You and I have an enemy. We did not choose him. When we chose Jesus as our Lord and Savior, His enemy became our enemy. Your enemy wants to defeat you, destroy your testimony, steal your inheritance and take others down with you.

When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are saved from the penalty of sin, being saved from the very power of sin and someday will be saved from the very presence of sin!

Remember the purpose of the armor He provides you is so you can withstand and stand- In a real sense most of the armor pieces are defensive. But Jesus Christ is building His church and He is using His church to advance His kingdom. You have a specific purpose. Jesus Christ wants you to advance in your purpose/ Ephesians 6:
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.
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

The next piece of armor Jesus Christ provides you is the shield of faith. Ephesians 6:
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
This piece of armor is for action. You use it to quench those fiery darts of your enemy. That certainly involves protection for you but so much more. Jesus designed the shield of faith to enable you to quench those fiery darts, not just stop them from hurting and injuring you. With the shield of faith you can extinguish the fiery dart. You can overcome!

What is a fiery dart?
A dart is a pointed missile that is swiftly and suddenly propelled at the target
A fiery dart is intensely hot, passionate, fervent, spirited and burning

What does the fiery dart tell you about your enemy’s intent?

What does it mean to quench?
Quench is to subdue, extinguish, cool suddenly, quell, overcome

In discussions with others about the shield of faith, it seems those darts ca be fiery because of the content of the dart and because of the reaction the dart causes.

Remember there is nothing in the Bible that indicates your enemy knows your thoughts. But your enemy has had all of history to observe human behavior and he is hateful and cunning.

So what are your weak points- unresolved wounds from the past? -unfulfilled desires in your present?
Jesus cares! He loves you unconditionally. He has a good plan for your life. He will give you the victory and bring you home to Him safely.

What is faith?
Hebrews 11:
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
1 John 5:
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

• Evidence of things you do not see
• the weapon you use to obtain a good report and finish well
• Victory over the world and your circumstances

In what should you put your faith?
Psalms 91:
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
The truth of Jesus Christ is your shield. The truth of Who-He-is and the truth of who-you-are-in-Him

Remember Who-He-is and who-you-are-in-Him!
Jesus overcomes your enemy!- John 16:
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
1 Corinthians 15:
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Remember, also, that Jesus as your High Priest stands before the Father and speaks against the enemy who accuses you continually!

1 John 2:1
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Revelation 12:
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Hebrews 4:
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Faith is the Victory- John H. Yates, 1891
Encamped along the hills of light, Ye Christian soldiers, rise.
And press the battle ere the night Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below Let all our strength be hurled.
Faith is the victory, we know, That overcomes the world.

Refrain:
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.

His banner over us is love, Our sword the Word of God.
We tread the road the saints above With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath, Swept on o’er every field.
The faith by which they conquered death Is still our shining shield.

On every hand the foe we find Drawn up in dread array.
Let tents of ease be left behind, And onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head, With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ‘neath our tread, And echo with our shout.

To him that overcomes the foe, White raiment shall be giv’n.
Before the angels he shall know His name confessed in Heav’n.
Then onward from the hill of light, Our hearts with love aflame,
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night, In Jesus’ conqu’ring Name.

John Henry Yates, 1837-1900, born and died in Batavia, NY; worked at a number of jobs, including shoe salesman, newspaper editor, and hardware store manager. He became a Methodist minister in 1886, and later pastor of the West Bethany Free Will Baptist Church.

Questions for Reflection
1) Why do you think Paul thought taking the shield of faith was above all other pieces of the armor?

2) How important is faith in Jesus to you?

3) How important is faith in what Jesus does for you to you?

4) What makes the enemy’s dart fiery for you?

5) How can you use your faith in Jesus to quench that dart?

6) Which fiery dart is repeatedly thrown at you? Tell it to Jesus. He loves you unconditionally. He is able to give you the victory!

Hebrews 12:
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race He has set before us, looking unot Jesus,
Coach Patti