows all over the place.
As good citizens, we should vote. I do think that is something that God has given us the privilege to do by being a part of this nation. I think you should search the scriptures on the issues and vote your conscience. Vote for the candidate that you think is the right candidate and party to lead our nation.
If you get stumped on it, then have a conversation with a respected brother or sister in Christ - maybe even one from each side of the political landscape. Ask them why they will vote the way they will. I know it’s taboo to talk politics, but that’s part of the problem. We’ve made it taboo to talk about it so all we do is scream and yell and rant and put up signs.
But here is the point - God already knows the outcome of the election. He has already ordained who will be in the oval office in January. No matter the outcome of the election - God will still be in control. If Donald Trump and Mike Pence win - God is still in control. If Joe Biden and Kamalah Harris win - God is still in control.
Let our faith in the sovereign God and His promises and eternal plan be sure. Our job on this side of the election is to study and then vote. Our job on the other side of the election is to walk by faith in the God who ordained it.
It’s easy to get caught up in conspiracy theories about who is really running things. It’s no conspiracy - God is still in control!
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
There are so many other places where we can see these flaming arrows - theological debates, moralism, legalism, relationships, culture, etc.
In the midst of the attacks that we receive from afar, we can find confidence in God - let our faith rest firmly there.
But we can also be united in faith as we collectively find...
Camaraderie with each other.
Camaraderie with each other.
One of the things that these Roman shields would do is that they would allow soldiers to stand shoulder to shoulder, lining their shields up next to each other in order to protect against an attack together. They could provide a veritable wall of defense against these flaming arrows.
God has blessed us with the body of Christ, the church, each other, as a means of comfort and confidence as we walk through life, as we encounter the trials that we face. We can help each other, protect each other, encourage each other.
Throughout the New Testament, there are “one another” statements - statements designed to help us understand how we should act toward each other as co-laborers in the faith - as brothers and sisters in Christ. As you read through scripture in your personal devotional time, take note of these statements - in fact, as we’ve been reading in the book of Ephesians, we have seen several of these. Sometime this afternoon, take 10-15 minutes to re-read Ephesians and notice the one another statements - I’ll give you a hint - they are all in chapters 4 and 5. But ponder how living out our faith in this way with one another can strength our faith in God individually and collectively.
Closing
Closing
In Ephesians 6:16, the Apostle Paul begins this discussion on the shield of faith with the admonition to do so in every circumstance. We must be prepared at all times - for we do not know when or how these attacks will come. Sometimes these attacks are overt, and sometimes they are veiled. We must stand firm - rest confidently in our faith in God.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been working through C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters. These are fictional letters written from the perspective of a senior demon to his nephew - as this nephew has been assigned to undermine the faith of a man.
Keep in mind, Lewis is imagining what this might be like and how the spiritual forces of evil work in the world. Listen to these two brief sections that reference both overt attacks and more subtle activities.
In the first, this new believer has been tempted on the moral front. He is single. Keep in mind that the “Enemy” here is God.
I note with great displeasure that the Enemy has, for the time being, put a forcible end to your direct attacks on the patient’s chastity. You ought to have known that He always does in the end, and you ought to have stopped before you reached that stage. For as things are, your man has now discovered the dangerous truth that these attacks don’t last forever; consequently you cannot use again what is, after all, our best weapon—the belief of ignorant humans, that there is no hope of getting rid of us except by yielding. I suppose you’ve tried persuading him that chastity is unhealthy?
Lewis, C. S.. The Screwtape Letters: Annotated Edition (p. 85). HarperOne. Kindle Edition.
In another section - Screwtape notes bigger, yet subtle actions. Keep in mind - not only was Lewis from England, but he was also writing during WWII - some of his historical references are related to his contemporary circumstances and the history he knew up to that point. His language is artful and profound.
You will find that a good many Christian-political writers think that Christianity began going wrong, and departing from the doctrine of its Founder, at a very early stage. Now this idea must be used by us to encourage once again the conception of a “historical Jesus” to be found by clearing away later “accretions [additions] and perversions” and then to be contrasted with the whole Christian tradition. In the last generation we promoted the construction of such a “historical Jesus” on liberal and humanitarian lines; we are now putting forward a new “historical Jesus” on Marxian, catastrophic, and revolutionary lines. The advantages of these constructions, which we intend to change every thirty years or so, are manifold. In the first place they all tend to direct men’s devotion to something which does not exist, for each “historical Jesus” is unhistorical.
....
The “historical Jesus” then, however dangerous he may seem to be to us at some particular point, is always to be encouraged. About the general connection between Christianity and politics, our position is more delicate. Certainly we do not want men to allow their Christianity to flow over into their political life, for the establishment of anything like a really just society would be a major disaster. On the other hand we do want, and want very much, to make men treat Christianity as a means; preferably, of course, as a means to their own advancement, but, failing that, as a means to anything—even to social justice. The thing to do is to get a man at first to value social justice as a thing which the Enemy demands, and then work him on to the stage at which he values Christianity because it may produce social justice. For the Enemy will not be used as a convenience. Men or nations who think they can revive the Faith in order to make a good society might just as well think they can use the stairs of Heaven as a short cut to the nearest chemist’s shop. Fortunately it is quite easy to coax humans round this little corner. Only today I have found a passage in a Christian writer where he recommends his own version of Christianity on the ground that “only such a faith can outlast the death of old cultures and the birth of new civilisations.”You see the little rift? “Believe this, not because it is true, but for some other reason.” That’s the game,
Your affectionate uncle
Screwtape
(Lewis, C. S.. The Screwtape Letters: Annotated Edition (p. 94-96). HarperOne. Kindle Edition. )
Let’s pray
Benediction:
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.