DOMINION OVER FIERY DARTS (1)

“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

Beyond having hearts that are free from spoilers, we must learn to exercise DOMINION OVER FIERY DARTS: “Above all, taking the SHIELD of FAITH with which you will be able to quench all the FIERY DARTS of the wicked one” (Eph. 6:16). The New International Version 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.” Our battle is not with flesh and blood, but against powers of evil (vv.10-12). We cannot exercise dominion or conquer Satan and his demons by means of physical or natural weapons. Only supernatural weapons will secure the victory. Among the Believer’s supernatural Armour, the Shield of Faith is vital in protecting the heart and quenching the devil’s fiery darts.

We’ve examined specific SPOILERS of the Heart, namely: Evil thoughts, corruption, anger, bitterness, confusion, greed, guilt, hate, and envy. However, the Believer’s heart must also be guarded against Satan’s DARTS. A dart is a pointed missile thrown at a target. Whereas spoilers are like evil seeds planted by the enemy to gradually pervade, weaken, degrade, and ultimately destroy the heart, darts represent Satan’s multiple ways of directly attacking the Believer. These “fiery darts” or “flaming missiles” are dangerous in the hands of the devil. In warfare, the idea of a flaming dart is one that is lit so that when it hits its target, the fire would spread and destroy. The devil is relentless in his attacks and knows exactly when and where to concentrate on for maximum damage.

In our meditation verse we see that Satan’s key target is the Believer’s Faith, which is essentially a heart matter. A dart is something external, from without. In throwing darts, Satan orchestrates circumstances to attack faith in our hearts. He targets our Faith because Faith pleases God and is fundamental to the Believer’s Life in Christ (Heb.11:6). The enemy doesn’t want us to please God from the heart. Moreover, Faith is the Victory that overcomes the world – with its adversities and circumstances (1Jh.5:4). But Satan wants us to be defeated. It is our faith that brings answer to prayer (Mt.21:21-22). The devil doesn’t want us to pray and receive answers from God. Faith brings hope. It invites God into our situation. In contrast, Satan wants us to be discouraged.

A dart suggests speed. Satan often attacks suddenly, without warning. He shoots his darts when we least expect it; when we are most vulnerable or most excited. But the spiritually discerning, sensitive, and watchful Believer ensures to never be caught off-guard. Faith is standing on God’s Word, believing that He will do what He said He would do. Satan’s darts are dispatched to erode faith! He fires his Destructive Darts at the Believer’s heart almost on a daily basis. The most common of these are: Darts of Doubt, Discouragement, Deception, Evil Desire or Lust, Delay, Distraction, Denial, Fear, Hurt, Anxiety or Worry, Pride, and Destruction.

One of the ancient soldier’s most vital equipment was a shield. It was essential to protect against enemy attacks in the forms of arrows, stones, swords, or spears. This was such a powerful implement that shields are often associated with Strength in the Old Testament. God called Himself a Shield to Abraham (Gen.15:1). He functioned as a Shield to Israel (Dt.33:29). The good news is that God has given us a weapon which will extinguish or quench every dart, however vicious: The Shied of Faith!

Faith is what deflects the attacks of the enemy. It is the Believer’s strongest defence; it protects the rest of the armour! Our Shield of Faith works in ALL circumstances and against ALL darts! Not one of the devil’s darts needs to hit, hurt, or harm us. They can all be extinguished by the Shield of Faith! But this doesn’t happen passively or automatically, but purposively. Shields must be picked up and wielded. By God’s grace, the crux of our meditation in Tomorrow’s Capsule will be the HOW of wielding the Shield of Faith!