Dear beloved: The fourth piece of gospel armor to put on is the shield of faith. Ephesians 6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missles of the evil one. In the warfare battle we are in, Satan continually shoots his arrows at us to try to wound us and take us out; thus the shield of faith is to deflect the arrows before they can penetrate our body armor. In the physical realm the shield (gr. thureos) was a heavy peice of metal that was virtually impenetrable, and so that is the way our faith should be also. In his book "Final Quest" by pastor and teacher Rick Joyner, the Lord showed Rick in a series of dreams the nature of the demonic arrows, or flaming missles. The arrows were named Accusation, Gossip, Slander, and Faultfinding. Other demons carried arrows such as Rejection, Bitterness, Unforgiveness, Impatience, and Lust. The primary strategy of the demonic horde was to cause division on every possible level of relationship-churches with each other, congregations with their pastor, husbands and wives, children and parents, and even children with each other. Demonic scouts were sent to locate openings in churches and families, or individuals that such spirits as Rejection, Bitterness, and Lust could exploit and enlarge. Through these openings would pour demonic influences (satanic slime) that would completely overwhelm their victims.
Joyner goes on to say that the most shocking part of the vision was that the demonic horde was not riding on horses, but primarily on the backs of Christians! Most of them were well dressed and respectable, and had the appearance of being refined and educated, and there seemed to be representatives from every walk of life. While these people professed Christian truths in order to appease their consciences, they lived their lives in agreement with the powers of darkness. As they agreed with these powers, their assigned demons grew and more easily directed their actions.
So you can easily see that without the shield of faith, you will not extinguish the flaming missles. The shield is held in front of the warrior, it goes ahead in the battle. Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please God, for those who come to Him must know that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Our faith must go ahead, as believers we walk by faith and not by sight.(2 Corinthians 5:7). Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen....we don't see it, but we believe it and act as if we have it already. James tells us when asking in prayer, James 1:6, but let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. v7 For let not that man expect that He will receive anthing from the Lord, v8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Paul talks about the faith of father Abraham in the fourth chapter of Romans. Paul says he believed God when God told him that his descendants would outnumber the stars of the heavens, even as he looked at his own of his body, v20, yet with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God. v21 and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was also able to perform. v22 Therefore, Abraham's faith was reckoned (accounted) to him as righteousness. Beloved, get your shield of faith up in front of you as you go into battle. Believe the promises of God, stand firm on them, trust in them, build your life on them. God is faithful to perform those promises in our life, beginnning with the promise that we are saved for all eternity through the blood of Jesus. Today read Hebrews chapter 11, the roll call of faith, and meditate on how by faith the men of old gained approval from God (v2). God bless you this day as you step into battle, believing and trusting God for more than you ever have before! In Christ, Jim
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