“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked,” Ephs 6:16.

II. THE GREAT EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SHIELD

It is the only item of armour that is credited with victory over the enemy.  It is the instrument that will obtain victory. 

1. The name of the enemy.

‘The wicked’. (Literally, the wicked one). Wicked refers to his nature. One refers to his supremacy in the realm of wickedness. The devil is the coordinator of attacks upon the people of God. All attacks come from him, if not directly, at least indirectly.

2. The description of his weapons.

‘Fiery darts’.  Fiery -- the inflaming nature of temptation. We are brands plucked from the burning and so easily set on fire of hell, James 3:6. Darts -- secret, swift and deadly.

3. The response of the shield.

‘Quench’. Sin is likened unto fire, Rom 1:27, Isaiah 5:11. That fire may only be quenched by the faith that springs up of the gospel, Titus 3:4-5. As faith enabled the martyrs to quench the fires of the stake (Hebs 11:34) so faith quenches the fire of sin.  It shows the long-term consequences of sin, Hebs 11:25. Gen 39:7. Joseph believed that God would see His action and that it was against Him. So the power of temptation was quenched. 

4. The success of the shield.

‘All’. This is certain.  “ Ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked”. The devil cannot penetrate this shield. Little wonder he does all he can to hinder us believing the Bible! Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper, II Chronicles 20:20.