As we conclude our series
on the Armor of God, we will end with the two
pieces that will cause all the other pieces
of armor always to be battle ready. They do
not appear in consecutive order in the list
from Ephesians 6:10-20, but I am associating
them because I have found them to work as one.
Many teachers describe the Sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God) as
the only offensive weapon of the Armor of God. Personally, I think the Shield
of Faith is another. It is both an offensive and defensive tool because we use
it to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. If you are extinguishing
flaming arrows, there is some degree of aiming involved. If they are coming from
behind you, it wouldn’t do you any good to have your shield of faith in
front of you. You just don’t stand there passively with this shield in
your hand; you need to move it in the direction of the attack.
You don’t have to agree with my conclusion of whether the Shield of Faith
is an offensive weapon, but you do need to have faith to stand your ground. In
what is your faith? Romans 10:17 says, Consequently, faith comes from hearing
the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Do you see
how these two are really inseparable?
I witness a great deal of faith in this world. People have faith in the cosmetic
industry that the newest product will make them look better. They have faith
in their employment that their jobs will last them until retirement. You even
are demonstrating faith in the chair you are sitting on not to break underneath
you.
We live by faith every day, but that’s not what it means to pick up the
Shield of Faith. When you take up the faith, you do it in unison with the Sword
of the Spirit or the Word of God. Your faith is in the Word, no matter what your
circumstances tell you. You believe that God will keep His promises in the total
scheme of things.
Yes, little boys lose their mothers to death by cancer even after you have prayed
with more faith than ever in your life. It was right for you to pray by faith
for that mother’s healing. You should not put your shield of faith down,
though, if she dies. You must keep your faith not in what you see, but in God’s
Word. God is not a liar, so if He says that He heals the sick, you must believe
that this healing will take place in His wisdom. God has the bigger picture in
mind when He gives us His Word. He told Abraham that he would inherit the land
of Canaan. When Abraham died the only part of the land that he owned was the
tomb where he buried his wife. Abraham did receive the land, but not during his
lifetime on earth. All the promises that were made to Him were fulfilled in God’s
timing. Our physical death on this earth is not the end of God’s fulfillment
of His promises in our lives. It takes faith to believe that what we see here
on earth is not all there is. Faith is believing the Word of God.
Put on your armor every day. Buckle the Belt of Truth around your waist to center
yourself as you stand. Acknowledge the Breastplate of Righteousness that was
won for you by Christ’s death on the cross. Feel the assurance on which
you stand by having your feet fitted in readiness from the gospel of peace. Take
up your Shield of Faith and extinguish all those fiery darts that will come to
you today telling you that God is a liar. Take your Helmet of Salvation and your
sword of the Spirit—the Word of God from the hands of God Himself. Stand
firm as long as you have breath. Remember the victory is won and your job is
to stand until Jesus comes back to establish His earthly Kingdom. It is a fight,
but you are more than well-protected by this armor.
