“ Take Up Your Shield! ” Sunday, 26 June 2022 10:00 a.m.
We are continuing with our series entitled: “The Armour of God”. We have spoken about the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness and the shoes of the gospel of peace; this week we are talking about the all-important shield of faith.
Ephesians 6: 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
There are a couple of interesting things with regards to this piece of protective armour. Firstly, Paul says that you need to take it “above all”. This shield is of primary importance. In the ancient military world, a shield would protect a soldier from a sword, spear, dagger or arrow attack. If one of those got through the soldier could be wounded or even killed.
And you notice that the shield is made of “faith”. Ultimately the devil wants to try to kill your faith. In any attack that comes your way, his desire is for you to leave your faith. Paul mentions as well that this one piece of armour has the ability to defend against something. It's able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. The enemy uses flaming arrows as it were. In days of old when a military campaign was taken against a city with high walls, the enemy would shoot flaming arrows into the city hoping to set the city on fire; and to demoralize and frustrate the occupants to the point of surrender.
And the devil's like that; he wants to interrupt our world; turn it into a frenzy so that we're constantly putting out fires. And he knows that if he does that, it has the potential to lead us to an attitude of faithlessness towards God. And so he uses arrows of fear, doubt and unbelief. And if you don't have your shield in place against these darts coming against you, they may have the potential to weaken your faith. To fear is to let down your shield of faith, to shrink back and to possibly become faithless. But by keeping your shield in place; you deflect the arrows of fear, not looking at the circumstances; but continuing to obey the Word of God. Putting the Word of God over your circumstances.
We will all have to deal with our fears, but we can set aside our fears in favour of faith in the Word of God. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. The Word of God is full of precious promises that come to us, that are for the people of God. And by reading them and living them we are able to keep our shield of faith in place!
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “Take Up Your Shield! ”
Blessings,
Kevin
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