Focus: The Shield of Faith (Pt.3)

Text: Eph.6:16

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."

Faith is our most valuable treasure given to us by God. Faith is most holy and very precious. Whoever loses faith has lost everything. Faith is a shield made available to us by God, and the Apostle Paul exhorts us to take it up and use it for our protection in the battlefields of life. Paul says, "I have fought the good fight of faith," and by virtue of Christ's victory on the cross, we fight from the place of victory.

Faith spiritually unites us with God, wonderfully overcomes the world, and effectively resists the devil.

Hence the need for us to take in our hands the shield of faith in our daily engagements.

Apart from taking up our shield of faith, we must also learn to anoint our shield of faith. God says in Isaiah, "Arise, ye princes, and ANOINT the shield…" (Isa.21:5). Why do you need to anoint the shield? It is because the shield had to be maintained and kept fresh, ready for battle. The shield was covered with leather. In the Greek and Roman times, a soldier was required to anoint or oil his shield daily to prevent the leather from drying up and tearing apart. The shield had to be kept in a current state of effectiveness or usability. Shockingly, death was the consequence of any soldier who failed to maintain his shield. Similarly, a believer devoid of faith is as good as dead. 

A man is dead without faith in Christ. Losing one's faith is the same as losing one's life. Spiritually speaking, you become a living corpse.

Satan is afraid of your faith and the word of God in your heart. The Lord Jesus Christ says, "When affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake…" (Mk.4:17). Satan attacks you from all angles because of the word of God that you possess inside your heart. He also attacks you because of your faith in Christ. James describes it as "the trying of your faith." God's word and your faith in Christ are your biggest possessions. James says, "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience…" (Jam.1:3).

Satan attacks you on account of your faith. He knows the value and vitality of your faith.

Peter writes, "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like PRECIOUS faith with us…" (2Pet.1:1). Your faith is precious. Your faith has gravity, and it is a priceless treasure.

There's no religious supermarket on earth where faith is sold for or bought with money. Its value is beyond silver and gold.

Without faith you are exposed to danger. Christ says to Peter, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt" (Mt.14:31). For his doubt and lack of faith, Peter was drowning in the Sea of Galilee. Faith enables you to sail through life without sinking. It keeps you afloat and protects you from all of Satan's attack.

Satan hates that you have faith. Two most precious things Satan wants to take away from you are God's word and your faith. These two things are the secrets of your strength. Without them you are liable to defeat. The word of God offends the devil while your faith defends you from the devil's missiles, spears or arrows. To be void of the word of God and faith is to become exposed to danger and defeat.

Since faith is a mighty weapon of defense against Satanic missiles, you have to grow in it. Feed your faith with the word of God, and always bear in mind that the word of God is the sword of the Spirit. 

The Spirit uses the word of God as a sword and a weapon of attack. So develop your faith by letting the words of Christ dwell in you richly.

Paul says, "Taking the shield of faith…" The shield of faith is for the taking. It's available. It has already been provided by God for you. Take it and fight with it. Don't leave it behind. Don't relegate it to the background. Put it where it belongs, right in front of you. It's for defense. It's meant to ward off every missile or arrow hurled at you by the enemy.

Paul lists faith as a piece of divine armor. He says that it is a 'shield.' That's a weapon of war that is designed to protect the soldier of Christ from the front. Faith as a piece of armor clearly tells you that this world is not a battle free zone. There are battles to fight and enemies to face. Indeed, foes abound in this world.

Forces of darkness exist, and they are after the believer in Christ.

They hate your faith and guts. Your faith neutralizes their arrows and wards off their attacks. Your faith is your protection against the forces of evil. Your faith brings God into the equation of your life and gives Him the reins of control over you. Faith and victory belong together. You cannot have faith and not win battles. Fears and doubts win no battles. Fears make you lose battles. Unbelief is a self-defeating weapon.

Take with you the shield of faith. Don't leave it behind. You can't fight and win without it. One thing Satan hates most is seeing you lean on or trust in God. Faith locks him out while fear and doubt open the door for him. Satan is frustrated and devastated by your faith. He is the thief of the Word and of faith. He comes to the soil of your heart where the Word of God and your faith are planted to uproot them or plant the tares of doubt and unbelief alongside them. 

Satan fears your faith and the word of God in your heart. Stand your ground and hold firmly to your faith. Your faith is most holy and eternally precious. Your faith is your shield. Treasure it. Your victory is guaranteed by your faith in Christ.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter