The Shield of Faith
Steve W. Reeves
stevesermons.blogspot.com
INTRODUCTION:
A. On
August 1, 2013, Henry Allen, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, wrote an Op
Ed in the Wall Street journal regarding changes in our culture.
“For the first time in my 72 years, I have no idea what's going on. I doubt that
anyone does. Is democracy turning into a power vacuum? What will fill it? Will
organized religion die? I was talking to a girl from an Episcopalian youth group in
Missouri. ‘Episcopalianism is great’ she said. ‘You don’t have to believe anything.’
Like most people I used to think the world would go on the way it was going with
better medicine and the arrival of an occasional iPad or earthquake, but that was
when I knew what was going on. I worry that reality itself is fading like the Cheshire
cat leaving behind only a smile that grows ever more alarming.” (Henry Allen, The
Disquiet of Ziggy Zeitgeist,” The Wall Street Journal, August 1, 2013).
1. Allen’s words reflect the reality that all of us are living in the midst of a changing
culture.
2. I am not talking about superficial changes such as fashion styles or music
preferences or changes in technology.
3. The changes I am talking about are much deeper. They are changes in the way
people think. Changes in the values that prompt our decisions. Changes in
standards that have dominated the civilized world for the past two thousand
years.
4. This is not a slight tremor in the landscape. It is a major earthquake. It is not a
ripple in the waves but a tsunami. It is not a wrinkle in the garment but a tearing of
the very fabric of society.
B. Have you considered the impact these changes are having on people’s faith?
1. The value of life itself is under attack as a result of crime, violence and abortion.
2. Traditional sources of moral authority such as the Judeo/Christian ethic are being
cast aside. This affects everything from sexual identity to marriage, families,
morality and spirituality.
C. We should not be surprised by these things. Listen to Paul’s admonition in Ephesians
6:10-12. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the
whole armor of God that you may resist in the schemes of the devil. For our struggle
is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the
worldly powers of darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the
heavenlies.”
1. Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase, The Message,” puts an interesting spin on these
words (I emphasize this is a paraphrase). “This is no afternoon athletic contest
that we walk away and forget in a couple of hours. This is for keeps. A life or death
fight to the finish against the spiritual forces of evil. So be prepared. You are up
against more than you can handle on your own.”
2. Paul continued in verse 13-17, “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that
you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
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. 17 And take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
D. Please note the importance of verse 16, “Taking the shield of faith with which you will
be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
1. Paul lists six items in this passage. Four of them are articles of clothing. From a
spiritual perspective we put these on when we are baptized.
2. Two of these items, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit must be
consciously, deliberately carried and used.
3. Why is the shield of faith so important?
I. FAITH CONNECTS US WITH THE MIGHT OF GOD.
A. Across the country there are many places that generate electricity. In our state we
have hydro-electric plants like the one at Greers Ferry, coal fired plants like the
one at Newark and a nuclear plant at Russellville. Each of these plants generate
an enormous amount of power. All of that energy would be useless if there were no
way to carry it from the source to a destination. This is why we have transmission
lines, substations, transformers and power lines.
1. God is the source of power.
a. 1 Chronicles 29:10 (David’s prayer upon receiving gifts for construction of the
temple) – “Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and
ever. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the
victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the
earth”
b. Matthew 19:26 – “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are
possible.”
c. Ephesians 3:20 – “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond
all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”
d. 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and
love and discipline.”
2. Faith is like the transmission line that enables us to connect with the source of
the power.
B. You and I do not have the spiritual power within ourselves to wage the battle
against the evil one. This is why Paul began this text with the words, “Finally, be
strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
C. Martin Luther reflected this idea in his famous hymn, “A Mighty Fortress” with
these words. “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would
be losing. Were not the right Man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing.
Just ask who that might be; Christ Jesus it is He. Lord Sabaoth His name; from
age to age the same. And He shall win the battle.”
II. FAITH PROTECTS US FROM THE ARROWS OF THE DEVIL.
A. Paul wrote that by taking up the shield of faith we might be able to extinguish the
flaming arrows of the evil one (vs. 16).
1. Perhaps you have seen movies or pictures depicting ancient warfare where an
army would take their arrows, dip them in tar, set them aflame and launch a
barrage of flaming arrows against their opponent.
2. Such attacks alert us to the fierceness of our enemy. In 1 Peter 5:8 the devil is
described as a “roaring lion seeking whom He might devour.”
3. Satan is firing arrows at us every day as he seeks to weaken our spiritual
defenses. In his book, “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” John Bunyan described Satan
as a “foul fiend.” Christian had traveled just a little way until he met this foul fiend
coming at him.
B. Satan’s flaming arrows may include:
1. Discontentment
2. Disunity
3. Doubt
4. Discouragement
C. A Roman shield was approximately four feet long by two and a half feet wide. The
Greek word for this shield can be translated, “door.” It had a wooden frame,
covered with layers of leather and mesh. The edges were covered with metal.
Before entering battle, the shield would be soaked in water so arrows striking the
shield would be extinguished.
1. Taking up the shield meant to prepare it for battle.
2. A lot of people who have professed faith in Christ have never prepared their faith
for battle. A lot of people have let their shields fall into disrepair. Satan’s arrows
are piercing their faith and destroying their lives.
3. What type of condition is your shield in today?
III. FAITH AFFECTS THE OUTCOME OF OUR STRUGGLE
A. One of the most unique features of the Roman shield was its dual purpose as a
defensive and offensive weapon
1. Soldiers could hide behind the shield. They could lock their shields together to
form a barrier. In the movie “Gladiator” the soldiers banded together and
crouched behind their shields in a maneuver they called, “the turtle.”
2. Soldiers could also join their shields together and press their way through the
enemy.
B. Imagine the spiritual strength that is found when Christians join their shields of
faith to defend and march against the enemy.
1. The most vulnerable soldier is the one who has been separated from their outfit.
2. The most vulnerable Christian is the one who is trying to wrestle with Satan by
himself/herself. One of Satan’s most deadly flaming arrows is the one that seeks
to divide and isolate Christians.
a. If I were a teenager I would want to have Christian friends who would help me
in my spiritual battles.
b. If I were a college student I would want to have friends who would strengthen
my faith and not tear it down.
c. If I were a young couple engaged to be married I would make sure my fiancé
and I had shields of faith that were tightly interlocked.
d. If I was a single adult I would want fellowship with others to keep my shield
adequately prepared.
e. If I were as parent raising children I would want to have regular fellowship
with other Christian families to make sure our spiritual defenses were intact.
f. If I were an older adult I would keep my faith, my shield and my spiritual
stamina strong.
CONCLUSION:
. To conclude this message we will sing these words. “In heavenly armor we’ll enter
the land, the battle belongs to the Lord. No weapon that’s fashioned against us can
stand, the battle belongs to the Lord.
(Chorus): “We sing glory, honor, power and strength to the Lord. We sing glory,
honor, power and strength to the Lord…
When the power of darkness comes in like a flood the battle belongs to the Lord. He’s
raised up a standard the power of His blood, the battle belongs to the Lord.
(Chorus).
B. Are you properly equipped for the battle? Take up your shield today!
