SWORDS BIBLE STUDY: Eph 6:16a The Shield of Faith

Our study of the armor of the believer brings us to the shield of faith:

Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Today we need to be fully equipped! I personally love the shield of faith that can quench ALL the fiery darts of the wicked!

Today it seems that the fiery darts are a never ending attack against the fundamentals of the faith! Against the word of God and the deity of God!

So why does Paul say we should take the shield of faith “above all”?

Our faith is continually ATTACKED through ATTACKING the doctrines of God; the very word of God. This world is constantly being flooded with false teachings as well as translations that add words, or leave words or whole verses out that most often change or leave out the truth of God.

I believe the shield of faith also keeps us strong in the faith, in the PURE, PRESERVED word of God. It helps us so we are not led off, not giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils! (1 Timothy 4:1).

Rom_10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The shield is in front of a soldier at all times. It protects their body and attacks from above in the form of arrows set on fire raining down on them! The shield is in a position over all the other pieces of armor, in front of them and over them!

It is the same spiritually for us, as our shield is out in front of us, just as our FAITH should be out in front where it can cover the believer as God so designed! Praise be to our God, our shield!

If we are TAKING the shield of faith, we WILL be able to “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph.6:16). When the shield of faith is “above all,” it can completely cover and protect us from harm. Remember we TAKE the shield of faith…by FAITH!

Today we do not pray for a “hedge of protection” to be around us…that covenanted by God with Israel! Today as the Body of Christ, we are to TAKE the shield! Israel was being physically protected from her enemies… We are being spiritually protected from the enemies of the cross today! Big difference. Learning to rightly divide brings God’s directions for us today into clear focus!

In Roman days, no soldier would go into battle without his shield! The shield was his assurance that he would be guarded against deadly fire. Without the fortification of the shield in front of him, there was nothing between him and the enemy.

This is just as true for us as well, SPIRITUALLY speaking! Without our shield of faith we are open to the deadly sting of the fiery darts of the wicked.

This is why Paul says we are to be “taking” the shield of faith. If we can take it up, that means we can also set it down.

Too many saints today think that they can just spiritually COAST on their saving faith, and not build themselves up in the faith, and others as well. They effectively LAY DOWN the faith that is their shield and leave themselves open to enemy attacks.

I don’t think the importance of faith can be over emphasized! Paul says we are to be holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck!

I Timothy 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck

Here Paul is telling us to be “holding the mystery of the faith”, the grace message!

1Ti 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

If we don’t hold the faith, we’ll end up like the “some” Paul mentions here who put away their faith in the grace message and “made shipwreck” of faith! Because of this, we do NOT ever want to put away our faith! Ever! We want to build on our faith and always carry our shield of faith DAILY!

Paul goes on to say “wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” He does not say that you might be able to, or that you sometimes can quench these darts, but that you shall be able to! Which means you WILL be able to when you reckon your old man dead, putting on the new man with the armor of God in place!

Please know that while the fiery darts may be used to weaken us to give occasion to sin in the flesh, they are intended mainly to be used to destroy us DOCTRINALLY! Do NOT be made useless for battle, or a burden for our fellow soldiers, or worse yet…be ignorantly fighting for the opposition!

Rom_6:11   Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We cannot see this connection between the power of God and the operation of faith in our lives, but together they protect us with a mighty spiritual fortification that makes the Wall of China look like an old spindly, rotten picket fence! It is the power of God working with our faith that is our shield. We stand firm in a defended position!

The Gospel of the Grace of God: 1Co 15:1-4 I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you…By which also ye are saved…How that Christ died for our sins…And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

THE GOSPEL THAT SAVES
“I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved … that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

– 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (KJB)