| “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” – Ephesians 6:16 |
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| Deploy your FAITH Against All the Devil’s Attacks Our awesome God has provided – shall we say EQUIPPED us with the exact EQUIPMENT needed for any ENCOUNTER with our ferocious ENEMY (the evil one – the devil) who is seeking to devour us. This equipment is called the Armor of God. In Ephesians 6:10, 11, and 13 we are instructed to STAND STRONG and WITHSTAND the devil’s attacks by PUTTING ON the WHOLE ARMOR of GOD. This means putting on the belt of truth (TRUTH is what holds everything together), the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, along with taking up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. Here in verse 16 of Ephesians 6 Paul tells us to TAKE UP the SHIELD of FAITH. It will be our FAITH that will overcome the ways of the world that we are tempted to participate in and conform to. Recall 1 John 5:4 as it says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our FAITH.” Let us be clear that our walk with God involves warfare. The enemy will attack with temptations. The image here is when a fiery arrow is being shot the soldier holds up/stays behind their shield. The shied will then quench – not just stop – but quench the fiery arrow. As a temptation is shot, we activate FAITH. We should know the devil’s ways are to deceive and cause doubt. His temptations come with the question, “Has God said.” To handle the temptation calls for FAITH. Faith is believing God is right. Faith is believing the TRUTH that God has said! As faith is activated obedience follows. Obedience is the devil’s “kryptonite.” He absolutely cannot stay around an obedient believer. Recall James 4: 7 as it says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil (submit and resist speak of OBEDIENCE) and he will flee from you.” Obedience to God causes the devil to run and hide from you! Faith quenches the lie – the deception – of the devil. We do have a great example of this from Jesus. As He was tempted He did not just quote Scripture to the devil. As He quoted Scripture back to the devil He was combatting the devil with TRUTH and with FAITH. He was saying that HE KNEW WHAT GOD HAD SAID and (AND) HE BELIEVED what GOD said over what the devil was saying! The victories you will experience over temptations will come as you KNOW THE TRUTH and BELIEVE the TRUTH and OBEY THE TRUTH or simply put, you take up the shield of faith! Dressing for spiritual success means Shields UP!! ACTIVATE FAITH!! Verse to DATE the Word on June 16 (6/16) is Ephesians 6:16. It says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” How are you growing your faith so you can activate your faith? Continue Strong by FAITH, And remember to DATE The Word |