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Weekly Bible Study
Theme: THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER AND HIS WEAPONS OF WARFARE (07)
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Topic:
THE SHIELD OF FAITH
TEXTS: : Eph 6:16, Heb 11:6
Memory Verse:
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Heb11:6"
INTRODUCTION:
Description of the shield
The shield was usually made of light wood, or a rim of brass, and covered with several folds or thickness of strong animal skin, which was preserved by frequent anointing. Isa.21:5. It was held by straps, through which the arm passed. The outer surface of the shield was made more or less rounding from the centre to the edge and was polished smooth, or anointed with oil, so that amours or darts. would glance off, or rebound.
Definition:
The shield is an ingenious device by which blows and arrows might be parried off, and the whole body defended. It could be made to protect the head, or the heart, or thrown behind to meet an attack there.
How does shield compare to FAITH:
The shield defends all other parts of the arrmour of a soldier, in the same way, faith protects the while armour of a Christian soldier for whether they be truth, the knowledge of it must be absorbed by faith, the readiness to preach the gospel of peace must be by faith, salvation is by grace through faith, the word of God must be spoken and applied by faith, prayer and supplication must be made in the spirit by faith. Anything that is not of faith is Sinˇ. and without faith it is impossible to please God. Heb11:6
Study:
THE SHILED IS USED TO QUENCH THE FIERY DARTS OF (SATAN) THE WICKED ONE
What are the fiery darts?
In ancient warfare, enemies throw fiery darts at each other. The firey darts that were used in war were small, slender pieces of cane, which were filled with combustible materials, and set on fire; or darts around which some combustible material was wound, and which were set on fire, and then shot slowly against a foe.
By the ˇ°fiery darts of the wicked,ˇ± Paul here refers, probably, to the temptations of the great adversary, which are like fiery darts; or those furious suggestions of evil, and excitements to sin, which he may throw into the mind like fiery darts. They are blasphemous thoughts, unbelief, sudden temptation to do wrong, or thoughts that wound and torment the soul. In regard to them, we may observe,
- that they come suddenly, like arrows sped from a bow;
- they come from unexpected quarters, like arrows shot suddenly from an enemy in ambush;
- they pierce, and penetrate, and torment the soul, as arrows would that are on fire;
- They set the soul on fire, and enkindle the worst passions, as fiery darts do a ship or camp against which they are sent. The only way to meet them is by the ˇ°shield of faith;ˇ± by confidence in God, and by relying on his gracious promises and aid. It is not by our own strength; and if we have not faith in God, we are wholly defenseless. We should have a shield that we can turn in any direction, on which we may receive the arrow, and by which it may be put out.
CONCLUSION:
As long as the soldier had his shield, he felt secure; and as long as a Christian has faith, he is safe. It comes to his aid in every attack that is made on him, no matter from what quarter; it is the defense and guardian of every other Christian grace; and it secures the protection, which the Christian needs in the whole of the spiritual war.
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Thank you
See Archive for Past Study Outline
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