The Shield Of Faith Series

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.