Christians in Spiritual Warfare
Course: The Armour of
God
Lesson Eight
Lesson Title: The Shield of Faith
Text: Ephesians 6:16
Theme: The importance of standing firm with the Shield of Faith.
Details concerning the Shield:
Two kinds of Roman Shield - One shape was circular or oval, but that used by the Roman legionary was oblong and curved into a half cylinder to protect the body.
Oblong shield
1. Shield measured 1.3 metres (4 feet by 2½ inches)
2. Covered the whole body – neck to knee.
3. Made of a double layer of boards fastened together with glue and linen.
4. Outside surface covered with calfskin bound at the edges with a framework of metal to enable the shield to withstand sword blows.
5. The shield had a fireproof metal lining.
Introduction: The shield is the first piece of armour that must be taken up by the Christian soldier.
(Ephesians 6:16)
We will be an
easy target for the enemy if we do not hold up the shield of faith. The shield of faith does not operate
automatically.
Illustration: Tacitus – The German Soldier’s Shield
In ancient times a soldier knew he must always retain his shield.
The Roman historian, Tacitus,
states that during Roman times the Germans held the shield in such high honour
that it was considered the greatest disgrace for a soldier to lose his shield
in battle.
Tacitus
‘Generally speaking, their strength lies in infantry rather than cavalry. So foot-soldiers accompany the cavalry into action, their speed of foot being such that they can easily keep up with the charging horsemen. The best men are chosen from the whole body of young warriors and placed with the cavalry in front of the main battle line. The number of these is precisely fixed: a hundred are drawn from each district, and ‘The Hundred’ is the name they bear among their fellow-countrymen. Thus what was originally a mere number has come to be a title of distinction. The battle-line is made up of wedge-shaped formulations. To give ground, provided that you return to the attack, is considered good tactics rather than cowardice. They bring back bodies of the fallen even when a battle hangs in the balance. To throw away one’s shield is the supreme disgrace, and the man who has thus dishonoured himself is debarred from attendance at sacrifice or assembly. Many such survivors from the battlefield have ended their shame by hanging themselves.’
Main Points
1. We need the Shield of Faith to fight
the ‘good fight of faith', 1 Timothy
a)
The word good is the
Greek word 'kalos' this word describes something that
is precious because of its own quality and beauty. The fight of faith is precious in the sight of
God. It is precious because God delights
to see faith, Hebrews 11:6a
'But without faith it is
impossible to please him:'
b)
Peter considered the trial of our faith as being more precious than gold. It is a joyful thing to use the shield of
faith in difficult circumstances. 1
Peter 1:6 -7 'Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be,
you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your
faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried
with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of
Jesus Christ:'
c) Faith in God and faith in His promises. The good fight of faith relies entirely upon God - it is faith in His character and faith in His word. 'But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.' (Hebrews 11:6.)
When the
enemy attacks we raise the shield of faith that God is the I AM THAT I AM and He will always honour His word.
If we are to
rely upon a promise we need to know two things.
Is the character of the person reliable?
What exactly has been promised?
The Shield of Faith trusts in:
• The Character of God: He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:13)
• The Word of God: The promises of God are yes and Amen. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
d) We cannot fight ‘the good fight of faith’ with worldly methods. Psychology and professionalism are useless in spiritual warfare. We will be defeated if we cannot tell the difference between the shield of faith and worldly methods. It is not using these methods that is wrong, but if we trust in these things to overcome the enemy in spiritual warfare then we will be defeated. A good soldier does not get entangled in worldly affairs, 2 Timothy 2:4 'No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier.'
2. The shields were large and could be linked together to form a wall against the enemy, and therefore able to protect others as well as the individual soldier.
a) Protecting one another. The shield is for the individual soldier, but also for use in protecting each other.
Forming a wall of defence. The Roman shield was part of the armour held by every individual soldier, but the shields could also be linked together to form a wall against the onslaught of the enemy.
The defence is
stronger when the body of Christ is joined together. Ecclesiastes
We must use the shield to protect one another. We need to be our brother's keeper when it is necessary and be considerate of one another in the body of Christ. Romans 15:1 'We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.' We are strong when we remain united with our shield of faith forming a wall of defence. It was important that every soldier kept the shield in place. If there were any gaps the whole group was in danger.
b) Meaning of the Greek word for shield 'thureos'.
The Greek word for shield is 'thureos' which was the word for a stone sealing the entrance of a cave. (Ephesians 6:16).
Thureos comes from thura meaning door. The large oblong four-cornered shield resembled a door. The shield of faith is a door of protection from the enemy and also provides a door of escape through faith in the promises of God. John 10:7 ‘I am the door of the sheep’.
The Shield of Faith provides protection
from the enemy and a way of escape. Hebrews 13:6 'So that we may
boldly say, The Lord is my helper,
and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.'
We can be assured that we can always uphold
the shield of faith because the Lord continuously protects us. God will not allow us to be tempted beyond
our spiritual strength, and he always provides a door of escape. 1 Corinthians
10:13 ‘There has no temptation taken you
but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to
be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a
way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.’
3. The fireproof metal lining was able to extinguish the fiery darts of the enemy.
The fiery darts of the
wicked one.
What are the fiery darts?
'Fire-tipped darts' – when they hit they
burn.
Seeking to cause the most
destruction.
The aim is to stop us.
If we desire the comforts of life, the riches
of the world or the honours of earth then we will not have a shield to stop the
fiery darts.
Hebrews 11 - Abraham turned his back on
earthly comforts because he sought a city whose builder is God.
Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater
riches than the riches of
Others confessed they were pilgrims and
strangers – sought a better country.
The fiery darts aim to stop us trusting in
the promises of God.
Fear regarding what might happen will make us
ineffective in Christian warfare.
People are drawn to Christ when they see
believers having great faith in times of distress or danger
Illustration: The faith of the Moravians in the storm
John and Charles Wesley were brought to faith
in Christ through the preaching of the Moravians.
Their first encounter with the Moravians was on ship to the American colonies. They were astounded by their fearlessness in the storm. Death did not concern them because of their faith in Christ.
Personal
Testimony: Faith ministry.
When a lot of money is put into a project
usually there is a lot to see.
Large buildings are impressive. But much of the real work that the Lord is
doing is unseen. It takes the Shield of
Faith to do the Lord's will when there is little that we can show to people.
Ministries should always be focussed on
building up the ministries of others.
If we are focussed on our own ministry then we can become competitive and see other ministries as a threat to our own.
US
dollar bank notes have the words written on them ‘In God we trust’. But many people have the words written upon
their lives ‘in money we trust’.
The believer in Christ must not be like them. The only door and shield that will enable us
to stand in spiritual warfare is Christ.
4. The shield of faith will enable the
Christian to be victorious against every attack of the enemy. Romans
a) The Shield of Faith enables us to withstand the attacks of the enemy and to be immovable in the Faith. 1 Peter 5:9, ‘Resist him steadfast in the Faith’.
Withstanding the attack. 1 Peter 5:9a, ‘Resist him…’. The Greek word resist is ‘anthistemi’ which means resist by standing against. In Ephesians
Being immovable. 1 Peter 5:9b, ‘… steadfast in the Faith’. The devil runs when the believer is steadfast (Gr) 'stereos' which means ‘immovable’ in the Faith. James 4:7, ‘resist the devil and he will flee from you’. The devil cannot move the believer provided he or she takes up the Shield of Faith.
b) The Shield of Faith will make us overcomers. 1 John 5:4. ‘For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith’, 1 John 5:4.
The great overcomers are listed in Hebrews 11. The great characteristic of their lives was faith.
Abraham '…looked
for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God’, Hebrews
Moses held ‘the
reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in
The shield
of faith enabled the heroes of faith to overcome in the face of great trials
and afflictions. Hebrews 11:35-38 '…and
others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a
better resurrection: And others had
trial of cruel mockings
and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and
imprisonment: They were stoned, they
were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about
in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they
wandered in deserts, and in
mountains, and in dens and caves of
the earth.'
c) Faith must be the armour that covers the heart as ‘a breastplate and a shield’, 1 Thessalonians 5:8 'But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.' Faith is both a breastplate and a shield.
· The breastplate covers the heart, which is at the centre of our lives because out of it flows our affections, thoughts and desires. Faith must be in control of our lives.
· The shield protects us from the fiery darts of the enemy. The Roman shield had a fireproof metal lining that could withstand the fiery darts of the enemy. When the devil throws the fiery darts at us then faith must be our shield.
d) Faith must be the shield that enables us to fulfil a specific work we are called to do. The devil will throw fiery darts to stop us. These darts can sometimes be thrown by other Christians who do not understand what we are doing. In these circumstances we must know that the Lord has led us.
Personal testimony: Obedience to the Lord.
Preparing the Bible Teaching Program has been a great challenge. I have spent much time writing and preparing. Christians often admire those who speak to large congregations, but when someone is doing something without income and that has no immediate results, they do not understand what he or she is doing. Words can hurt when times are difficult, but when we know that the Lord has led us to do a specific work then the shield of faith will quench the fiery darts of the enemy.
Summary:
1. We must take up the Shield of Faith so that we can fight the ‘good fight of faith’.
2. The Shield of Faith is both a wall and a door. As a wall it provides protection and as a door it provides a way of escape.
3. The Shield of Faith is able to stop all the fiery darts of the enemy.
4. The Shield of Faith enables us to overcome every obstacle.