Shield of FAITH
(Image by Bill Osborne. www.BillOsborne.com)
Our next outfit according to Ephesians 6 verse 16 is our;
Shield of FAITH – The fourth outfit for DEFENCE
| Ephesians 6:16 AMPLIFIED. 16Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. |
This is the second time faith will be mentioned in our outfit, the first was mentioned in our breastplate of righteousness by wearing faith and love always. The shield of faith stands alone and can be imagined to be the huge square like shield that a Roman soldier would use to protect his whole body against arrows, spears and what ever missiles the enemy directs at him.
Why is the shield of faith important? It is important because your body (family, wife, children, circle of influence or all you care about) needs to be protected always. The breastplate of righteousness ensures you of your personal salvation while the shield of faith is a covering of protection extending to other parts of your existence and even your whole armor (outfit). The fact is, if the enemy can not get to you, they will go after the rest of you that is uncovered in an attempt to get to you.
| 1 John 5 (Amplified) 4For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith. 5Who is it that is victorious over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact]? |
Faith is what covers your whole existence by saving you Ephesians 2:8
Faith brings a perfect covering Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17
Faith also aligns you to the blessings and covenants of the bible Romans 4:16
Because our shield of faith is our key to safety, security and Godly vision, we need to grow in faith and we can do this by hearing the Word of God Romans 10:17, the preached words of Jesus so check the bible to ensure what you listen to and what you are told are there.
The practical way to ensure your shield of faith grows and is held high with strength is to exercise it by sharing the word of God with others, live in love and practice good works, pray always for the body of Christ and the unsaved and continue in the daily practice and study of the Word of God through the Holy Bible. Remember to cover your loved ones and those close to you in prayers too. All these will allow you to put practical work into you holding up your faith shield so that men and women can see the manifesting power of Christ in your life as the shield of faith covers you from the daily missiles of the enemy. 2 Timothy 1:6-8, Hebrews 10: 24-25, 2 Peter 3:1-2, James 2:20.
Find Yourself
DV SOUL – Awakening the Spirit of God in man
Helmet of Salvation (Part I)
Helmet of Salvation (Part 1) – Your outfit
Growing spiritually is one habit we must continue cultivating. Ephesians 6 verse 16 concludes with us escaping the fiery darts or schemes of the enemy, this must be stressed because no one in their right mind will chose to walk with the enemy by the choices they make daily, its suicide to the body, spirit and soul. It spells destruction to the whole being, hence;
Ephesians 6 V 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
The helmet of salvation protects the mind (the thinking faculty of your soul) which is the choice and decision making department of you. Not having any power or authority to command you to sin against God, the only thing the devil can do is to use schemes (tricks, lies and deceit) to infect your thought pattern (an attack to the head), once you sustain an injury in that aspect then YOU WILL BE SLAVE TO SIN without knowing it. Eve in the Garden of Eden was the first victim by swapping her salvation for the desire of the flesh through the gates of her eyes as she saw that the fruit was good. What she did not know was the devil’s scheme for this to happen so she could disobey God and die a spiritual death. See Genesis 3
Today, there are several things the devil uses to delude us so he can get his way and lead those who are saved to condemnation through disobeying God like he did, he would try to;
- Attack our mind with tricks or what appears to be common sense Gen 3:1-6, 1 Pet 5:8-9
- An attempt to demoralize our mind like he tried with Jesus Luke 4:1-13
- Offer what God has ordained you to have the worldly way so you actually lose it Luke 4:6-7
- Bring division, unresolved anger, bitterness, envy or misunderstanding Eph 4:26-31, Eph 4:3
- Deceive by masquerading like an angel of light 2 Corinthians 11:14
- Lead into error 1 Tim 4:1-2, Romans 16:17-18
- Gain direct influence to your soul via witchcraft or the occult
- Prevent conversion to Christ 2 Corinthians 4:4, Mat 13:4
- Increase pride and self worth beyond eternity Matthew 16:23, Luke 4:3-13
- Cares of this world more than eternity Philippians 3:19, Colossians 3:1-2, Matthew 13:22
- Money Matthew 13:22; 1 Timothy 6:5,10
- Sexual temptations and desires Proverbs 6:23-29, Proverbs 7:6-27, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
We should always put on our helmet of Salvation, how do we do this? First, practice daily living as the bible teaches, take back control of the gates to your soul and your mind (please seek assistance via walkwithme for support). In doing this you also need to know that we are saved by grace alone and not just by the law (Ephesians 2:6-10), but righteous living saves us from destruction, failure, pain and heart aches (1 Corinthians 11:30-32) because we are in the will of God.
Helmet of Salvation Part II teaches us what the helmet of salvation is and how to put it on daily.
| We encourage you to change your media diet, be selective in your audio diet and also start building up further faith based habits such as reading biblical based books and always remember to check the bible for the truth in all you indulge yourself in. Check out our book reviews section for books we have read and have found to be helpful. Should you need immediate advice, please contact us via walkwithme@dvsoul.org.uk. |
Find Yourself
DV SOUL – Awakening the Spirit of God in man.
Helmet of Salvation (Part II)
Helmet of Salvation (Part II) – Your outfit
Knowing now that the enemy’s best tool yet is an attack to our mind so that we disobey God (see Finding You series 14), our helmet of salvation provides a wonderful security guarding us from an attack in the mind (the head, the thinking faculty to your soul). This session will highlight practical ways to put on the helmet.
Ephesians 6 V 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
You see, you need to realise that the battle field where spiritual wars are fought is in our minds. Our mind is THE single power house where who you are begins to act out, what you conclude in your mind is what you agree to and what you eventually release other members of your body (temple of God) to execute. This is stressed so you can understand the importance of your power house (your mind) and the need to wear the helmet of salvation always.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 (Amplified Bible) 8But we belong to the day; therefore, let us be sober and put on the breastplate (corslet) of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation. |
There you have it; our helmet of salvation in reality terms is the hope in our salvation.
The continuous hope strengthened and empowered by faith hence Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing and its hearing the Word of God. Faith is not the same as hope although it empowers your hope in your salvation through Christ Jesus. That is why faith is a substance of things hoped for but not yet seen Hebrews 11:1. Derek Prince in a message on this topic defines hope as a quiet, steady expectation of good based on the promises of God’s Word. He further described it as continuing optimism that always chooses to see the best and will not give way to depression, doubt, self pity or any negative attack to the mind that the enemy may attempt.
Be rest assured that whatever you are going through in life, there is always something to dash that hope, to change your focus from what God said concerning you in the Holy Bible. We at DV Soul always say the only true things about you and I, are recorded in the bible, why? Isaiah 49:15-16 confirms that even if a mother forgets a child she is nursing, God will never forget us.
Hold on to your hope in the salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who have already overcome the world and its troubles, He already said to us though challenges may come, I have overcome John 16:33.
Hebrews 10:23 (Amplified Bible) 23So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the [a]hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word. |
Jesus Christ is coming back and He will return soon as the signs already indicate. Put on the helmet of salvation and confess the promises of the holy bible in your daily life. Continue to build up your hope by increasing your faith through the hearing of the Word of Jesus. Surround yourself with those who are like minded for iron sharpens iron according to Proverbs 27:17.
INCREASE YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS, INCREASE YOUR HOPE!
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We encourage you to change your media diet, be selective in your audio diet and also start building up further faith based habits such as reading biblical based books and always remember to check the bible for the truth in all you indulge yourself in. Check out our book reviews section for books we have read and have found to be helpful. Should you need immediate advice, please contact us via walkwithme@dvsoul.org.uk. |
Find Yourself
DV SOUL – Awakening the Spirit of God in man.