Shield of faith
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:10-11 NKJV
We’ve all read the passages about the Whole Armor of God. We’ve heard it preached from time to time. Not to minimize any part of the whole I do want to focus on:
“above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
Ephesians 6:16 NKJV
God says “above all, taking the Shield of Faith” and then mentions the “fiery darts” or arrows.
In battle fiery darts (arrows) were not used just to kill. As they were shot into enemy camps or villages they were used to set fire to whatever they stuck into. They were as much of a psychological weapon as a physical one. Fires would start and spread causing chaos, fear, and disorientation. They were used to stop the opposition from advancing and escaping. This might have been a medieval tool but it’s still being used today.
The enemy is firing arrows into the world all around us. Into our families, homes, jobs, and lives. Through social media, television, music, the news, and the political talking heads everything in the world today seems upside down, backwards and distorted.
We get distracted and disoriented focusing on this wide spread chaos and feel like we are pinned down with nowhere to go. Morality, truth, right and wrong, justice, fairness, family, and love have all been set ablaze.
We are constantly being distracted from the truth and the reality of what is really going on.
It’s a kind of mental conditioning that lulls you into believing that things aren’t that bad.
Some people call it “drinking the kool-aide”. The Bible says:
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!”
Isaiah 5:20-21 NKJV
We can get so distracted by all the fiery darts and arrows being shot into our lives and smoke and fire breaking out all around us that we lose sight of the reason for the distraction. The frontal assault, God warns us about this:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
I Peter 5:8 NKJV
But God says:
“Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”
I Peter 5:9 NKJV
The Bible IS the Word of God. It’s timeless, it’s the Living Word, and it’s always relevant. God saw all of this unfolding from the beginning of time and wanted us to be prepared and well-armed.
“knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.””
II Peter 3:3-4 NKJV
As if ripped from today’s headlines God said:
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
II Timothy 3:1-7 NKJV
It’s everywhere you look just as God said it would be. This is your call to arms! This is where the battle lines are drawn. The enemy has been exposed and his plans discovered.
Today reset your focus on God. He is your King, Commander, Father, Healer, Source, Strength, Shelter and Provider. He will lead us out.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””
John 16:33 NKJV
“that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
I Corinthians 2:5 NKJV
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV
“So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20 NKJV
Today I pray that you take up the Shield of Faith. The Faith that can move mountains. The Faith that can snuff out the fiery darts and bring your focus back to your Source, Jesus and the Word of God. He will lead you out. He will touch you and heal you. He will give you peace in the chaos. He will give you hope in the storm. I pray God through the Holy Spirit would increase your faith and your shield would grow. That you would turn off the noise and remember the things of God. Focus on the Truth and what is right:
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.””
John 8:32 NKJV
Christians it’s time!
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
“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.”
Ephesians 6:13 NKJV
Strap up your shield you mighty men and women of God the battle is at hand!
In Jesus Name -Amen
May the Lord Bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
- Pastor Doug
