The Antidote for Anxiety and Depression: Trust in Abba Father’s Care – Pt 36
Shield of Faith – The Body’s Protection
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
– Ephesians 6:16
I bloomed late in life because I failed a lot. Therefore, it took me longer than usual to accomplish academically. I saw myself as a failure and constantly experienced performance anxiety because of the fear of failing. Hence, I never finished an exam as time always ran out on me, since a lot of the time was taken up trying to calm my nerves in order to actually begin the exams. Every time I failed that enemy will whisper in my ears, “you are always going to be a failure”, “You could never do anything right”, “why don’t you give up trying?” These were some of the fiery darts that the enemy of my soul attacked me with over and over and over again. After a while, I learnt how to quench them with my faith in God as a shield.
The Roman soldier’s shield was long, door-shaped, and covered with leather hide. In order for the shield to remain soft and flexible the soldier lubricated it every day. This ensures that the shield wouldn’t be penetrated by arrows that struck it, instead those arrows would fall to the ground as they slide off the shield.
The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:16 asserts that as a believer, you are specially outfitted with a “…shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Therefore, he admonishes you saying, “Above all, take the shield of faith…”
Some people believe that because the Apostle Paul uses the phrase “above all” it means that the shield of faith is the most important piece of weaponry in the whole armour of God. However, it isn’t the most important piece of weaponry. It was already established that the loinbelt of truth which is the Word of God is the central, most important piece of weaponry since it supports all the other pieces of weaponry.
The phrase “above all” comes from the Greek phrase epi pasin. The word epi means over. The word pasin mean all or everything. This phrase therefore describes the position faith should have over the other pieces of armour. It could be better translated, “out in front of all…” or “covering all…” (Renner, 2003).
It means then, that the phrase “above all” unequivocally conveys to you that your “shield of faith” is expected to be out front where it can completely cover you and protect you from injury. Hence, God intends for you to keep your shield of faith in this out front and covering position where it can guard you from lethal assaults from your adversaries.
Further, the word “taking” is derived from the Greek word analambano, a compound of the words ana and lambano. The word ana means up, back, or against. The word lambano means to take up or to take in hand. Compounded together it gives the meaning to take something up in hand or to pick something back up again. It stands to reason that your shield of faith can be either picked up or laid down (Renner, 2003).
Therefore, the Apostle Paul’s use of the phrase “…taking the shield of faith…” tells you that you have the responsibility and choice to take up your shield of faith and keep it in its rightful position out front as your complete defence.
The Apostle Paul also emphatically expressed the results for taking up your shield of faith and holding it out front when he said, “….wherewith ye shall be able…” This is translated from a Greek phrase that is broken down in two parts. The first part “wherewith” means by which. The second part “ye shall be able” comes from the Greek word dunamis, which means explosive power or dynamic power. This is where the word “dynamite” derived. Hence, this phrase really means “…by which you shall be dynamically empowered…” (Renner, 2003).
This tells me that when you use your shield of faith there is supernatural empowerment that arises to “…quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
The word “quench” is the Greek word abennumi, and it means to quench by dousing or to extinguish by drowning in water. This talks about the Roman soldier’s water-soaked shield, which they deliberately soaked in water before going out to combat because they were aware that their enemies will attack them with fire-bearing arrows. It therefore means that a dry shield would perhaps be destroyed by fire but a shield that was water-soaked would extinguish those fire-bearing arrows (Renner, 2003).
The words “fiery darts” derive from the Greek word belos which refers to an arrow with its tip wrapped with fabric soaked in flammable fluids so it would burn with hot and angry flames. (Renner, 2003).
By now it must be clear that the enemy’s plan is “to steal, kill and destroy…” according to John 10:10, by attacking believers left, right and centre until he can completely penetrate their lives. However, Jesus assures us saying, “…but I am come that ye might have life and that more abundantly” (John 10:10). I believe it is for this reason that he equips the believer with the whole armour of God so that daily you can stand against the devil and continuously experience abundant life in Him.
However, just like the Roman soldier cared for his shield by daily lubricating it and strategically soaking it in water before going out to battle, even so it is necessary and important for the believer to do the same with the shield of faith. In order for your faith to be effective you must daily lubricate it with and soak it in the Word of God as you yield yourself to God’s Word. Remember that it is by hearing the word of God that faith comes (Romans 10:17), and God has already given unto you the measure of faith (Romans 12:3).
Would you choose to use your shield of faith today or would you allow your life to be defenceless and exposed to your enemies’ attacks?
God bless you!
MY PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father You are the King Eternal, Immortal, Invincible, the only Wise God. I honour and give You glory forever. It is my worship unto You just for who You are. Thank You for the shield of faith and for giving me the measure of faith. I declare that my measure of faith is enough to manifest the greatness of God in the earth. I declare that I am completely covered and protected as I take and hold my shield of faith out front. I declare that I am dynamically empowered and I extinguish all the fiery arrows of my enemy shot against me. Therefore, I daily experience the abundant, victorious life that Jesus purchased for me on Calvary. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ name with thanksgiving. Amen!
