Armor All: Helmet of Salvation

Aaron Finley

Armor All • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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Background for the Book of Ephesians:

A Jailhouse letter Paul is writing from incarceration.

Someone once said when life give you lemons make lemonade. Paul took that advice. He while in prison He wrote four letters (Colossians, Ephesians, and Philippians and Philemon) which are some of the most Christ exalting literature of all the New Testament also had several converts some even being of Cesar’s household.

Ephesus was a part of the Roman Empire to which Paul had stayed at with Aquila and Priscilla at the end of His Second Missionary Journey.

Paul in Romans speaks of the great mystery of Christ and in Ephesians goes on to speak of the mystery of the Church. The first three chapters deal with the doctrine of the believers that make up that church Ekklesia is the called out ones in the family of God by the salvation by Christ. We were baptised into Christ. We are a part of the family of God for those in Christ. Paul is addressing in chapter 4-6 how the church with Christ as it’s head should live in this world

As a class we have been looking at each piece of armor, but always remembering that they work best together.

I think we all remember playing in a sport when we didn’t where the right equipment and ended up paying a price.

Why didn’t we wear it?

Maybe we didn’t think we didn’t need it.

Maybe we just forgot to use it.

Maybe we didn’t have it in our possession to use

Whatever the reason after the moment it became clear that we didn’t have it we sought after it and wore it religiously from that moment on.

Would we ever play in a professional sport without every advantage equipment would afford us certainly not.

As Believers we must remember that we are in a battle

Our Strength comes form God

Our Opponent is Satan and all the force of Darkness

Our Posture is to Stand being fully suited for the Battle.

Only a foolish person would not prepare for the Battle.

We are to put on as believers:

The Loins girt about with the Belt of Truth

Having on the Breastplate of Righteousness

The Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Taking the Shield of Faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Take the Helmet of Salvation

We know turn our attention to the fifth piece of armor in this conflict we are called to Stand.

How is your stance? Remember on foot in front of the other reminding you to put Jesus first. You are second in everything.

These are all defensive pieces of armor that are to be worn not by the fireside of camp, but will be tested in the heat of battle facing the enemy of God.

I. Helmet of Salvation is Protective.

The piece needs to be sought after take is to physically from had to head. Vital defensive piece as the war wages on not just in the opening game, but middle and endgames. Always on.

The piece protects the head from blows of any weapon.

The helmet was made of a variety of materials through the ages, but its function is the same to protect the head.

In football the most important piece of equipment we had was the helmet. You could not play without it because of its collision nature.

In the battle most infantry had a broad sword about 3 or 4 foot long sword that would be swung to hit the head and either knock them out or knock their head off.

Our enemy is Satan and although he has lost the war he is interested in discouraging believers.

The broad sword he would use would have been double edged.

The two edges would have been discouragement and doubt.

Doubt and Discouragement are two of the tools Satan uses to get inside our heads. Thoughts are discouraging sometime.

Even King David asked “Why so downcast oh my soul?” but goes on to say “Put your trust in God.”

Even the great Elijah after defeating the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel ran in fear and discouragement from Jezebels threat.

Even John the Baptist went through a time of questioning asking Jesus “Are you the one?”

We as soldiers of the cross should expect difficulties in this life we life. Soldiers will tell you that the scars will come. Some just show on the outside as well as the inside.

II. The Helmet of Salvation is Powerful

A. Powerful because of what it brings Hope.

Hope is a powerful thing in this life.

Salvation brings hope because of who the salvation comes from.