Day 33 - Sunday

Day 33

 

"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17 (TSMG)

Paul now is rounding out his metaphor of the spiritual clothes that God has given us with the "helmet of salvation."  Here he tells us that salvation will be as a helmet to protect our head, which in turn will protect our minds. 

 

I believe it is very interesting that it's salvation that will be part of our mind's protection.  For it is in our minds that the battle most often rages.  We definitely deal with attacks physically in sickness or in other battles with people and personalities.  But the biggest struggle that you and I will face in our lives will be within our own minds.

 

How we think about God, about our lives, about who we are in the grand scheme of it all will potentially win or lose the battle for us.  It is in our mind, what we believe, that will determine who the victor is.  This is why Paul calls us to renew our minds:

 

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."  Romans 12:2 (NIV)

 

Notice that the transforming of our life will not take place in simply changing how we live, what patterns of life we will conform to.  No, it will take place when our mind is renewed to that which is God's will, his purpose and desires for us.  When we simply try to "be good" or change our behavior simply because we think that's what God would want from us, it will only last a short time, because behavior modification does not work.  It must be a transformation that comes from changing how we think or feel or believe…which starts in the mind.

 

Salvation is the beginning.  Too many times the church believes that salvation is the end point.  It is "closing the deal" with someone who doesn't know Christ.  It is the goal, but that is not how Paul or the other writers of the Bible saw it.  Salvation is an event…and a process.  We are saved and being saved at the same time.  And our helmet will help us in that process!

 

Prayer:  "Father, thank you that you believe in me and have given to me the helmet of salvation.  I believe that you are working in me to do your will and good pleasure.  Renew my mind that I may be transformed into the image of Jesus.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen."

Day 32 - Saturday

Day 32

 

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"  Romans 8:32 (NIV)

As we close this look the shield of faith, let's discuss one more thing about faith.  In most recent years in the church, the teaching about faith has become almost a fad.  It has become thought of as a currency through which we get things from God. 

 

The picture that comes to mind is a mafia godfather who demands loyalty and if we offer just the right words, remain in his good graces and believe just the right things, our life will be "protected."  We will be covered by the protection of the godfather.  But if we falter in faith, worry or doubt, we will lose all standing with him and now all evil is able to touch us. 

 

This is not what we see Paul saying throughout his epistles.  Rather he invites us into a relationship with God…a loving Father, not a manipulative godfather who demands complete allegiance or suffer the consequences.  No, Paul's God has laid the consequences of our bad behavior and our sin nature on Jesus and through his sacrifice, God now looks with favor on his people. 

 

We are freely given the gift of grace.  Grace alone is a beautiful word that invites the hearer to breathe deeply, freely, knowing that God is on our side.  He gave us a high priest, Jesus, who understands and is intimately acquainted with what it means to be human and struggle with life and all it presents us.  Because of this, because of Jesus, we can trust (believe and have faith in) God's unconditional love for us. 

 

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

 

It is this that when we believe and trust in, his love for us, we can heft the shield of faith and quench those fiery darts.  Why?  Because of God's great and unconditional love for us and our faith in it will vanquish the lies of the enemy and the attacks that come our way.

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, thank you for your love and for your sacrifice for me.  Help me to believe your unconditional love for me and let me have faith that withstands the fiery attacks that come from life and the enemy.  I believe in you and trust you. In your name I pray, Amen."

Day 31 - Friday

Day 31

 

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

I'm wondering something today.  I'm wondering if you are like me.  Do you ever get an odd thought come to you, a fearful thing that comes to mind unbidden, but instead of getting rid of the thought, you dwell on it a little too long?  Maybe it's a worry about the future or a fear of losing a loved one. 

 

These thoughts come and tempt our mind to take detours away from what we know is true.  They are like a seed that is planted and if we allow it to stay, it will grow until we've allowed our imaginations to run away with us and take us down paths mentally and emotionally that keep us from living in a life of faith. 

 

Part of the job of the shield of our faith is to protect us from these attacks of doubt and fear.  But we must take action against them; we must choose to use our shield.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians that we must take captive the thoughts that prop themselves up as more important and against the truth that God has given us. 

 

When we choose to believe the truth of God, it is our faith in this knowledge that will protect us and "shield" us from these lies and fears that come to our minds.  This is a defense to our souls.  We counteract the attacks of the enemy when we choose to reject these fleeting thoughts that try to take root in our hearts and replace them with the affirmations of God's promises. 

 

His word, the Bible, is filled with promises of his grace and support and love for his children.  And this is that good news we talked of before.  It is the gospel message that we don't have to live in fear or worry, but rather place our trust and faith in God who loves us and will never leave us or forsake us.

 

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 (NIV)

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, I trust you and believe you have my best in mind for me.  Give me grace when the attacks of the enemy come to my mind and teach me how to trust you and cast my cares upon you rather than listen to the lies of the enemy.  Thank you for the shield of my faith in you.  In you I pray, Amen."

Day 30 - Thursday

Day 30

 

"How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! It's like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard, Flowing down Aaron's beard…"  Psalm 133:1-2 (TMSG)

The anointing is a metaphor of the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  The name "the Anointed" is also a name for Jesus, as the word "Christ" means "anointed one."  If we are truly learning to lean into the Lord and let our trust and belief in him be our "anointed shield," we are taking up the shield of faith and Jesus will quench these fiery darts in our lives. 

 

The oil actually plays a role with our shield.  The Hebrews had a tradition with their shields.  They would use leather shields, and would rub oil into the leather to make it supple and fit for war.  They would say that they are "anointing the shield."  To anoint meant to pour oil on or to rub oil into.

 

King David talked about how when we work together in unity (together in step and support) that it is like the anointing oil that God used to anoint the high priest.  This anointing was a sign of being set apart for a special purpose or ministry.

 

You and I have been set apart for a special purpose and plan that God has ordained.  His anointing rests on our lives as we seek to serve him.  This anointing is activated in our lives as we place our trust in him and step out of our comfort zones to follow him. 

 

As we work together, it will build our strength and protection.  Our shields become linked together and are empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

 

Prayer:  "Father, anoint us as we use our faith each day to follow you.  Help me to find ways to spread my shield over others and help us to walk in step with you and each other.  In you I pray, Amen."

Day 29 - Wednesday

Day 29

 

"In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil." Ephesians 6:16 (NLT)

Today I want to focus our attention to the formation they would make with their shields.  Being a Roman citizen, Paul was well-acquainted with the Roman soldiers and their warfare tactics.  One of these was to bring their shields together to the point they were almost linked, not allowing room for an arrow to get through. 

 

Imagine what the enemy of these armies thought when they advanced on these Romans, only to find a moving, living shield of protection guarding against the fiery arrows they had launched at them.  It must have struck terror in their hearts.

 

We need one another's shields.  My shield alone will not protect me completely, but I need to link up with my brothers and sisters not only for my own help, but to help them as well.

 

There is a great story from the history of Israel about Jonathan, the son of King Saul, who was moved by God to fight against the Philistine army and looking to the young man who helped carry his armor, he said:

 

"Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come on now, let's go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe God will work for us. There's no rule that says God can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop God from saving when he sets his mind to it." His armor bearer said, "Go ahead. Do what you think best. I'm with you all the way." 1 Samuel 14:6-7 (TMSG)

 

They defeated this garrison of the enemy, just the two of them.  But they were in step, in unity with each other.  Jonathan spread his faith over him and his armorbearer, the faith that God was with them and would deliver.  It is this linking of each other's heart, as well as mind, that brought them protection and the ability to fight for each other.

 

And as we link arms with our brothers and sisters, we will help each other defeat the enemy in our lives.  We are in a battle and we cannot simply fight alone, but we need to realize that our shield is not just for us, but for our friends, family and neighbors too. 

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, help me lift my faith as a shield today, as I choose to link with others who find themselves in the battle of life. I cannot fight this war on my own, and neither can they.  Keep us we pray, as we fight for and defend one another. In you I pray, Amen."

Day 28 - Tuesday

Day 28

 

"Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Ephesians 6:16 (CEV)

The word "arrows" in the above scripture comes from a Greek word, which is sometimes translated as "missiles."  You and I have been promised that if we will heft our faith as a shield, our trust in God will extinguish the attacks the enemy will throw our way. 

 

Psalm 91 talks to us about God's faithfulness to watch over his people.  Look at one of the promises:

 

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.  You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day…" Psalm 91:4-5 (NIV)

 

David is telling us that we will be protected by God's faithfulness like a shield, keeping us from attack.  It is our belief in God's faithfulness to us that will guard us against these fiery missiles. 

 

What is it that the enemy throws at us anyway?

 

Remember the only power the devil has is deception.  If he can get us to believe his lies about us or God or others, he has more power over us.  The enemy will especially make accusation against God.  He will try to tell us that we are not loved, or that Jesus is not with us, that we have to work more to get God's approval and grace. 

 

Our committed trust in God's faithfulness will surround us like a shield.  It will not only protect us, but it will counter the attacks of the enemy as we don't believe the lies.  They will not penetrate the shield.

 

Prayer:  "Holy Spirit, surround me with your faithfulness and teach me to trust you.  Let my faith in you shield me from the lies of the enemy.  I choose to believe your truth, and refuse the lies of the enemy.  In Jesus I pray, Amen."

 

Day 27 - Monday

Day 27

 

"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 (NIV)

In addition to all this, Paul writes.  The King James Version says: "above all else."  Pretty imperatively Paul wants us to know that our armor is not complete yet without faith.  Yes, we need all these others – righteousness, truth, peace – but without faith we will not be able to put out the attacks of the enemy. 

 

Paul compares faith to a shield.  Unfortunately in the church, and the world for that matter, faith is often used as a weapon, but notice that the apostle instead compares it to a shield.  We do not attack or force our faith on the situations and powers that battle us, but rather it is our trust and believe in God that will be our protection in the battle.

 

Wikipedia tells us that "the heavily armored Roman legionaries carried large shields that could provide much protection, but made swift movement a little more difficult...Famously, the Romans used their shields to create a tortoise-like formation called a testudo in which entire groups of soldiers would be enclosed in an armored box to provide protection against missiles."

 

This is what our faith can do for us as well.  Faith is defined as belief, confidence, trust.  When we have entered a relationship with God, we learn to believe what he says he will do.  He proves himself to us in his loving care for us.  Therefore, our "faith" in him provides us with confidence that whatever we face in life, we can stand strong, knowing he is with us.

 

Note that Paul tells us that we must "take up" the shield.  It is an act of our will that chooses to believe God and allow that belief to propel us forward in life and in battle.  It is the choices we make through the faith we have in him that will protect us and give us safety.

 

Prayer:  "God, I choose today to reaffirm my faith in you.  Thank you that you stand to my defense and protect me in the battles of life.  I believe you are with me and for me and will never leave me.  In Jesus I pray, Amen."