Dr Paul Allen

The Christian needs the armour of God more today than ever, but God offers Himself as a shield to those who trust in Him. Awareness The Bible tells us that we have an enemy and one that’s more dangerous because he’s invisible. The Apostle Paul wants us to be prepared and writes in Ephesians 6:10-11 to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” This armour is necessary because “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).  That means the enemy is out of our league, but what is too powerful for us is nothing to God. However, we still must “take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Eph 6:13). It is up to us to “take up” and “put on” the

“But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” ( Psalm 3:3 ) The beautiful metaphor of God as our shield, and our protector from evil, is used over 15 times in the book of Psalms , the first being in our text above. The very first time it is used in the Bible , however, is also the first time the word “shield” itself is used. That was the time when God assured Abram , after his battle with the armies of the northern kings: “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield” ( Genesis 15:1 ). This was a great comfort to Abram, there in the land of the Canaanites , where evil and enemies surrounded him on all sides. But consider also a few of the many “shield” promises in the book of Psalms. One of the most beautiful and most uplifting is Psalm 84:11 : “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” And consider also this wonderful promise: “As for God, his way is perfect: