Isaiah - Verse By Verse | Walk thru Eph #147

Walk thru Eph #147

versebyverse | April 25, 2008 21:13

Thought: To me, our faith is vital. Without it, God is not able to act or even protect us.

Question: Have I shielded my life, my self, with God?

Scripture: Ephesians 6:16 (NIV): "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."

How can faith be called an attribute of God's nature? "Faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love." We know that God is love; we know He is the basis and reason for our hope through redemption. How is God the embodiment of faith, of our faith in His goodness? We have faith in God, does God have faith in us? Interesting thought, isn't it?

To me, faith is very near the heart and attributes of God. Faith perhaps could be said to be our "end" of God's power at work. We believe God is able--able to do most anything. That is why, to me, the shield of faith is so useful, so universally valuable, to us as believers. It is our way to tap into God's limitless power resources! Our faith activates God as our shield. Our faith brings God to accomplish victory on our behalf. We can "extinguish all" that the enemy can hurl against us. How much? "ALL"!

We are told in Old Testament scripture that God Himself is our shield. Since we are weak and powerless, the shield, God, can be lifted and moved to any position of protection and be made to block satan's attack. He, literally His life and Who He is, becomes our protection.

God, our shield, "extinguishes flaming arows" of satan. Why are the attacks of our spiritual enemy called "flaming arrows", or in the King James Version, "fiery darts"? Well, like arrows, the assault is "airborne". Satan is the Prince of The Power of the Air. He comes at us through the realm of the earth's atmosphere, that is, right where we live. His attacks, therefore, seem to be nearer to us than God is near. They come along avenues that form the works of our every day lives: parts of our circumstances, parts of our weaknesses, parts of our prejudices, etc. He has good inroads.

Also like arrows, the assault is well-aimed. Again satan knows our weak spots, the chinks in our armor. What fells one christian may not be used on another. The weapons are individually aimed.

The fire, to me, represents, as always, the biblical aspect of judgment. Satan is The Accuser and he comes attacking with his lawyer-like condemnation, the exactness of the still-valid strength of the law, his leverage. His arrow of condemnation hits us and we are tempted to cave in with guilt and disbelieve God, believe satan's lie and, in so doing, fall wounded. When faith is shattered by unbelief, we are spiritually "dead." We would do well to analyze, in every one of satan's attacks, just what judgment, condemning opinion, he is bringing to us. Perhaps the attack is temptation. How is temptation a use of judgment? Easy. Every time we're tempted we are asked to push God aside and select a lie of satan's instead. Temptation succombed to is a "condemnation" of God in my mind and life. What will be judged, we might ask: myself or God?

The shield of faith prevents the fire from touching us because God, in Christ, intervenes, preventing condemnation, both of me and of Who God is. Notice that the shield not only provides a layer of protection, but it also "extinguishes" the fire of the arrow. I't like to think that as soon as the accusation satan brings touches the concept of God, Who is all Truth and Righteousness, the fire immediately goes out! Praise the Lord for Christ Who is our living Truth and Righteousness! Because of Christ, neither I nor God's nature must "burn" in condemnation. Rather, satan will!!

Prayer: Father, enlarge my faith in Your faithfulness to me! Help me to believe You will be my shield against the attacks of satan. Amen.