The Shield of Faith

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Today's Passage: Ephesians 6: 10-18
Memory Verse: Eph. 6: 16

Saints, the evil day that this passage talks about has come.  If there's ever been a time we needed people to come to the Lord, it's now.  They're hurting, things don't seem to be lining up for them, and it seems as if God is far away.  It's a vicious cycle because their hearts are not inclined to turn to Him.  So the more they push away, the farther away God seems to go.

We need to intercede for those around us like never before.  The harder men's hearts seem to grow, the softer ours should become towards God and His plan.  And how could this be made possible?  We've got to have on the whole armor.  So far, we've discussed the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the shoes of the gospel of peace.  Today, we begin with the shield of faith.  This is the weapon that makes it possible for us to see what God sees when we look at one another in the body.  After all, while we were yet sinners, God used His faith to believe that if He offered up His Son as a sacrifice for us, we would accept that love-sacrifice.

Without this kind of faith, it is impossible to please the Father (Hebrews 11:6). We cannot refuse to believe that God will bring out the best in others as a result of our prayers.  How did God's love reach us in those deep, dark holes where WE were hiding?  Through the faith-filled prayers of other saints.  The encouraging word in today's passage is that, with this shield, we'll be able to quench (defeat, destroy, derail, and annihilate) EVERY fiery dart of the evil one.  So why do some of the darts get through, you may be wondering?  I'm glad you asked!

I believe our shield is not meant to protect just ourselves and our loved ones.  We're a family, a part of the body.  None of the parts of us is disposable.  But, many times, we fall for the deception of the enemy that we're in a particular situation by ourselves. We become "me"-oriented.  So, when we become separated from each other's hearts, the enemy can attack others around us.  But if we can ever get the mentality of the 300 Spartans in the movie of the same name, we'll find the battle so much easier.  Because we'll move with one accord, positioning our shields so that we ALL are protected from attacks on every side. That, Friends and Lifers, is the position of warfare.

Prayer: Father, I give You these parts of my armor that You gave me. Use them for the purpose of lifting up Your people today.  Give me a heart for those who cannot cry out for themselves. May I intercede for them, drawing them to Your heart.  I know this world won't be the same because of it.  In Jesus' mighty Name, Amen.