Whole Armour of God Part 4

Whole Armour of God Part 4

You cannot prevent the attacks of the enemy. But you can prevent yourself from getting harmed by the attacks.

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. - Ephesians 6:16

The word 'shield' refers to the 'heavy oblong Roman shield which looked like a full door, large enough to provide full protection from attack.' This protects us and covers our whole person in spiritual warfare.

Since spiritual warfare is usually in the realm of the mind (2 Cor 10:4-5) where the enemy pulls you into the carnal realm to try to attack you, we must step into the higher realm and battle the enemy from the spiritual realm using the mind of Christ.

This sounds like a concept until we break it down into practicality. It is the shield of faith for a reason. Because faith has to be the weapon.

Faith (pistis in Greek) is a gift from God. It is the persuasion of His will and goodness. It is received and not achieved. The righteous shall live by faith (Rom 1:17), regardless of what you see, hear or feel.

Since faith comes by hearing (and hearing) His Word (Rom 10:17) and is the evidence of things not seen (Heb 11:1), the shield of faith is only as strong as your knowing of the Word, which reveals His will and goodness.

It says that we can put out (extinguish) ALL the flaming (burning arrows) of the evil one. ALL means ALL --- every single one that comes against you. 

With the 'flaming' arrows, we can feel the 'heat' of the attacks and still NOT be burnt by them. Feelings can be very real, just as circumstances and symptoms can be very real. This is why we need to take up faith and walk contrary to what we are feeling, and walk according to the Word. This is the only way for divine protection to keep us from getting harmed.

What more? The word 'flaming' is also used for 'gold refined by fire'. Job misunderstood satan's flaming arrows as God slaying and testing him.

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him (Job 13:15). 

When He has tried me, I shall come out as gold. - Job 23:10

As we take the shield of faith to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one, we also grow in maturity and get refined by the heat of the fire that the enemy throws at us. Instead of touching us (1 Jn 5:18), the enemy pushes us to grow. Yay Jesus!