Restoring Your Shield of Faith

D. Pierce Chuck

Description

This message from Chuck Pierce and Robert Heidler likens our spiritual defense to that of the children of Israel while in battle. Within the ranks there were those who carried huge shields to protect the bulk of the army. And just as we fight spiritual battles today, there is a mighty shield we can carry to protect us. This shield of faith is one of the main ways we can resist our enemy's attacks. We are fully capable of resisting the enemy's attacks, but we must first be able to recognize how Satan fights. His main weapons are to create fear and doubt in us and to tempt us to become complainers and murmurers. If we succumb, our faith is weakened. The keys to increasing our faith are found in knowing the Word of God, which engenders praise, thankfulness, trust, and obedience.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Christian theology
• Christianity

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 08 décembre 2003
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781441268587
• Langue: English

Extrait

PRAISE FOR
RESTORING YOUR SHIELD OF FAITH
This well-written book brought me to a new level of faith and belief that I had not walked in previously. Reading these concepts is rather like eating spiritual Wheaties. For those of you who have had some serious challenges to your faith of late, Restoring Your Shield of Faith is for you!
C INDY J ACOBS
A UTHOR , T HE V OICE OF G OD
It’s remarkable how Chuck Pierce and Robert Heidler always hit the bull’s-eye. Restoring Your Shield of Faith imparts classic teaching about foundational principles, yet it unfolds these truths in a fresh and relevant way. We all need to hear this message. Both of these men have faced very tough spiritual battles and have learned firsthand how to lift high their shields of faith. Read their stories, soak in their teaching, and become better equipped to face the enemy and enter a new dimension of your walk with God.
D R . D UTCH S HEETS
A UTHOR , I NTERCESSORY P RAYER
Restoring Your Shield of Faith challenges our lack of faith when trouble or adversity comes our way. Chuck Pierce and Robert Heidler carefully unfold a tapestry of biblical truths to help us act in faith to receive the promises of God. Read this book and your faith will ignite as mine did!
A LICE S MITH
E XECUTIVE D IRECTOR , U.S. P RAYER C ENTER
Do you want to live God’s full destiny for your life? It will only happen if you live a life of vibrant faith. Restoring Your Shield of Faith is a book that will help you begin a new journey and sustain the faith that you need to move forward.
C. P ETER W AGNER
C HANCELLOR , W AGNER L EADERSHIP I NSTITUTE
In today’s world of chaos and confusion, Christians need a new level of faith. Many people have become discouraged, faced fears they never encountered before or lost hope. Restoring Your Shield of Faith gives a practical road map for regaining a powerful level of faith that secures the victory. I highly recommend this book to help anyone shift into a new place and obtain the promises of the Lord for their life.
B ARBARA W ENTROBLE
F OUNDER , I NTERNATIONAL B REAKTHROUGH M INISTRIES A UTHOR , P ROPHETIC I NTERCESSION AND Y OU A RE A NOINTED

© 2004 Chuck D. Pierce and Robert Heidler
Published by Chosen Books 11400 Hampshire Avenue South Bloomington, Minnesota 55438 chosenbooks.com
Chosen Books is a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan. www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Chosen edition published 2014
ISBN 978-1-4412-6858-7
Previously published by Regal Books
Ebook edition originally created 2011
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the NKJV —Scripture taken from the New King James Version . Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Other versions used are:
AMP —Scripture taken from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE, Old Testament copyright © 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament copyright © 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
KJV — King James Version . Authorized King James Version.
NASB —Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible , © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
NIV —Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
NRSV— The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible , copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
TJB —Scripture taken from The Jerusalem Bible , copyright © 1966 by Darton, Loneman and Todd, Ltd. And Doubleday and Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
D EDICATION
This book is dedicated to all of those who in the midst of battle have raised high their shields of faith. We specifically want to acknowledge all of our personal intercessors and friends who had their shields up on our behalf as we prepared this book.
Put on the full armor of God, . . . with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this , take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one .
E PHESIANS 6:13-16, NIV , EMPHASIS ADDED
CONTENTS
Prologue
The Testudo
Chapter 1
Jesus, Our Shield
Chapter 2
What Faith Is
Chapter 3
Blessings and Benefits
Chapter 4
Enemies of Faith
Chapter 5
The Power of Our Words
Chapter 6
Passing the Test
Chapter 7
Bursting Past Blockades
Chapter 8
The Whole Armor of God
Chapter 9
From Weakness to Perfection
Chapter 10
Moving into a New Dimension
Indexes
Scripture and General
P ROLOGUE
THE TESTUDO
Through the early morning mist Severus Maximus could see barbarian warriors amassing at the far end of the valley. For six months these enemy combatants had been raiding wagons that traveled along Roman trade routes in the region. Severus and his cohort of 600 Roman soldiers had been dispatched to clear them out.
Severus’s men knew their jobs well, but going into battle was never taken lightly. Tension filled the air as they quietly and efficiently donned their armor. The youngest of the cohort, Valentinus, visibly trembled as he adjusted the straps on his armor. Not yet out of his teens, he was about to taste battle for the first time.
When Severus approached, Valentinus snapped to attention.
Severus carefully checked the young man’s armor and then ordered, “Pick up your equipment!”
The young recruit knelt and picked up his sword and his large rectangular shield. The battle shield held Severus’s attention. It was Rome’s secret weapon and the key to many battlefield victories. Amazingly light, it was nonetheless firm enough and large enough to give a soldier almost complete protection. A nervous Valentinus stood to attention, holding his shield closely by his side—it was almost as tall as he was.
“Young Valentinus, you are now a Roman soldier,” Severus announced. “You are part of the best-trained, best-equipped fighting force the world has ever seen.”
The commander put his hand on the young man’s shoulder and softened his tone, “You were sent here to face this barbarian horde. But remember this, you were not sent here to die. You were sent here to win! Keep your shield up and you will do well.”
As the young man’s eyes brightened, Severus smiled slightly, “Strength and honor, Valentinus.”
“Strength and honor, sir.”
Across the valley the barbarian warlord was preparing his men for battle also. His camp was quite a contrast to the one Severus ran. It reeked of unwashed bodies and spoiled food. The men were poorly trained, ill equipped and shaggy in appearance. However, their stench and paint-streaked faces had struck terror into the hearts of many a foe.
The barbarian horde was divided into two groups. On the front lines were 700 warriors. Armed with swords, lances and axes, they milled about, laughing and boasting of their prowess. Each seemed eager to prove that he was stronger and louder than the others. The second flank consisted of 200 archers, their arrows tipped with black pitch, which would be deadly to their enemies.
The warlord was proud of his men. They had seen many battles and had always been victorious. But they had never fought the Romans.
The moment the sound of a trumpet echoed across the valley the barbarians saw the Romans forming long lines and ranks. Soon the air was filled with an ominous sound, like low-pitched thunder. It was the rumble of marching feet and Roman swords rhythmically slapping the edge of large rectangular shields.
The barbarian hordes were not intimidated. Eager to taste blood, they began to curse and taunt the approaching Romans. Finally the warlord gave the signal. The first wave of enemy warriors let out a battle cry, lifted their weapons high over their heads and sprinted across the narrowing strip of land that separated the two forces.
To the horror of the warlord, the Romans responded with a tactic that he had never before seen. As the first wave of barbarians approached, the Roman soldiers—marching shoulder to shoulder—linked their shields together to form an impenetrable wall. The barbarians found themselves rushing headlong toward a solid mass that was moving inexorably toward them.
When the enemies clashed, the barbarian weapons harmlessly clanked against the Roman shields. The warlord could not believe his eyes: His brave warriors were quickly impaled on Roman swords that were thrust through narrow slits between the shields.
The barbarian leader signaled a second wave of attack but saw this force meet the same fate: dashed against the moving fortress of the Roman army. A third wave was just as rapidly repulsed. A few Roman soldiers fell, but they were instantly replaced by others who moved up from the rear.
As the Roman wall of shields continued to advance on the barbarians, the warlord shrieked in anger and gave a signal to his archers. Pitch-tipped arrows were dipped in firepots. At the warlord’s next signal, the air above the Roman forces was filled with a storm of flaming arrows.
But once again the Romans were prepared. While the front-line soldiers kept their shields closely linked, the soldiers behind them lifted their shields overhead, fitting them together in a formation