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Ephesians 6:16-24

October 17, 2012 Were one Body with One Head, and so we submit to each other (5:21). This is impossible to do because powers far superior to us are plotting and working against us, so were told to be strong in the power of the Lord (6:10) and to put on His full armor. Weve covered, so far, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Now we pick up in verse sixteen:
16Above

all,

This doesnt mean this piece is more important than the others or that they can be excluded. Think of a soldier under attack from fiery darts; does he want to be shot in the breastplate or in the shield? As far as placement, the shield is above all or first in position between the enemy and the soldier. taking the shield of faith, The Greek word for this type of shield comes from the Greek word for door. You can picture this soldier holding a very large, rectangular shield. Why is it the shield of faith? How about Hebrews 11:6: Without faith it is impossible to please [God]. And also Hebrews 10:38: The just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Tie those in with the command to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, and take into account the context of the passage: were outnumbered and outmatched, but by faith in Gods promise and in the power of His might we stand against our enemy. Think of David and GoliathDavid could not use the kings shield so he went to battle with nothing more than a sling and three stones shouting, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied (I Sam. 17:45). You see, that story is not about us defeating the giants in our life; that story is about being strong in the power of God and standing by faith against the enemy. David was far outmatched, as are we, but he came in the name of the Lord. And that is the true object of faith, isnt it? Isnt faith looking to Christ? We live in a day in which theres so much confusion because weve got preachers telling people that faith is nothing more than wishful thinking. They say that faith is believing something is so, even when it isnt so, in order that it may be so. You hear people going around saying things like, Im just believing God for healing. Well, if God promised to do that then you should; but otherwise its not faithits wishful thinking!

Like all false doctrine, the confusion over faith begins when we make it about something other than Christ. What are we saying when we talk about the shield of faith? We stand behind Christ. He has promised to deliver usjust as He promised David and Abel and Enoch and Noah and Abraham and Sara and Isaac and Jacob and Joseph and Moses and Joshua and Rahab and Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah and Samuel and all the others in the Old Testament whose stories were written for our learning (Rom. 15:4). Christ is the author and finisher of our faith; He is our life and our righteousness and our Savior. When we talk about taking up the shield of faith were not talking about having a winning attitude or a positive mindset; were not saying to believe it and receive it were saying He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee and so the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man [or angels] shall do unto me (Heb. 13:5-6). Were saying by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall (Ps. 18:29). And so, we take up this shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Something interesting is that the Greek word for fiery is (pyroo, puh-rawoh) which is where we get our English word for pyro (a pyromaniac likes to set things on fire). Its the shield of faith which quenches the fire in the darts. We may be hit anyway (and we will) but keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and trusting in His promise will snuff the fire out. I think of Paul and Silas in prison yet singing. Even better, I think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego standing over the fiery furnace unafraid: Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up (Dan. 3:17-18). Satan tries to deceive us and frighten us and even to kill us, but we stand behind Christ and His promise to overcome every enemy (I Cor. 15:26).
17And

take the helmet of salvation,

Look at First Thessalonians 5:8: let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Faith and hope are very similar, but theyre also different. Faith is the belief in something, and hope is a looking for something. Think about Romans 8:24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? Abraham believed God which is why he hoped for a better city These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Heb. 11:13). Faith is our shield and the hope of salvation is our helmet. We believe we will be saved from this curse and from the power of sin and death. We know (because Christ promised) that we will be saved from the wrath of Satan and of God. Weve been delivered from the Law and everything that put as at odds with God, so now we stand strong in the Lord, the Author and Finisher of our faith, waiting in hope for Him to deliver. and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: The sword of the Spirit is the (rhema) of God. Rhema means a spoken word or phrase. Look at Luke 1:37: For with God nothing shall be impossible. You might be surprised to find that rhema is used here. A literal word-for-word translation would say, For not impossible with the God all word (rhema). Or, we might say, No word of God is without power. Think about this verse: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (rhema) that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Mt. 4:4). You can see that the rhema is much more than a Biblethis is the living word which comes from the living God. Now tie this in to everything above: (1) be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might; (2) according to His truth; (3) protected by His righteousness; (4) ready for action by His gospel of peace; (5) shielded by faith in Him; (6) hoping in His salvation; (7) living by His word. These verses are so often preached with the intention of making the hearer try harder, but I see them more as consolation for those who are under attackwe stand because the Lord is our God and He makes us stand perfect in every way! And that naturally leads us into verse eighteen:
18Praying

always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Were trusting in Him for everything, and thats made clear by the fact that we pray to Him. And how often do we pray? Always! How many and what kind of prayers do we make to Him? All kinds! For whom do we pray? For all saints! Theres never a single moment or situation in which we leave any of these things about God; were preserved in Christ Jesus (Jude :1) alone with no other hope which gives us all hope. This is why we cling to the Son of God!
19And

for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Here its made personal and practical for Paul. Hes sitting in chains because of his faith, but instead of asking for deliverance he wants to stand against the attacks of the devil and speak boldly as he ought. Hes an ambassador, so its fitting that he shouldnt be afraid to deliver the message and represent his King correctly.
21But

that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: 22Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. 23Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Despite the war there is peace and comfort for the brethren because were safe and secure in Him and soon well be with Him where neither sin nor death nor Satan himself can even enter in. http://newgracebaptist.blogspot.com/

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