The Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:16)
Ephesians 6:16 (ESV) --- 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Flaming Darts
In this text, Satan’s attacks are called flaming darts or arrows. Because movies are the way they are, we have all probably seen the image of soldiers approaching one another in battle and being overwhelmed by a sea of arrows. These arrows are met by shields that deflect and prevent the army from falling. But sometimes, the arrows are set on fire before being shot. Can you imagine not just watching your comrade fall from an arrow, watching him catch on fire and burn to death? That would affect your morale.
Satan’s goal is to cause chaos and fear. He wants to kill us in the most brutal way possible. These flaming darts represent Satan’s attacks, but what happens when Satan attacks us? Have you ever had a trial that just about pushes you to the point of breaking? Sickness, death, or some other kind of loss can destroy our relationship with God if we let it. What about a temptation? Have you ever had a temptation and sin that persists and draws you in to destroy your relationship with God? Satan is working behind the scenes in all of that. He is feeding you lies so that you will give up on God and die spiritually.
Job is an elementary example for us to understand this. In Job, God shows us how Satan works against us through trials and temptations. He lies to us through other people. Remember how Job’s wife tempts Job with a lie. She tells him to curse God and die. The lie is that things can’t get better again. The friends also lie to Job and add a trial onto his trials. They tell him that he has sinned and God is punishing him. That’s not true. This is the way Satan works to destroy our relationship with God.
Eventually, Job thinks that God is doing something wrong. He wants to argue with God, and he falls into the sin of pride. What is Satan doing in your life? What do his darts look like in your life?
What Is Faith?
How do we defend ourselves against these darts? Our text tells us to take up the shield of faith. We need truth, righteousness, readiness, and faith. What is faith? You would be surprised to know how often I have asked Christians to define faith and been given a blank stare.
Faith is simply believing, trusting, and submitting. We have to believe in the promises that God makes us. They are very great promises that we could never deliver to anyone, but we believe that God can deliver on them. We have to believe in what we don’t see.
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) --- 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
After we believe, faith requires that we show trust in those promises by submitting to the life that God wants us to live. James tells us that faith without submission is dead. He says, “Faith without works is dead.” But his examples show us that he is talking about works of submission, not works of merit. Those who genuinely believe are trusting God enough to submit to him when it’s hard, like Abraham. The demons believe and shudder, but they do not submit and obey God’s will. They don’t have faith.
We Live By Faith
One idea that is put before us continually in the New Testament is that faith gives us spiritual life. We live by faith in the gospel.
Romans 1:16--17 (ESV) --- 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
On the other hand, without faith, we are destroyed.
Hebrews 10:39 (ESV) --- 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) --- 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Another idea in the New Testament is that faith gives us victory.
1 John 5:4--5 (ESV) --- 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world---our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Faith is the key to our salvation. Without faith, we will never overcome the world. The key to overcoming the world is not diligence in my job or the wisdom to become famous. The key is faith.
How Does Faith Shield Us?
Once we understand what faith is, we understand how important it is when Satan attacks us. But still, the question remains, “How does faith shield us from Satan’s attacks?”
Consider how the opposite is true. When we refuse to believe in God and put our trust in him, a door is opened for us to sin. Unbelief is the basis for all sin. It’s been that way since the very beginning. Satan’s goal was to get Adam and Eve to stop trusting God’s word. Once he could get them to do that, getting them to sin was easy.
But if Adam and Eve had faith in God’s words, they would have been protected against Satan’s deception. Faith is the answer to every temptation and trial. You might ask, “How is faith the answer?”
Trials
When it comes to trials, Peter explains how faith helps us endure.
1 Peter 1:3--5 (ESV) --- 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Peter tells us that our faith in God’s power keeps us guarded by God’s power. Faith is a shield because trusting in God makes God want to help us. If we are submitting to God, he is on our side. If God is on our side, who can stand against us? Faith relies on God’s power and strength to overcome the trials or be refined by them. The result is protection and strength. Satan’s darts are quenched and deflected. They don’t kill us.
Temptations
When we think about faith helping us in temptation, we must consider Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 10.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV) --- 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Notice that Paul is trying to remove our unbelief. We, in our unbelief, might say, “No one has to deal with this temptation.” Paul says, “It’s common to all men.” Then, he fills us with a reminder of God’s promises. He is working to help us in the trial. Do you see how faith is required? We must believe that he is working in the unseen spiritual realm to give us a way out of temptation. Paul calls it a way of escape, but then he says, “That you may be able to endure it.” God doesn’t altogether remove the temptation from us, but he gives us what we need to avoid falling into it. He makes sure we have the strength and ability to resist.
Many times when I am tempted, I want to think, “God doesn’t want me to have something good. But notice that in this text, he says, “God is faithful.” Do we believe that God wants what is good for us? We have to believe that God is for us. He wants what’s best for us. Don’t think for one minute that God is against you or that God doesn’t care for you. He wants what’s best, even if what’s best is not what we want or the most fun. We need faith in God’s goodness to keep us from falling like Adam and Eve.
Putting Faith On
Now, the only question that remains is, “How do we put on this shield of faith?” How do we trust God and submit to his will when trials and temptations come? How do we put up a barrier that deflects the lies of Satan?
Understanding Grace
To start with, we need to remember a critical text.
Romans 8:32 (ESV) --- 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
This text reminds us of God’s faithfulness. He did not spare his Son to save us. Jesus did not spare himself, either. They gave all to have a relationship with us. We don’t have to look beyond this verse if we need greater faith. What protection against so many lies and fiery arrows Satan might throw our way.
Looking Forward
Another text for us to remember and grow in faith is in Hebrews again.
Hebrews 11:13--16 (ESV) --- 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
The example of Abraham and other men of faith tells us that they were looking to the future. Why is it that trials and temptations bog us down? Is it not because we are focused on the here and now. If we want greater faith, we need to look to the things ahead of us. We have a city, a house not made with hands, high as the heavens where we will all get to spend eternity with God. This “light, momentary affliction is not worth comparing to the glory that is to come.” We would do well to dwell on that.
Paying Attention
Finally, and most obviously, we put on the shield of faith by opening and listening to God’s word.
Romans 10:17 (ESV) --- 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
If we are unwilling to study and listen to God’s word, we will not grow stronger in faith. God’s word reminds us of God’s grace and promises. It helps us develop the right mindset and the right heart. It also cuts us when we need to be cut. Without God’s word, we wouldn’t know what to believe or why we need to believe it. The word helps us trust in God as we learn more about him. It helps us understand where we fail to submit and why we need to submit. The word is a tremendous resource to provide us with the faith we need to endure trials and temptations.
Conclusion
All of the attacks that Satan makes against us are intended to penetrate our shield of faith. If we lay that shield down, he can quickly destroy us. So we must take up faith as a shield.
We look to God’s grace. We remember his love for us and believe in his goodness. Don’t let Satan convince you that God wants to crush you. His loving hand is always stretched out for those who are erring.
We look to his future promises. For those who are struggling to deal with temptations or endure trials, the shield of faith reminds us that we are looking forward to a more extraordinary city and a lasting one.
Lastly, we look to God’s word as the source of greater faith. In his word, we will find life and godliness. God’s word is a beautiful blessing for us.