The Believer’s Warfare Message 8

The Believer’s Warfare

Message 8

The Shield of Faith

Me:

“In addition”

There is a change in the kind of armor.

Our first three – Belt (Truth) Breastplate (Righteousness) Shoes (Gospel)

These are my constant companion – Truth Righteousness Gospel

Verse 16 there is a change

Ephesians 6:16–17 NLT

16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Shield of faith – Helmet of Salvation – Sword of the Spirit

We put these things on when going into battle.

Let’s discover the meaning of the “shield of faith”

We:

The Shield of Faith

Image

As you can see this shield is designed to protect the whole body.

Image

These where the front-line soldiers

They would stand side by side

Behind them stood the archers

In battle the soldiers are protect from the arrows and spears of the enemy

The enemy would dip their arrows in pitch set it on fire and cause great damage to their opponent.

The Roman shield could protect the soldier from these flaming arrows

You can see the image here

Satan fires his arrows at the believer

Without the shield of faith we become vulnerable to the enemies attacks

“The highway of life is strewn with the wreckage of Christians who never discovered how to combat “the wicked one.”’

We want our shield of faith

What is it and how do we get?

God:

Faith

Let’s get a definition

We all have some measure of faith

We have faith that the beams of this building are going to hold up.

But we all know that building collapse

So I have sowed some seeds of doubt.

But I doubt that any will leave because you have faith it will stand

Faith in the gospel

Hebrews 11:6 GW

6 No one can please God without faith. Whoever goes to God must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

1. We must have faith to please 2. This faith is built on the belief that God exists

I call this “saving faith”

It’s putting total trust in Jesus as your Savior

You believe that Jesus was crucified, buried, resurrected, ascended into heaven.

You believe that you must obey the bible

You believe that bible is the very words of God.

You are looking forward to the Jesus’ return

You believe that what God promises He will keep those promises

You believe that when Jesus said he will never leave you or forsake you that it was true.

You believe the gospel the good news of Jesus Christ your Savior.

This building will not last a 1000 years but Jesus’ promise will

Romans 1:17 NASB 2020

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by faith.”

Galatians 3:11 NCV

11 Now it is clear that no one can be made right with God by the law, because the Scriptures say, “Those who are right with God will live by faith.”

You

Flaming missiles

These are the temptation we face

We often face these moment by moment

“Satan continually bombards God’s children with temptations to immorality, hatred, envy, anger, covetousness, pride, doubt, fear, despair, distrust, being dishonest, and every other sin.”

Satan tempted Adam and Eve to doubt God

Every temptation, directly or indirectly, is the temptation to doubt and distrust God.

It’s also the “calling” we ignore.

God has a ministry for each and every believer

Does Jesus want you to start a quiet time pray more be faithful?

Has Jesus put a ministry on your heart?

Is Jesus calling you to speak to your neighbor coworker friend

How are you doubting God?

What standards are you minimizing?

What lies are you believing?

Just imagine:

Take your shield of faith

Friendship with God

You have your shield

You feel the arrows thudding your shield

An old habit or sin or hang up or hurt (Something you think you cannot do without)

You can trust God and you can defeat that lie.

Take up your shield

Put a stake in the ground

You shall not pass