“Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand… above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
Ephesians 6:13, 16 (NKJV)
God has set you up to reign in life and live in victory by giving you His “whole armour”. It’s not just any old armour – it’s His! The armour is symbolic of essential truths for success and victory in the Christian life.
“…that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand… above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
Ephesians 6:13, 16 (NKJV) Emphasis mine
Many believers don’t believe that you can live in total victory, but you can! The armour of God enables us to stand through all evil and helps you to stop all the “fiery darts” (arrows, or attacks) of the devil. The shield of faith doesn’t just stop some of the enemy’s attacks; it has the ability to stop them all. That means that in Christ, you can live in absolute victory. God has set you up with all that you need (2 Peter 1:3) to reign in life and live in victory!
Victory isn’t the result of having no opposition. The enemy will shoot some “fiery darts” at you. In actual fact, when you start standing on the Word and living for Jesus, the enemy’s attack will increase (2 Timothy 3:12; Mark 4:17). But the good news is that you are set up to be victorious over every attack of the devil (not just some).
“Now thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ.”
2 Corinthians 2:14 (MEV)
Even though we may have huge opposition, in Christ we can always win. God does not want you to fail or suffer, ever. Failure and suffering (perishing) is only ever the result of us being ignorant of God’s Word (Hosea 4:6).
“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
Ephesians 6:16 (NKJV)
“Above all” stresses the importance of faith. Faith is vital. Our faith (relying on and trusting) in Jesus and what He did for us is what saves us, and faith is how we receive from God. The Bible says that “we live by faith” (Romans 1:17). That means that without faith we’re not truly living and we will not live in victory.
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Romans 10:17 (ESV)
Faith is the direct result of God’s Word, and more specifically the Gospel (the good news of what Jesus has done for us). You cannot have strong faith independent of God’s Word.
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
Hebrews 12:2a (NKJV)
“Having faith” should never be your focus; it should actually be as natural as breathing. And because many Christians aren’t in the Word they struggle to breath! As we focus on Jesus (the Living Word) and what He has done for us (His grace), faith – a trust in Him and His love for us – will be the natural by-product. Faith starts in Christ and is perfected in Christ. Without Christ there is no faith and no victory (John 15:4).
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
1 John 5:4 (NKJV)
Every child of God has world-overcoming faith. We just need to strengthen that faith by filling ourselves with the Word.
Thought to focus on for the day:
I can live in total victory because God has set me up for it by giving me the shield of faith. I strengthen that faith by filling myself with God’s Word about Jesus and what He has done for me. When I focus on His love for me, I start to trust Him and rest in His finished work – that’s faith!
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