ENEMIES OF FAITH: FEAR
We have been studying “Faith” and its victory - we looked at one of the enemies of faith – “The Divided Mind” today we look at another, “Fear”. In this study we will in particular be looking at the shield of faith and the shield of fear.
THE SHIELD OF FAITH AND THE SHIELD OF FEAR
2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind
THE SPIRIT OF FEAR
Fear as defined from the original Greek means timidity, dread, faithless: fearful - timidity = subject to fear; easily alarmed. Lacking in boldness or self-confidence even when there is no danger present
So fear causes us to lose faith in God – it is an intimidating spirit as revealed in the confrontation of Goliath and Israel
1 Samuel 17:1-11 Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered together at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
The meanings of the Hebrew names are important here in order to understand the conflict taking place:
Sochoh means to entwine, i.e. shut in (for formation, protection or restraint):--fence, (make an) hedge (up) - Judah means to use the hand; physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); cast (out), (make) confess(-ion), praise, shoot, (give) thanks - Azekah means fence about - Ephes Dammim means boundary of blood-drops - Valley means dale, vale, valley - between them, gorge from its lofty sides; hence exaltation; arrogance:--lifting up, pride - Elah means an oak or other strong tree, strength; hence anything strong; mighty
Before we go any further lets understand the mindset Israel should have had as they faced the Philistines. They should have been encircled or hedged in by their praise and confession of God and know that His shed blood had set a boundary around them against the enemy – in other words they should have been full of faith.
Now let’s look at some more names to see what caused the Israelites to fear and run:
Philistines’ means to roll wallow in self - Goliath means a man of intervention, a man who is a go-between - to make naked or bare; strip, to reveal: bring, into captivity, depart, disclose, uncover - Gath means a wine-press or vat for holding the grapes in pressing them
The understanding of this is that through a spirit of fear Goliath – caused the Israelites to feel naked just as Adam did after his sin – uncovering brings fear – they should have felt hedged in or guarded by God but Goliaths tactics made the Israelites centre on their own survival instead of looking to God causing them to be pressed in emotionally. It was in the winepress Gethsemane that Jesus sweat great drops of blood as He struggled with His will.
Goliath challenged the Israelite army saying “Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together."
The result of fear: The Israelites instead of praise and confession looked at Goliath in the natural and were struck by fear and fled - When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid
THE SHIELD OF FEAR
“and a shield-bearer went before him”
Goliaths Shield means to be prickly; a thorn; hence a thorn-hedge:--thorn. Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares [distractions] and riches and pleasures of this life [“entering in, choke the word” Mark 4:19 and bring no fruit to perfection.
Here we see that Goliath’s shield was one that represents the fruition of his attack on the believer – anxiety, fear, doubt and unbelief – the first thing the Israelites saw was Goliaths shield being borne ahead of him – fear struck the camp – causing inability – the opposition to faith that overcomes the world.
THE SPIRIT OF FAITH
2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind
Power means dunamis; force; miraculous power: ability, abundance, power, strength, violence, to be able or possible - Love is agape - Sound mind means discipline, self-control: to be sober, to save, deliver or protect: heal, preserve, make whole
Fear of this type does not have its origin in God – it is a result of the work of the enemy – we will look now at
THE SHIELD OF FAITH
Ephes 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and 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 do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
Shield means a portal or entrance, door, gate, a shield, a protector: buckler, defense, ruler; to hedge about, protect: defend the Garden of Eden - Job 1:10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
There are two different Hebrew words for “shield.” One refers to a small round shield usually worn on the left arm. The other, used here refers to a much larger, covering the whole body; often carried by the shield-bearer as the soldier moved into battle. Shields were anointed, to preserve them, and to make weapons more easily glance from them. Metaphorically: of God as a protector, and of princes, chiefs, protecting by their valor.
Psalm 5:12 For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.
The shield preserves all other pieces of armor therefore faith preserves our stand against the enemy -
Ephes 6:16 (Living) In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.
The shield was treated and rubbed with oil in order to extinguish the fiery arrows the enemy would release at them – when these arrows hit their target they would splatter causing many little fires to start from the one thus distracting the soldier from the battle – the oil would extinguish the flame – our shields of faith are anointed or empowered by the Holy Spirit. The enemy attempts to breakdown the anointing in order to break down our faith.
GOLIATH THE ANTI-CHRIST SPIRIT
If we need anointed shields of faith then we need to see in Goliaths confrontation with Israel an interesting fact – Goliath was 6 cubits tall – his iron spearhead weighed 6 hundred shekels and he wore 6 pieces of armor – the number 666 - Rev. 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
To combat this spirit we need to “Put on the whole armor of God” – its interesting and not coincidence Goliath’s armor and God’s armor both have six pieces – another sermon another day.
In conclusion let us remember Goliath was ultimately defeated by David in this confrontation of faith nd fear – let us draw some lessons from this and make practical applications:
COMPARING DAVID AND GOLIATH
1. David trusts in his God. Goliath trusts in his armor.
2. David’s covering is faith (love). Goliath’s covering is fear (hate).
3. David’s covering is spiritual (invisible). Goliath’s covering is carnal (fleshly, visible – of the world).
4. David’s universe is centered (focused) on God. Goliath’s universe is centered (focused) on himself.
5. David’s hedge of protection is the living Word of God. Goliath’s hedge of protection is his dead armor.
6. David’s lack of armor manifests his humility Goliath’s brass armor manifests that he is proud of his sin.
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
