Faith Shield

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. (6:15)

The Roman soldier’s shield was a massive, heavy thing, apparently weighing around 20 pounds. Its dimensions were two and a half feet wide and four feet long. It covered the soldier from the neck region down to the knees. It was made of wood, and covered with canvas and leather. It was used for deflection, preventing penetration of arrows and swords.

What is this spiritual armor piece called faith? Though the following could be dissected a bit more linguistically, I find it to be helpful for me. Faith is described in Scripture as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it is defined by “confident assurance” as in the classic reference in Hebrews 11:1, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Faith can also be used as a verb, or an action, appearing as part of a compound construction in English, as in “have faith” or “put faith”, used this way in Mark 11:22, when Jesus said, “Have faith in God.” A one word designation that covers both the noun and verbal ideas is “trust,” a word that is also both a noun and verb.

So, we are trusting God that He is who he says he is, he will do what he says he will do, and that we are made right with him and have life through him because of what he has done.

Our trust in him is not based on our mood, our feelings, nor a ‘blindness’, as in ‘blind faith.’ We trust him because he has revealed himself over and over to his people, and has shown that he can be trusted. He does not need to prove himself to me. I have confident assurance that he is real, active, and working on behalf of his people.

In this spiritual engagement with the Enemy, the faith that comes into view is our trust in God. And I recall that he is the One who enabled us to believe and trust him. The trust that we have in God is generated from God.

Why is this armor piece of faith necessary? “To stop the fiery arrows of the devil”, Paul says. Think about arrows and their use. They are fired from some distance. This is not a hand-to-hand weapon (more on that battle position in the meditation on the sword of the Spirit). This is one launched from across the way, aimed at the body to penetrate and take down. Hard to escape from if you don’t see them coming and have your shield up. These arrows are traveling fast, and are hard to outrun.

Additionally, think about a rain of arrows! One archer shooting at you is one thing, but what if 20 were pointed at you simultaneously, and they were expert marksmen. All from different angles focused on the same target. Imagine if you were standing in an open area without protection. You would feel defenseless and doomed. These arrows will find their target. But here’s the key question: will they penetrate you? Answer: Not with the shield of faith in place!

The Enemy is aiming and firing arrows against God’s people. He is attempting to penetrate our very souls, and take us out of commission. He is relentless, coming at us from various angles, and with a legion of launches. He despises and hates the Body of Christ. We are the objects of his wrath.  

What kind of arrows does the Enemy use? Fiery ones! Ones that upon sticking in the body, or wall or roof of a house, or whatever the intended target, as gruesome as it might sound, are meant to do damage not just with penetration but with fire, burning and causing incredible harm with a blaze. These arrows are meant to stop the advance of the Kingdom of God. They are disruptions against the progress of God’s people.

The Enemy uses anti-faith attacks. He tries to tear down our assurance. Lose our trust in God. Stop believing. Give up and run away, mumbling something incomprehensible like, “If this kind of attack comes from being one of God’s people, then I’d rather be on my own! At least then the Enemy will leave me alone, and I will be safe, and I can get on with my life! Following God just hasn’t worked out for me. I’m sorry, Jesus; it was good while it lasted, but I’ve had enough.” 

As part of a planned, strategic maneuver, the Enemy launches his arrows at you, God’s child and disciple of Jesus Christ. What is your response to the Enemy’s assault?

Consider these challenges we face:

Parents, what are you declaring over your children, by faith?

Husband, wife, what are you declaring over your marriage, by faith?

Pastors, what are you declaring over your church, by faith?

Friends, what are you declaring over your relationships, by faith?

New believer, what are you declaring before God, by faith?

Friend battling illness or depression, what are you declaring before God, by faith?

In each of those scenarios of life, the Enemy comes at us, wanting us to give up. Run away. Lose hope. Drop any kind of assurance and confidence in God. He whispers, “You’d better find your own escape route. You’re going to need it. It’s obvious God has forgotten you, and won’t take care of you. This attack is just too ferocious. You won’t survive it doing what you have been doing, attempting in some feeble way to ‘trust God’. Bad idea!”

As the battle rages, as the fiery arrows are incoming, whistling through the air and taking down friends and family around us, our response must be one of trust and confidence.

Our Father protects us as we trust him. He will bandage our wounds and provide the rescue we need.

“Father, we declare our confidence that you are exactly who you say you are! You are not defined by us. You are the eternal, living, and everlasting, Almighty God. The Enemy cannot take us down if we abide in you! We are protected under you, the one described by King David as a shield around us (Psalm 3:3). We ask for your help to withstand the Enemy’s attempts at the penetration of our soul.”