The Shield of Faith

"Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy. ¹⁷ No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," says the LORD."

Isaiah 54:16-17

In Australia, there are homes that are "heritage-listed," which means they are old homes of cultural and historical interest.  These houses often have unique features from modern dwellings like vaulted ceilings, ornate moulding and carvings, or even quarried stone.  These homes can be expensive to renovate because of the rules and regulations established to ensure the character and appearance of the house is preserved and compliments the original.  "Heritage" in a basic sense suggests it has been inherited--like the ownership of a house is passed down through generations.

A lot of people are still waiting for the benefits of an inheritance given by others.  The inheritance God spoke about through the prophet Isaiah would be received and enjoyed by the Jews during the future millennial reign of their Messiah.  Spiritually speaking, however, this heritage for all who trust in Jesus Christ as LORD is to be received and enjoyed today by all believers.  God promised no weapon formed against His people would prosper, and no accusation brought against them would stick.  Even as God created the blacksmith with his tools and fire to bring forth metal instruments, so God is able to harness and direct Satan to accomplish God's will and redemptive purposes.  We see this in the crucifixion of Jesus.  Had the powers of darkness known how God would use Christ's atoning sacrifice to deliver souls from death to eternal life and spiritual fruitfulness, Satan would never have worked to that end.

In the New Testament, Paul utilised an analogy of a warrior's armour to explain the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.  A Christian is able to "be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might," not by what we try to accomplish in the strength of our flesh, but by Who Jesus is and all He has created us to be in Him.  Paul wrote of an especially vital part of armour provided by the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 6:16, "...above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one."  Notice the shield of faith is able to quench "all the fiery darts" of the wicked one:  no weapon formed against us shall prosper.  There is no flaming arrow Satan can fire at us that can shatter the shield of faith in Jesus that extinguishes them.  Our strength is not our own; our righteousness is not our own.  In Christ by faith in Him we are given strength for the day and righteousness forever by His grace.

Above all we are to take the shield of faith with which we will be able to quench all the fiery darts of Satan.  Just because the shield is impenetrable and we are able does not guarantee a flaming arrow will not at times find the mark.  People with genuine, saving faith are not guaranteed to always walk by faith in Jesus.  Like Samson, a man greatly used by the LORD, we can think to ourselves in folly, "I will arise as at other times," thinking we are sufficient in ourselves to deliver ourselves!  Those who are in Christ ought to live by faith in Christ, and when we take steps of faith in obedience to Christ we are perfectly protected from all spiritual attacks and evil intent.  Job was greatly afflicted by Satan through loss and severe illness; Jesus was crucified and died on Calvary.  Yet Job was brought through the trial like gold refined seven times and doubly blessed, and Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into eternal glory.  I am convinced the greater our faith becomes the shield of faith is lighter and more effectively wielded, for the Holy Spirit helps us in our infirmities.