SHIELD OF FAITH

A shield is a broad piece of armor held by straps or a handle on one side, used for protection against blows or missiles.

Another definition identifies a shield as a person or a thing providing protection.

From the above definitions, I believe it's safe to say that anything which acts or provides a form of covering or protection from harm is a shield.

Running under a shade during a rain storm or in a very hot afternoon is also a means of seeking a shield from the drenching effects of the rain or the scorching burns of the sun.

In most cultures, the man of the house acts as a form of shield for his family providing protection both physically (ensuring the security of his family), spiritually (standing in the gap for them before GOD even as Job was said to do), materially (ensuring they have all they need to make living conducive), morally etc.

Many of us big brothers have also stood as shields for our younger siblings at one time or the other in our lives growing up.

In a war scenario, the soldier is at serious risk if he doesn't have a shield at hand because flying arrows, darts or even the striking of swords would easily penetrate through and render the soldier incapacitated.

Another quite important point to note is the query of identifying the quality of your shield as it alone would help protect against the quality of attack such person would face.

If your shield as a soldier in the war front is just an old-weakened piece of wood, though that may suffice if your attacker is attacking with just small pieces of stone but at the time the weapon changes to perhaps an RPG-missile, then that wooden shield and the soldier brandishing it would be blown up into bits.

So all in all, why not strap onto yourself a shield that could withstand virtually anything and come out without a scratch.

Imagine him who has the Lord Almighty has his shield (Prov. 18:10; 30:5). The book of Psalms (Psalm 28:7, 33:20, 115:9, 3:3)is filled with the privileges such person stands to enjoy.

Faith we could all chorus from Heb. 11:1 as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We could also define it to be putting a belief into action even though nothing is seen yet but one's whole outplay is as if that expected thing is at hand.

Faith is a very critical part of our walk as Christians as one cannot even walk with GOD without faith (Heb. 11:6).

The Yoruba language calls faith "Igbagbo" and Christians in my country are been called by that dialect as "Onigbagbo" meaning people or one with faith. Therefore if you subtract faith from a Christian's life, he ceases to be one.

James 2 speaks about applying works to declare faith.

I want to believe what is been spoken of here is that if you claim to have faith on or for something and your works dont show you as someone who has received it, then it remains safe to say you really didn't have faith initially, perhaps you just believed and stopped there.

James 1:6 states rather categorically that he who lacks faith cannot and would not receive anything from GOD.

Now we need to understand how faith could provide security as a shield would do also for a Christian. In the battle of life, the enemy attacks with lots of arrows, spears, darts etc in the form of pain, afflictions, disappointments, sickness, famine, poverty and even delay all in a bid to weigh down the Christian soldier and eventually stop his victory match. At this point, is when such a soldier needs what we often call STRONG faith because in the absence of this, doubt and distrust are set to come in.

We have previously established that we need faith to become Christians in the first place because if not for anything at least for the fact that no one has seen GOD physically and we yet believe that He exists and we live our lives acting in line with this truth. It is also safe to say that we all have at least a measure of faith because if we are to board a cab enroute a particular destination, we don't begin to ask for the driver's license before we board, that on its own is an act of faith, because you trust that the driver knows how to land you safely at your destination.

So I believe what is left is to have the right kind of faith that helps us to walk right with GOD and ensures our stand with Him.

So then in the face of all the flying arrows and darts fired against the Christian soldier by the evil one, a sound faith/ assurance/ confidence in GOD is most essential as you have to keep on reminding yourself that despite all the happenings all around you, GOD is still GOD and HE cannot fail.

Let's make this a little bit more practicable, someone in search of a position, or good health, good job, fruit of the womb and infact is truly experiencing delay by the schedules of men, such person needs to know what the mind of GOD is about that situation he/ she is passing through and by this knowledge, his/ her faith is improved.

From this, one could clearly state that for faith to be boosted (as we normally say that faith be increased), knowledge needs to be upgraded because it's really what I know about that is much more easy to be believed and I can work with.

If I know from GOD's word that GOD can heal any sicknesses, that informs my faith and I'm quite certain that any form of pains in my body just needs my words of prayer and faith, and then it is extinguished.

Is it an issue of child bearing or delay in marriage, I could see the bible speak of a whole lot of testimonies that I can surely have confidence in and expect my breakthrough ASAP.

In conclusion, Friends we as Christian soldiers engaging in this spiritual warfare of our faith, need earnestly to operate with a protective shield of faith so we don't leave ourselves vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy whose ultimate goal is to see us get maimed as we march on so as not to be able to continue and eventually finish this journey and race of life.

So what to do?
...Pick up your bible, study to know what the LORD says
...Pick up spiritual books in order to know and learn
...Listen to messages from Godly men (Rom. 10:17)
...Pray always.

GOD BLESS YOU