God's Wants And Desires For You

God’s Wants And Desires For You

Eph 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

There used to be a men’s clothing store in Sylva, N.C. called Shulman’s. It was and old store, and on one wall was a sign which read, "If you want to get ahead, get a hat."

That may be a trite advertising slogan, but it is really the Apostle Paul’s point in his reference to the fifth piece of armour, the "helmet of salvation." If you want to get ahead spiritually, get a hat, or a helmet, or a hard hat.

Paul is teaching here concerning the protection of the Christian’s mind.

He is saying that the power of the Gospel must be applied to the mind.

The Gospel is the power onto salvation, and that salvation surely includes the mind. It is the mind that is most likely to get the Christian in trouble.

All sin begins in the mind, and moves to its place of commission from there.

The helmet, like the other pieces of a soldier’s armour, is provided by the army with which he fights. The army provides his armour, but it is left to him to put it on. Our helmet of salvation is provided by God, but we must put it on. When we put it on, what does it do for us? Why is it absolutely necessary to include it in our battle dress?

I. GOD WANTS US TO BE HOLY MINDED

Philip. 4:8 "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoevr things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: if the be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

A. Be Ye Holy As I Am Holy

1. How?

Make God’s conduct your conduct.

Phil 1:27

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Refuse to be a receptacle for all garbage (protect the gates- ears, eyes, ect.)

II GOD WANTS US TO BE HEAVENLY MINDED

Have you ever heard, "he is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good?"

There are people who have the wrong kind of heavenly mindedness. They live in a dream world, a kind of escapism from reality. THAT IS NOT WHAT WE DESIRE FROM GOD.

We are pleading for such a consciousness of heavenly realities that our

lives here on earth will be changed. We want that kind of heavenly mindedness which Paul describes in;

Col. 3:1-2 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth."

While it is possible to be so heavenly minded in the wrong way as to be no earthly good, the far more prominent problem is that we tend to be so earthly minded that we are no heavenly good.

Charles Sheldon - In His Steps - What would Jesus Do? - WWJD

III GOD WANTS US TO BE HUMBLE MINDED

Philip. 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglorying, but in the lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than himself."

Put Jesus first, other next and yourself last."

Satan is the very personification of pride, and it is pride that mankind is most susceptible to.

Some don’t wear the helmet of salvation because their heads are too puffed up to get it on.

GOD WANTS US TO BE Harmony Minded

When we all pull together (song)