The shield of faith – part 1

“In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.” -Ephesians 6:16

The honor prepared for all of God’s saints, namely those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone, is to triumph over the enemies of our salvation. Christ never intended for His Gospel to be spread by fire and sword, nor for His justice to be established through the wrath of men. But may the high praises of God be in our mouths as we wield the sword of His Word, alongside the shield of faith, remembering that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against diabolical powers.

Every human being on this earth faces battles in life. As believers, we are by no means exempt, which is why God reminds us in 1 Peter 5:8-11:

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In His kindness, God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So, after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation. All power to Him forever! Amen.”

“In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:16

To face these battles, God provides us with a complete armor, not only for defense but also for offense, as described in Ephesians 6. In verse 16, it is written:

“Above all, or in all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one.”

The term “fiery darts” comes from the Greek word belos, referring to any projectile, such as a javelin, spear, arrow, or slingshot stone. These fiery darts were arrows with combustible tips, designed to set fire to fortifications, ships, houses, and even enemy shields made of wood and leather. To counter them, shields were often reinforced with metal.

“God provides us with a complete armor not only to be defensive but also offensive.“

For Christians, these fiery darts are described in the Bible as evil thoughts, desires, passions, and temptations of all kinds, as well as doubts. They can also come from malicious and wicked people, which, unfortunately, sometimes happens, as well as from spiritual attacks launched by diabolical forces.

The good news is that God has equipped us with the shield of faith, allowing us to intercept and extinguish these fiery darts. First and foremost, let us remember that God Himself is our shield, as David declared in Psalm 3:3:

“But you, O LORD, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who lifts my head high.”