The Shield of Faith

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one...” - Ephesians 6:16

Historically, shields were used to protect the body from arrows shot by your enemy. They were long and wide wooden structures made for warriors dressed in full armor to be able to crouch behind when arrows came flying.

This was a huge piece of armor!

While the shield protects its bearer from the piercing point of the arrow, the fiery arrows described in Ephesians threaten to engulf the wooden shield in flames, thus compelling the warrior to throw the shield down, and exposing him to the danger of the arrows that follow.

The fiery arrows represent the temptation that the enemy is hurling at you to try to spook you into dropping your shield of faith.

But did you catch what Ephesians 6 says about God’s shield?

It EXTINGUISHES the arrows that are propelling toward you.

Self-reliance is combustible. We can’t stand the flames alone. Faith humbles us to rely on God instead of ourselves, taking away the fuel for the dart.

Those fiery arrows no longer have the power to burn up your shield, in fact, scripture tells us that fire is precisely what refines our faith and makes it stronger.

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” - 1 Peter 4:12

“And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’” - Zechariah 13:9

“...who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” - 1 Peter 1:5-7

Isn’t that just like God?

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” - Genesis 50:20

Just like he turned Joseph’s brother's evil actions into a blessing for many people back in Genesis, once again He flipped the enemy’s attack on its head. Instead of fearing the fiery arrows coming at us, we can stand firm in faith knowing that God is using that fire for the strengthening of our faith resulting in more praise and glory to His name!

In Luke 22, Jesus is trying to tell the disciples about the sacrifice he’s about to make, and they are just not getting it. This is the famous passage with the last supper and Jesus’ prediction of Peter all wrapped up in one.

“...but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” - Luke 22:32

Just before Jesus predicts Peter’s denial, He tells Peter that he has prayed for him, covering him with a shield of faith that Peter could not carry on his own.

Guess what?

He did the same thing for you.

Yeah you!

When Jesus died on the cross, he covered all who believe in him in the blood of his sacrifice, so that God may look on us with favor despite the many times we get scared and put down our shields.

Jesus offers us an eternal shield that cannot be destroyed.

Just like God rescued Noah and Lot from the punishment of the unrighteous around them, your faith puts you in God’s favor and protection.

“For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.” - Psalm 5:12

“...then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment…” - 2 Peter 2:9

Now let’s watch how God brings all of these strings together to really solidify this shield imagery for us...

The Greek word for shield is derived from the word for door, probably because a shield is shaped kind of like a door and in the same way protects you from what’s on the other side.

So, what I’m hearing is, when we have our shields up, we have the door closed against the enemy and his schemes. Try as he might, he’s not getting past this door that’s covered by the blood of Christ.

Oh wait…

Doesn’t that sound familiar?

A door covered by blood that protects you from death… kind of like Passover...

I don’t think this is any coincidence, people!

Our God is a good God who writes magnificent story lines throughout scripture, and also in your life.

The shield of faith is so important.

It is what protects your whole being against the attacks of the enemy, because it covers you by the blood of Christ so God’s favor may rest on you.

Shields up, Church!