The shield of faith occupies a more important place than the other Christian graces. It bears the same relation to the whole Christian character that the shield bears to the other parts of the armor of the soldier. It protects all and is indispensable to the security of all. As with the case of the shield it was an ingenious device by which bows and arrows might be parried off and the whole body defended. It could be made to protect the head or heart or thrown behind to meet an attack there. As long as the soldier had his shield he felt secure. As long as a Christian has faith he is safe. It comes to his aid in every attack that is made upon him no matter from what quarter. It is the defense and guardian of every other Christian grace and secures the protection which the Christian needs in the whole of the spiritual war.

The apostle Paul instructed the Church to lift up over all the covering shield of saving faith upon which the flaming missiles of the wicked one can be quenched. This shield forms part of the complete armor supplied by God that enables standing firmly against the strategies and deceits of the devil. The same faith grants access to the Father together with all the saints and supports interceding on behalf of all God's consecrated people. Through this corporate faith the body strengthens hands that hang down and makes straight paths so that what is lame may be healed. God has promised to heal all diseases when the body moves as one in keeping His commandments and offering the prayer of faith for one another.

When writing about putting on the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6, Paul begins to conclude the passage by repeating the concepts in Luke 21:36 of praying always and watching. He says in verse 16 that above all one should take the shield of faith with which all the fiery darts of the wicked one will be quenched. These fiery darts refer to the temptations of the great adversary, which are like furious suggestions of evil and excitements to sin that he may throw into the mind. They are blasphemous thoughts, unbelief, sudden temptation to do wrong, or thoughts that wound and torment the soul. They come suddenly like arrows sped from a bow, from unexpected quarters like arrows shot suddenly from an enemy in ambush. They pierce, penetrate, and torment the soul as arrows would that are on fire. They set the soul on fire and enkindle the worst passions as fiery darts do a ship or camp against which they are sent. These darts enkindle the worst passions or desires that drag one off and trap one so that sin is finished with the person and leaves the person dead. It is better to deal with these darts at the point of the shield than after they have hit their mark. II Samuel 22:31 states that as for God His way is perfect, the word of the Lord is proven, and He is a shield to all who trust in Him. God is the shield using the same faith Jesus Christ had. If God is allowed to do so He will protect in battles. The shield of faith is erected through prayer and fasting as shown in Matthew 17:19-21 and by running to God for help as David says in Psalm 18:30. Along with fasting Christ gives prayer as one of the antidotes to unbelief. Running to God for help which striving to pray always is the essence of will allow Him to be the shield and source of power and strength. Jesus repeats the instruction in Luke 21:36 but shows that the same process will build the shield of faith to protect from the fiery darts of temptation. The shield mentioned in Ephesians 6:16 can quench all the fiery darts not some not most but all. This sheds light on why Christ says in Matthew 11:30 that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Great peace results when none of the fiery darts ever reach their intended target. Psalm 119:165 states that great peace have those who love His law and nothing causes them to stumble. Great peace means an absence of war no battling no fighting. Under temptation a battle always rages even if one is winning. In such a case no peace exists much less great peace. The spiritual war fought is caused by temptation from Satan human nature and the world. Remove temptation and war stops. What remains is great peace. The last half of Psalm 119:165 tells how to achieve not just peace but great peace by having nothing cause one to stumble. What causes a human to stumble is temptation. This means that one has to be sheltered from it. Other scriptures mention protection from stumbling such as Psalm 121:3 that He will not let one stumble, the one who watches over one will not slumber, I John 2:10 that he who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him, and Jude 24 that now to Him who is able to keep one from stumbling and to present one faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. God through the gift of His Holy Spirit is the only power in the universe that can accomplish such a feat. If God does not place that shield around one there is no hope of success. Alone one is powerless in the face of temptation. One overcomes it not by one's strength but by God's power the shield of faith given as His gift. It is the only sure defense. To acknowledge God and to pray always are to be in alignment with one of Christ's most basic principles a principle found in Matthew 6:33 to seek first the kingdom of God in all things. Praying always is stepping out in faith believing that if God is sought first He will add all the things needed including the strength to overcome to finish this journey and to enter His

In the ongoing spiritual conflict between the forces of God and the forces of satan, believers must put on the whole armor of God to stand against the wiles of the devil. The shield of faith must be taken above all with which to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. This equipment enables believers to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand. Truth is extremely important and having true doctrine is essentially important today. The word of God is the source of truth and all doctrine must conform to what the scriptures say.

The shield of faith must be taken above all. This is the kind of faith that will quench the input of fear that is going to come at the end of this age. It will also quench the darts that Satan will thrust at you. The type of faith mentioned here is an active faith. No matter what the problem is or what the cost, you trust God and you step out, actively trusting Him in faith. That is what this is about. The shield of faith is part of the whole armor of God that must be put on to stand against the wiles of the devil. The whole armor of God must be taken up to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand.