Shield of Faith

Ephesians 6:16
“Take up your
Shield…”

Shield of Faith…
•Ever heard of an Impala?
•They can jump 10 feet high and 30 feet
in distance!
•But they will stay captured behind a 3ft
wall…
•Why? They will not jump anywhere
unless they can see where they will land
•Faith is not faith, if you can see it…

Take up the Shield…
•Everyday Faith, or Textbook Faith?
•“Every-day Faith” is what we need
•Without seeing/knowing what God is doing,
and simply trusting His Bible promises– that
is true faith in God
•The 1st armor pieces (Belt, Breastplate,
Sandals) never removed; next 3 were taken up
only when needed– you’ll see the distinction
in V 16…

“14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR
LOINS WITH TRUTH and HAVING PUT ON THE
BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having
shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE
GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up
the shield of faith with which you will be able
to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil
one.”
Ephesians 6:14-16, NASB

A. The Shield of Faith…
•The verse starts with “in addition
to…” means we are in a new arena
•The previously mentioned armor is
worn at all times when we are
Christians
•It means things are get tough, and
you better be ready
•Take up the shield now, because you
WILL need it

•Shields were made of wood, 4’x 2’
•Very heavy with a protective
metal coating: fireproofing

•Shields were made of wood, 4’x 2’
•Very heavy with a protective
metal coating: fireproofing
•While linked together their own
archers would fire between the
shields– a moving bunker
•Flaming arrows were a common
military tactic– used to demoralize
and confuse

B. Flaming Arrows…
•So how do these apply spiritually
and symbolically?
•Could be darts of immorality,
hatred, envy, pride, covetousness,
doubt, worry or any other sin
•Notice this is the realm of thought
•You can be tempted and accused
before your feet hit the floor!

C. The Strength of your SoF…
•How strong is your Shield?
•Strong enough for any demon
attack ; total Faith in God?
•OR does it look good, but is
really paper thin?
•How can we strengthen it?
•3 Shield-building methods…

C. Three Shield-Builders…
1. The Bible, the Word of God
•D.L. Moody said, “The Bible
will keep you from sin, or sin
will keep you from the Bible.”
•By reading, study, memorizing,
we learn more faith
•Ever notice the cognitive difference
between secular and scriptural
activities?

2. Through Prayer
•Two things to consider here
1. Pray for God’s Will– we don’t see
the whole picture in difficulties
• Word of Faith teaches not to pray
this way, but to speak your wishes
•Audacity, ignorance and
blasphemy!

“14 This is the confidence which we have
before Him, that, if we ask anything
according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if
we know that He hears us in whatever we
ask, we know that we have the requests
which we have asked from Him.”
1 John 5:14-15, NASB

2. Through Prayer
1. Pray for God’s Will
2. Don’t pray with selfish reasons
•God’s Will– the Father knows best!
•James 4:3

“3 You ask and do not receive, because you
ask with wrong motives, so that you may
spend it on your pleasures.”
James 4:3, NASB

2. Through Prayer
1. Pray for God’s Will
2. Don’t pray with selfish reasons
•God’s Will– the Father knows best!
•James 4:3
•Again– Satan will do anything to
stop you from praying

3. Through Church Fellowship
•Hebrews 10:24-25

“24 and let us consider how to stimulate one
another to love and good deeds, 25 not
forsaking our own assembling together, as is
the habit of some, but encouraging one
another; and all the more as you see the day
drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:24-25, NASB

3. Through Church Fellowship
•Hebrews 10:24-25
•“I don’t have to go to church…”
•The true believer wants to do what
Jesus tells us to do
•What happens to you when you are
trying to get ready for Church?
•Going to Church is Shield-Linking

D. After Trusting, stuff gets worse…
•Did God drop the ball? Never!
•Remember the life/death
decision Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego had to make?
•Worship the image and live or…

“17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able
to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire;
and He will deliver us out of your hand, O
king. 18 But even if He does not, let it be
known to you, O king, that we are not going
to serve your gods or worship the golden
image that you have set up.”
Daniel 3:17-18, NASB

•Did God drop the ball? Never!
•Remember the life/death
decision Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego had to make?
•Worship the image and live or…
•Was ‘But if not’ lacking Faith?
•They knew that death was ok

•Death is not the end for the
Believer, 1 Corinthians 2:9

“9 but just as it is written,
‘THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR
HAS NOT HEARD,
AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART
OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE
WHO LOVE HIM.’ ”
1 Corinthians 2:9, NASB

•Death is not the end for the
Believer, 1 Corinthians 2:9
•I can’t tell you how many
funerals I’ve been to that were
celebrations, not grieving
•We may not fully comprehend
God’s purpose in our difficulty
and suffering , but we cannot
stop trusting in Him

Faith Principles to Remember…
1. Faith looks beyond
circumstances, beyond ups
and downs, feelings. Faith
‘sees’ what God can do.
2. Faith is believing God not only
CAN do it, but that He WILL
3. Keep your Shield of Faith up;
continuing attacks of Satan are
aimed at you

Shield of Faith

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