FAITH: THE BELIEVER’S SHIELD

FAITH: THE BELIEVER’S SHIELD

Ephesians 6:10-12, 16; Hebrews 11:1-39

The believer in Christ is faced with constant and continuous battle against the Kingdom of darkness. The battle is not a physical one but spiritual and needs spiritual weapons to fight and win. The believer needs strong faith in |God for protection, preservation and strength for life’s battles. Faith in God is so important and indispensable. The word, faith, appears many times in the bible. If we are going to get the best in life, we need to have faith in God. Our relationship with God is hinged on faith (Hebrews 11:6). To have faith in God simply means to believe Him, to take Him at His word, to rely on his promises and to put absolute trust in Him without questioning or doubting his faithfulness in doing what he says He would do. We shall consider three subheadings:-

1.

Forces and battles against the saints.

2.

Faith, the believer’s shield.

3.

Foundation of faith as believer’s shield.

1.

Forces And Battles Against The Saints

2Corinthians 1);3-6; Zech.5:6-7; Mark 9:23; Ephesians 6:10-12; Job 1:13-22; 1Samuel 17:1-11; 1Chronicles 4:9-10.

There are many forces against believers (SAINTS OF God) in their journey to the heavenly city. These forces and battles are both spiritual and physical. No saint of God is exempted from the battles. This differs from person to person. Satan is the author of the battles against the saints. His goal is to make the believer to regret, become confused and eventually backslide.

Satan fights and tries to weaken the believer through sin, fear, sicknesses, satanic attacks, worries, anxiety, persecution, false accusations, etc.  Those who fight with carnal weapons will become victims as Satan’s darts of fear, sicknesses, discouragement; regret will catch and weaken them. The weapons of faith as the believer’s shield will protect, preserve and make the believer conquer and remain strong like Abraham, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel and the prophets. (Hebrews 11:22-33).

2.

Faith: The Believer’s Shield

Hebrews 11:1,6,32-37; Ephesians 6:16; 1samuel 17:45-47; 2Corinthians 10:3-5; Job 19:25.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”(Hebrews 11:1). By this biblical definition of faith, substance is tangible, and evidence is solid proof. Faith is not some hazy emotion without any grounding in reality. It is an irrefutable truth, it is real. A shield is something that defends and protects something or someone. In Ephesians 6:16. Paul tells us that the shield is something we must take up, something we are required to have. The shield by dictionary definition is a broad piece of defensive armour carried on the arm and used in ware for the protection of the body.

This faith we talk about is like the physical defensive carried by believers in the daily battle for the truth against the devil and his cohorts for the believer. To prevail in life, he must have the shield of faith.

The Roman shield was a very large, slightly curved rectangular shield featuring at it centres a large metal knob (called a boss). Because of its size soldiers were afforded a great deal of protection from enemies. Because of its slight curve, it was able to deflect attacks without transferring the full force of the assault to the man holding the shield. The shield of faith is not a real physical shield. It is faith that acts like a shield. Faith that deflects the armour of assault, fear and doubt that come toward us from our enemy.

Without faith no one can see God. Furthermore, without faith no one can snatch the wounded from the flames of Satan’s arrows. The weapon of faith is spiritual and mighty to tear down everything that tries to hinder the believer’s journey to heaven. A shield guides, while the physical shield protects physically, faith can protect our spiritual lives even in the middle of physical trials. When Satan (through Nebuchadnezzar) attacked the value and belief of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, they were able to withstand and prevail because of their faith, in their response, they essentially said God is able of delivering us from this fire.

Ephesians 6:16 - A shield deflects. Satan is always hurling his fairy darts of fear, doubt and worry in our direction. The only time they can hit us is when we put our shield of faith down, when we stop believing that God is in control, that He is working everything out for our good, that whatever happens is for the ultimate best of everyone involved. Matthew 14:28-31 - When our faith in God’s omnipotence and care is strong, it is impossible for Satan to break through our shield and land an attack. But when we allow doubt to creep in, as Peter did when distracted by the waves, we will start to sink. Moreover an actively raised shield of faith prevents the otherwise inhibiting fatigue.

3.

Foundation Of Faith As Believer’s Shield

Romans 10:17; 1John 4:4; 5:4; Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 6:33; Eph.2:8,9.

The book of James 2:14-22 made mention of three kinds of faith, namely; Dead faith, Devils’ faith (Satan believes and tremble) and Dynamic faith. Dead and devil’s faith cannot be the believer’s shield. The dynamic faith, which is founded and strongly built on the word of God, is the believer’s shield. God has designed from the foundation of the world that it is only those who are born again, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ can have faith that can protect, preserve like a shield. Faith as the believer’s shield must be founded and build on the word of God and such faith must be strong, spirit inspired, able to save, serve and be saturated with love. The believer with the shield of faith cannot be defeated in the battles of  life.