Faith's Power: Quenching The Devil's Flaming Arrows

how does faith extinguish the devil

Ephesians 6:16 says, In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. The devil's flaming arrows symbolise his attacks, which aim to instill doubt in God's word, goodness, authority, and plan. Faith, in this context, is akin to a shield that safeguards us from the devil's fiery darts. It is a protective barrier that extinguishes his flaming arrows, preventing them from causing harm. This faith is not passive but dynamic and powerful, enabling believers to stand bravely against Satan's assaults.

shunspirit

Faith as a shield

The shield of faith is a powerful metaphor, with the shield being an ancient soldier's most important tool to protect against enemy attacks. It is essential to deflect the attacks of the enemy, be they swords, arrows, stones, or spears. The shield is also the only piece of armour that can protect others. In this context, faith is what deflects the attacks of Satan, who is referred to as "the evil one" in Ephesians.

The image of fiery arrows is a common tactic in ancient warfare, and Roman shields were often lined with leather and soaked with water to prevent them from catching fire. Similarly, faith is likened to a water-soaked shield that can extinguish the flaming arrows of doubt and despair that Satan shoots our way.

The shield of faith is so powerful that it fortifies and arms us to the teeth! It turns us into spiritual tanks, giving us the ability to move forward without taking any losses. This doesn't mean the devil won't try to stop us, but holding the shield of faith in front of us dynamically empowers us to stand bravely against his assaults.

The word "quench" in Ephesians 6:16 is the Greek word "sbennumi", which means to extinguish by drowning in water. Similarly, Romans 10:17 says that our faith is increased by hearing the Word of God, and Ephesians 5:26 likens the Word of God to water. So, when we submit ourselves to the Word of God, we soak our faith with the Word, just like a Roman soldier soaked his shield with water. This way, even if a fiery dart pierces our shield, the Word of God will extinguish the flames and prevent a potentially damaging situation.

The shield of faith is a choice we make every day. We can either follow Jesus and listen to Him through His Word, or we can live by fear and doubt, allowing Satan to devour us with his lies. Faith is believing what God says, and it is a supernatural shield that protects us from Satan's attacks.

shunspirit

The devil's flaming arrows

The shield of faith is a powerful metaphor, conveying the idea that faith can protect us from the devil's assaults. It is described as being dynamically and supernaturally empowered, acting as an impenetrable wall of defence. This shield is not just for protection but also has the unique ability to extinguish the fiery arrows, preventing the spread of destruction and damage.

The image of the shield being soaked in water is used to illustrate the concept of saturating our faith with God's word. Just as a water-soaked shield can withstand and extinguish flaming arrows, so too can a faith steeped in God's word repel and quench the devil's attacks.

The devil's arrows are described as fiery darts, representing the impact they have on our hearts and emotions. They may appear harmless at first, but they can explode into flames, causing fierce and damaging situations. However, with our shield of faith held high and regularly doused in the water of God's word, we can extinguish these flaming arrows and protect ourselves from the enemy's strikes.

The key to extinguishing the devil's flaming arrows lies in actively and aggressively feeding our souls with God's word. It is through this act of saturating our faith that we find protection and strength against the attacks of doubt and deception.

shunspirit

The importance of the Word of God

The Word of God is of utmost importance in a Christian's life. It is the very foundation of our faith and our shield against the devil's attacks.

As believers, we are engaged in a spiritual battle against the forces of darkness, and the Word of God is our weapon and defence. Ephesians 6:16 says, "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." The "shield of faith" is not just any ordinary shield, but it is our firm belief and trust in God and His Word that protects us from the enemy's fiery darts.

The Bible tells us that our faith is strengthened when we hear the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Just as Roman soldiers soaked their shields in water to protect themselves from fire-bearing arrows, so too do we saturate our faith with the Word of God, making it an impenetrable wall of defence. When we are firmly rooted in the Word, even the enemy's attacks cannot shake us because our faith is firmly established on the promises of God.

Additionally, the Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). It guides us in times of uncertainty and gives us wisdom in making decisions. It is a source of encouragement and strength, helping us to stand firm during trials and temptations. The devil's primary tactic is to get us to doubt God's Word, His goodness, His authority, and His plan for our lives. However, when we meditate on the Word day and night, we are better equipped to resist these lies and stand firm in our faith.

Moreover, the Word of God has the power to transform us from the inside out. As we spend time in the Word, it renews our minds, changes our thinking, and helps us to grow in our relationship with God. It is through the Word that we come to know God intimately and understand His will for our lives.

Finally, the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). It is a powerful weapon against the enemy. Jesus himself used the Word to defeat Satan during His time of temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). When faced with Satan's lies and deception, Jesus countered with the truth of Scripture, demonstrating the power of the Word to overcome the enemy.

In conclusion, the Word of God is of utmost importance in our lives as believers. It is our shield and defence against the devil's attacks, our guide in times of uncertainty, our source of transformation and growth, and our weapon against the enemy. By spending time in the Word, saturating our hearts and minds with its truth, we can stand firm in our faith and extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

shunspirit

The role of doubt in Satan's attacks

Doubt is a powerful weapon in Satan's arsenal, which he has been using since the Garden of Eden. He uses it to move us away from God, exploiting our weaknesses to influence us and cause us to sin.

Satan's doubt-inducing tactics are personal; he uses them in our relationship with God, aiming to make us doubt God's love, grace, and mercy toward us. He takes the truth and inserts a sliver of doubt, perverting it just enough to create room for uncertainty and to erode our faith in what God has said.

Satan's attacks often come suddenly and unexpectedly, aiming to shake our faith in God and His Word. They can be so enveloping and total that it is hard to believe they are real. He wants to shatter our peace of mind, making us feel condemned and causing us to retreat. He wants to confuse us in our calling, control us, and ultimately, turn us away from God completely.

However, we can resist Satan's attacks by affirming God's Word. We must be brave and bold, holding our shield of faith high to stop every attack. We should soak our faith in God's Word, ensuring it is so Word-saturated that any fiery darts of doubt are extinguished. We must stand firm on the Word of God and be committed to seeking the truth in His Word, recognizing that doubt can lead to sin if left unchecked.

shunspirit

The power of God's protection

God's protection is a powerful shield that safeguards us from the devil's flaming arrows. This shield of faith is described in Ephesians 6:16, where it says, "In addition to all, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."

The imagery here is of a Roman soldier's shield, soaked in water to douse the flaming arrows of the enemy. Similarly, our faith is strengthened and saturated by God's Word, enabling us to withstand and extinguish the fiery darts of the devil. These arrows represent his deceptive and destructive tactics, aiming to instill doubt, mistrust, and fear in our minds.

Holding our shield of faith high, we can bravely stand against the assaults of the devil. This shield is not passive or blind; it is a strategic and purposeful instrument. Our faith is not a wall to hide behind but a proactive defense that requires our active participation.

God's protection is not just for ourselves but also for those around us. Like Roman soldiers interlocking their shields in formation, we can cooperate and unite with other believers to create a wall of faith that strengthens and protects the entire community.

The shield of faith is a powerful tool in our spiritual arsenal, enabling us to move forward without fear, protected by the boundless resource of God's strength.

Frequently asked questions

The devil's strategy is to target the human mind, the control centre of every human being on the planet. He wants to make us doubt God and not trust Him.

The shield of faith is believing what God says. It is not just believing anything, it is believing the truth that God has spoken and revealed. It invokes or causes or unleashes the work of God.

Faith is like a shield to the believer. It is so powerful that it makes you fortified, invulnerable, and armed to the teeth! It equips you to hold an ironclad position. It turns you into a spiritual tank so you have the ability to move your position forward without taking any losses yourself.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment