103 Ephesians: Necessary Armor, pt. 2
In the last episode, we looked at the first three pieces of armor. Today we look at the last three.
The Shield of Faith
A Roman soldier’s shield would have been a large rectangle made from a hardwood such as oak and covered in leather. When soaked in water, this shield would not only deflect the enemy’s arrows, it could extinguish flaming arrows.
Just as a soldier must lift up his shield in battle, so we must take up our spiritual shield to defend against the attacks of the enemy. His arrows take the form of not only temptation and deceit, they come as discouragement, distrust, fear, guilt, shame, pride, greed, lust, jealousy, bitterness, and hate.
Paul’s admonition to take up the shield of faith suggests a deliberate action whereby we hold on to the truth revealed in the character of our God when those arrows come our way. Proverbs 30:5 says that “Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”
These Roman shields could not only protect an individual soldier, but locked together, they became a wall in front or a roof overhead.
There’s a spiritual parallel. Not only does your shield of faith protect you but, at times, it’s your shield that will be strategic for the defense of another. When they get wounded or weary, together the community can surround and protect them.
The Helmet of Salvation
The purpose of the helmet was, of course, to protect the head from injury. Particularly, it served to protect the soldier from a sword stroke from an enemy cavalryman.
The “helmet of salvation” is about our glorification. It helps us to realize that this battle will not last forever and that we will be victorious in the end. And when that time comes, not only will we share in the rewards that will be dispensed to faithful soldiers, we will be transformed to be like our Captain.
To the persecuted and discouraged believers who lived in Thessalonica, Paul wrote parallel words: “Since we are of the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” I Thessalonians 5:8-9
The Sword of the Spirit
Finally, Paul tells us to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
The sword which Paul refers to was 18” long. It was carried by Roman foot soldiers and was the principal weapon in hand-to-hand combat.
The believer’s sword is the Word of God. The writer to the Hebrews said: “…the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword…” Hebrews 4:12
There are two different words for the “word” of God in the Bible.
· logos – the collection of words embodying the whole of Scripture.
· rhema – specific, individual words
It’s this latter term, rhema, that is used here. Paul’s point is that when we get engaged in spiritual combat, we need to appeal to specific, relevant passages in order to defeat the enemy.
You would do well to identify where your unique points of weakness are – whether in attitude or action - and then find specific verses of Scripture you could memorize to neutralize the attack.
Apply the sword of the Spirit to the attack of the enemy. The more specifically you can do that the more successfully you can parry the blow.
Text: Ephesians 6:13-17
Originally recorded on July 24, 2016, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN.