hield of Faith

The scripture reads, “Above all, taking the shield of faith…”  Why does the scripture say “above all” here?  Well, the immediate reason given is that we can quench ALL of the fiery darts of the enemy with it.  Of course, that is an awesome reason.  However, there is more to the statement “above all” than I ever realized upon a casual reading through of the passage.  As I began to study out the parts of the armor God showed me HOW we put on these parts.  That is when it became so clear to me that the reason Paul said to take the shield of faith above all was because Faith is how we take on every other part of the armor.  If we don’t have faith, then we can’t take on the other pieces of armor that we need.  So:

How do we put on the Shield of Faith?

Romans 12: 3, Ephesians 2: 8—it is a free gift of God.  We can’t do anything to get it.

Romans 10: 17—Faith also comes by hearing the Word of God, which of course is still from God, without effort on our own part.

            There is a great deal that we could say about faith at this juncture, but this is not meant to be a greatly in depth study on faith.  I could write (Actually I have written) an entire booklet on Faith alone, but I will simply make a few statements about faith here. 

            We cannot do anything to get faith, nor can we do anything to increase our faith.  Faith can arise in us.  When we plant seeds of faith, then the outcome can grow up into a great and mighty thing, but the very nature of faith (it is the substance of the Kingdom of God ) does not allow for it to increase.

Matthew 13:31, 32

31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Luke 17:5, 6

5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

The words “like” and “as,” which I have underlined and put in bold type here, are both the word hos in the Greek.  Hos means “the same nature of,” not “the size of.” To say that a child is LIKE his Father is not to say that he is the same size as his Father.  Therefore,   Jesus is not telling His disciples anything about increasing their amount of faith, because He is not talking about the size of it; He is talking about the Nature of faith.  He is telling them to plant the faith that they have and watch the outcome grow.  It is an infinite God-thing.  That statement may not make sense to the carnally minded, but if you read with spiritual understanding, then you will see that it is probably the most accurate way to say it.  Faith cannot be fully explained with the carnal mind.  We can utilize it since God gave it to us, but we can’t do anything to increase it or get more of it.  We GROW in the things of the Spirit as we learn to use our faith, but our Faith doesn’t grow; it causes a result to grow.

How do we use the Shield of Faith?

Mark 5: 36—Only Believe.

What else does the Shield of Faith do for us?

            Well, another interesting fact about the ancient armor that Paul was describing in this passage was that there was more than one type of shield.  One was a small shield that was worn on the forearm that was used for up close hand-to-hand combat.  This is not the kind of shield that Paul was talking about here.  The Greek word that Paul used was thureos.  That is the Greek word for the type of shield that was very large and door-shaped.  This type of shield had some very interesting qualities about it:

1.   It protected the entire length of the body.  Just as our faith will keep us protected.

2.   It was covered in leather, which had to have oil rubbed in it so that it did not become brittle and ineffective, which means that they had to keep it anointed.  In the same way, we must stay mindful of the anointing of God that is in us to enable us to more effectively use our faith against any attack of the enemy that we may face.

3.   It had hinges on each side of it so that it could be locked in place with the shield of the person next to the soldier.  This allowed for the soldiers to link together in unity to help protect one another from the “fiery darts” that the enemy would shoot at them.  The soldiers would form a circle and other soldiers would stand in the middle of the circle.  The soldiers in the middle would hold their shields up over their heads to help protect themselves and their fellow soldiers from being struck by incoming arrows.  These arrows, incidentally, were often set on fire before they were launched (fiery darts).  In the same way, if we are being overwhelmed by the attack of the enemy, our faith is designed to lock together with our fellow soldiers of God to give us strength in the battle.  This is what we are doing when we ask someone to agree with us in prayer about something.

elmet of Salvation

Praise the Lord.  When I truly sit and think about it, I often come to tears about this awesome gift.  Salvation is absolutely the greatest miracle of all, and how often it may be so easily taken for granted or over looked in the pursuit of other “deeper” things in the spirit.  If you cannot just simply sit in awe of the fact that God has saved your soul, then your focus may be a little off.  I want God to do great and mighty things through me, but God forbid that I, in my pursuit to learn more about the Spiritual power that I have as a Christian, would ever let slip from my mind the very fact that I am saved and it is an awesome, wondrous thing.  Jesus Christ bought my salvation at Calvary , and by God’s grace, through faith, which itself is a Gift of God and not of myself lest I should boast (Eph. 2: , is the only way that mighty miracle was accomplished in me.  This is where we find the reason why Paul would tell the saints at Ephesus to “take the helmet of salvation.”  We already know that Paul was speaking to Christians because, at the very beginning of the book, he made it clear that he was addressing the “saints at Ephesus .”  Saints are Christians.  So, why would Paul tell the Saved People to “take up the helmet of salvation?” 

The key to answering this question is in the word, “helmet.”  Salvation is an event that occurs in our inward man.  It is the rebirth of our spirit.  So, there is nothing more that can happen to make our spirit any better than it is.  There is nothing more to be accomplished there.  The Bible says that we are redeemed by grace, which means that we have been “restored to the original state of affairs.”  Of course, since we are still in these fleshly bodies, that restoration occurred only in our spirits.  If our bodies had been redeemed, then we wouldn’t physically still be in the state we are in; we would be physically glorious.  If our mind had been redeemed, then we wouldn’t have the struggles that we have in our mind.  That is why, after salvation, we are still told to put on the Helmet of Salvation, which will protect our minds.  

Allow me to explain: There is a great misconception among many people in the Body of Christ.  The misconception is that the personal struggles we have are in the spirit.  We say things like, “She just needs a ‘spiritual healing.’”  If the person is already saved, then guess what: she can’t be anymore spiritually healed.  The problem, whatever it is, is not in the spirit.  The Bible says that the things of our carnal nature war against our spirit man, and that if we would learn to walk in the spirit, then we would not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. 

Romans 8:1-14

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the

flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  

Galatians 5:16-26

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God .

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Mark 14:38

38  Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

These passages of scripture make it clear that as Christians our Spirit (which is now united with the Spirit of God) is in such good shape that if we would learn to walk after the spirit, then we wouldn’t have any of the problems that come along with walking after the flesh.  If this is so, then our spirit must not need anymore healing.  It has been fully redeemed. 

The problems, then, lie in our minds.  That is why Paul tells the church to put on the “helmet of salvation.”  Once we are saved it is of utmost importance that we continually keep our salvation in our mind. 

To renew the mind is to be transformed even after salvation (Romans 12: 2); it is a continual transformation, which must be accomplished by keeping salvation on our mind.  You see, it is in the mind that the devil will lie to us to tell us that we are not saved; he cannot speak that to our spirit, for it is connected to God.  In our spirit we have no doubt of our salvation.  That is why we must put salvation on our mind, so that the devil cannot deceive us.  Deception is the devil’s greatest weapon.  You see, the devil will try to lie to Christians and convince us that we are not saved.  The devil wants to steal the hope of salvation out of you.  Once again, that is why it is of so much importance to wear a Helmet of Salvation.     

How do we put on the Helmet of Salvation?

Romans 12: 1-2—Here Paul urges the church to renew its mind.  This passage of scripture is being addressed to Christians.  Let’s look at what Paul tells these Christians to do, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Christians are already saved (according to faith, Eph 2: , yet we put on the Helmet of Salvation by renewing our minds to continually be transformed.

Ephesians 4: 21-32—Here the Christian church is told to put on the new man in order to be renewed in the spirit of their mind.  Then it lists several other things to do to put on this Helmet of Salvation.  All of these things are accomplished in the mind after we are already saved.  This renewing of the mind is what allows us to wear salvation on our heads.

Here is a list of all the things that Paul links to being renewed in the spirit of the mind:

1.      Put off the old man.

2.      Take on the new man.

3.      Put away lying, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice.

4.      Don’t sin when you get angry.

5.      If you get angry, then don’t allow yourself to stay that way through the next day, for this will give place to the devil.

6.      Do not steal.

7.      Work so that you can give to the needy.

8.      Speak only to build up others, never to tear them down so that they can find grace through your words.

9.      Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit.

10.  Be kind to each other.

11.  Be tenderhearted.

12.  Forgive one another.

Ephesians 1: 17-23, 2: 1-9—This passage of scripture holds so much, but I will try to keep this short.  The ending section of Chapter 1 tells us where Jesus Christ sits: “in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named.”  Then Chapter 2: 5-6 informs us that we are sitting in Christ in heavenly places.  What does this mean?  It means that we are sitting “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named.”  This means that we cannot be bound by any of those things.  They are under our feet.  We have been set free through our salvation, but we must know it in our minds so that we may stay free.  This is exactly why Paul says, in Ephesians 1: 17-18, that he is telling the church these things so that “the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of him: the eyes of your Understanding being Enlightened, that you may Know what is the hope of his calling…”  I capitalized and underlined all of the Mind words in this passage.  All of these things are the actual putting on of the Helmet of Salvation.  You must know your position in Christ.  Know your salvation; put it on like a helmet to protect the battleground of your mind.

John 8: 31-32—In this passage, Jesus Christ tells the Jews that “believed on Him,” that they shall KNOW the truth and the truth would make them free.  Remember, these Jews already believed on Christ, but he still told them that to KNOW the truth would make them free.  You must Know the truth; even as a Christian you must continually Know the truth so that it can make you free, and if the Son sets you free, then you are free indeed.  That is the truth that we must Know, so that we are not deceived in our mind to think that we must be set free still or that we still need some sort of spiritual healing.  We are free indeed!

II Corinthians 10: 2-5—This passage of scripture is often misunderstood simply because it is only quoted in part by so many preachers.  Many times we have been led to believe that this passage of scripture is talking about some demonic force when it refers to strongholds.  However, this passage of scripture, if we would read just a little bit further, tells us exactly what the strongholds are.  They are not demonic forces, but they are Imaginations, high things that exalt themselves against the Knowledge of God, and our very own thoughts.  We are told to cast down these things and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  So obviously, Paul is not telling us that we have to run around trying to pull down demonic strongholds in this great spiritual warfare; Christ already defeated the devil.  The battlefield is in our very own mind.  And the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God to keep our mind and every thought in subjection to Christ.  This is renewing our mind; it is putting on the Helmet of Salvation.  The devil doesn’t mind us blaming him for every struggle that we have within ourselves because, if he can get us convinced that our problem is solely with him, and that there is nothing simply of ourselves that we need to bring into check, then the devil knows that we will never get the inner struggles of our minds under control.  We will be so caught up in trying to rebuke the devil off of us for any and every little thing that we will never simply renew our own minds and bring our own thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  That is the devil’s greatest deception.  Please, do not succumb to it.  Renew your mind; put on the Helmet of Salvation.

            Of course, I would just like to point out that we have salvation by grace through faith (Eph 2: .  So, ultimately the way that we put on the helmet of salvation is through faith.  We must be saved through faith to put on the helmet of salvation, and the act of putting on the helmet of salvation, which is renewing the mind, is done through faith in our position in Christ.  Once we understand that, then we will not have so many of the struggles that we now face every day, because we will be dealing with the actual problems of our own carnal mind rather than looking for the devil in every nook and cranny and trying to rebuke him off of what he isn’t even on.

word of the Spirit

I was always taught that the Sword of the Spirit is the Bible, the Word of God.  And it is, but that is not all that this scripture is saying.  Sure the word of God is the Sword of the Spirit, but how do we take it up and use it?  Sure we need to read it, study it, believe it, and hide it in our hearts, but at what point does the Word of God become a Sword of the Spirit for us?

  This scripture makes it so very clear, yet I overlooked it for so long.  Part of the problem lies in the way that the verses of the King James Bible are split up.  You see, sometimes the verses split sentences and phrases apart, which makes for some difficult reading and understanding from time to time.