Now I completely get it and know what to do. Thank you so much @APAK ! That helps a lot.
The Shield of Faith/Ephesians 6:16
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@FluffyYellowDuck Contributions appreciated.... :)
@FluffyYellowDuck Sounds very much like Philippians, also...
I consider James...
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."
But Isaiah 48:10
"See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction."
Whatever God allows us to go through we can trust in Him, because He has the wisdom and power to do what He wants- and what He wants is always good because *He* is always good.
And whatever we are going through may not be pleasant, but whatever He wills is what will be accomplished, and sometimes the Lord wants work done in us.
So I will trust Him.
@FluffyYellowDuck I do find that Isaiah 48.10 verse very searching; and heartening also, for the believer; to know that the Lord is with us... (Matthew 28.20).I consider James...
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."
But Isaiah 48:10
"See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction."
Whatever God allows us to go through we can trust in Him, because He has the wisdom and power to do what He wants- and what He wants is always good because *He* is always good.
And whatever we are going through may not be pleasant, but whatever He wills is what will be accomplished, and sometimes the Lord wants work done in us.
So I will trust Him.
@FluffyYellowDuck Compare Revelation 22.20,21:
"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."
PS:
@FluffyYellowDuck Here is another verse, related thematically:
"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him." (Psalm 28.7)
(I was thinking of the 'shield'....)
@FluffyYellowDuck Here is another verse, related thematically:
"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him." (Psalm 28.7)
(I was thinking of the 'shield'....)
Revelation 22 is the one I turn to the most when I feel disheartened. So did Corrie ten Boom, who is who I got the idea from.
"Do not be afraid. Read the last pages of the Bible: Jesus is Victor!" -Corrie ten Boom
@FluffyYellowDuck
"but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15.57-58)
"Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
Endless is the victory, Thou for us hast won!"
@FluffyYellowDuck I do love the hymn "Fight the good fight with all thy might".... :)
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What comes to mind is by faith, taking evil thoughts captive (think about the word captive. Its a war term!) And replacing them with truth.
The enemy ultimaty wants us to not have faith, so he will target that. But faith extinguishes the fiery darts because God can take evil and work it out for good.
@Wynona I do love Philippians 4.8; all those wholesome things for the mind to concentrate on for the glory of God....
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Bruce Atkinson
Member
While looking at, reading, pondering, and considering a single verse can be useful and enlightening, as often happens, taking a verse without considering its surrounding context can lead one down erroneous paths.
In particular, one must look at the full complement of armor God provides us with shown in Ephesians 6:10-18, not just part of it. How long would soldiers last in a battle with only a shield, or just a sword? God has equipped us believers to fight the spiritual battles that Satan brings our way continuously. Satan's tricks include everything from mental and emotional problems, physical ailments, family problems, and, of course, he's always trying to distract us from keeping our eyes, mind, and heart focused on our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Like many Christians, I've had my share of all the above, oftentimes seemingly more than I can stand. While going through one of the 'dark valleys' of life, I frequently attempt to figure out just how can this possibly be good for me, per Romans 8:28?
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (KJV)
Many times, when it's over, I still wonder just HOW can that be good for me? But God knows. I can never forget the darkest days of my life after I left my wife 28 years ago. Had that not happened, I would never have moved 1000 miles away for a job and been saved 5 years later! Gods' plan and timing is always perfect! HE is in control!
In looking at the full description of our battles and armor described by Paul in Ephesians, there's several things that immediately 'pop out'. First and foremost, our battles are spiritual, not physical. Although Satan may attack our health or the health of those close to us, or put our house in the path of a forest fire, it's important to simply 'give it all to Jesus'. THAT has been a long hard slog for me to learn...the hard way, of course. Since February 2021, I've had a couple of seemingly impossible financial problems befall me. I struggled with each of them trying to figure out a solution before I finally realized: "God, there's no way out of this in my own power, I have no choice but to leave it all to You to solve." Of course, He did!
Part of my struggles stem from forgetting one of the first verses I memorized after I was saved:
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (KJV) (underlining mine)
The other big thing that jumps out is that all the armor is for offense and is on our front side. Our weapons are the sword (His Word) and prayer. We don't have anything on our backside for defense, so we cannot retreat. We don't have a shield on our backside, etc. So we are to use the weapons He has provided us to be victorious -
Ephesians 6:10-18 (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Using all of our armor rather than some of it is the way to victory against Satan.
In particular, one must look at the full complement of armor God provides us with shown in Ephesians 6:10-18, not just part of it. How long would soldiers last in a battle with only a shield, or just a sword? God has equipped us believers to fight the spiritual battles that Satan brings our way continuously. Satan's tricks include everything from mental and emotional problems, physical ailments, family problems, and, of course, he's always trying to distract us from keeping our eyes, mind, and heart focused on our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Like many Christians, I've had my share of all the above, oftentimes seemingly more than I can stand. While going through one of the 'dark valleys' of life, I frequently attempt to figure out just how can this possibly be good for me, per Romans 8:28?
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (KJV)
Many times, when it's over, I still wonder just HOW can that be good for me? But God knows. I can never forget the darkest days of my life after I left my wife 28 years ago. Had that not happened, I would never have moved 1000 miles away for a job and been saved 5 years later! Gods' plan and timing is always perfect! HE is in control!
In looking at the full description of our battles and armor described by Paul in Ephesians, there's several things that immediately 'pop out'. First and foremost, our battles are spiritual, not physical. Although Satan may attack our health or the health of those close to us, or put our house in the path of a forest fire, it's important to simply 'give it all to Jesus'. THAT has been a long hard slog for me to learn...the hard way, of course. Since February 2021, I've had a couple of seemingly impossible financial problems befall me. I struggled with each of them trying to figure out a solution before I finally realized: "God, there's no way out of this in my own power, I have no choice but to leave it all to You to solve." Of course, He did!
Part of my struggles stem from forgetting one of the first verses I memorized after I was saved:
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (KJV) (underlining mine)
The other big thing that jumps out is that all the armor is for offense and is on our front side. Our weapons are the sword (His Word) and prayer. We don't have anything on our backside for defense, so we cannot retreat. We don't have a shield on our backside, etc. So we are to use the weapons He has provided us to be victorious -
Ephesians 6:10-18 (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Using all of our armor rather than some of it is the way to victory against Satan.
@Wynona Hebrews 11, with its repeated "by faith", "by faith", "by faith", is also a passage which comes to mind! :)
Robert Gwin
Well-Known Member
I will put my 2cents in maam, those weapons listed there are what we Christians use in our war. That one is pretty self explanatory, our faith keeps us from sinning. The stronger our faith is the harder satan tries to stumble us, but keep in mind, God will never let you be tempted beyond what you can bear 1 Cor 10:13
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