Shields and Fire Extinguishers – Part 2
In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one [Ephesians 6:16].
In our last study we presented a brief synopsis of the movie “Braveheart”, starring Mel Gibson. We noted how the method of warfare back in the day, circa 1280 A.D., included flaming arrows and shields.
Now if you would, read the Bible verse once more. Does that not remind you of the military skirmish I just depicted from “Braveheart”? So you see why I was reminded of the movie, and why I shared this information with you.
The Apostle Paul employed the imagery of the Roman legionnaire in his armor, as he prepared to defend his beloved city of Rome or to conquer other lands for glory and honor. In doing so Paul followed the approach used throughout Scripture by the Holy Spirit. He employed visible physical realities to teach invisible spiritual truths.
The visible physical realities in Paul’s case were the Roman legionnaire and his pieces of armor. This also included the act of physical warfare. The invisible physical realities included spiritual warfare, and each piece of armor typified an aspect of invisible spiritual truth in conducting spiritual warfare.
We’ve already considered three of the pieces of armor and learned their spiritual counterpart. All of the armor together pointed to the Word of God as the Christian’s defense against the wiles of the devil. We cannot withstand the devil’s assaults, much less oppose him by open assault against his forces, apart from the Word of God.
The belt of truth was noted first. The Word of God is truth. It keeps the Christian from stumbling over his own feet. It removes the entanglements which lead us to fall.
The breastplate of righteousness was second. Our hearts can hold up against the devil’s assaults because we don’t stand on the basis of our own righteousness. We stand on the basis of being “the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus”. Satan can never penetrate that piece of armor.
The third piece of armor was known as the shoes of peace. Satan cannot cause us to doubt and faint, once we fasten our hearts and minds onto the fact that we have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. This leads us to enjoy “the peace of God which passes all understanding”. Satan simply loses every time.
Today’s Bible verse furnishes us with the fourth piece of armor for the Christian to put on, before he goes out to conduct spiritual warfare in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. This piece of armor is “the shield of faith”. We use it “to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one”.
This particular piece of armor is good stuff, dear friends. We will expatiate on it in our next study. Let’s visit the prayer closet at this time and converse with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Categories: Church Age
In our last study we presented a brief synopsis of the movie “Braveheart”, starring Mel Gibson. We noted how the method of warfare back in the day, circa 1280 A.D., included flaming arrows and shields.
Now if you would, read the Bible verse once more. Does that not remind you of the military skirmish I just depicted from “Braveheart”? So you see why I was reminded of the movie, and why I shared this information with you.
The Apostle Paul employed the imagery of the Roman legionnaire in his armor, as he prepared to defend his beloved city of Rome or to conquer other lands for glory and honor. In doing so Paul followed the approach used throughout Scripture by the Holy Spirit. He employed visible physical realities to teach invisible spiritual truths.
The visible physical realities in Paul’s case were the Roman legionnaire and his pieces of armor. This also included the act of physical warfare. The invisible physical realities included spiritual warfare, and each piece of armor typified an aspect of invisible spiritual truth in conducting spiritual warfare.
We’ve already considered three of the pieces of armor and learned their spiritual counterpart. All of the armor together pointed to the Word of God as the Christian’s defense against the wiles of the devil. We cannot withstand the devil’s assaults, much less oppose him by open assault against his forces, apart from the Word of God.
The belt of truth was noted first. The Word of God is truth. It keeps the Christian from stumbling over his own feet. It removes the entanglements which lead us to fall.
The breastplate of righteousness was second. Our hearts can hold up against the devil’s assaults because we don’t stand on the basis of our own righteousness. We stand on the basis of being “the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus”. Satan can never penetrate that piece of armor.
The third piece of armor was known as the shoes of peace. Satan cannot cause us to doubt and faint, once we fasten our hearts and minds onto the fact that we have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. This leads us to enjoy “the peace of God which passes all understanding”. Satan simply loses every time.
Today’s Bible verse furnishes us with the fourth piece of armor for the Christian to put on, before he goes out to conduct spiritual warfare in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. This piece of armor is “the shield of faith”. We use it “to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one”.
This particular piece of armor is good stuff, dear friends. We will expatiate on it in our next study. Let’s visit the prayer closet at this time and converse with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Categories: Church Age
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