The Shield Of Faith
Prison Epistles: Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings...
Together as we have traveled through the book of Ephesians we have journeyed with God in examining the “Glorious Church Of Christ.”
We have seen that the “glorious church of Christ” was in the eternal plans of the Father.
We have studied of the great dangers of being outside of His church and dire need of being in it and apart of it.
We have come to know the importance of not only the eternally planned blood bought church but the Law that was created to govern it and the beautiful unity it created.
We have witnessed in our studies how proper leadership will guide those that are “new in Christ” to walk “not in futility of mind” but “according to truth and love, sacrifice and submission.”
Paul then, in his letter, begins to explain how one stays strong and firm in such endeavors.
How husbands, wives, children, masters, slaves, and everyone else can walk according to truth and love, sacrifice and submission.
It’s with the special armor God made just for us.
Over the last several weeks we have looked at three special pieces of armor, the Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, & Shoes Prepared for the Gospel of Peace.
Today we will be looking at the fourth armor piece which is “The Shield Of Faith.”
The Roman Soldier’s Shield
The Roman Soldier’s Shield
The Roman soldiers shield was called a scutum.
The Roman soldiers shield was called a scutum.
“The scutum, a large curved shield, was a soldier’s main protection in battle. Overlapping shields allowed soldiers to advance together side by side. The shield was used to defend the entire body, including the back. The curve was created using three bonded layers of thin wood strips. Covered by linen or leather, the shield was painted according to legion. A bronze rim covered the rounded edges as additional protection.”
Summery
Summery
«‹ Back
The Roman shield allowed the soldier to go to battle knowing his entire body was protected. It was a vital part of his armor.
So what does that have to do with faith...
Shield of Faith
. The scutum, a large curved shield, was a soldier’s main protection in battle. Overlapping shields allowed soldiers to advance together side by side. The shield was used to defend the entire body, including the back. The curve was created using three bonded layers of thin wood strips. Covered by linen or leather, the shield was painted according to legion. A bronze rim covered the rounded edges as additional protection.
Why Faith?
Why Faith?
Why is faith the answer?
Why is faith the answer?
From the time anyone obeys the gospel and is “made new” () they are working every day to “over come sin.”
This old sinful world tries to “pull us back into it” but we must resists…but how…with faith.
Why is the shield of faith the answer, because victory over the world of sinfulness only comes through faith.
4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Sin rules an unequipped shield of faith.
Sin rules an unequipped shield of faith.
There are many examples in God’s Word of people falling short of the glory of God because they didn’t have their shield of faith equipped.
Eve was deceived because she lacked faith not understanding. She knew God’s command concerning the fruit from the tree.
Eve was deceived because she lacked faith not understanding. She knew God’s command concerning the fruit from the tree.
She lacked faith ultimately because she did not believe that the command of God and the love of God was in her best interest and for her good.
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Sin wins the day when “we do not believe that God is working for us,” when “we do not believe that God’s way is best,” when “we do not believe God’s laws are for our good,” or when “we believe God is keeping us from the good live.”
This is why faith is so important to “over come the world” because when sin rules a lack of faith is at the heart of the problem.
Notice I said when “sin rules,” I’m not talking about those sins that we commit and repent quickly of ().
Summery
Summery
It really comes down to this “do we believe in God and what He says or not?”
Are we willing “in all circumstances” to “take up the shield of faith.”
The Shield Of Faith
The Shield Of Faith
Faith produces protection
Faith produces protection
A shield’s main goal is protection from enemy fire and as the Bible clearly teaches, Satan is on the attack.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Eph 6:
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
The shield of faith protects us from our enemy the devil which will help us see...
Faith produces confidence.
Faith produces confidence.
When we are able to withstand and extinguish the flaming arrows of our enemy how can we not find confidence in this?
Faith that is able to overcome flaming darts and roaring lions is a confident firm faith.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
Faith that is confident and firm knows it can make Satan and sin flee.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
The shield of faith that builds confidence in us to overcome sin and Satan helps us also understand...
Our confidence to overcome our enemy, Satan and sin,
Faith produces boldness.
Faith produces boldness.
When we have protection and confidence against Satan and sin we can boldly speak out against such and help others find their faith.
This is exactly what Paul is talking about in .
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,
10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Summery
Summery
The shield of faith produces, within the child of God, boldness based on confidence found in the protection allotted by faith.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The “shield of faith” is a part of this “special spiritual armor” made for us, God’s creation.
God created the belt of truth, breast plate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, and shield of faith for us, not to mention the remaining two pieces of armor the helmet of salvation and sword of the spirit.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.