Armor of God (Part 5)
“Everybody Needs a Shield”
Read: Ephesians 6:14-16
Shield - do you have one? Especially now in this time of the pandemic, we see images among the medical community of actual face shields.
When there is a riot, or major disturbance that is life threatening, we see officers of law enforcement wearing helmets with face shields. The officers may even have a literal shield to protect them from hurled missiles. And do know that when automobiles first appeared, not all of them had windshields? Oh yes, shields are a part of human history, both past and present.
God our shield
Now let’s get to the shield of faith, and as we do, I want to share with you this verse from Psalm 3 to remind us that even before we pick up the shield of faith, the Lord God Himself is our shield.
Psalm 3:3, “But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.”
The phrase “about me” is nothing but good news for us, no matter what we face.
God in His everlasting mercy is always about us. Jesus came to seek and to save those who were lost, and that is you and me! This shield of the Father’s not only surrounds us, but it is ours as long as He lends us breath.
The Roman shield
The Roman shield that Paul would have observed was a specifically crafted piece of armor. The shield was about four feet high and a little over two-and-a-half-feet wide. It was a piece of wood, often covered with leather, and then metal. It was also concave in shape so that it might curve itself around the soldier’s front.
The shield had a hook on the top right hand corner, and on the top of the left hand corner, an eyelet. This would permit the shields to be connected in such a way that they were practically impenetrable. Once connected, the shields formed a formidable wall. Between the leather under-covering and the metal outer covering, fiery darts or arrows would usually be extinguished.
Distinguish the enemy’s fiery darts
Now where is our spiritual application? Our enemy, Satan, is an expert at flinging “fiery darts” at us. Verbal abuse is something that Satan is practically a master of. Read what it says in Revelation 12:10.
Remember how the Word says in Proverbs, that death and life are in the power of the tongue? It is faith in our Father’s mercy and lovingkindness that allows us to embrace how He sees us through the blood of Christ.
Whatever the Satanic accusations may be, whether we hear them in our mind or they are his words through the lips of someone else, with this shield of faith, the fiery darts are, and will be, extinguished!
The shields of the Roman soldier were meant to be connected. When you and I are connected by a “like precious faith,” we stand united against whatever the enemy throws our way.
Got your shield on?
Blessings and prayers,
Pastor Gene
Read: Ephesians 6:14-16
Shield - do you have one? Especially now in this time of the pandemic, we see images among the medical community of actual face shields.
When there is a riot, or major disturbance that is life threatening, we see officers of law enforcement wearing helmets with face shields. The officers may even have a literal shield to protect them from hurled missiles. And do know that when automobiles first appeared, not all of them had windshields? Oh yes, shields are a part of human history, both past and present.
God our shield
Now let’s get to the shield of faith, and as we do, I want to share with you this verse from Psalm 3 to remind us that even before we pick up the shield of faith, the Lord God Himself is our shield.
Psalm 3:3, “But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.”
The phrase “about me” is nothing but good news for us, no matter what we face.
God in His everlasting mercy is always about us. Jesus came to seek and to save those who were lost, and that is you and me! This shield of the Father’s not only surrounds us, but it is ours as long as He lends us breath.
The Roman shield
The Roman shield that Paul would have observed was a specifically crafted piece of armor. The shield was about four feet high and a little over two-and-a-half-feet wide. It was a piece of wood, often covered with leather, and then metal. It was also concave in shape so that it might curve itself around the soldier’s front.
The shield had a hook on the top right hand corner, and on the top of the left hand corner, an eyelet. This would permit the shields to be connected in such a way that they were practically impenetrable. Once connected, the shields formed a formidable wall. Between the leather under-covering and the metal outer covering, fiery darts or arrows would usually be extinguished.
Distinguish the enemy’s fiery darts
Now where is our spiritual application? Our enemy, Satan, is an expert at flinging “fiery darts” at us. Verbal abuse is something that Satan is practically a master of. Read what it says in Revelation 12:10.
Remember how the Word says in Proverbs, that death and life are in the power of the tongue? It is faith in our Father’s mercy and lovingkindness that allows us to embrace how He sees us through the blood of Christ.
Whatever the Satanic accusations may be, whether we hear them in our mind or they are his words through the lips of someone else, with this shield of faith, the fiery darts are, and will be, extinguished!
The shields of the Roman soldier were meant to be connected. When you and I are connected by a “like precious faith,” we stand united against whatever the enemy throws our way.
Got your shield on?
Blessings and prayers,
Pastor Gene
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