The Shield of Faith; Ephesians 6:16 - Copy

Am I standing firm in my faith and resisting the arrows of lies and doubt

Imagine standing on a battlefield. Arrows are flying through the air, blazing with fire. The enemy is determined to destroy you. Without protection, you would be struck down in seconds. But in your hand is a massive shield—strong, wide, and unshakable. Every arrow that comes your way hits the shield and falls powerless to the ground. This was the reality of a Roman soldier. He carried two shields:

• A small one to defend himself from swords in close combat.
• A large one, about four meters high, to protect him from flaming arrows.

When soldiers fought together, they would stand shoulder to shoulder, raising their shields as one wall of defense. Arrows would fall, but they were protected, and they advanced in victory.Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:16 that we, too, have such a shield. Not made of wood or iron, but of faith. The shield of faith extinguishes every flaming arrow of the evil one.

1 – The Need for the Shield

We Christians are in a daily battle. The devil attacks us with flaming arrows, and without the shield of faith, we are exposed. What are these flaming arrows?

• Temptations of pride and selfishness (1 Corinthians 10:13).
• Slanderous words spoken against us.
• Fear of world events, sickness, or even death (Hebrews 2:15).
• Discouragement, despair, and doubting God.
• Lustful or sinful thoughts, even in moments of prayer or worship.

These arrows are real, and they come suddenly. That is why we need the shield of faith.

2 – God Is Our Shield

The shield of faith is not just an object—it represents God Himself.

• Psalm 18:2 – “The Lord is my refuge and my shield.”
• Genesis 15:1 – God told Abraham, “Do not be afraid. I am your shield.”

When the enemy attacks, we must hide ourselves behind God. Faith means trusting Him completely, relying on His strength and not our own.

3 – Faith in Action

Faith is practical. The Bible shows us examples of people who used the shield of faith in battle:

• Abraham trusted in God and defeated four kings (Genesis 14).
• David was chased by Saul, but he trusted God and was victorious (1 Samuel 23–31).
• Israelites conquered their enemies by faith (Joshua 6).

Faith means surrendering our weakness to God. It means trusting His promises in every situation. When despair comes → Read the Psalms, see how David overcame.

When fear and doubt come → Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:16–18).

When betrayal and hardship come → Remember Joseph (Genesis 37–50).Faith is the weapon against the attack of the devil.

4 – Faith and Obedience Work Together

Faith is not just believing—it is believing and obeying.

• James 2:17 – “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
• James 2:22 – “His faith and his actions were working together.”

We cannot say we have faith in God and disobey His Word.

We cannot claim to trust God yet solve problems our own way. If we want to be protected from despair, doubt, and temptation, we must obey God’s Word and live His way, not ours. Faith and obedience are inseparable.

5 – Faith Does Not Always Mean Earthly Victory

Having faith does not mean you will always get what you want or win every earthly battle. In Hebrews 11, some were saved because of faith, while others died because of faith. Their death did not mean they lacked faith. They died trusting God, believing that death was not their final destiny. They believed in the resurrection and in eternal life. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who said, “Even if God does not save us, we will not bow to your idol” (Daniel 3:18), these heroes of faith never denied God or denounced their faith. They died still believing. God sometimes allows disaster to happen in our lives:

• To strengthen our faith.
• To humble us from pride.
• To draw us closer to Him.

And sometimes, He takes us home to Himself—because He loves us.So whether in good times or bad, we must keep trusting God, even when we don’t understand what is happening. Don’t give up easily. Don’t go your own way. In joy or in pain, God is still God, and He knows better than us (Romans 8:28).

Conclusion 

My brothers and sisters, the battle is real, and the arrows are flying. But here is the good news: arrows cannot burn where faith is firm. When we lift up the shield of faith, every fiery arrow of the enemy is extinguished. Faith in God means surrendering our weakness, trusting His Word, and walking in obedience.And remember this: Faith is not about always winning earthly battles—it is about never letting go of God. So today I challenge you:

• Don’t step into the battlefield unarmed.
• Don’t face temptation without your defense.
• Don’t try to win in your own strength.

Take up the shield of faith, and march forward in victory—because faith in God never fails.