The Shield Of Faith || Spiritual Warfare Series

Your shield of faith (Hebrews 11:16)

Faith is described as a shield in the Bible.

The Roman Shield, or Scrutum, was made from bonded wood strips and covered with leather. The shield was not flat but semi-circular so that any missiles thrown at the soldier would be deflected to one side. Iron or brass rims fitted along the edges of the shied, and a leather strap fastened to the back. The shield had a metal projection in the center (The boss or umbo) which was used to stun or wind an opponent, easing the soldier’s subsequent strike with his sword. For this reason, the shield was both a defensive tool and an offensive weapon.

Faith brings powerful results, for when faith is joined with the results of the Word in your mind, heart, and life, you can withstand the onslaught of the enemy and render the enemy’s fiery darts ineffective.

What is Faith?

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

The things hoped for must be God’s will. If they don’t line up with God’s will, then He didn’t place them on our heart.

The substance of things hoped for

5287 hupostasis (hoop-os’-tas-is); a setting under (support),

This is something real that God wants to give us. It has substance. but we presently see it only by faith.

A.W. Tozer said: “Faith is seeing the invisible, but not the nonexistent.”

The evidence of things not seen.

By faith we know that God will give us what He has placed in our hearts.

Faith is a gift of God. He’s given us the desires, the things hoped for, then we begin to pray and wait on Him.

1.We pray fervently, because we have a great desire for the things hoped for. God doesn’t honor lukewarm hearts.

2.We pray with perseverance. We know God wants us to have these things hoped for, and we will not give up.

3.We pray until God floods our hearts with faith. Until He gives us the assurance that the things hoped for are ours.

It is essential to pray through, to receive that assurance from God. It is the proof that God will give the things hoped for. It is the evidence of things not yet seen.

People praying for forgiveness and salvation often stop short of the assurance from God. Then they have doubts about their salvation.

People praying about desires God has given them often stop short of receiving the assurance or “evidence” from God. Then they soon have doubts about the things hoped for. Was it a desire given by God, or just my desire? Did God really call me, or is it just what I want?

When we have the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of the things not seen, then we have what we are hoping for. We are certain it is ours, even though it hasn’t arrived yet. We wait in expectation.

The whole process of faith is greatly enhanced by the Word of God. God often gives us those desires or “things hoped for” through the Word of God. God also often gives us the “evidence” or proof from the Word as well.

Faith pleases God

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews11:5-6)

Living by Faith

Hebrews 11:6 – Those who please God, (bring joy to His Heart) live by faith.

1 John 5:4 – this is our deliverance, our victory that overcomes the world, our FAITH. Our faith is upon the Word of God, HIS PROMISES to us – Romans 10:17 “faith comes by hearing and the hearing (of faith) by the Word of God.”

“.. . Fear Not, Only Believe. . .” Luke 8:50 “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7.

The Shield Of Faith is the weapon by which you take every thought captive and extinguish the fiery darts of Satan’s lies in your mind.

The Shield Of Faith || Spiritual Warfare Series

Know The Truth || Spiritual Warfare Series

We are to know the truth, believe the truth, and speak the truth. God’s Word is the truth. We are to rest in the fact that we are declared righteous because of Christ’s sacrifice for us. We are to proclaim the gospel no matter how much resistance we face. We are not to waver in our faith, trusting God’s promises no matter how strongly we are attacked. Our ultimate defense is the assurance we have of our salvation, an assurance that no spiritual force can take away. Our offensive weapon is the Word of God, not our own opinions and feelings. And we are to pray in the power and will of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is our ultimate example of resisting temptation in spiritual warfare. Observe how Jesus handled direct attacks from Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11). Each temptation was combatted with the words “it is written.” The Word of the living God is the most powerful weapon against the temptations of the devil. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

Why it is Important To Know The Truth

The Word of God draws us to Him
1 Peter 1:23 “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

1Thessalonians 2:13 “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. “

The Word of God is a sword wielded by the Holy Spirit, penetrating the hearts of men

Ephesians 6:17 “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. “

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

The Word of God is like a hammer

Jeremiah 23:29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

The Word of God is our spiritual food

Matthew 4:4 “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."”

The Word of God equips us for every good work

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. “

God’s Word is not chained. It is always working

2 Timothy 2:8-9 “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,  for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained”

In summary, what are the keys to success in spiritual warfare? We rely on God’s power, not our own. We put on the whole armor of God. We draw on the power of Scripture—the Word of God is the Spirit’s sword. We pray in perseverance and holiness, making our appeal to God. We stand firm (Ephesians 6:13–14); we submit to God; we resist the devil’s work (James 4:7), knowing that the Lord of hosts is our protector. “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken” (Psalm 62:2).

Jesus is the Word of God.

Know The Truth || Spiritual Warfare Series

Understand The Battle|| Spiritual Warfare Series

To understand the battle, we need to begin with acknowledging that we are in a war. Battles make up smaller components of the bigger picture. By definition, battles involve combat between two persons, between factions, between armies and they consist of any type of “extended contest, struggle, or controversy” (Webster-Merriam).

As Christians, we are in a spiritual battle of some sort on a daily basis. In warfare, battles are fought on different fronts, for different reasons, and with varying degrees of intensity. The same is true in spiritual warfare. Our spiritual battles and warfare are real, even though we cannot physically see the attacker. But, we can educate ourselves on how the battles are fought and how they impact our lives on a daily basis.

 

We have to ask ourselves, “Why do we even want to fight?” It will do us no good to educate ourselves on the battle if we see no reason for the fight. War is very controversial today in the physical realm. Those attitudes, beliefs and convictions will transfer over to the spiritual realm. However, in the spiritual realm, there is a battle going on regardless of our opinion. We are either victors or victims. Jesus has come and conquered. The war is already won in the heavens. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:18 that, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” We now have the privilege of having an eternal relationship with God.

Many of us enter into that covenant of salvation by grace. But the Matthew 28:18 verse is not only about our salvation; it is also about our every day victory, which adds up to victorious living in Christ. Every day victory is achieved by knowing, believing and understanding the battles that we are enduring daily, regardless if we are passive or active in the battles. Do you want all that God has for you on this earth right now, or do you want to wait until you get to heaven to receive the victory and blessings?

 

This Series on Spiritual Warfare will give us a foundation on where, how and what the battles look like in our lives. We are going to examine three main areas of where the battles are fought: the Spiritual Battle, the Worldly Battle, and the Battle Within Us. We will review and discuss what the Bible says regarding these areas and will learn how to apply the scriptures to our personal lives to bring victory over these battles. It begins with learning the truth of God’s Word and dispelling the lies of the enemy.

 

Remember, you are more than a conqueror (Rom. 8:37). Jesus has defeated satan, lay hold of your victory in Christ (Col. 2:15).

Understand The Battle|| Spiritual Warfare Series