In all taking up the shield of faith with which you will have the power to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
In resisting the strategies of the devil in all you must take up the shield of faith. Your faith is what overcomes the world, the flesh, and the devil.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5.
It is true you must release it and act on it, but without the faith in your heart you cannot release it or act upon it. Your mouth speaks what fills your heart. If your faith is not strong, you will not be strong.
But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13.
In everything, you must shield your faith and to do this you must take up the shield of faith. Your faith is precious and of great value. That is why Jesus prayed one thing for Peter in his trials, and that one thing was that his faith would never fail.
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32.
And Jesus, who is forever interceding for you, is praying the same for you. And that is why I offer to you in the armor that I give you the great shield of faith. But, as with any gift, to get the benefit of it you must receive it and put it to use.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in all taking up the shield of faith with which you will have the power to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God through all prayer and petition, praying at all times in the Spirit. Ephesians 6:13-17.
The New Testament was written in Greek. The word translated as “shield” in “shield of faith” is thureos (θυρεός), which is derived from θυρα (thura), meaning “door.” “Thureos” was a large, oblong shield used by soldiers, particularly Roman legionaries, that was designed to cover the entire body, providing comprehensive protection during battle. In the context of warfare at the time Paul lived, the “thureos” was a critical piece of a soldier’s armor. It was typically made of wood, covered with leather, and reinforced with metal. The shield’s size and shape allowed soldiers to form a protective wall, known as a “testudo” or tortoise formation, which was particularly effective against arrows and other projectiles.
So here I am not describing a small shield held in the hand, but a complete covering that had to be held up with both hands as you moved forward or stood still.
And here I want you to understand something very important. I tell you that in all you must take up the shield of faith because with that shield up you will have the POWER to extinguish all the fiery arrows of the evil one. Yes, the word there is not just delegated authority (exousia) but inherent POWER, wonder working miracle producing power from on High, and that word in Greek is the verb dunamai (δύναμαι), whose cognate noun is dunamis (δύναμις), which is translated as power, strength, ability, might, and miracle. It is My power made available to you by the Holy Spirit in you and on you. The noun dunamis is derived from the verb dunamai.
“You will receive power (dunamis) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8.
“And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power (dunamis) from on high.” Luke 24:49.
And that power is inherent in My Word, for I am My Word. And that is the Word of faith.
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:8-10.
Do you remember that when Jesus asked His disciples who they said He was that Peter answered that Jesus was the Messiah, My Son? Do you remember what Jesus said? That on the rock of that revelation, that is, that Jesus is Messiah and Lord, the church would be built and the gates of hell would NOT prevail against it. And that is the chief cornerstone upon which your faith is built—your salvation in Christ, that is, who you are and what you have in Christ. Satan can never take you down if you understand that revelation. You are built on solid rock and will not be shaken.
Faith is a force and it taps into the source of POWER in Me. And I have entrusted you with My power in My gift of the Holy Spirit abiding in and on you. It is time you used that power to change things. Turn back all the fiery darts of Satan before they can even alight.
The shield of faith shields you as follows:
- The shield of faith keeps doubt out.
This was the tactic the devil used on Adam and Eve, he put doubts in their minds about the truth of My Word to them and about My love and promotion of their best interests. Once the doubt came in, they lost all to the devil. And that was what kept the Israelites out of the Promised Land wandering in the wilderness—doubt and unbelief. Doubt will keep you out and make you sin against My Word in disobedience.
Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:12-13.
Remember what Jesus said to Peter as he was walking on the water when he began to sink?
But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:30-32.
Doubt and unbelief I label as disobedience.
And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. Hebrews 3:18-19.
Doubt keeps you from obtaining the promise in My Word.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8.
- The shield of faith makes you persevere unto the prize.
My righteous one shall live by faith and if he shrinks back, I have no pleasure in him, but if you keep up the shield of faith by continually abiding in My Word and speaking it with confidence you will shield yourself from drawing back. Through faith and patience you will inherit the promise. Be like David and encourage yourself in My Word and the victories you have had in the past and this will be a shield to you.
“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your help makes me great. 2 Samuel 22:36.
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; I am your very great reward.” Genesis 15:1.
- The shield of faith keeps your joy intact.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13.
Keeping your mind on the victory and My blessed promise will keep your heart joyful. Keep singing and making melody unto Me in your heart and you will see the promise in My Word fulfilled in your life.
- The shield of faith keeps you from fear and distraction.
The shield will keep you under the refuge of My wings and focus your attention on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith so you can run your course without encumbrance or distraction.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2.
- The shield of faith keeps you of firm purpose.
When you are established in My Word and shielded from the fiery arrows of the evil one you stay firm in your purpose. When you know your purpose, you can stand firm. The greatest faith comes from when you have experienced a Word of revelation from Me that opens up in your soul giving you clarity and light in a situation. And when you keep yourself in peace under the shield of faith releasing the power that I have put for you in that shield you will overcome. Even your enemies will be at peace with you. For your vindication comes from Me.
Now remember there is power (dunamis) in the shield of the faith. My faithfulness (truth) is your shield and buckler. My power is My Word and in My Word is My faith. Do you not know that one of the grace gifts bestowed by My Spirit is supernatural faith?
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles (dunamis), and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Corinthians 5:4-10.
It is a supernatural boost of faith that comes at the time when your faith is not enough, like Moses when he raised his staff and parted the sea. He was operating in My faith and in miracles. And do you remember? All night I put a shield around the Israelites so the Egyptians could not see them or attack them.
I love you. Just make the effort to lift up that shield of faith when Satan shoots out a barrage of fiery arrows and they will never penetrate through to you. In that great shield of My armor there is power to save you in any situation, you just must release it.