THE ARMOUR OF GOD (Part five) SHIELD OF FAITH

The Shield of Faith enables a warrior to advance and “gain ground” in battle. Having a shield is the only way to “take a hill” while running against a volley of flaming arrows. Faith is the way that we gain the ground in life that God wants us to gain—a victory over a personal challenge, success at school, at work, in life.And just what is a “flaming arrow of the evil one”? Quite simply, it is an attack brought by the enemy—one that is typically aimed towards your head (protected by the helmet of salvation), or your chest (protected by the Breastplate of Righteousness).

Where does our shield come from? It comes from God Himself: “You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great” (2 Samuel 22:36).

The Bible says that God Himself is our shield:

• Deuteronomy 33:29: “Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places.”
• 2 Samuel 22:3: “My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent men you save me.”
• Psalms 5:12 “For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”
• Psalms 18:2 “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
• Psalms 18:35 “You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not turn. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.”
• Psalms 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”
• Psalms 91:4 “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day”
• Proverbs 2:7 “He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”
• Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

Here is another observation about the Shield of Faith: Unlike the other parts of spiritual armor, the shield moves to wherever it is needed. It is moved by the Christian, in his will, and by his will, to wherever and however it may be needed in a particular battle.