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

“In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16, NASB).

The church, in many parts of the world, is in retreat because her soldiers, many of whom are wounded, have lost confidence in the General. They do not need to. Although outnumbered, God's people’s faith, like Joshua's of old, can be vibrant and strong enough to withstand all sorts of devilish attacks.

In the scriptures, we read about only two kinds of armies: 1) Those who live by faith and 2) Those who do not. Which group do you belong to? If you are a believer who is living, then God desires that you, as His active soldier, take your place. Due to limitations, we will focus on the faith of the individual soldier, although the faith of the church or army as a whole is equally important. Without faith in a person’s life, there is no faith at the larger level. Without faith, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). The good news is that God has equipped us with everything we need to face the toughest battles.

Our Faith is Waning

We face struggles in this world because we are under attack by anti-God forces. Without faith from God, a follower of Christ cannot fulfill their purpose. It’s not that the Lord hasn’t provided everything we need, but rather that we have not recognized what He has given us as His people. The Lord wants us, like Christ, to live with vibrant faith and reach out to others in love. However, to stand firm, we must learn how to defend ourselves. By observing the church in many parts of the world today, we have fallen short. Notice how our doubts attack us through these three questions.

Is faith really our main problem?
We are unaware of the spiritual battle happening around us and think life has enough issues without getting too involved in church matters. We question God’s view on life by not truly believing this verse is right.

How can spiritual armor help us with our day-to-day problems?
We have not properly put on our spiritual armor. We even doubt whether we need it or if it can really make a difference.

How does God practically help us in our lives?
We quietly feel resentful that God doesn't adequately help and provide for us. We doubt God's relevance in our lives and end up sharing the same doubts about Him as the secular world around us.

As a result, we and others in the Christian faith often assume there is little difference between Christianity and the modern world, and perhaps even envy the world’s freedom to pursue their pleasures. Ah, are we not much like those at the base of Mt. Sinai when Moses returned and shattered the covenant tablets in judgment of their worldly revelry (Exodus 32)? The church is drifting, and the casualties are all around us.

The biggest challenge facing the Western Church is that our conclusions frequently mirror those of the materialistic world, which claims that the Christian faith is largely irrelevant. With some influence from secular society, we tend to believe that adopting a secular lifestyle or viewpoint will not make much difference—at least enough to be more comfortable. Consequently, we and others in the Christian faith come to assume there is no real distinction between our faith and the modern world. This mindset dulls a Christian’s motivation to wholeheartedly serve the Lord. Notice the three areas where the church increasingly adopts the world’s thinking and ways.

1) Philosophy: Relativity (Believe what you want.)

2) Morality: In flux (Do what you want.)

3) Attitude: Apathetic (It doesn’t matter what is done.)

Like Adam and Eve, we take a bite, reasoning it won’t make much difference. We could not be more wrong. Just as eating the forbidden fruit brought death, living by these poisonous philosophies also brings death to our lives. We end up incredulous, believing that helping the enemy or vigilantly fighting the Lord’s war makes no big difference. This is our lethargic state at work! This is because we have not carefully followed Paul’s instruction here in Ephesians 6:16. As we continue, please be careful to note that Paul is not just talking about the faith that brings someone into a relationship with God, what some call saving faith, but the ultimate goal of the Spirit of God in us–to produce strong, vibrant faith for His glory.

An outline

Our discussion will follow the two main points below.

1) The Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:16a)

Describes what the shield is and what we are to do with it.

2) The Need for Faith (Ephesians 6:16b)

Notes the special purpose for our faith in our Christian lives.

1) The Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:16a)

“In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16, NASB).

This first major point explains what the shield of faith is and what we should do with it. Each phrase will be examined, including the first hidden one—the subject ‘you,’ which is not explicitly identified in English.

‘You’ means all of us

Another question we need to affirm before moving forward is, “Who is to take up this armor?” The answer should be clear: it is the elect, those chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-4), who in time have seen the horror of their sins (Ephesians 2:1-3), their waywardness from God, and yet, by God’s grace through Christ (Ephesians 2:4-10), upon repentance, have recognized the glorious forgiveness of sin offered through the blood of Jesus Christ. Each believer in Christ is equally challenged here to take on the whole of spiritual armor, specifically, in verse 16, to take up the shield of faith. Although Paul mentions the importance of specially called and gifted men—apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers (Ephesians 4:11-12)—they serve as equippers, enabling God’s people to stand firm in the world and be ready for the daily spiritual battles. In summary, if you are a believer, Paul expects—indeed, commands—you to regularly put on the armor of God. No matter how small your faith, stand in it. God will strengthen you. In addition to all

Certainly, this phrase, ‘in addition to all,’ refers to the four elements of the spiritual armor mentioned in the previous verses: standing firm, girding one’s loins with truth, putting on the breastplate of righteousness, and shod with the gospel of peace. Paul is saying that the items listed above are good but not enough. Without this one extra action—shielding oneself with faith—the believer will find themselves completely unprepared to face the flood of trials ahead. Many are content simply to attend church, while others believe that their salvation is sufficient for spiritual growth— but Paul completely disagrees. While Hebrews 10:25 emphasizes the importance of attending church, Paul is also concerned about the sneaky ways the evil one, like a stalker or terrorist, infiltrates the lives of God’s people. Frankly, in my experience, the spiritual armor isn’t just for when we are outside the church, away from fellow believers, but also when we are among them. The evil one is consistently trying to stir up trouble among God’s people. Therefore, the armor is a way to conduct our everyday routines and isn’t just for specific battles or crises, although it is especially vital during those times. Sadly, many are unprepared or even unaware that they might face spiritual battles, leaving them totally vulnerable.

Think for a moment. Have you consciously put on your armor today? This isn’t even a spiritual discipline that most believers are aware of, yet these verses at the end of this glorious Book of Ephesians show us how to secure the blessing of our inheritance as God’s people. We are chosen for this great blessing, so why not claim it? It would be like receiving a promise of a large sum of money. All we’d need to do is sign our name and hand it to the bank teller. The promise is there, but is it ‘cashed in’?

The consequences of ignoring the shield of faith are not just about missing out on God’s blessing but also about survival. The spiritual battle is growing more intense. Many of us who have lived for decades see the cultural wars as a clear sign of the enemy’s advances. The real fight, however, is behind the political and cultural battles. The apostle faced these cultural conflicts in his day within the corrupt yet powerful Roman Empire. The enemy, though, was not the Roman Empire itself. The enemy operates beneath the surface. All the enemies you think of are merely tools, though responsible for their actions.

The Shield of Faith

So what is this shield of faith? Some might be mentally going through their wardrobes. “I don’t remember seeing a shield of faith.” This could be a problem. But thankfully, as a believer, God has equipped each believer with it. The shield might be misplaced, or one might not even recognize it, but every true follower of Christ has access to their shield of faith. Paul did not tell us how to create or find this shield, but only to put it on. This piece of spiritual armor is like the rest. The issue is not possession, unless you are not a believer, but rather the act of picking it up and properly holding it up, in the case of the shield. Some believers might agree that they own a shield of faith, but complain that it is too small and insufficient. In other words, they have little faith and do not believe their faith can, or has, successfully fought off the evil one. This comment raises several important questions.

• How much faith is needed to fight the evil one?
• Do believers have sufficient faith to fight the evil one?
• How do I deal with the doubts that come up each time I go forward in my faith?

These questions and similar ones are good, but honestly, they are questions Christians should know the answers to within 2-3 years of becoming believers. More importantly, each believer should be actively applying everything the apostle talks about here in this section every day. That’s why we earlier asked, “Who is Paul addressing?” Once we start exploring what these things mean, it’s easy to think, “Our pastor and teacher have strong faith. They hold up the shield of faith. We are safe.”

But that’s not the main point, is it? Pastors and teachers must have this faith, but their role isn’t to fight for you—though they do—it's to equip you to stand against the enemy.

A pastor can’t hold your hand wherever you go. When you leave the church gathering, you are on your own with the Lord. This spiritual armor serves as a reminder of how we should stay close to God, whether we’re out in the world or with other believers. The enemy attacks from all directions without warning. So, the shield of faith is that faith given by God that enables us to protect ourselves from the enemy’s attacks. Our question, then, is, “How do we use this shield to fight?”

Taking up the shield of faith

The apostle encourages us to take up this shield of faith. We are to deliberately use what God has provided us, in this case, a shield of faith, to effectively protect our spiritual and godly lives.

Think of ‘taking the shield of faith’ as getting dressed. It is something you do before you go anywhere. Are you not fully dressed? You are not wearing your night clothes but your day clothes. To accomplish this, you take a number of actions, some of which you probably do unconsciously because you perform them so regularly, yet you end up dressed. Similarly, we are to regularly, faithfully, and purposefully take up the shield of faith.

Does Paul say ‘taking up’ or not? Yes, he clearly states this. If you did not equip yourself today, then conclude that you are not equipped. Some of us assume that because we are believers, we are spiritually protected, but that’s not true. Look at believers around us who are falling away. Not only those involved in immorality, desiring things God hasn’t given them, finding other partners, or pretending to have good marriages while entertaining others in their minds. The battle runs much deeper. Think of bitterness, worries, fears, relationship problems, greed, lying, hatred, and more. Whenever the love of Christ does not fully empower and guide our thoughts and actions, we are guided by our flesh—our natural selfish nature—for fleshly satisfaction.

Paul prepares us not only for the fiend’s fury out there but also for the war raging within. The main front will always be what happens in the hearts and minds of believers. That’s why faith is such an effective weapon. If you did not consciously put on or take up the shield of faith, why would you assume you're so protected? Most armor is heavy, including the shield. It’s only there because the soldier carries it mile after mile. You can’t ask your friend or teammate to carry it for you. You have to carry it yourself and keep it close so it will always be available when needed.

Think about this from the enemy’s point of view. Who would he naturally attack first? Those with a shield that can easily counter him, or those without a shield? He will target the unprotected first. Are you one of these vulnerable ones?

The problem is that many of us do not see how these issues connect to our cultural wars. Today, the enemy has promoted immoral teaching through the media and our public schools to influence our children. Making this worse, the Christian community has dulled us to the power of God’s Word with some of the worst Sunday School and youth materials imaginable. Additionally, many pastors doubt the authority or relevance of the scriptures. The typical Christian motto now is, “It doesn’t matter.” However, everything points to the opposite — including the Word here. There is a spiritual battle we can fight and win. Whether we take up the shield of faith or not makes a critical difference in our personal lives, families, and church. We must properly prepare ourselves and overcome the attacks of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith” (1 John 5:1-4).

Summary

God has equipped the church, but overall, the church remains unprepared. Proper doctrines are teachings that help us understand not only who God is but also how to live as Christians. We can learn a lot about the Bible, but if we don't apply its truths to our lives—like failing to take up the shield of faith—we leave ourselves vulnerable and can fall. We have explained what the shield is and how to use it, but studying the rest of verse 16 will give us an even better understanding of how the shield of faith truly works.

2) The Need for Faith (Ephesians 6:16b)

The latter half of Ephesians 6:16 emphasizes the special purpose our faith is meant to serve in our Christian lives. Most believers see faith as a ticket for their future trip to heaven. The apostle clearly states that our faith protects the integrity of our godly lives here on earth. What a difference!

“In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16, NASB).

Here is an example of a flaming missile. We live in a modern world where people are rejecting culture and focusing on satisfying their personal desires. In some parts of the world, they have reached a point where they can get what they want, and if they don't have it, they lust for it–and no one will blame them for such lust, whether it's for pleasure, free time, relationships, a certain kind of life, etc. That’s okay. Indulge. Follow your heart. Enjoy yourself while you can.

Although believers may not fully adopt that mentality, we must not let the world dictate our beliefs but instead allow our faith to shield us from adopting those beliefs. I like to use the phrase "Biblical Christian" to describe myself because it constantly reminds me of how God’s Word is to shape my heart, beliefs, mind, knowledge, goals, and attitudes.

Flaming Missiles of the Evil One

Paul states that we as believers have the necessary faith to fight the most subtle and dangerous enemy that exists. This enemy is described by Paul as the ‘evil one.’ Satan aims to come against the people of God to disable and destroy them. Although the Lord has equipped His army, the church of God, it seems to be dwindling rather than growing in certain parts of the world. Why is this so? Our first challenge is to clarify her identify and purpose.

The wrong battle

Many believers are caught up in a political struggle. We should vote, but this isn’t the war. Haven’t we learned our lessons from the past forty, eighty, or two hundred years? Politics is surface-deep; the real confusion lies underneath. Go ahead and vote, but don’t put your trust there. Didn’t Paul tell us in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 to pray for our leaders? That is what pleases God, because prayers born from faith have more power than our votes. We need to see beyond the world around us.

When talking with a young man whose career was already planned out, he excitedly said he might make a couple hundred thousand dollars a year. I told him that’s not what life is about. As a believer, you should understand that our families and careers are just the background where God has placed us. But real life and testing happen within that brief span. God doesn’t care how much someone earns or what kind of house Mrs. So and So lived in. He only cares if a believer stays close to Him consistently. Sadly, many believers have been influenced by culture. God is actively working to remove our false freedoms so we can gain a proper view of our lives.

The flaming missiles of the evil one are meant to systematically destroy us. They are of the worst kind. The Roman soldiers would add some tar to the end of the arrow and light it on fire before shooting it over the walls. Many roofs were made of straw and other combustible materials. These became easy targets for these flaming arrows.

The evil one is seeking our worst. Satan is out to take away our security in our faith in Christ. Without that faith, our defense is gone, and at his leisure, he will attack.

Consider if a person refuses to daily take up his shield of faith; then his defense is down. Satan’s arrows will get through. Ignorance does not protect a person. Going to church doesn’t help someone but faith in God’s Word does. What one believes shapes his or her decisions. The evil one might not have gotten around to you yet, but he is coming.

Here are a few statements from this biblical teaching summarizing different aspects of the enemy’s flaming missiles.

• The enemy is alive and active.
• His missiles are aimed at us to destroy our spiritual lives.
• Much of the damage caused by the enemy’s missiles is not seen until it’s too late.
• The shield of faith, if properly maintained, is sufficient against the worst attacks from the evil one.

You will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles

We have trouble recognizing the enemy and his tactics, so we don't see much reason to put extra effort into raising the shield of faith. It's easier for us to turn on the TV or browse the web than to prepare ourselves for the enemy’s attack. But when problems start brewing, that's when we begin praying and return to church. Why? Because you know only God can help. Paul does, and he tells us to take up the unfamiliar shield of faith. When we do, we should trust it completely.

The shield is all-powerful because it can extinguish all the flaming missiles. This is such a faith-boosting statement. Just think, there's no attack from the enemy that we can't withstand. Sure, he might take our house, wreck our car, or even cause our bodies harm, but our faith remains strong, and like Job, we can say, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him” (Job 13:15).

That small word ‘all’ is powerful because it’s inclusive. Let’s consider how this works. It will also help us learn how to better use this shield of faith. As I make the following statements, listen carefully and notice the presence of faith.

“No matter what I face, God will help me.”

“My faith is weak, Lord, but would you now come and strengthen me.”

“The all-powerful God is here to see me through the worst of this.”

By applying statements of truth like this to our lives, we are taking up the shield of faith. Do you see how the word ‘all’ instills an unqualified faith in God and His ways? Notice the honesty of these verses. We do not pretend we have the faith to move mountains but start where we honestly are.

Why is our shield of faith so powerful? It is because the main problem we face in this world is the lies and doubts Satan plants in our minds. The issue is that we have already compromised our faith in one or more ways. Even worse, we often hide our unbelief behind statements of faith. We think we believe when we actually do not. Let me show you how people sometimes wrongly disguise their unbelief with belief.

• I believe you can only help me with some areas of my life.
• I believe that I only need God’s help when my choices are being limited.
• I believe it is more important to have fun and enjoy myself than to study God’s Word.
• I believe that it is more enjoyable to watch a movie than to go to church.
• I believe that I only need spiritual armor when facing serious struggles in life.

Let’s look at a few examples of how this practically works out.

Jill doesn’t like how her husband is handling the finances. She complains, and after a few years, she just doesn’t care anymore. She starts spending money like her husband.

She had strong scruples about handling money but began questioning whether it was worth it. She gave in to poor standards that violated her morals. (Yes, her husband was wrong, but that’s not our focus here.) Do you see how she started doubting what was right? Instead of living before the Lord with vibrant hope by leading a righteous life, she succumbed to doubt that God’s ways were best. This led to arguments over who spent the most. Faith could have helped her trust God regarding her foolish husband and see beyond the money problem. Her husband needed the Lord to awaken him, not her wayward choices.

• She could pray, “Lord, I have lost my faith in living the right way. Please forgive me. I don’t want these things and will do my best to fix them. Your peace matters more to me. But now I ask for Your help with my husband. Let him not be stubborn or foolish. Give me a calm and seeking heart. Guard us during this financial hardship. I trust in You, Lord. Amen.”

Joe is upset with his new job. He got laid off, but this job is not like his previous one. He is very discouraged and just gets by.

If we focus only on our circumstances, our emotions will fluctuate—feeling good and happy during good times, and sad during tough times like losing a job. Yet, God works in all of our situations. I travel to different parts of the world and witness some very difficult circumstances, often much worse than what we face. I remember one pastor who was about to get married; the senior elder had just died, leaving his seven children behind. With no money but a heavy sense of responsibility, I saw the children and the dying father during a visit to Uganda.

Joe is fighting the wrong battle. We understand how hard it is to lack the comforts and pride that come with having a ‘real” job. His real struggle is with doubting whether God’s way is best. Does he believe that, like Jesus on the cross, God can bring a greater good out of sudden life changes? That’s the battle Joe faces.

He needs to admit his faults, but beyond that, he must stand firm in his faith. Faith for a new job? Maybe, maybe not. God is getting Joe’s attention, and the key is for him to learn to do with less and to start praising Him for His watchful care over his life.

• After confessing His wrongs and finding cleansing from the Lord, Joe can pray, “Lord, I have been doubting you all these days. They have not been easy but being without you has made things much worse. Lord, thank you for being with me and overseeing my needs. I am not sure how to get by, but you have given me this job. Help me to have an improved attitude and start pleasing you on this job rather than mumbling my whole day. Now, Lord, teach me and use me as you please.”

Sally sometimes gets very emotional. When she’s doing well, everything feels fine, but during those times her life can become chaotic. She gives in to her feelings and says unkind words. Sally lets her emotions control her at times, which leads to terrible results and adds more tension to her relationships. Her main problem is her belief that she cannot do anything about it. While the chemicals in her body are definitely changing, she fails to believe that God will or can help her, so she just lives with her doubt. The shield of faith isn’t lifted up. It’s important to always have the shield of faith ready because once the emotions hit, it’s often too late to think about it.

In the meantime, she begins to see God revealing how dependent she is on Him. Instead of giving up on herself and dwelling on those feelings, Sally decides she will pray twice a day, regardless of her mood, and praise God that He is in control of her circumstances and physical life.

• Sally prays, “Lord, I feel like a different person when I go through those emotional states, but right now I want to tell You that I know You thoroughly understand me and I give myself to You. I trust You for the strength, patience, and kindness needed, so that at the very least I don’t hurt people, and even more so I can seek extra grace to be kind when I don’t feel like it. By Your grace, I will focus on You rather than myself. Amen.”

Bill used to enjoy reading God’s Word, but lately not much is happening. He figures if God doesn’t say much, he might as well spend less effort reading and spending time with God.

Bill doesn’t understand what’s wrong with his reading in God’s Word. Although he tries to ‘jump’ start his quiet times with the Lord several times, about a week later, he is back to the usual dull times with God. He is starting to accept the doubts invading his mind (think fiery arrows from the evil one - i.e., temptations). “God is not real.” “I guess my hopes that God would speak are in vain.” “Oh well, I guess I can’t be like those others.”

• Bill prays, “Lord, my heart is hard. The problem is not your Word but my heart, yes, my unbelief. Forgive me through Jesus. I know your word is important to me. I thank you for giving me access to it and seek you to powerfully again use your Word to speak to my heart. I thirst for you. Speak God, and I will listen. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.”

Do you see the problems here? There is a common thread—doubt. The doubt the evil one introduces offers us an alternative that seems easier in the moment, but ultimately, we compromise our faith. Fiery arrows represent temptations from evil. Faith, however, is the perception of God and His ways that allows us to live in His will, even when circumstances look bleak and Satan has his minions tempting us.

Secularism’s constant message insists that what God says isn’t true and is not relevant to our lives and needs. Often, we don’t realize how deeply this unbelief has seeped into our souls. If we notice hardness of heart toward God’s Word, it’s a sign that unbelief has contaminated our relationship with God.

Whenever we let go or simply agree with a doubt, our faith erodes. We start living not as men and women of faith but in a way that the evil one desires. Each time we silently tell the Lord, “I tried your way, Lord, but you don’t come through. I am giving up. Let’s see if this other way works better.” Though we all face different situations, these tests where our faith is challenged are where the real battle occurs. True success depends on us regularly taking up the shield of faith and guarding our minds.

Our primary shield against unguarded thoughts and decisions leading to worse situations is our faith. This faith, unlike what many in the Faith movement assert, might not alter our circumstances, but it will enable us to fully function in any situation we find ourselves in. That is enough for us. Confidence in God’s presence is what made Jesus’ life so remarkable. That is what we want and desire.

Summary

Take up this shield of faith as you navigate through this modern world, which constantly broadcasts the evil one’s diabolical message. The shield of faith, however, is only one part of the spiritual armor. Don’t forget that it’s important. Without this faith, we become vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks. He seeks our worst and, when it suits him, shoots those fiery missiles at us. Meanwhile, we need to remember that although the enemy may be strong and clever, God has powerfully equipped us. The true enemy, then, is not simply what threatens a comfortable life but what distracts us from fully trusting the Lord in whatever circumstances we face. Faith will always keep us close to Him. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. God does not hear our prayers, but with faith, we can triumph even when others fail. Learn to meet God right where you are. His grace is sufficient. This shield of faith will extinguish all the fiery arrows of the evil one.

Continue => Return to the Ephesians index.