Ephesians Part 39

After establishing truth around our core, righteousness protecting our hearts, and readiness guiding our steps, Paul now turns our attention to another vital piece of armor. He introduces it with a strong sense of urgency. 

“Above all,” he says, “taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16). 

Faith is not optional. Without it, we remain exposed. With it, every assault from the enemy is stopped short and extinguished before it has the chance to spread and consume. 

Faith has always been the hallmark of the people of God. Hebrews 11 reminds us that the great men and women of scripture did not persevere because they were unusually gifted or unusually strong. They prevailed simply because they believed God. Abraham is listed among them, yet his story reminds us that learning to lift the shield of faith takes time. When God called him to leave his homeland, he obeyed, stepping into the unknown with only God’s promise to sustain him.  

Abraham did not always exemplify absolute faith. Early in his journey, fear found its way into his decisions. Twice he claimed that Sarah was his sister in order to protect himself, and both times unbelieving kings rebuked him. He paid a price for those moments when his faith faltered. 

God did not abandon Abraham. He continued to shape him into a man whose confidence rested fully upon Heaven. When Lot was taken captive, Abraham took action and rescued him, trusting God rather than his own ability. He tithed to Melchizedek, openly acknowledging that every victory and every blessing came from the Lord and not his own strength. Still, he wasn’t perfect. With Hagar and Ishmael, Abraham once again sought a human solution where God had promised divine fulfillment. And again, God proved Himself faithful, continuing the story He had begun. 

Then came the test that revealed what had taken root deep within Abraham’s heart. 

“Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2). 

Abraham rose early and did exactly as God instructed. He walked, not knowing the outcome, only knowing the character of the One who had spoken. And on that mountain, when he lifted the knife in obedience, God said of Abraham’s faith, “now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me” (Genesis 22:12). Abraham learned on that day that faith is not merely believing God exists. It is resting your entire life, your future, and everything you treasure in Him. It is trusting God to provide when everything in your sight says there is no way forward. This is what the shield of faith looks like when it is lifted high. It is not perfect strength. It is trust tested. It is a relationship with God built on His unwavering reliability.

The question comes to each one of us then. What is our story? How is God inviting each of us personally to trust Him? How is He shaping our faith through challenges that reveal what lies beneath the surface? God invites a relationship that is secure for eternity, but such a relationship requires trust. He asks whether we will believe Him, whether we will entrust our lives to His care, whether we will choose Him even when we cannot see or predict the outcome. This is a faith that looks forward, believing in resurrection, believing in a future that rests in His hands. 

Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We believe in the God who created everything that exists. We believe His Word is true, His plan is sure, and His promises will be fulfilled. Without this confidence, we cannot please Him. Faith must move from a concept into something deeply personal. Timothy grew up surrounded by the examples of Lois and Eunice, yet Paul urged him to hold fast to sound words and develop his own steadfast belief. Faith must be practiced until managing the shield becomes second nature. Endurance is required because this life will present real struggles. There will be days when we do not feel strong, but we are called to stand firm anyway. 

Paul describes the attacks from Satan as “fiery darts.” In ancient warfare, arrows were wrapped in flammable material, dipped in pitch, and set ablaze before being launched in volleys meant to terrify and destroy. A soldier’s shield was designed not only to block the dart but to extinguish the flame so that the fire could not spread. The enemy uses the same strategy on our minds. His darts are lies crafted to ignite fear, anxiety and doubt. His goal is not simply to wound but to spark something that spreads into panic or unbelief. Faith stops the attack where it lands. 

Some of the most common enemies of faith are small at first. Anxiety exists in our minds when the future seems uncertain. Jesus tells us not to let anxious thoughts consume us, because they drain our imagination by fixating it on everything that could go wrong. The vast majority of things we fear never happen, yet fear steals our peace long before any crisis arrives. Faith responds by asking “what if it all works out,” because God is faithful. For example, tithing becomes an act of faith when money feels tight.  

Doubt questions whether God truly means what He says. Peter walked on water until he focused on the wind and waves. Jesus asked him why he doubted. Doubt wavers between belief and unbelief, raising questions that challenge the reliability of God’s promises. In those moments we must put away our doubts and remember whom we serve. Our hope is anchored in Christ, firm and secure. 

Human reasoning may be one of the fiercest adversaries of all. It evaluates based only on what eyes can see and hands can touch. For a sacrifice to God, Cain brought what made sense to him rather than what God required. Adam and Eve listened to the serpent’s reasoning until they were convinced that what God warned them about was not truly dangerous. Human reasoning looks in every direction except towards God. Faith lifts our gaze to the God who sees farther than we ever could. Trust means acting on His Word even when our human reasoning argues against it. 

Next, Paul directs our attention to the Helmet of Salvation. 

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.