Armour Of God: Shield

Shield, Rock, Protector

After our workouts in the gym and the pool Trish and I were kicking back in the steam room at our local sports centre. (This may sound very glamorous but it is a facility in our local Shire; it serves many in our community, is very practical and affordable; thousands of kids have learned to swim there, people do aerobics and Pilates, and many new-Australians come to learn to speak English-as-a-second-language, generally it is a busy place).

A couple of friends also came into the steam and after greetings we began to talk about the coronavirus (Covid-19) which is having such a profound and growing impact on the whole world. After a few minutes I realised that there was no fear or uncertainty in our conversation. Each one of us spoke with an assurance that we had a sure shield, a solid rock, a certain protector. This is not to say that none of us would contract this disease or go short of food or be cut off from our work or family (or our sports complex).

No, our assurance was that our sure shield and solid rock and certain protector would protect us from harm, from a greater harm than we could endure or would be good for us (2 Timothy 2:12-13). In our heart-of-hearts we know that none of us will be separated from Jesus, or prevented from knowing the love of God, or be unable to give testimony of His eternal saving grace and power ..

We recognise the seriousness of the world situation and that even in our tiny corner of this quite-remote and sparsely-populated island-nation we may be severely affected, yet there was an encouraging sense of God's deep and enduring love present among us. Many of the words we spoke came straight from Scripture, they were simply part of our conversation, and those Scripture verses were immediately clear to each one of us, verses we have known for years, which speak of our Saviour, redeemer, teacher, and Lord and of His love for each one of us and for the whole world:

"But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head" (Psalm 3:3).

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold" (Psalm 18:2).

"For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?" (Psalm 18:31).

"As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry" (2 Timothy 4:5).

Since that time I have been enjoying the memory of being with mature Christians; my delightful wife Trish and our friends, our Christian brother and sister. It seems to me that we four have walked enough with Jesus that we have each received peace from Him: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).

Over the years that we have been believers I see that Jesus has constantly been building us up (1 Peter 2:5), growing us (Ephesians 4:11-13), so that we are now becoming disciples (Acts 14:21-22). By now we know Him, we have seen Him working.

This knowing Jesus our Saviour and Lord, and our Abba Father God, and our Helper and Comforter Holy Spirit, has grown our faith. Because of all our testimonies we are able to be “certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Thus our faith becomes our shield. Our “shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16) is Jesus and His love for us, each one.

We are among those who will cleave to Jesus, and keep Him in our focus: "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). "Cleave" is an intransitive verb and means to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly! It is such a great word to describe how I long to be with my lovely Lord Jesus.

Paul exhorts us to be always ready to stand (Ephesians 6:13-14), and to equip ourselves (as we already have been taught to do and know how to do), in mighty armour, every part of which is Jesus Himself. The armour covers every part of us, spirit, soul and body. And "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" (Ephesians 6:16). We can be protected even from direct attacks against our person. "So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you" (James 4:7 Amplified).

My prayer is that you are blessed during this time and that Jesus helps you to be a blessing to others .. Praise Him ..

Amen.

Favourite Scripture Verses

"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand" (Psalm 40:2).

"We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds" (Psalm 75:1).

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,  who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome [those evil spirits], because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

"for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4).

Jesus is building us up: "you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5)

Jesus is growing us: "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,  to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up  until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13)

We are becoming disciples: "They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,  strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,' they said" (Acts 14:21-22).

"Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead me and guide me" (Psalm 31:3).

The Full Armour of God: From Ephesians 6:10-20

•  The belt of truth - Jesus is truth - John 1:14

•  The breastplate of righteousness - Jesus is our righteousness - 2 Corinthians 5:21

•  Our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace - Jesus is the Gospel - Ephesians 1:9

•  The shield of faith - Jesus is our shield - 1 Peter 1:5

•  The helmet of salvation - Jesus protects our mind - 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV and Amplified

•  The sword of the Spirit - Jesus is our weapon - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and John 1:1

•  And pray in the Spirit - Romans 8:26 and 1 Thessalonians 5:17

"For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" (Galatians 3:27 NIV).

"Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe - Christ's life, the fulfillment of God's original promise" (Galatians 3:27 Message).

Thank you Jesus.

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Amen.