The Helmet of Salvation
The Helmet of Salvation
Eph. 6:14-17
To defeat Satan, we must put on the helmet of salvation.
Salvation equips us with a calm assurance. Roman soldiers wore helmets made of thick leather that were often covered with metal. There were thick bands to protect the forehead and the cheeks. The metal cover extended down the back to protect the neck. When it was tightly strapped on, the only exposed areas were the eyes, nose and mouth.
Your mind is the battleground of life.
I. Paul says we are to put on "the helmet of salvation." This does not refer to being born again. Remember, Paul is talking to people who already had been saved (cf. chapters 1-3). Rather, it means resting in the assurance of the salvation that is already ours.
v The helmet of our salvation gives us confidence because we know that no matter what happens we will ultimately win the victory. Salvation infuses us with the optimism that victory is assured!
v Because of the cross, victory will ultimately be ours! As believers clothed in our spiritual armor we claim the promise of Romans 8:31, 35–39.
v 1 Thessalonians 5:8, "But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation." Titus 2:13 tells us to be "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."
v 1 John 3:2 says, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." The wonderful preacher E. V. Hill preaches a message called "This Ain’t It." Don’t let this battle get you down, because one day it will be over!
II. When we are discouraged, when we are troubled, when we have sinned, when we feel like giving up, when we think we can’t go on, remember that we have an eternal salvation. This lifetime is but an instant compared to eternity.
Hebrews 6:11 says, "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end."
Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
III. We need the helmet of salvation to guard our minds against the invasion of demonic influence.
v The mind is the center stage of our lives because it processes and stores information collected through the physical senses.
v Not only do we process things from the physical senses, we also pick up and process things our spiritual ears are hearing (Rev. 2:7) He who has ears, let him hear what the Spirit is saying.
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
[1]
Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
[2]
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, forgive me for my wandering thoughts and undisciplined thinking. Help me to guard my heart and not allow wrong thinking to influence and even control me. In the power of the name of Jesus, I cast down every stronghold of wrong thinking: imaginations, pride, self-pity, anger and deceit. Give me a clear head. Grant me spiritual discernment to recognize the origin of my thoughts. I am committing myself to thinking right and thinking straight. Deliver me from every distortion and misunderstanding. And Lord, give me strength to refrain from speaking out my thoughts unless I am certain that what I say will bring you honor and life to others.
In Jesus’s Name, Amen.
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[1] The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
[2] The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.