The Shield Of Faith

EPHESIANS 6:16
“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

The Apostle Paul, directed the Ephesian Church to take to themselves the shield of faith, as they take on the whole armor of God to protect them from the clever tricks of the Devil and it applies to us as believers, as well, for he indeed has many wiles. We are to do so that we may be able to stand against those clever ‘wiles.’
A shield is for protection, but from what does Paul have in mind to be protected? As we read of his life in the Bible, we learn that his life was filled with difficulties, it was burdened with many anxious moments, he was crippled by infirmity, he was disappointed in people at times, so from what did this shield protect him?
Paul wanted a shield, not against failure, for that may come or stay away, but an attitude that may be born of failure, a hopeless outlook. Not against injury, which may or may not come, but against bitterness that may be born of injury; not against pain which may or may not come, but against murmuring born of pain. Not against disappointment, which may or may not come, but of discouragement which is born of disappointment. Not against difficulties which may or may not come, but of fear born of difficulties. Not against wealth or poverty which may or may not come, but against materialism born of the love of money. Not against any particular kind of circumstance, but against every kind of circumstance which numbs the soul’s consciousness of God; or hardens the heart or lifts it in pride and vanity; or causes spiritual cowardice or disloyalty; or causes the tongue to speak evil or the heart to wrongly set its affections; or feed its natural covetousness. Paul desired the shield of faith to protect his faith in God and that is the reason we need the shield of faith, and the whole armor of God.
In His lovely name,
Pastor Ed Bowen