Shields Up! But First...

In the Star Trek series, we've all heard Captains Kirk and Picard holler out, "Shields Up!" in the face of impending danger and attack from hostile forces. What about the believer? Has God given His soldiers of the cross similar protection from hostile forces and impending danger.

He sure has. One part of the armor and armaments of God mentioned in Ephesians 6 is "the shield of faith."

When the apostle Paul mentioned this shield, he used the same word Jesus used to describe Himself as "the Door" (John 10). A door lets family and friends in, but keeps intruders and strangers out. The shield of faith protects the believer from intrusions and danger as well, what the Bible calls "the fiery darts of the enemy."

ANOINT THE SHIELDS!

The shield Paul mentions was about four and a half feet long by two and a half feet wide, and protected the soldier from tar-pitched fiery projectiles thrown at him. That's pretty good protection in itself. But to insure that the shields did what they were designed by God to do, He also commanded: "Arise you princes, and anoint the shields" (Isaiah 21:5).

In the Old Testament, shields were anointed with holy anointing oil consisting of an admixture of five special ingredients (read Exodus 30:22-25). What are New Testament believers to anoint our shields with?

2 Peter 1:5-7 gives us the answer. We are to anoint our shield of faith with the New Testament's "holy anointing oil," which is made from an admixture of the seven spiritual ingredients mentioned in these three verses:

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your [shield of] faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control patience, to patience godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, to brotherly kindness [agape] love.

THE NEW TESTAMENT'S HOLY ANOINTING OIL:

SEVEN SPIRITUAL INGREDIENTS

Virtue is "a preeminent estimation for God and the things of God." Knowledge is "possessing an intimate and personal relationship with God, which includes recognizing and fully understanding His Word." Self-control is "putting into practice what we've learned about and from God." Patience is "to abide under God's chain of command."

Godliness is "a commitment to defer to the will, mind and purposes of God and devote one's energy and resources to His kingdom." Brotherly kindness (philadelphia) is "a God-given affection for and devotion to the well-being of fellow man." Love (agape) is " a divine, Spirit-imparted affection for God and His will."

Why must we anoint our shield  of faith before we lift our shields up? Verses 8-12 give us the answer! (make sure you read these verses.)

When we sense trouble or danger, God's Spirit cries out, "Shields up, Christians!" But not before we anoint our shields with the New Testament's holy anointing oil!