Suit Up
Ephesians 6:10-17
Introduction: Given the fact that you have called to be engaged in the spiritual battle for truth, God has provided you with the necessary weaponry and armor to successfully engage the enemy. We have looked at the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace, and the Shield of Faith. Today we will consider the last two pieces God has made available to you as a Christian soldier – the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit.
I. Helmet of Salvation – verse 17
A. The helmet was the most noticeable piece of Roman armor. Often they were ornate, being intricately decorated, and plumed with brightly dyed feathers or horsehair. Parade dress helmets were made with course horsehair plumes that would extend to the waist. The Roman army helmet was usually made of bronze, although iron and leather were also used on occasion. They were designed so that blows to the head from a sword hammer or ax could not pierce. To protect the sides of the face, “cheek–pieces”, hinged to each side, hung down and were secured with leather straps under the chin. A “shelf” on the back of the helmet protected the neck and shoulders from arrows that fell from above. At some point in the first century a “bill” was added to the front of the helmet along with bronze coverings above the ears. A leather liner on the inside made the heavy helmet a little more bearable.
B. The two most vulnerable spots on a soldier are the heart and the head. The breastplate protected the heart. The helmet – the head. The head of the soldier needed protecting, as on it the deadliest strokes might fall, and it is the head that commands the whole body. The head is the seat of the mind
C. Satan’s focus of attacks is either the heart or the mind. Satan is the master of mind games. He seeks to captivate our minds and in so doing poison our minds weakening our faith and making us ineffective.
D. He will attack our minds with deception, distraction, distortion, discouragement and divisiveness.
E. He knows the truth of James 1:8 that “a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
F. 2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity* that is in Christ.”
G. We need to protect our minds.
H. To protect us God has given us the helmet of salvation.
I. Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation”
J. This does not refer to being saved. That’s already happened if you are in Christ’s army.
K. There are three aspects to salvation, three tenses, past, present and future. These are simply defined in this way: the past frees us from the penalty of sin; the present tense is freedom from the power of sin; and the future will deliver us from the presence of sin.
L. 1 Thessalonians 5:8-9 “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. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
M. The helmet of salvation is the hope of ultimate salvation that keeps us from becoming discouraged, distracted, or divided. That is to say the helmet is the full confidence of ultimate victory in Christ.
N. Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
O. Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
P. Colossians 3:2 “your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
II. Sword of the Spirit – verse 17
A. The Roman soldier carried a small dagger and a large double–edged sword used for thrusting. The sword was usually about 24 inches long, and 2 inches wide with parallel sides. This particular weapon was developed after the Romans observed the effectiveness of the short sword in the hands of the battle–hardened Spanish mercenaries. Formerly, the Roman army used a much bigger “slashing” sword. This new shorter and more pointed “piercing” sword proved to be much more effective in close–quarter combat. In an era when almost any wound could be fatal, this short sword was the power behind the Roman army machine. The sword was always carried on the right side in a decorated wooden scabbard. The sword and scabbard were usually attached to either the belt or to a leather strap worn over the shoulder. . Once trained in its use he could wield his sword with great accuracy and power.
B. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
C. If the Christian is to be skilled in anything, it is to be in using God’s word.
D. 2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB) “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
E. Using the sword of the spirit is more than tossing Bible verses at opponents, which we often do.
F. Two Greek words are used to describe the Word of God – Logos and Rhema.
G. Logos is the Greek word often used to identify the written scriptures in the Bible, which were given to people under the inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Peter 1:10-11). Collectively, the Bible, as God’s "word," is the written, divine expression or revelation of God to humanity. Jesus completed this expression as the literal embodiment of God’s word, logos (John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.”).
H. Rhema is the second Greek word and is used in Ephesians 6:17.
I. Rhema is the spoken word of God. Rhema refers to a specific statement or utterance. Strong’s concordance says that rhema is "that which is or has been uttered by the living voice." the sword of the spirit is not the logos (the word as a whole), but the rhema (the individual text or saying of the word) that is applicable to each particular situation.
J. The text does not read, “take the sword of the spirit which is the logos of God” but “take the sword of the spirit, which is the rhema of God.” There is a rhema for every circumstance.
K. Notice the Lord’s skillful use of rhema as He draws from the armory of the logos in Matthew 4:
• 3 “Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4 But He answered and said, "It is written, ’Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ "
• 6 “...If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ’In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, ’You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ "
• 9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ’You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ "
L. Just having a Bible is not enough for the battle. We must know the word. We are not fit to fight until we know where the swords are.
M. Wielding the Sword of the Spirit also means making application of the truths of God’s Word to the specific context of our lives. For example, we may be wrestling with an issue in our life and during our quiet time we read a verse that "speaks" directly to the situation we are dealing with. That portion of the scripture becomes a "Rhema word" from God for us regarding our situation. We can then stand in faith on the Rhema God has given us and confess it whenever the devil tries to attack us.
N. The Sword of the Spirit is not just words on onion paper, and bound in leather; but written and living in our hearts.
O. Hebrews 5:13 “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.”
P. Unless there is a commitment to the Word of God, one will never get a grip on the word, neither will he be able to see things from God’s point of view. The sword of the spirit is essential for the victory in this spiritual warfare.
Have you put on the whole armor of God?
