Our next part of this series will discuss the importance of the shield of faith. As God is teaching me how to dress for success, He is giving me such great excitement! I am learning each day how to dress myself to live as a VICTOR and not a VICTIM. Truth, righteousness, and salvation are critical attire but the shield adds another element of protection. Paul writes:
“Therefore take up the WHOLE armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand…[and]…above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
Ephesians 6:10-18
The Roman shield of the time was called a scutum. This type of shield was as large as a door and would cover the warrior entirely. Such a shield was not just defensive but could also be used to physically push opponents. When fighting as a group, a phalanx of soldiers could position their shields so as to form an enclosure around themselves, called a testudo (“tortoise.”) This was especially helpful to protect against arrows launched from the walls of cities they were attacking. Shields were often made of wood and covered in hide. When the shield got wet, they could extinguish flaming arrows.
It would be pure foolishness for a warrior were to step out from behind his shield while engaging in active warfare!
Clearly, the shield was extremely important to a 1st century soldier. It was meant to be taken up in all circumstances. It was the first barrier against the enemy’s attack.
So, too, is the “shield of faith” our first line of defense against the attacks of the enemy!
So what IS the shield of faith? Good question. First we must understand that faith in God is different from faith in anything or anyone else. Second, we must understand that generally, “faith” is a gift that enables us to believe enough to take action. We all have varying degrees of faith—in people and things—which cause us to act in the belief that certain results will occur.
For example, I have quite a bit of faith in this IPad I’m using to type this devotional. Faith was planted into my brain based on what I had heard about IPads which, in turn, caused me to believe enough to spend a significant amount of money on one and…here we are. The more I use it, the more my faith in it grows and the more I utilize it in my everyday life. As a result I do a lot of work on my iPad that I never would have done had I not had the faith to believe enough to buy one in the first place. But, what if, after I believed enough to buy it, I didn’t use it enough to ever test the outer limits of the iPad? This may seem like a silly example, but my simple mind grasps it. In the same way I have exercised my faith in an ipad and tested it, I want to exercise my faith in God (who is far more powerful) even harder.
My friend, faith in GOD is the greatest because GOD is the most powerful object of our FAITH.
Remember Jesus said that if you have faith [in God] the size of a tiny mustard seed, you can move a mountain??? (Matthew 17:30-21) Faith in GOD is first given to us when we HEAR the Gospel. This enables us to BELIEVE in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Romans 10:17
The gift of faith from hearing the Gospel is like receiving a pair of night vision goggles. This enables us to SEE our great need for salvation and thus, triggers our ability to believe!
After we are born again and the seed of the faith in God is planted within us—we have been issued our shield, but we must learn how to use it. Just as a 1st century recruit needed to learn how to use his shield, a new Christian must also learn to use his shield of faith. A soldier learns to use his shield through instruction, obedience, and practice. Christians grow in the ability to use the shield of faith through instruction in and obedience to—God’s Word, and by developing a strong relationship with their Commander-in-Chief. The training never stops and the obedience must continue throughout our lifetime because the enemy’s tactics are always changing. As we grow, we find that…the more we use our shield of faith, the more we depend upon it.
As we walk with God, our faith grows and develops as we begin to realize how critical it is for a victorious life in Christ. This was Paul’s experience. He said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by FAITH in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 At the end of his life of faith, he declared, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the FAITH.” 2 Timothy 4:7 Using the shield of faith leads us to live in extraordinary victory, and…
…the MORE we see how our shield of faith protects us from the enemy, the LESS we ever want to step out from behind it.
What does it mean to step out from behind your shield of faith in God? Well, it’s simple. It is when we place our faith in anything or anyone MORE than we place it in God. For example, during a recent financial crisis I did not immediately raise my shield of faith in God’s promises that if I seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, He will provide. (Matthew 6:33)
Instead of searching my heart to see if I was putting Him first or if I’d allow unholy behavior to creep into my life; I immediately began to see if I could take on more cases to make more money. Money was my shield of faith and it is a terrible shield and only enslaves us. Or, when someone recently attacked my character, rather than raising my shield of faith and recalling the promises of God about who I am; I instead called a friend to gossip and commiserate about the person who was talking about me so that I could feel better about myself. Wow, that produced a great victory—NOT! Our money, job, possessions, or friends do not make reliable and worthy objects for our faith because none of them can PROMISE us victory. Jesus has already beaten our enemy and it is behind Him we should stand for protection.
Our shield of faith in GOD is our FIRST defense against the enemy.
When Satan attacks with doubts, the shield of faith in GOD reminds us of His promises. It is our first defense to turn aside the blow. We are able to withstand all of the devil’s fiery darts, because we KNOW whom we have believed. (2 Timothy 3:12) While Satan’s attacks can cause us to doubt God; faith prompts us to believe in God. We give in to temptation when we believe what the enemy has to offer is better than what God has promised. Faith reminds us that, though fulfillment of God’s promise may not be readily visible to us, God is true to His Word. When Satan attempts to plague us with doubt or entice us with instant gratification, faith recognizes the deceptiveness of his tactics and quickly extinguishes the arrows.
Every believer has the promise that whoever…
“is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our FAITH. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?“
1 John 5:4-5
Faith in God is a protective barrier that allows us to believe in God’s power, provision, love, wisdom and Divine plan. Period. When we believe God and take Him at His Word, we remain grounded in the knowledge of TRUTH. The lies of the enemy lose their power, and we are overcomers through Christ.
Faith in God is a vital part of dressing for success; clothing ourselves with it WILL make the difference between victory and defeat.
We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.
To learn more about Kimberly Faith and the mission of Faith Strong, click HERE.
Out Now – Essential Faith, Volume II. Find it on Amazon by clicking HERE.
To learn more about Kimberly Faith’s ministry Fostering By Faith, click HERE.
