Post by Shepherd on Mar 25, 2009 13:41:13 GMT -6
-VII
SHIELD OF FAITH
EPHESIANS 6:16..ABOVE ALL, TAKING HE SHIELD OF FAITH, WHERE WITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUENCH ALL THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED.
All the parts of the armor of God are described as protection to be used in defense with on exception; the sword of the Spirit. This is the only offensive weapon provided and it is adequate, being the Word of God. The one activity that is to be performed constantly is praying, especially for one another, and for those who minister the Gospel.
Can you understand that a Christian who is trusting Christ for salvation will need to exercise his faith in daily living.
It is true that we are saved by faith; wonderfully, gloriously true. A soul can accept Jesus Christ as his Savior, and never have any reason to doubt his destiny. God will see him through. HE WHICH HATH BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL COMPLETE IT. PHIL.. 1:6.
There came a time on one glorious night when I was able to believe. I was able to accept that Jesus Christ died for me. It was a wonderful thing and I have rejoiced in it ever since. I never needed to add to that gracious, glorious experience as far as my faith in God and in Christ Jesus was concerned. It is true that a Christian can and should live by faith.
The famous Scripture, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH includes both these ideas, when we say THE JUST we do not means a naturally good man. When we use the word JUST we mean justified. The Christian is justified by faith in Jesus Christ. As a Christian goes through his daily experience he is faced again and again with practical issues, where he has to do things that challenge him to look to God for help, to believe in the Living God.
Paul speaks of believers receiving THE GIFT OF FAITH. in I Corinthians, in the 12th and 14th chapters, we read that one of the gifts of the Spirit is faith. but did the Christians not have faith when they became Christians. They certainly did. But it seems possible that a good many people miss a greater blessing here because they think all was taken care of when they accepted Christ.
Let us note the example when the apostles asked Jesus of Nazareth why they had not been able to deliver the afflicted boy from the demon that possessed him. Jesus of Nazareth told them that it was because of their unbelief. These were apostles. Their unbelief was not that they did not believe in Him as their Savior. It is possible that in the particular instance when they were exercising themselves to deliver that boy they were not believing in the living God as they could have been.
On the last journey to Jerusalem when the disciples were walking along with the Lord Jesus and He came to the fig tree and found no fruit on it, He cursed it. The next morning as they were again walking by there they notice that the fig tree had begun to wither. They drew His attention to it. He said at the time, HAVE FAITH IN GOD. They already believed in God, and that He, Jesus, was the Son of God. They were following Him. When we pray, when we enter into an exercise of our will in obedience to God, we need to have faith in God.
On one occasion the apostle, when they saw things that had happened, made the request, LORD, INCREASE OUR FAITH. They felt the need of an ever deepening relationship with God in all that they did. They wanted greater confidence in God. Such a functioning faith would guide and strengthen them. This is evidently the kind of faith that Paul has in mind in EPHESIANS 6:16.. ABOVE ALL, TAKING HE SHIELD OF FAITH, WHEREWITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUENCH ALL THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED.
TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH calls to mind the use or military equipment. The shield was like a large lid the soldier could move around in front of him to keep him from being hit by darts and arrows. This was for protection. It was not used to attack anyone.
In a real sense this is the sort of shield spoken of here by the apostle. TAKING HE SHIELD OF FAITH, WHEREWITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUENCH ALL THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED. The dart was somewhat like a arrow, it could be dipped in pitch and set on fire. The shield was used to ward off this missiles.
In daily living, Satan will attack us. He will suggest things. For instance, he will tall us, “You can’t depend on anything.” Then we should use our shields. What will such a shield be? To remember that God is faithful, that would be your faith. Satan might say, “Don’t trust Providence. Things are all against you.” Then we would swing around our shield of faith and catch that dart on this; GOD IS MERCIFUL. That will put the fire out.
The devil may say to us, “There is no hope for you.” Then we will swing around the shield; GOD IS GRACIOUS. That will put the fire out for that one. “Your sin condemns you.” But we have our shield of faith, which we swing around and catch that dart, CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS. That will put the fire out. “You can never be any better than you are now. You are no good and you can never be any better.” Then we will swing around the shield of faith, remembering CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND BECAUSE HE AROSE, I AM GOING TO RISE TOO.
ISA. 1:18..THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WOOL; THOUGH THEY BE RED LIKE CRIMSON, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW.
HEB. 13:5b..I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE NOR FORSAKE THEE.
[/size]EPHESIANS 6:16..ABOVE ALL, TAKING HE SHIELD OF FAITH, WHERE WITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUENCH ALL THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED.
All the parts of the armor of God are described as protection to be used in defense with on exception; the sword of the Spirit. This is the only offensive weapon provided and it is adequate, being the Word of God. The one activity that is to be performed constantly is praying, especially for one another, and for those who minister the Gospel.
Can you understand that a Christian who is trusting Christ for salvation will need to exercise his faith in daily living.
It is true that we are saved by faith; wonderfully, gloriously true. A soul can accept Jesus Christ as his Savior, and never have any reason to doubt his destiny. God will see him through. HE WHICH HATH BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL COMPLETE IT. PHIL.. 1:6.
There came a time on one glorious night when I was able to believe. I was able to accept that Jesus Christ died for me. It was a wonderful thing and I have rejoiced in it ever since. I never needed to add to that gracious, glorious experience as far as my faith in God and in Christ Jesus was concerned. It is true that a Christian can and should live by faith.
The famous Scripture, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH includes both these ideas, when we say THE JUST we do not means a naturally good man. When we use the word JUST we mean justified. The Christian is justified by faith in Jesus Christ. As a Christian goes through his daily experience he is faced again and again with practical issues, where he has to do things that challenge him to look to God for help, to believe in the Living God.
Paul speaks of believers receiving THE GIFT OF FAITH. in I Corinthians, in the 12th and 14th chapters, we read that one of the gifts of the Spirit is faith. but did the Christians not have faith when they became Christians. They certainly did. But it seems possible that a good many people miss a greater blessing here because they think all was taken care of when they accepted Christ.
Let us note the example when the apostles asked Jesus of Nazareth why they had not been able to deliver the afflicted boy from the demon that possessed him. Jesus of Nazareth told them that it was because of their unbelief. These were apostles. Their unbelief was not that they did not believe in Him as their Savior. It is possible that in the particular instance when they were exercising themselves to deliver that boy they were not believing in the living God as they could have been.
On the last journey to Jerusalem when the disciples were walking along with the Lord Jesus and He came to the fig tree and found no fruit on it, He cursed it. The next morning as they were again walking by there they notice that the fig tree had begun to wither. They drew His attention to it. He said at the time, HAVE FAITH IN GOD. They already believed in God, and that He, Jesus, was the Son of God. They were following Him. When we pray, when we enter into an exercise of our will in obedience to God, we need to have faith in God.
On one occasion the apostle, when they saw things that had happened, made the request, LORD, INCREASE OUR FAITH. They felt the need of an ever deepening relationship with God in all that they did. They wanted greater confidence in God. Such a functioning faith would guide and strengthen them. This is evidently the kind of faith that Paul has in mind in EPHESIANS 6:16.. ABOVE ALL, TAKING HE SHIELD OF FAITH, WHEREWITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUENCH ALL THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED.
TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH calls to mind the use or military equipment. The shield was like a large lid the soldier could move around in front of him to keep him from being hit by darts and arrows. This was for protection. It was not used to attack anyone.
In a real sense this is the sort of shield spoken of here by the apostle. TAKING HE SHIELD OF FAITH, WHEREWITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUENCH ALL THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED. The dart was somewhat like a arrow, it could be dipped in pitch and set on fire. The shield was used to ward off this missiles.
In daily living, Satan will attack us. He will suggest things. For instance, he will tall us, “You can’t depend on anything.” Then we should use our shields. What will such a shield be? To remember that God is faithful, that would be your faith. Satan might say, “Don’t trust Providence. Things are all against you.” Then we would swing around our shield of faith and catch that dart on this; GOD IS MERCIFUL. That will put the fire out.
The devil may say to us, “There is no hope for you.” Then we will swing around the shield; GOD IS GRACIOUS. That will put the fire out for that one. “Your sin condemns you.” But we have our shield of faith, which we swing around and catch that dart, CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS. That will put the fire out. “You can never be any better than you are now. You are no good and you can never be any better.” Then we will swing around the shield of faith, remembering CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND BECAUSE HE AROSE, I AM GOING TO RISE TOO.
ISA. 1:18..THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WOOL; THOUGH THEY BE RED LIKE CRIMSON, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW.
HEB. 13:5b..I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE NOR FORSAKE THEE.
