Our Victory Outfit Part 7

These weekly devotionals I will be posting come from and are copyright to Pam Iannello, my pastor's late wife who went home to be with the Lord on June 18, 2008.


How do you protect yourself from danger in the spiritual realm? The only way to dress for spiritual success is with the armour of God, as found in Ephesians 6. Are you sure you're wearing it??



This devotion is part of the "Our Victory Outfit" series.

Today as we continue our study of the armor of God, we will be spending time on verse 16 of Ephesians 6 which says,

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."

Along with the other pieces of armor, we Christian soldiers are told to take into our spiritual battles the shield of faith.  In war, the shield was a broad piece of defensive armor usually 4 feet by 2 feet and was used in battle for the protection of the body.  The shields of the ancients were of different shapes and sizes, triangular, square, oval etc. and made of leather or wood- covered leather and worn on the left arm.  As the soldier held it before him, it was a good defense against arrows, darts, and spears.  Sounds like a pretty important piece of equipment if you ask me!  

Do you think the shield of faith is important?  Really?  Are you taking hold of it?  Just like the soldier facing physical battle, the shield does you and I no good unless we reach for it and take firm hold of it....

The Bible tells us in Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

Ladies, this is the way we take up our shield of faith - by spending time in the Word of God - ABOVE ALL else we do.  I hope you are reaching for your Bibles more often than just on Sunday mornings!  It is living faith that the Christian soldier needs, for it is a weapon which protects us from Satan's fiery darts every day.  In the apostle Paul's day, arrows dipped in a flammable substance and ignited were shot at enemies.  Nothing much has changed since then, for when it comes to Satan's arrows, he sends out fiery darts as well!  He is a pyromaniac - the devil loves to start fires!  He shoots those fiery darts at our hearts and minds with the intent of igniting disobedience against God within us.  Been hit by one of those lately?  If so, you forgot to take up your shield of faith.... You did not consider it important above all else.

Psalm 119:114, "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."  

You never know when Satan will shoot a dart at you, so why not be prepared and use that shield for protection - stay in your Bible, soldier!!  The more you read the Word, the bigger your shield of faith gets, and the less likely you are to ever be hit by one of his darts again...  I didn't say they wouldn't be sent out - I said you wouldn't be hit!  My Bible tells me that standing behind our shield we will be able to quench ALL the fiery darts of the wicked, no exceptions!  What victory faith brings to our lives when it comes to fighting spiritual battles....

1 John 5:4, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:  and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."  

Let's review faith... Faith is utter dependency upon God, upon His presence and His power.  Faith puts God between you and the enemy.  Faith trusts God for safety and security and marches forth obediently into the battle, fearless and unharmed.  As the fiery darts of the enemy are shot toward us, they simply bounce off our shield and fall to the ground unable to accomplish their efforts to destroy us.  Praise God!  We can enjoy the same spiritual victories with the saints gone by....

Hebrews 11:33-34, "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens."

What an invincibility is ours, all of which is accomplished by faith in the Lord and obedience to His Word!  Doesn't that just make you want to shout??  

Deuteronomy 28:7, "The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face:  they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways."

Ladies, when you and I come to the place of realizing that God will help take care of our enemies, then we can rest behind our shield of faith.  However, there is no rest for our souls when we don't pick up our shields and hold them in front of us!  Nor will they be of any value if we don't hold them in high regard.... Instead of experiencing peace in battle, we would be worrying every moment when the next dart might be sent and what direction it might come from!  When trusting and resting in the Lord and His Word, we won't get tired in the battle or fall out of the fight, nor will we be holding our shields while trembling for fear...  God Himself is our protector!

Proverbs 30:5, "Every word of God is pure:  he is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him."

In what way might your faith need to be increased? Are you daily trusting in God as you diligently look into His perfect and pure Word to increase your faith?  Are you looking to the Lord for help when Satan targets your heart and mind with lies, blasphemous thoughts, doubts, fears, hatred toward others, burning desires for sin?  If so, you have picked up your shield and will be safe in battle.  But if not, you'll be set on fire of hell... Hold tightly to it and use it, for there is no other guarantee of spiritual protection without this important piece of armor!


God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000  Pamela A. Iannello Meet Ms. Pam

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New Beginnings Baptist Church Website