Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. I. THE DANGER SPECIFIED. 1. The author of this danger. "The wicked." 2. The means he employs. He is represented as an archer. His temptations come upon the Christian. (1) As suddenly as darts and arrows. (2) As silent and invisible as darts. (3) Dangerous as darts. (4) Numerous, and various as darts. II. THE PIECE OR DEFENSIVE ARMOUR RECOMMENDED. Now, faith is a shield - 1. To the Christian's spiritual life. "We live by faith in the Son of God." 2. It is a shield to all the graces of the soul. As our faith is, so will our hope, and love, and humility, and courage, be. The graces can exist only as they are defended and supported by faith. 3. It is the Christian's shield in suffering and death. III. THE EFFICIENCY OF THIS SHIELD IS ASSERTED. "Wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery," etc. By faith, all Satan's temptations are successfully resisted and overcome. 1. Faith in the Divine veracity and faithfulness is successful against all temptations to distrust, etc. 2. Faith in the Divine promises is successful against temptations to despondency. 3. Faith in the Divine justice and holiness is successful against all temptations to presumption. 4. Faith in the Divine Mediator is successful against all the insinuations and charges of the wicked one. (J. Burns, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. |
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