Sermon: June 21, 2009
Sermon Series: Sermons on Spiritual Warfare:
Sermon #05: The Shield of Faith
Scripture Ref: Ephesians 6:10-18 V#16
Scripture Ref: Ephesians 6:10-18 ‘Therefore my beloved brethern, be ye strong in the LORD & in the power of HIS might. Put on the whole armor of GOD that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh & blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of GOD that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, & having done all to stand, Stand therefore, with your loins girt about with truth, & having on the breastplate of righteousness, & your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. & take the helmet of salvation & the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of GOD, Praying always with all supplication in the Spirit, & perserverance & supplication for all saints.’
Introduction:
In this series of sermons on SPITITUAL WARFARE we’re talking about WINNING the SPIRITUAL WARFARE & NOT LOSING IT.
There are seemingly SOME CHRISTIANS who ALWAYS live a DEFEATED SPIRITUAL LIFE over & over again. That is so AGAINST the WILL of GOD for our lives. Amen?
There are seemingly SOME CHRISTIANS who are ALWAYS DEFEATED at every turn. They are ALWAYS being ATTACKED by the DEVIL & they are ALWAYS singing “WOE IS ME.” They feel like the DEVIL has ALWAYS gotten the BEST of them. They NEVER REPORT VICTORY. That is NOT the WILL of GOD for our lives, to LIVE in CONSTANT SPIRITUAL DEFEAT.
GOD has given us the RESOURCES that are NECESSARY for us to be VICTORIOUS in our lives & that is what we have been STUDYING in EPHESIANS chapter #6 as the apostle PAUL lists for us the ARMOR that we need to PUT ON to WIN against the DEVIL & his attacks. If we will DO what the BIBLE instructs us to DO then the DEVIL is the UNDERDOG. SATAN is a DEFEATED FOE!
I PRAY that we all do REALIZE this morning ----- that we do have a SPIRITUAL ENEMY out there & his name is the DEVIL. The same BIBLE that declares to us, there is a GOD, also declares to us there is a DEVIL. The same BIBLE that declares to us there are ANGELS ENCAMPED about us ----- also declares to us there are EVIL SPIRITS & DEMONIC FORCES at work against us. The same BIBLE that declares to us there is a HEAVEN to go to, also declares to us there is a HELL to shun.
We need to take this SPIRITUAL WARFARE SERIOUSLY!
We don’t CHOOSE it, ----- it CHOOSES us.
Let us read our SCRIPTURE found in EPHESIANS 6:10-18 once again & this morning we’re going to FOCUS upon V#16. ‘Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked,’
So far we have examined the BELT of TRUTH.
Then the BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS:
Then last Sunday morning we looked at the SHOES of PEACE.
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This morning we study the 4th piece of SPIRITUAL ARMOR, the SHIELD of FAITH.
I could not help but notice what PAUL said about this particular piece of armor. He says, ‘above all’ take the SHIELD of FAITH.” He tells us twice to “put on the WHOLE ARMOR of GOD” However, he evidently seems to feel that this particular piece of ARMOR, the SHIELD of FAITH, is the most important.
Let’s read V#16 again: ‘Above all, take up the SHIELD of FAITH, whereby we shall be ABLE to QUENCH (distinguish) ALL the FIERY DARTS of the DEVIL.’ The BEST DEFENSIVE WEAPON against the DEVIL is our FAITH.
The SHIELD of FAITH:
The ROMAN soldier’s SHIELD was made of wood & it was a very STURDY piece of ARMOR. The front of the SHIELD was covered with LEATHER & it was TRIMMED with a BORDER of STEEL. It was about 4 feet high & 2 feet wide & was CURVED to fit the body. When the SOLDIER was UNDER ATTACK he would hold up his SHIELD & instead of the ENEMY’S ARROWS plunging into his body it would penetrate into his SHIELD. During PAUL’S day, armies would take their ARROWS & cover them with CLOTH & then dip them in PITCH & then set them on FIRE. Those were the FLAMING DARTS of the ENEMY & their SHIELDS were able to DISTINGUISH or QUENCH those FIERY ARROWS.
The ENEMY was trying to set their FOE’S CAMP on FIRE but when the SOLDIER held up his SHIELD the ENEMY’S PLOT FAILED. So you can see just how IMPORTANT this SHIELD was.
How many of us, when the DEVIL shoots his FLAMING ARROWS or FIERY DARTS at us, we want them STOPPED before they do any DAMAGE?
PAUL says that IF we have the SHIELD of FAITH in place we CAN QUENCH those FIERY DARTS of the ENEMY.
So when the DEVIL ATTACKS us we don’t have to ALLOW those FIERY DARTS to INFLICT us with FIERY PAIN! We don’t have to let that ATTACK --- PIERCE DEEP within us & do the DAMAGE which the DEVIL intended.
We have been given the PRIVLEDGE to HOLD UP the SHIELD of FAITH & QUENCH every FIERY DART of the ENEMY so that the DEVIL’S PLOT FAILS & comes to NOTHING! Hallelujah!
I don’t know about you but there aren’t too many things that give me any GREATER JOY than KNOWING the DEVIL’S PLOTS AGAINST ME were a TOTAL WASTE of his time. & that ought to be OUR GOAL as CHRISTIANS, to be STRONG AGAINST the ATTACKS of the DEVIL.
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WHAT IS FAITH?
What is this FAITH that gives us such PROTECTION against DEMONIC ATTACKS?
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This morning I would like for us to LOOK at 3 TYPES of FAITH:
The 1st TYPE of FAITH:
The 1st TYPE of FAITH is the FAITH that LOOKS ABOVE to GOD’S PERSON:
There are SEVERAL DEFINTIONS of FAITH but the BOTTOM LINE of FAITH is BELIEVING in GOD. That is at least the FOUNDATION of FAITH. It is where FAITH BEGINS.
If we EVER RECEIVE ANYTHING from GOD we must 1st BELIEVE in GOD.
Hebrews 11:6 ‘Without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to PLEASE GOD, for he who comes to HIM must BELIEVE that HE is GOD & that HE is a REWARDER of them that diligently seek HIM.’
‘MUST BELIEVE that HE is GOD’ & NOT just ANY GOD:
We don’t walk about as a CHRISTIAN declaring that we BELIEVE in a HIGHER POWER. That is so GENERIC. That is NOT what PAUL meant by the SHIELD of FAITH.
We BELIEVE in the ONE TRUE GOD of the BIBLE. Not someone we have made up in our mind.
We BELIEVE in GOD the FATHER of JESUS CHRIST.
We BELIEVE in the ONE GOD, GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON & GOD the HOLY GHOST.
-------------------------------------------------------It is NOT ENOUGH to say ‘I BELIEVE in some sort of HIGHER POWER out there in the VAST UNIVERSE.
The FAITH that DEFEATS the DEVIL is the FAITH that BELIEVES in the GOD of the BIBLE.
GOD of the BIBLE. WHO GOD IS & WHAT GOD REQUIRES of us as an INDIVIDUAL.
WHAT His WORD says.
The GOD who NEVER CHANGES. NEVER
The GOD who DOES WHAT HE SAYS HE WILL DO.
The GOD who GOES WITH US & FIGHTS FOR US
A HOLY GOD who BLESSES those who WALK UPRIGHT before HIM
The GOD who is ALIVE & WELL TODAY
The GOD who STILL performs MIRACLES for HIS PEOPLE TODAY
It was a good answer that was once given by a poor woman to a minister who asked her, "What is faith?" She replied, "I’m ignorant & I cannot answer well, but I think it is taking GOD at HIS WOrd." That was a great answer.
Because that is the GOD -----SATAN is going to try to CONVINCE US doesn’t any longer EXIST.
I mentioned before when we looked at the BELT of TRUTH that DECEPTION & LIES is one of the DEVIL’S FAVORITE WEAPONS to use against us. ANOTHER of his WEAPONS is DOUBT & to COMBAT DOUBT we need FAITH.
PAUL said II Timothy 2:12 ‘I KNOW in WHOM I have BELIEVED ……….’
There is POWER in KNOWING that you KNOW that you KNOW that you KNOW.
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That kind of FAITH KNOWS that GOD is on OUR SIDE.
‘& if GOD be for us WHO can be AGAINST us?’
We find that FAITH throughout the BIBLE when GOD’S PEOPLE are UNDER ATTACK by the DEVIL.
Example: When Pharaoh & the armies of Egypt pursued after the Israelites.
They ran toward the Red Sea. A strategist would say that would be their fatal decision. “Boxed in.” That’s what the DEVIL thought. That’s what he wanted them to think.
But MOSES was following the leading of GOD.
At the banks of the RED SEA with Pharaoh & the armies of Egypt behind them & the RED SEA in front of them, it looked like they were doomed.
Their predicament seemed impossible.
But how many BELIEVE that WITH GOD ------------ all things are possible?
MOSES told them, “Stand still & see the SALVATION of the LORD.’
If we ALIGN OURSELVES to this GOD who is ALL POWERFUL & who is FOR US & NOT AGAINST US then we’re in good shape. That FAITH QUENCHES the FIERY DARTS of the DEVIL.
The 2nd kind of FAITH:
The 2nd kind of FAITH is the FAITH that HOLDS UP in FRONT of the DEVL:
NOT ONLY DOES THIS GOD EXIST
BUT HE IS AT WORK IN OUR LIVES:
REGARDLESS of WHAT HAPPENS GOD is NOT LIMITED by our CIRCUMSTANCES or by our CONDITIONS
REGARDLESS of HOW THINGS APPEAR to be
REGARDLESS of WHAT PEOPLE SAY
GOD is AT WORK in our lives.
Romans 8:28 ‘All things work together for the GOOD to them that LOVE GOD…’
GOD is NEAR ME at ALL TIMES. NOT SOMETHING I FEEL but SOMETHING I KNOW!
NEVER is there a thing called a GOD FORSAKEN TIME or PLACE.
GOD HEARS ME when I PRAY ---- WHEN I CALL upon HIS NAME.
GOD is PAYING ATTENTION to me. GOD’S EYES are ALWAYS upon me.
I am NOT LOST or FORGOTTEN by GOD. HIS HOLY PRESENCE is CONSTANTLY ABOUT ME.
OUR FAITHFULNESS & OUR ALLIEGEANCE to HIM is NOT FORGOTTEN by HIM:
JOB declared even though ALL had happened to him:
‘I am NOT GOD FORSAKEN.’ ‘For HE KNOWS the way that I take & when HE has tried me I shall come forth as gold that is tried in the fire.’
That FAITH can QUENCH a lot of FIERY DARTS hurled at us by the DEVIL.
Nahum 1:7 ‘The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble, & HE KNOWS THEM that TRUST in HIM.’
We RECOGNIZE the HAND of GOD is at WORK in our lives.
It is NOT JUST the DEVIL AT WORK --- GOD too is at work in our lives.
We’re NOT LUCKY – We’re NOT at the RIGHT PLACE at the RIGHT TIME.
It was the HAND of GOD at WORK in our lives. The FAVOR of GOD
& PRAISE & THANKSGIVING results from such FAITH. We are FAVORED & BLESSED by GOD.
HIS POWER ---- HIS LOVE & HIS DIVINE CARE is AT WORK in our lives.
The 1st KIND of FAITH: BELIEVING that GOD EXISTS:
The 2nd KIND of FAITH: BELIEVING that GOD is AT WORK in our lives.
Now for the 3rd KIND of FAITH:
HAVING FAITH in the PROMISES of GOD:
FOCUSING upon the PROMISES of GOD especially those found in HIS WORD:
GOD WILL DO WHAT HE HAS SAID HE WOULD DO:
How many of you BELIEVE that you are GOING to HEAVEN one of these days?
HOW do you KNOW that?
WHY are you so CONFIDENT of that?
You KNOW that because you BELIEVE in the PROMISES of GOD.
We have NEVER SEEN HEAVEN but yet I am AS SURE as I am SURE that I am STANDING HERE this morning that ONE of these days I am going to SEE JESUS FACE TO FACE & that I am going to WALK on STREETS made of PURE GOLD & LIVE in a MANSION the LORD has PREPARED for me. I am going to BE FREE from all SICKNESS & DISEASE & SUFFERING & PAIN. I am NOT going to have any more SAD PARTINGS. I am going on to EXPERIENCE JOY FOREVER MORE in HEAVEN & I am going to LIVE ON & ON & ON & ON
HOW do I KNOW THAT?
BECAUSE GOD PROMISED IT & I STAND UPON GOD’S PROMISE.
People QUESTION: ‘What IF it ISN’T TRUE?’
Then WHAT have I LOST? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
BUT—What IF it IS TRUE? WHAT have I wasted? NOTHING
Genesis 17:1 “& when ABRAM was 90 years old & nine, the LORD appeared to ABRAM, & said unto him, I am the ALMIGHTY GOD, walk before me & be thou perfect 2: & I will make MY covenant between ME & thee & will multiply thee exceedingly.’ GENESIS chapter 17 1:
GOD is a GOD of COVENANT: HE will do WHAT HE says HE WILL DO – IF we will DO our REQUIRED PART.
ABRAM would be the Father of many nations.
Name changed to ABRAHAM. EXCEEDINGLY FRUITFUL. NATIONS from thee: KINGS from thee:
Give you the land of Canaan. CIRCUMCISE TOKEN of COVENANT:
children would be circumsied when 8 days old.
SARIA changed to SARAH
ABRAHAM was 100 years old SARAH was 90 years old. MOTHER of NATIONS:
Not ISHMAEL, but a son named ISAAC, born next year this time.
From that moment onward ABRAHAM walked in FAITH of WHAT GOD PROMISED him, regardless of HOW THINGS LOOKED on the SURFACE.
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3 KINDS of FAITH: Becomes a SHIELD against DEMONIC ATTACKS:
1: FAITH THAT GOD EXISTS
2: FAITH THAT GOD IS INVOLVED IN OUR LIVES
3: FAITH THAT GOD’S PROMISES ARE TRUE – ALL of them.
BELIEVING in the INTEGRITY of GOD:
STANDING on the PROMISES of GOD:
That is the KIND of FAITH that becomes a SHIELD of FAITH that we HOLD UP when we’re being ATTACKED by the DEVIL.
That FAITH GREATLY LIIMITS WHAT SATAN CAN DO TO US.
It KEEPS OUR MINDS SOUND & SECURE when ALL HELL is AT WORK AGAINST US.
Paul did not say this SHIELD of FAITH quenches SOME of Satan’s fiery darts or MOST of Satan’s fiery darts. Paul said this SHIELD of FAITH quenches ALL the fiery darts of the enemy. What a BLESSED consolation. With the SHIELD of FAITH the devil CANNOT penetrate us with his arrows! They are ALL quenched by our FAITH.
REJOICE!
