How Satan Uses Doubt — And How to Fight Back with Faith
This expert summary provides a deep analysis of Ephesians 6:16, focusing on the essential role of the Shield of Faith in countering Satan’s primary weapon: doubt. It outlines the priority, purpose, potential, and practical possession of this spiritual armor piece, emphasizing that effective spiritual defense relies on knowing and applying the Word of God and maintaining a strong community connection.
I. The Enemy’s Primary Strategy: Doubt and Denial
Satan’s initial approach in his relationship with humanity, dating back to the Garden of Eden, is to create doubt about God Himself and His promises. This strategy remains his consistent purpose.
The Law of First Reference: The Garden of Eden
Applying the law of first reference in Bible study, which suggests that a concept’s first appearance defines its subsequent application, reveals Satan’s tactics in Genesis 3.
- The Dart of Doubt (Questioning God’s Integrity): Satan’s first dart, thrown at Eve, was doubt. He asked, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”. This directly questioned the integrity of God.
- The Dart of Denial (Rejecting God’s Word): After softening Eve with doubt, Satan followed up with the more powerful dart of denial, stating, “You will not surely die”. He sows the seed of deception by denying the explicit consequence God had set.
Satan’s favorite and most used tool in the life of the believer today remains the attack of doubt.
The Nature of Fiery Darts
The term “fiery darts” (or arrows) used in Ephesians 6:16 refers to the comprehensive attacks launched by the devil and his hosts against God’s people.
In ancient warfare, darts were often tipped with lethal poison or dipped in pitch and set alight to ignite flammable materials in the enemy camp.
Scholars suggest these burning arrows depict:
- Every kind of temptation to ungodly behavior.
- Every kind of doubt and despair.
- External assaults like persecution and false teaching.
Most of Satan’s darts are fire-tipped and are designed to produce stress of mind, depression of spirit, and disappointment in relationships, work, or self. Their sting can linger long after the initial attack is felt.
II. The Shield of Faith: Priority, Purpose, and Potential
The Bible commands believers to stand against these attacks by taking up the Shield of Faith. This is not a passive action but an active defense.
Priority: “Above All”
The scripture explicitly prioritizes the Shield of Faith: “Above all taking the shield of Faith”. Faith is the key to all spiritual armor; believers must not forget the shield.
Purpose: To Quench Attacks
The purpose of the shield is to quench all the fiery darts from Satan before they reach the believer’s heart. Roman soldiers covered their shields with animal skins soaked in water so that when flaming arrows struck, they were immediately extinguished.
Potential: Quenching “All” Darts
The Shield of Faith is sufficient to repel all of the fiery darts of the wicked one. The word “all” means all. God gives believers the means to repel any attack, no matter how severe the enemy’s “best shot”. The Apostle John confirmed, “And this is the victory that has overcome the world—even our faith”.
III. The Protection and Possession of Faith
Faith binds a believer in a vital, deep union with God. It is not just belief, but belief plus trust—resting in the person and word of God.
Protection Through Scriptural Knowledge
The Shield of Faith protects believers because it is built upon the knowledge of God’s Word. Jesus Christ modeled this defense perfectly during His temptation in the wilderness. When Satan challenged Jesus, Jesus responded three times by quoting scripture from the Book of Deuteronomy, effectively wielding the Shield of Faith.
If a believer’s spiritual survival depended on their knowledge of scripture, they must actively build their shield with the truth about God and His Word.
Possession: Taking Up the Shield
The Shield of Faith is not dropped out of heaven; the scripture says, “Above all take the shield of Faith”. The soldier (the believer) must actively appropriate and possess it.
- Active Faith: True faith is always active. It is not a passive idea; it involves decision, action, and resolution.
- Arming with Truth: Appropriating faith means arming oneself with the truth about who God is and using the Word of God as an appropriate answer to repel Satan’s attacks.