The Armor - Faith
Ephesians 6:16
Message #10
In addition to giving credit again to Tony Evans’ words of wisdom in his book “Victory in Spiritual Warfare,” I also received real encouragement from Beth Moore’s book, “Praying God’s Word,” in her chapter on “Spiritual Warfare.” I recommend both books.
Last week we did our second message on God’s peace as part of the spiritual armor, and we had to close that message too fast (due to time), but in the last few minutes, I mentioned some super important ways for you to “hit the gym” every day to exercise yourself to living in God’s peace. I’d really encourage you to get that message and listen carefully to the last six minutes or so, and please consider actually doing what you need to do in order to walk, not only in the peace of God but in all the spiritual armor. Also, please consider listening to our “Fundamentals” series or watching for the workbook coming soon. This series really teaches you how to “hit the spiritual gym” every day.
But for today, we’ve got to move on if we ever want to finish this series on “The Spiritual Battle.” Peace was the last of the three articles of armor we are called to “put on,” meaning “clothe ourselves in” at all times. They are truth, righteousness, and peace. We are to live in (immerse ourselves in) these three. And then, we are to take up the next three articles of armor, faith, salvation (for our mind), and the Word of God.
A good illustration of this two-part system is a baseball player. He always wears the parts of his uniform, but he takes up his glove, bat, or ball as required. So today, we are in the first of the take-up articles of armor, that is, the shield of faith.
Let’s read Ephesians 6, verses 13-16, to set the stage.
Ephesians 6:13–16 (NLT)
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
Ephesians 6:16 (NLT)
16 In addition to (the first three ‘Put-On’ articles), hold up (take up) the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
Paul uses the Roman soldier’s shield to illustrate faith. I believe primarily because a Roman soldier’s shield would cover his entire body when he crouched down behind it. And so, when a volley of arrows would come, the soldier would cover his entire body with his shield and block the arrows and wait out the attack.
There was a great picture of this in the movie “300” when thousands of arrows from the enemy came raining down on the Spartans so that the sun went dark. They got a command, and then they came together, covered themselves with their shields together, and just relaxed and waited out the attack. When the volley of arrows was over, they stood up, broke off the arrows from their shields, and lived to fight again. They were able to stand firm. That is actually a very good picture of what the shield of faith does for us in the spiritual battle.
(This is why I believe Paul uses the shield of faith for the Roman soldier. Because the Roman shields were very similar, they were designed to cover the entire body to stop the volley of arrows.)
If we have our shield of faith ready (this doesn’t come naturally – it takes discipline and effort and working out), and if we know how to use it when we are attacked (which takes practice), when the enemy rains down his fiery arrows then we can hold up our shield, it will cover our bodies spiritually, and our shield of faith takes the impact of the arrows. This is an interesting picture of the shield of faith in that the shield takes the impact. It doesn’t allow us to avoid the arrows. It doesn’t get us to escape the attack, but the shield of faith takes the blow. And if that shield is strong and intact, it will stop every fiery arrow the enemy sends your way.
And when do those enemy arrows rain down on your life? It is in what the Bible calls the evil day (or the time of evil.) Let’s look back at Ephesians 6, verse 13.
Ephesians 6:13 (NLT)
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil (Evil Day). Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
Again, that’s what these Spartan warriors did; when the attack was coming, they crouched under their shields, and when it was over, they just stood up and stood firm again and lived to fight again.
The evil day is when all hell breaks loose on your life, like a rain of fiery arrows coming down on you. The enemy’s only intent is to destroy your life and use you to destroy others’ lives.
It is that day when you feel you have:
Nowhere to turn
No answers for your troubles
No ideas, no options for your escape
And the enemy is raining fiery arrows down upon your life. You’re overwhelmed. The sky has turned dark with the volley of arrows falling down upon your life.
That is the day when you must have your shield of faith ready. Now, if you see those arrows blotting out the sun and you think, “Oh, I think it’s time for me to think about making a shield,” you’re dead. You know, think like a thousand arrows stuck in your back. You have to have the shield with you; you have to have it prepared. It has to be ready and strong, and you have to know how to use it when the evil day comes.
Tony Evans says, “It’s (the evil day) when you’re breaking down emotionally and have lost your passion for life. It’s when your marriage seems hopeless, your kids have turned away, your health deteriorates, your friend has betrayed you, you’re overcome by your addiction, and your future looks seriously bleak.”
When the enemy attacks specifically, when he sends his best to attack you, this is the evil day. And in those days, you’ve got to be ready and able to crouch down behind your shield of faith and rest there, wait there, while the flaming arrows are falling all around you. You wait. You just wait, alright? You need to understand that you don’t stand up and say, “I’m so tough!” and then all the arrows strike you. You just rest. You just hunker down, put the shield of faith up, and wait. You rest in God while the enemy is attacking. Just get into the presence of God, get into the throne room, put the shield up, and wait for the attack to be over.
Faith is meant to protect you from the attacks of the enemy, and when used correctly, then the end of verse 13 will be true; then after the battle you will still be standing firm. That is really the issue isn’t it – to be standing firm (remaining faithful) at the end of the battle? You will be standing firm because you just came close to the Lord, put the shield of faith up, waited for him to be done, and then you stood back up and said, “Lord, you were with me the whole time. You protected me the whole time. That was a really sweet time while I was under the shadow of your wing (like Psalm 91 says.) I was just being protected there. And nothing can touch me there. And I thank you for that.”
That’s the issue, isn’t it? Isn’t the issue really standing firm? Isn’t the issue actually remaining faithful to the end? Isn’t that what we’re called to do? Isn’t that what we’re doing in the battle?
I had someone text me yesterday and simply say, “Thank you for being faithful to Jesus.”
And that’s really what our role is, in the spiritual battle, to remain faithful to Jesus, to stand firm, and to wait. You wait on God, you wait for him, you rest in him, and you remain faithful.
And the victory the enemy wants in your life is to destroy your faithfulness to Jesus because he can get you to do so much damage on his behalf if he can just destroy your faithfulness to Jesus.
Faith is so critical for victory in the spiritual battle. Because so often, we can’t see the victory that we have positionally in Christ, and we can’t feel the victory in our natural sense. But it’s not emotion. It’s volition. Volition means your will; it’s your choice. In fact, so often, what we see and what we feel seems like the opposite of victory. Remember, if you could see it, it wouldn’t take any faith. If you could feel it, it wouldn’t take any faith. What we see and what we feel seems so often to be the opposite of victory in Christ. But, if we hold up a strong shield of faith, we’ll know that we have our victory in Christ – regardless of what we can see, regardless of what we can feel – and nothing the enemy can throw at us can change that.
So, let’s look at a formal definition of faith in God. Turn over to Hebrews Chapter 11. Our formal definition is in Hebrews 11, verse 1.
Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
Notice closely the words confidence and assurance. Faith gives us confidence. Faith gives us assurance. And remember, the enemy’s primary weapon is to tempt you, deceive you and manipulate you to get you to destroy your own life and the lives of those around you. But, if your life is covered with a strong confidence and a strong assurance in God, that faith will act like a force field to repel all the fiery attacks of the enemy.
Just two “English language clarifications” here.
The word “hope” in Hebrews 11, verse 1 means: “A confident expectation based a solid certainty.”
So Hebrews 11:1(a) can be translated: Faith is the confidence that what we Expect with Solid Certainty will actually happen . . .
When Jesus says, “I will never leave you, I will never forsake you, there’s nothing that can separate you from my love,” then your faith says, that’s true, and I confidently expect that to happen. When Jesus says in John 14, “I leave to go to prepare a place for you, and if I leave to prepare a place for you certainly I will come get you so you will be where I am at” (John 14:2-3), you say, that is absolutely going to happen. When the Holy Spirit has Paul write in 2 Corinthians 5, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8), you’re like, okay, come on! You know? Like, I actually believe that. I confidently expect that my last breath here will be my first breath there in the presence of Jesus Christ. You see, I’m not “hoping,” I know that. That’s faith. It is confidence that what we expect with solid certainty will actually happen.
The word “assurance” in Hebrews 11, verse 1, actually refers to a title deed, as in proof of ownership.
So, Hebrews 11:1(b) can be translated: Faith gives us The Proof of Ownership about things we cannot see
So, it’s like someone saying, “Here’s the title deed to an island.” I would say, “Listen, I’ve never seen it, but I own it. Here’s proof right here. I own it.” That’s that word or evidence. Here’s the proof that I own what I can’t see. Here’s the proof that my inheritance is reserved for me in heaven; it’s undefiled, and it will not fade away. And it’s kept for me there while the power of God keeps me here. Here’s my evidence. Here’s my title deed. It’s my faith. That’s what faith is. If you grow it, it will be a powerful shield against the attacks of the enemy.
Faith is the confidence that God’s truths in your life will actually happen.
Faith is the “proof of ownership” of God’s truths in your life that you cannot see.
And if you grow your faith strong, it will be a powerful shield that will stop dead all enemy arrows of temptation, deceit, and manipulation.
And here is another definition of faith that comes from Hebrews 11, verse 1.
Faith is acting on the confidence of God’s truth in your life regardless of HOW you feel.
“I don’t feel like it.” What’s the answer, “So what.” Are your emotions your God? Or are your emotions just your idol? Because your God never says follow your emotions, never. In fact, quite the contrary
Faith is believing God’s truth in your life regardless of WHAT you see.
George Mueller says (paraphrased), Faith does not operate in the realm of what we can FEEL and SEE. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where what we can FEEL and SEE – ends.
As soon as you move beyond what you can see, as soon as you can move beyond what you feel, that is faith. And if we will grow that faith into a real shield, it will stop every fiery attack of the enemy.
Now here is the next point about faith: Faith is only as valuable as the TRUTH it is placed in.
I know someone who refuses to believe in the simple truths of the Bible yet believes wholeheartedly in aliens. Faith is only as valuable as the truth that you’re putting your faith in. True faith requires a foundation that is worthy of that faith, and Jesus Christ, with God’s word, is that firm foundation. To repel the attacks of the enemy, our faith must be one hundred percent founded on the truth of God and the truth of his Word.
Remember how we started the spiritual armor? It was with God’s truth. And we said all the articles of the armor are tied to the foundation of God’s truth. Your righteousness must be founded on God’s truth. Your peace must be founded on God’s truth, and your faith must be founded on God’s truth. God’s truth is the firm foundation that is worthy of your radical faith.
True faith puts one hundred percent of your life fully trusting in God and God’s Word. True faith is not a smorgasbord where we can pick and choose when we want to have faith in God’s truth and when we don’t. God’s truth is God’s truth, one hundred percent, or not at all!
And so many Christians are like that guy who fell off a cliff but managed to grab a tree limb on the way down. And as he’s hanging on the tree limb, he cries out to heaven, “Is anyone up there? And God says, “I am here. I am the Lord. Do you believe?” “Yes, Lord, I really believe, but I can’t hang on much longer.” And God says, “Alright. If you have faith in me, just let go of the branch.” And after a moment of silence, the man shouts back, “Is there anyone else up there?”
I’ve seen it. “I know that’s what God says, but I’m leaning with Oprah on this one.” “I know that’s what God says, but I don’t like it.” “I don’t like what God says, and so I’m looking for something else to put my faith in, in that area of my life.” The shield of faith is one piece, and it is all in God. And it is either all in God or it is not in God at all. That’s the way it is. And so, to carry the shield of faith, to quench the fiery arrows of the enemy, we can’t pick and choose what areas of God we want to have faith in and what areas of God’s truth we want to throw out. It’s all or nothing.
To carry the shield of faith, we cannot pick and choose which part of God’s truth we will have faith in. That will cause us to embrace certain lies and sins that we want to keep in our lives which causes us, in that area, to lay down our shield and instead put out the welcome mat for the enemy. And guess what area the enemy is going to choose to destroy you? That area where you refuse to have faith in God. That area in God where you say, “You know God, I believe you, so I get to go to heaven, right? But I just don’t want to have faith in these other areas because it’s not fun because I want to hold on to my sin in those areas. I want to have enough faith in you to go to heaven, but I don’t like some of the stuff you say, and so in those areas, I’m still gonna do it my way.”
Charles Spurgeon – on spiritual warfare – says: When the Archenemy finds a weak place in the walls of our castles, he takes care where to plant his battering ram and begin his siege. You may conceal your [weakness], even from your dearest friend, but you will not conceal it from your worst Enemy. He has lynx eyes and detects in a moment the weak point in your armor.
If you think you can have faith in God only in the areas you want and ignore the other areas of your life, your enemy will easily hand you your defeat.
Next, faith is not about feeling; faith is about action. Faith is about taking action that is often contrary to feeling. Faith acts on God’s truth when feeling says don’t act. Faith moves ahead on God’s truth when feeling says to run away. Faith is about what you do, not what you think.
Faith is acting on God’s truth
Against what you see
Against what you feel
(And maybe most importantly) faith is acting on God’s truth whether you agree with God or not.
Faith is acting on God’s truth no matter what.
A.W. TOZER says: The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience [to God] . . . [faith and obedience] are opposite sides of the same coin.
Faith acts according to God’s truth and against your own feelings. It chooses God’s truth over self. It chooses God’s truth over our feelings. It steps out where you can’t see.
Habakkuk 2:4 (NLT)
4 “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.
Paul quotes the last line of this verse in Romans 1:17, where (in the King James Version) it says: The just shall live by faith. This is the verse credited with beginning the transformation of Martin Luther that began the reformation. What it means is those who belong to God will live their lives by faith in God’s truth. It means the actions of our lives are determined by faith in God’s truth. NOT by what we SEE and NOT by what we FEEL.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
It means we “order our steps” – we determine the course of our lives – by faith in God’s truth, not by what we see or feel.
I know I’m hammering this home, and I know it might not feel all that positive, but guys, this is war, and the enemy is playing for keeps. And our ultimate goal (in the spiritual battle) is for our lives to bring God glory in the heavenly realm for all eternity. Again, in the spiritual battle, our ultimate goal is for our lives to bring God glory in the heavenly realm for all eternity. If that is new information for you, I encourage you to check out Ephesians 3:10-11. And walking by faith (living by faith) is a critical requirement to being able to bring God glory (our ultimate purpose).
That is why the apostle Paul says in that famous verse in Galatians:
Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
20 . . . And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Living by faith means acting on God’s truth over what we see or feel or think.
Flip back to Hebrews Chapter 11 (The Hall of Fame of Faith). Let’s look at Hebrews 11, verse 6, for starters.
Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)
6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
These are words of action taken – not just truths believed
Faith starts with belief, but faith is displayed in action
Let’s just survey Hebrews Chapter 11 - and point out the easy examples of faith displayed in action.
Verse 4 – By Faith – Abel BROUGHT an acceptable offering
Verse 5 – By Faith – Enoch Walked with God - and Pleased God
Verse 7 – By Faith – Noah BUILT the Ark
Verse 8 – By Faith – Abraham Obeyed God to Leave and Go
Verse 9 – By Faith – Isaac and Jacob Obeyed the same Command
Verse 17 – By Faith – Abraham OFFERED Isaac – Trusting God
Verse 23 – By Faith – Moses’ parents HID him
Verse 27 – By Faith – Moses LEFT the Land of Egypt
Verse 29 – By Faith – Israel WALKED thru the Red Sea
Verse 30 – By Faith – The people MARCHED around Jericho
Verse 31 – By Faith – Rahab the Prostitute WELCOMED the Spies
The Hall of Fame of faith is all about actions taken, not just truths believed. True faith is always displayed in action, and true faith always brings God glory. But, does true faith always end in circumstances that we would call “pleasant?” No… true faith is always displayed in action, and true faith always brings God glory, but true faith allows God to decide the outcome of our circumstances. That’s why it’s called faith. “God, I don’t know what’s coming, I don’t know how it’s going to end up, and it’s okay.” Consider the rest of the story.
Hebrews 11:35–39 (NLT)
35 . . . But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. (THAT is True Faith)
36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons.
37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.
. . .
39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith . . .
All these people brought glory to God by their faith regardless of the outcome of their circumstances.
If our ultimate goal in the spiritual battle is for our lives to glorify God, then we can leave the outcome of our circumstances up to God. The only thing that is up to us is whether we will walk by faith, regardless of our circumstances.
The truth is, God uses even the most trying of circumstances to grow and refine our faith, and a faith that is growing and being refined will bring God much praise and honor, and glory.
Turn two books to the right, to 1 Peter Chapter 6.
1 Peter 1:6–7 (NLT)
6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.
7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
Regardless of your circumstances, remember, faith is an action word. Faith is taking action on God’s promises regardless of what you feel or see, and that faith will bring glory to God in the heavenly realm. That faith will stop dead all the fiery attacks of the enemy.
Faith is the confidence that God’s truths in your life will actually happen.
Faith is the “proof of ownership” of God’s truths in your life that you cannot see.
1 John 5:4 (NLT)
4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.
So, seek God, to grow, strengthen and refine your faith because by holding up that shield of faith, your victory will come!!
Last week we did our second message on God’s peace as part of the spiritual armor, and we had to close that message too fast (due to time), but in the last few minutes, I mentioned some super important ways for you to “hit the gym” every day to exercise yourself to living in God’s peace. I’d really encourage you to get that message and listen carefully to the last six minutes or so, and please consider actually doing what you need to do in order to walk, not only in the peace of God but in all the spiritual armor. Also, please consider listening to our “Fundamentals” series or watching for the workbook coming soon. This series really teaches you how to “hit the spiritual gym” every day.
But for today, we’ve got to move on if we ever want to finish this series on “The Spiritual Battle.” Peace was the last of the three articles of armor we are called to “put on,” meaning “clothe ourselves in” at all times. They are truth, righteousness, and peace. We are to live in (immerse ourselves in) these three. And then, we are to take up the next three articles of armor, faith, salvation (for our mind), and the Word of God.
A good illustration of this two-part system is a baseball player. He always wears the parts of his uniform, but he takes up his glove, bat, or ball as required. So today, we are in the first of the take-up articles of armor, that is, the shield of faith.
Let’s read Ephesians 6, verses 13-16, to set the stage.
Ephesians 6:13–16 (NLT)
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
Ephesians 6:16 (NLT)
16 In addition to (the first three ‘Put-On’ articles), hold up (take up) the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
Paul uses the Roman soldier’s shield to illustrate faith. I believe primarily because a Roman soldier’s shield would cover his entire body when he crouched down behind it. And so, when a volley of arrows would come, the soldier would cover his entire body with his shield and block the arrows and wait out the attack.
There was a great picture of this in the movie “300” when thousands of arrows from the enemy came raining down on the Spartans so that the sun went dark. They got a command, and then they came together, covered themselves with their shields together, and just relaxed and waited out the attack. When the volley of arrows was over, they stood up, broke off the arrows from their shields, and lived to fight again. They were able to stand firm. That is actually a very good picture of what the shield of faith does for us in the spiritual battle.
(This is why I believe Paul uses the shield of faith for the Roman soldier. Because the Roman shields were very similar, they were designed to cover the entire body to stop the volley of arrows.)
If we have our shield of faith ready (this doesn’t come naturally – it takes discipline and effort and working out), and if we know how to use it when we are attacked (which takes practice), when the enemy rains down his fiery arrows then we can hold up our shield, it will cover our bodies spiritually, and our shield of faith takes the impact of the arrows. This is an interesting picture of the shield of faith in that the shield takes the impact. It doesn’t allow us to avoid the arrows. It doesn’t get us to escape the attack, but the shield of faith takes the blow. And if that shield is strong and intact, it will stop every fiery arrow the enemy sends your way.
And when do those enemy arrows rain down on your life? It is in what the Bible calls the evil day (or the time of evil.) Let’s look back at Ephesians 6, verse 13.
Ephesians 6:13 (NLT)
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil (Evil Day). Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
Again, that’s what these Spartan warriors did; when the attack was coming, they crouched under their shields, and when it was over, they just stood up and stood firm again and lived to fight again.
The evil day is when all hell breaks loose on your life, like a rain of fiery arrows coming down on you. The enemy’s only intent is to destroy your life and use you to destroy others’ lives.
It is that day when you feel you have:
Nowhere to turn
No answers for your troubles
No ideas, no options for your escape
And the enemy is raining fiery arrows down upon your life. You’re overwhelmed. The sky has turned dark with the volley of arrows falling down upon your life.
That is the day when you must have your shield of faith ready. Now, if you see those arrows blotting out the sun and you think, “Oh, I think it’s time for me to think about making a shield,” you’re dead. You know, think like a thousand arrows stuck in your back. You have to have the shield with you; you have to have it prepared. It has to be ready and strong, and you have to know how to use it when the evil day comes.
Tony Evans says, “It’s (the evil day) when you’re breaking down emotionally and have lost your passion for life. It’s when your marriage seems hopeless, your kids have turned away, your health deteriorates, your friend has betrayed you, you’re overcome by your addiction, and your future looks seriously bleak.”
When the enemy attacks specifically, when he sends his best to attack you, this is the evil day. And in those days, you’ve got to be ready and able to crouch down behind your shield of faith and rest there, wait there, while the flaming arrows are falling all around you. You wait. You just wait, alright? You need to understand that you don’t stand up and say, “I’m so tough!” and then all the arrows strike you. You just rest. You just hunker down, put the shield of faith up, and wait. You rest in God while the enemy is attacking. Just get into the presence of God, get into the throne room, put the shield up, and wait for the attack to be over.
Faith is meant to protect you from the attacks of the enemy, and when used correctly, then the end of verse 13 will be true; then after the battle you will still be standing firm. That is really the issue isn’t it – to be standing firm (remaining faithful) at the end of the battle? You will be standing firm because you just came close to the Lord, put the shield of faith up, waited for him to be done, and then you stood back up and said, “Lord, you were with me the whole time. You protected me the whole time. That was a really sweet time while I was under the shadow of your wing (like Psalm 91 says.) I was just being protected there. And nothing can touch me there. And I thank you for that.”
That’s the issue, isn’t it? Isn’t the issue really standing firm? Isn’t the issue actually remaining faithful to the end? Isn’t that what we’re called to do? Isn’t that what we’re doing in the battle?
I had someone text me yesterday and simply say, “Thank you for being faithful to Jesus.”
And that’s really what our role is, in the spiritual battle, to remain faithful to Jesus, to stand firm, and to wait. You wait on God, you wait for him, you rest in him, and you remain faithful.
And the victory the enemy wants in your life is to destroy your faithfulness to Jesus because he can get you to do so much damage on his behalf if he can just destroy your faithfulness to Jesus.
Faith is so critical for victory in the spiritual battle. Because so often, we can’t see the victory that we have positionally in Christ, and we can’t feel the victory in our natural sense. But it’s not emotion. It’s volition. Volition means your will; it’s your choice. In fact, so often, what we see and what we feel seems like the opposite of victory. Remember, if you could see it, it wouldn’t take any faith. If you could feel it, it wouldn’t take any faith. What we see and what we feel seems so often to be the opposite of victory in Christ. But, if we hold up a strong shield of faith, we’ll know that we have our victory in Christ – regardless of what we can see, regardless of what we can feel – and nothing the enemy can throw at us can change that.
So, let’s look at a formal definition of faith in God. Turn over to Hebrews Chapter 11. Our formal definition is in Hebrews 11, verse 1.
Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
Notice closely the words confidence and assurance. Faith gives us confidence. Faith gives us assurance. And remember, the enemy’s primary weapon is to tempt you, deceive you and manipulate you to get you to destroy your own life and the lives of those around you. But, if your life is covered with a strong confidence and a strong assurance in God, that faith will act like a force field to repel all the fiery attacks of the enemy.
Just two “English language clarifications” here.
The word “hope” in Hebrews 11, verse 1 means: “A confident expectation based a solid certainty.”
So Hebrews 11:1(a) can be translated: Faith is the confidence that what we Expect with Solid Certainty will actually happen . . .
When Jesus says, “I will never leave you, I will never forsake you, there’s nothing that can separate you from my love,” then your faith says, that’s true, and I confidently expect that to happen. When Jesus says in John 14, “I leave to go to prepare a place for you, and if I leave to prepare a place for you certainly I will come get you so you will be where I am at” (John 14:2-3), you say, that is absolutely going to happen. When the Holy Spirit has Paul write in 2 Corinthians 5, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8), you’re like, okay, come on! You know? Like, I actually believe that. I confidently expect that my last breath here will be my first breath there in the presence of Jesus Christ. You see, I’m not “hoping,” I know that. That’s faith. It is confidence that what we expect with solid certainty will actually happen.
The word “assurance” in Hebrews 11, verse 1, actually refers to a title deed, as in proof of ownership.
So, Hebrews 11:1(b) can be translated: Faith gives us The Proof of Ownership about things we cannot see
So, it’s like someone saying, “Here’s the title deed to an island.” I would say, “Listen, I’ve never seen it, but I own it. Here’s proof right here. I own it.” That’s that word or evidence. Here’s the proof that I own what I can’t see. Here’s the proof that my inheritance is reserved for me in heaven; it’s undefiled, and it will not fade away. And it’s kept for me there while the power of God keeps me here. Here’s my evidence. Here’s my title deed. It’s my faith. That’s what faith is. If you grow it, it will be a powerful shield against the attacks of the enemy.
Faith is the confidence that God’s truths in your life will actually happen.
Faith is the “proof of ownership” of God’s truths in your life that you cannot see.
And if you grow your faith strong, it will be a powerful shield that will stop dead all enemy arrows of temptation, deceit, and manipulation.
And here is another definition of faith that comes from Hebrews 11, verse 1.
Faith is acting on the confidence of God’s truth in your life regardless of HOW you feel.
“I don’t feel like it.” What’s the answer, “So what.” Are your emotions your God? Or are your emotions just your idol? Because your God never says follow your emotions, never. In fact, quite the contrary
Faith is believing God’s truth in your life regardless of WHAT you see.
George Mueller says (paraphrased), Faith does not operate in the realm of what we can FEEL and SEE. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where what we can FEEL and SEE – ends.
As soon as you move beyond what you can see, as soon as you can move beyond what you feel, that is faith. And if we will grow that faith into a real shield, it will stop every fiery attack of the enemy.
Now here is the next point about faith: Faith is only as valuable as the TRUTH it is placed in.
I know someone who refuses to believe in the simple truths of the Bible yet believes wholeheartedly in aliens. Faith is only as valuable as the truth that you’re putting your faith in. True faith requires a foundation that is worthy of that faith, and Jesus Christ, with God’s word, is that firm foundation. To repel the attacks of the enemy, our faith must be one hundred percent founded on the truth of God and the truth of his Word.
Remember how we started the spiritual armor? It was with God’s truth. And we said all the articles of the armor are tied to the foundation of God’s truth. Your righteousness must be founded on God’s truth. Your peace must be founded on God’s truth, and your faith must be founded on God’s truth. God’s truth is the firm foundation that is worthy of your radical faith.
True faith puts one hundred percent of your life fully trusting in God and God’s Word. True faith is not a smorgasbord where we can pick and choose when we want to have faith in God’s truth and when we don’t. God’s truth is God’s truth, one hundred percent, or not at all!
And so many Christians are like that guy who fell off a cliff but managed to grab a tree limb on the way down. And as he’s hanging on the tree limb, he cries out to heaven, “Is anyone up there? And God says, “I am here. I am the Lord. Do you believe?” “Yes, Lord, I really believe, but I can’t hang on much longer.” And God says, “Alright. If you have faith in me, just let go of the branch.” And after a moment of silence, the man shouts back, “Is there anyone else up there?”
I’ve seen it. “I know that’s what God says, but I’m leaning with Oprah on this one.” “I know that’s what God says, but I don’t like it.” “I don’t like what God says, and so I’m looking for something else to put my faith in, in that area of my life.” The shield of faith is one piece, and it is all in God. And it is either all in God or it is not in God at all. That’s the way it is. And so, to carry the shield of faith, to quench the fiery arrows of the enemy, we can’t pick and choose what areas of God we want to have faith in and what areas of God’s truth we want to throw out. It’s all or nothing.
To carry the shield of faith, we cannot pick and choose which part of God’s truth we will have faith in. That will cause us to embrace certain lies and sins that we want to keep in our lives which causes us, in that area, to lay down our shield and instead put out the welcome mat for the enemy. And guess what area the enemy is going to choose to destroy you? That area where you refuse to have faith in God. That area in God where you say, “You know God, I believe you, so I get to go to heaven, right? But I just don’t want to have faith in these other areas because it’s not fun because I want to hold on to my sin in those areas. I want to have enough faith in you to go to heaven, but I don’t like some of the stuff you say, and so in those areas, I’m still gonna do it my way.”
Charles Spurgeon – on spiritual warfare – says: When the Archenemy finds a weak place in the walls of our castles, he takes care where to plant his battering ram and begin his siege. You may conceal your [weakness], even from your dearest friend, but you will not conceal it from your worst Enemy. He has lynx eyes and detects in a moment the weak point in your armor.
If you think you can have faith in God only in the areas you want and ignore the other areas of your life, your enemy will easily hand you your defeat.
Next, faith is not about feeling; faith is about action. Faith is about taking action that is often contrary to feeling. Faith acts on God’s truth when feeling says don’t act. Faith moves ahead on God’s truth when feeling says to run away. Faith is about what you do, not what you think.
Faith is acting on God’s truth
Against what you see
Against what you feel
(And maybe most importantly) faith is acting on God’s truth whether you agree with God or not.
Faith is acting on God’s truth no matter what.
A.W. TOZER says: The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience [to God] . . . [faith and obedience] are opposite sides of the same coin.
Faith acts according to God’s truth and against your own feelings. It chooses God’s truth over self. It chooses God’s truth over our feelings. It steps out where you can’t see.
Habakkuk 2:4 (NLT)
4 “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.
Paul quotes the last line of this verse in Romans 1:17, where (in the King James Version) it says: The just shall live by faith. This is the verse credited with beginning the transformation of Martin Luther that began the reformation. What it means is those who belong to God will live their lives by faith in God’s truth. It means the actions of our lives are determined by faith in God’s truth. NOT by what we SEE and NOT by what we FEEL.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
It means we “order our steps” – we determine the course of our lives – by faith in God’s truth, not by what we see or feel.
I know I’m hammering this home, and I know it might not feel all that positive, but guys, this is war, and the enemy is playing for keeps. And our ultimate goal (in the spiritual battle) is for our lives to bring God glory in the heavenly realm for all eternity. Again, in the spiritual battle, our ultimate goal is for our lives to bring God glory in the heavenly realm for all eternity. If that is new information for you, I encourage you to check out Ephesians 3:10-11. And walking by faith (living by faith) is a critical requirement to being able to bring God glory (our ultimate purpose).
That is why the apostle Paul says in that famous verse in Galatians:
Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
20 . . . And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Living by faith means acting on God’s truth over what we see or feel or think.
Flip back to Hebrews Chapter 11 (The Hall of Fame of Faith). Let’s look at Hebrews 11, verse 6, for starters.
Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)
6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
These are words of action taken – not just truths believed
Faith starts with belief, but faith is displayed in action
Let’s just survey Hebrews Chapter 11 - and point out the easy examples of faith displayed in action.
Verse 4 – By Faith – Abel BROUGHT an acceptable offering
Verse 5 – By Faith – Enoch Walked with God - and Pleased God
Verse 7 – By Faith – Noah BUILT the Ark
Verse 8 – By Faith – Abraham Obeyed God to Leave and Go
Verse 9 – By Faith – Isaac and Jacob Obeyed the same Command
Verse 17 – By Faith – Abraham OFFERED Isaac – Trusting God
Verse 23 – By Faith – Moses’ parents HID him
Verse 27 – By Faith – Moses LEFT the Land of Egypt
Verse 29 – By Faith – Israel WALKED thru the Red Sea
Verse 30 – By Faith – The people MARCHED around Jericho
Verse 31 – By Faith – Rahab the Prostitute WELCOMED the Spies
The Hall of Fame of faith is all about actions taken, not just truths believed. True faith is always displayed in action, and true faith always brings God glory. But, does true faith always end in circumstances that we would call “pleasant?” No… true faith is always displayed in action, and true faith always brings God glory, but true faith allows God to decide the outcome of our circumstances. That’s why it’s called faith. “God, I don’t know what’s coming, I don’t know how it’s going to end up, and it’s okay.” Consider the rest of the story.
Hebrews 11:35–39 (NLT)
35 . . . But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. (THAT is True Faith)
36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons.
37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.
. . .
39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith . . .
All these people brought glory to God by their faith regardless of the outcome of their circumstances.
If our ultimate goal in the spiritual battle is for our lives to glorify God, then we can leave the outcome of our circumstances up to God. The only thing that is up to us is whether we will walk by faith, regardless of our circumstances.
The truth is, God uses even the most trying of circumstances to grow and refine our faith, and a faith that is growing and being refined will bring God much praise and honor, and glory.
Turn two books to the right, to 1 Peter Chapter 6.
1 Peter 1:6–7 (NLT)
6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.
7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
Regardless of your circumstances, remember, faith is an action word. Faith is taking action on God’s promises regardless of what you feel or see, and that faith will bring glory to God in the heavenly realm. That faith will stop dead all the fiery attacks of the enemy.
Faith is the confidence that God’s truths in your life will actually happen.
Faith is the “proof of ownership” of God’s truths in your life that you cannot see.
1 John 5:4 (NLT)
4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.
So, seek God, to grow, strengthen and refine your faith because by holding up that shield of faith, your victory will come!!