belt of truth...
breastplate of righteousness...
shoes of Gospel peace...
the beginning of our protection against the present darkness...
We have explored the active aspect of... truth... righteousness... and Gospel peace... with the intention of maintaining... strengthening... our stance... and avoiding the trap of passivity...
The fourth piece of armor to take up...
the shield of faith...
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Ephesians 6:16
shield... a piece of defensive armor... a covering...
Unlike some pieces of armor, which are fastened in place to guard only certain parts of the body, a shield can be deployed and maneuvered to fend off all missiles, wherever they are coming from and toward whatever part of the body they are headed. The shield pictured here, unlike the round shield sometimes used, was large (four feet high by two and one-half feet wide) and shaped like a door. In fact its name, thyreos, came from the word for door, thyra. Marching side by side holding up these large shields, soldiers could advance on an enemy well protected. Used that way, the shield could be an important part of an offensive thrust, even though it was a defensive piece.
---The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: EphesiansInteresting... this door-shaped shield of faith...
faith... translated from the Greek... pistis... conveys the predominate idea of trust... confidence... the kind of trust that acts... without fear... on what is believed...
Jesus... He said...
"...I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved..."
John 10:9 ESV
...door... in this verse... thyra...
Jesus... a door you enter by faith... belief... trust...
Faith in Jesus... the shield we carry...
Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith...
Ephesians 6:16 Amp
Faith... a shield we are to lift up over all... the overarching character of a Believer...
Now faith is being sure of hope we hope for
and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
We're talking an invisible force field...
Confidence... in the Word of God... His promises... truths... righteousness... and peace... that emboldens us to act...
By faith... we extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one... lies... accusations... fears... doubts... temptations...
Lift up that shield of faith... over every area of your life...
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith...
Ephesians 6:16 ESV
The larger the shield... the greater the covering...
Increase faith... by knowing... what God promises... who He is... and who He says you are...
Live by faith... stepping out in obedience... to His call... and to His Word...
We live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
Don't trust what you see... trust Who you know...
Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.
Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
who equip yourselves with burning torches!
Walk by the light of your fire,
and by the torches that you have kindled!
This you have from my hand:
you shall lie down in torment.
Isaiah 50:10-11 ESV
Having faith in Him... means we let go of faith in ourselves... and the things of this world...
He alone is the Way of salvation...
He alone is trustworthy...
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
The more we exercise our faith... the greater our faith...
Strive for... active... faith...
A great defense... can turn into a great offense... pushing back the enemy... by faith...
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