Welcome to my randomized study & miscellaneous thoughts about the Awesome God of the universe, who He is and what He wants us to be.

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Today's Quote

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Arming For Spiritual Battles
The Full Armor of God
Part 4 - The Shield of Faith

Next, the Apostle Paul instructs us to protect ourselves by “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 NASB)

We begin by looking at the Shield of Faith that we are instructed to take up. The Roman shield was usually made of light wood or a rim of brass and covered with several folds or layers of stout animal hide, which was preserved by frequent anointing with oil. It would typically be held by the left arm and was secured by straps, through which the arm passed. The center to the edge of the shield was polished smooth, or anointed with oil, so that arrows or darts would glance off, or rebound. The Scutum, or shield, was the main form of body protection of the Roman soldiers. It served the purpose to deflect missiles targeted at the soldiers, as well as protect them from the impact of hand held weapons yielded at them. The shields large size allowed the soldiers to form a 'tustudo' (tortoise) or shield wall that could protect them during battle.

The KJV starts verse 16 with the phrase “above all.” Barnes states that this should more accurately read “over all” and read not as a reminder of the primacy of the shield of faith ABOVE all other components of the whole armor of God but rather to point out that positionally, the shield would be in front of, on top of or over any of the others in the same manner that a Roman soldier(s) would host their shield(s) to form a seemingly impenetrable barricade in case of attack from in front or above. Matthew Henry disagrees and states that, “This is more necessary than any of them.” I would have to side with Mr. Henry. We see in scripture that it is one’s faith that makes them well, allows for the application of salvation, controls the elements and even moves mountains.

Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turning and seeing her said, "Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well." At once the woman was made well.
Matthew 9:29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "It shall be done to you according to your faith."

Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.

Matthew 17:20 And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

Matthew 21:21-22 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, "Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

Acts 3:16 "And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

It is not by our actions, our fleshly attempts at righteous living that we are able to stand holy before the throne of God. It is by having faith that Jesus, the Son of God, died to redeem us and pay for our sins that we are able to cast off the filthy rags of the unrighteous man and put on His righteousness in its stead.
Rom 10:10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Faith bears, to the entire Christian character, the same relation which the shield does to the other parts of the armor of a soldier. It protects all, and is indispensable to the security of all, as is the case with the shield. The shield was an inspired device by which blows and arrows might be deflected, and the whole body defended. It could be made to protect the head, or the heart, or thrown behind to meet all attack there. As long as the soldier had his shield, he felt secure; and as long as a Christian has faith, he is safe. It comes to his aid in every attack that is made on him, no matter from what quarter; it is the defense and guardian of every other Christian grace; and it secures the protection that the Christian needs in spiritual warfare.

“with which you will be able to extinguish”
The Shield of Faith is taken up so that the Christian WILL be able to extinguish not MAY be able to extinguish all the attacks. Various renderings from “extinguish” to “quench” to “stop,” all are intended to indicate that Faith is the shield with which we must use to render the attacks with “flaming arrows” ineffective, that they may not hit us, or at least that they may not hurt us. Of course, the Shield of Faith will only be effective if it is used – the more faith we demonstrate, the larger the shield will be.

“the flaming arrows of the evil one”
Whether called flaming arrows, fiery darts or flaming missiles, these are obviously attacks sent against the believer. Adam Clarke states that, “The fiery dart-ta (NT:3588) belee (NT:956) ta (NT:3588) pepuroomena (NT:4448). It is probable that the apostle alludes to the darts called falarica, which were headed with lead, in or about which some combustible stuff was placed that took fire in the passage of the arrow through the air, and often burnt up the enemy's engines, ships, etc.; they were calculated also to stick in the shields and set them on fire. Some think that poisoned arrows may be intended, which are called fiery from the burning heat produced in the bodies of those who were wounded by them. To quench or extinguish such fiery darts the shields were ordinarily covered with metal on the outside, and thus the fire was prevented from catching hold of the shield. When they stuck on a shield of another kind and set it on fire, the soldier was obliged to cast it away, and thus became defenseless.”

Barnes’ Notes continues further pointing out that, “By the "fiery darts of the wicked," Paul here refers, probably, to the temptations of the great adversary, which are like fiery darts; or those furious suggestions of evil, and excitements to sin, which he may throw into the mind like fiery darts. They are-blasphemous thoughts, unbelief, sudden temptation to do wrong, or thoughts that wound and torment the soul. In regard to them, we may observe:
(1) that they come suddenly, like arrows sped from a bow;
(2) they come from unexpected quarters, like arrows shot suddenly from an enemy in ambush;
(3) they pierce, and penetrate, and torment the soul, as arrows would that are on fire;
(4) they set the soul on fire, and enkindle the worst passions, as fiery darts do a ship or camp against which they are sent. The only way to meet them is by the "shield of faith;" by confidence in God, and by relying on his gracious promises and aid. It is not by our own strength; and, if we have not faith in God, we are wholly defenseless. We should have a shield that we can turn in any direction, on which we may receive the arrow, and by which it may be put out.”

As a matter of practical application, the Shield of Faith, just like a Roman soldier’s shield, takes time and diligent care to build, maintain and learn to use properly. Faith is a Christian distinctive that strengthens and grows through its use. God may graciously grant someone the supernatural Gift of Faith, but everyday faith to resist the accusations, lies and deceptions of the devil are built one moment at a time through our trust and belief in God’s protection and His saving grace.

1 Peter 5:8-9 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.

Psalms 37:39-40
But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
He is their strength in time of trouble.
The LORD helps them and delivers them;
He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
Because they take refuge in Him.

Psalms 55:22
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Psalms 115:9-11
O Israel, trust in the LORD;
He is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD;
He is their help and their shield.
You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD;
He is their help and their shield.


Have a blessed Easter, because He is not in the tomb, He has risen and is still our shield!

Dr. Larry
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