Chico Alliance Church
October 15, 2006
Pastor David Welch
"Spiritually Aware, Alert, Armed and Aggressive" Pt 12
“Shielded by Faith”
I. Be Aware
II. Be Alert
III. Be armed & aggressive
A. Be fully empowered
B. Be fully armed
C. Stand firm – engage the enemy
1. Stand firm having girded your loins with TRUTH
2. Stand firm armed with RIGHTEOUSNESS
3. Stand firm prepared with PEACE
The Biblical concept of peace describes a state of calm, wholeness, health, prosperity, completion, confidence, rest, assurance, tranquility
Peace on the inside = the inner state of calm assurance and rest based on the firm belief that through Christ everything will ultimately work out for glory and my growth.
For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:12
Peace with the outside world = the state of calm and rest based on based on restoration to the way God designed it to function.
Until things get restored to the point of functioning as God designed, there is no peace. Restoration of relationship with Him. Restoration of relationship with each other. Restoration of relationship with our environment.
God has not promised we will find peace with the outside world in this life. In fact, He promised tribulation in this world with the hope of triumph when He returns. He has promised that we can experience an inward peace in spite of outward chaos through faith in Him.
4. Stand firm shielded by FAITH
Today we examine a most powerful defense. It is a most indispensable element for the health of the family today.
Without it there is no salvation. (Gal 3, John 1:9)
Without it there is no spiritual growth. (Gal 3)
Without it you cannot please God and actually stir His wrath. (Heb 11)
Without it there is no rest. (Heb 3-4)
Without it there is no life. (Gal 2:20)
Without it there is no victory. (1 John 5:4)
Without it there is no endurance. (Heb 11)
Without it there is no answered prayer. (James 2)
Whatever we do without it counted as sin. (Rom 14:23)
Without it there is no hope, joy or peace. (Rom 15:13)
Without it there we are unprotected and vulnerable (1 Pet 1:5; 2 Tim 1:12; Eph 6)
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. Ephesians 6:16
This verse presents an ominous picture; standing on the battlefield facing a barrage of flaming arrows. The literal translation should be “in or with all these things”. What things? God’s truth, Christ’s righteousness, and the peace of God. “with all these things” would indicate that faith should be taken up along with all the other things.
“In all these things” would indicate that faith is a necessary element vitally connected to the previous pieces.
The normal translation of the Greek word, by far, is “in” (1,902 times) as opposed to “with” (140 times)
Given the intricate connection between all of these armor pieces I would opt for idea that faith is a critical element which supports the others. Truth without faith is fruitless. Righteousness comes by faith in Christ.
Peace is the result of faith in God and His word. We are called to personally “take up” faith which is a shield against Satan’s attacks. God provides the weapons, we must appropriate them.
Paul changed the verb here. He so far he has instructed us to stand “having put on.” That verb indicates something we fasten on permanently. Here he tells us to “take up” with reference to something we employ as necessary. These are the basic concepts that not only provide protection against attack but enable us to demolish the enemy’s strongholds as well.
The truth, received, spoken and lived, demolish the enemy’s fortresses of deception.
Righteousness deflects the enemy’s condemnation and accusation
Peace diverts the enemy’s distraction.
Faith douses the enemy’s fiery arrows of doubt and unbelief which he launches from a distance.
These deadly arrows come out of nowhere aimed at the soul. If the initial arrow does not penetrate it sets fire to our defenses and causes us to drop our protection making us vulnerable to a subsequent attack. God provides a shield against the enemy’s fiery darts of doubt that not only stops the dart but extinguishes the flame.
It (the shield) was made of two layers of wood, covered with canvas, and with a leather covering on the outside; this, when soaked with water before the battle, would effectively serve to extinguish the incendiary missiles of the enemy (Barth).
Unless our shield is covered with noncombustible material we are in trouble. Self confidence and pride easily catch on fire and open us up to the spreading of Satan’s subsequent attack. Only genuine faith in Christ who is our shield enables us to escape the attack unscathed. Faith brings the victory.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4 (offensive stance)
We overcome, we do not merely withstand.
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony (faith produced), and they did not love their life even when faced with death. Rev 12:11
He is truth. He is our righteousness. He is our peace. He is our shield. He is the author and perfector of our faith.
This is a most important tool in our arsenal because it sustains all the rest. The shield is the first line of defense in our aggressive advance against the enemy’s fortresses.
What is it?
No one can function in life without it. Everyone lives by faith everyday. You wouldn’t have been able to get here today without it. The Greek noun is usually translated into our English words "faith, trust, belief”. The verb is translated into English by the words "believe", "trust", "commit", "entrust". The basic idea has to do with assurance, confidence, trust, a firm idea or belief or settled conviction. You exercised faith in your car, your legs, your food, your tires, your steps, your church, your eyes. The core concept of Biblical faith has to do with trust based on God’s word.
Genuine belief or faith engages the whole person.
(Immaterial) Mind, emotion, will
(Material) action.
Mere intellectual assent is not complete trust. (Demons believe and emotionally respond to God) Irrational emotion does not constitute true faith. Strong desire is still incomplete. Not until we actually act upon our belief does it qualify as Biblical faith. Until we are willing to actually act, we don’t really believe. The action is not the faith. The action only demonstrates the genuineness of the faith.
Faith is the reasoned decision to trust God
based on the firm conviction that God always does what He says.
Satan’s main objective is to keep us from trusting God. He promotes trust in anything else. Trust in ourselves.
Trust in technology. Trust in your insurance, your bank balance, your job. Any suggestion to trust anything or anyone else for life and meaning is a fiery dart intended to separate you from God.
God’s not fixing it. You won’t ever be happy without… God is out to get you. God doesn’t exist. God doesn’t care.
God can’t or won’t help you. Life is really found in… Live for today! You don’t need God. Look within. Work harder.
Try harder. Find someone who will meet all your needs. Find your own way.
Everyday of our life presents us with decisions as to who we will trust. Some days present monumental decisions and dilemmas that will require us to turn somewhere. At that point the volley of flaming arrows comes arching over the horizon threatening to penetrate our soul. Arrows that challenge truth. Arrows that threaten our confidence in our heritage in Christ. Arrows that disrupt our peace. Trust in the promise of God is the only thing that will bring us through. Christ is our shield. Ultimately our faith is only as good as the object of our trust.
Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD. "For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant.
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. "For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit. Jeremiah 17:5-8
But let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy; and may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield. Psalms 5:11-12
O LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul, "There is no deliverance for him in God." Selah. But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. Psalms 3:1-3
"Blessed are you, O Israel; who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, who is the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you, and you will tread upon their high places." Deuteronomy 33:29
But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:8
The writer of Hebrews recalled the consequences of Israel’s failure to trust God and therefore their failure to please God.
God promised a glorious new land.
God provided numerous graphic demonstrations of His care and capability along the way.
When the time came to enter into the Promised Land, they choked.
They refused to lay hold of the promise.
They refused to trust God.
For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. Hebrews 3:16-19
Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. Hebrews 4:1-2
Many of you have had the world preached to you for years and have yet to really believe it. You may have embraced it intellectually and even emotionally but have never trusted it. You still hold the backup plan. You still keep your options open just in case God doesn’t come through for you.
Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:12-13
Unbelief always turns us away from God.
Unbelief always puts us in a wilderness experience.
Unbelief always delays God’s blessing.
Unbelief breeds chaos.
In the midst of unimaginable lost and pain Job declared, “Though He kills me, yet will I trust Him!”
Where do we get the ability to trust God completely?
Jesus gives it!
Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:23
let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb12:1-2
The Word strengthens it!
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17
This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Galatians 3:2
Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Galatians 3:3-5
Prayer empowers it!
And Jesus said to him, " ’If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief." Mark 9:23-24
Other believers encourage it!
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us (those who lived and died exercising faith), let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us
Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. Romans 1:12
we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, 1 Thessalonians 3:2
Without this shield, we are inundated. These darts come from the wicked one. He launches them from all directions hoping to put you out of commission. Only the shield of faith will keep you from injury.
Peter warned us of this brutal attack.
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9
Every struggle has to do with whether or not we will believe God and embrace truth. Every defeat can be traced to falling for a lie. The only protection is to know and embrace God’s promises. The only protection is to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Implementation of the shield of faith has to do with holding up the truth of God in the face of the enemy’s lie.
Life is hopeless! – my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.
You can’t do it! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
You are stupid! I have the mind of Christ.
Death is the end! For me to live, is Christ, to die is gain.
You don’t need God! Apart from Him I can do nothing.
Life will only be meaningful if I am healthy and wealth. Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall see God.
The world offers true. Love not the world not the things in the world.
What lie is the enemy hurling at you this morning?
What has God said?
What will you believe?
Who will you trust?
