Spiritual Warfare — Part Six: Use Your Shield, Helmet and Sword.

Spiritual Warfare — Part Six
Use Your Shield, Helmet and Sword

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: Spiritual Warfare — Part Six: Use Your Shield, Helmet and Sword. ------------------- Date: 3/19/2002
Keywords: "faith" "salvation"
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Passage: Ephesians 6:12-17*

12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

14. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15. and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16. and 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.

17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Questions

1. How is faith in God a like a shield?

2. How is salvation like a helmet?

3. How is the Bible like a sword?

Practical help

This is the last in a series of studies on this famous passage from Ephesians 6. Thus far we have talked about the enemy and have thought about how to prepare for spiritual battle. We have looked at our weaknesses and how to dress in order to best protect ourselves. Today, let’s finally talk about the fight itself and how to use our weapons.

You have a shield to protect you from flaming arrows. Sitting in front of the computer looking at pornography is not where you are likely going to receive flaming arrows, but write a letter of protest to your local newspaper about pornography’s affect on children, or picket an adult book store, and you will probably come in contact with a few hot pokers. Flaming arrows are reserved for those who choose to attack the enemy. You see, spiritual warfare is not always about simply resisting attacks. Sometimes you have to take some ground. Remember that there are children in your life who need protectors and that there is a criminal element that seeks to corrupt and abuse them. When you go into battle against evil, it’s important to remember that God is on your side. So knowing and acting as if the biggest deadliest warrior is at your side and on your side, namely God himself, is what taking up the shield of faith is all about.

Now I'll bet there is someone out there wondering what the difference between the belt of truth and the shield of faith is. When you come right down to it, don't they both have to do with what you think? Knowing the truth is different from believing in God’s power to defend and save you. You can know something is truth without trusting your life to it. That’s the difference. Are you trusting in God’s power to fight pornography or are you relying on your knowledge and a few will-power techniques?

Put your helmet on by remembering while in the midst of the battle you are eternally secure — assuming, of course, that you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you are not sure about this, click here for some good news. Jesus said, "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28*).

Finally, sharpen your sword by seeking to better understand God’s warfare manual, the Bible. Remember that Jesus overcame Satan in the desert by simply speaking what was true from the Bible of His day, the Old Testament. A great way to learn the Bible is to find a good Bible-teaching church and take some classes. As you grow spiritually, you will see sinful behaviors like lust for porn fade away.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."