Intro: "In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, bloodshed; they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love, five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did they produce? The cuckoo clock"
It is in the kiln of spiritual battle and adversity that the character of Christ is hardened in us. It is difficult even as a pastor for the discouragement that is faced, the distractions, and apparent defeats that the devil shoots at us. These are the very things that will bring out Christ in us.
The armor of God is not optional in the battle that we are embroiled in. It is imperative as we face the enemy we do it in the strength of our Captain Jesus Christ. However, remember even though he has acquired victory we are still called to stand and face the enemy’s assaults with the armor of God and assail the enemy with the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. This morning we see the last piece of defensive armor the helm of salvation and the call to grab the hilt of the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.
I. The helm of salvation
In the time of the Roman hoplite they wore a helmet of bronze, or leather, or a combination of the two to protect their head from deadly blows. We are called to do the same take the helmet of salvation.
A) Receive a correct mindset
Paul is said to use metonymy where he puts the helm of salvation in place of the mind. At salvation we repent which is usually said that we turn from sin and turn to Jesus as savior. The Greek word for repent is a compound word that comes from a word that means change, and a word that means mind. So at salvation the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and separation from God and we believe on Jesus and confess Him as Lord. Then we receive a new mindset. Paul clearly says in Romans 8.7 the carnal mind is at war with God.
Think of the problems that attack and sometimes overwhelm people’s minds today, depression, ADD, loneliness, low self-esteem. Maybe you battle negativity, what others say about you either drive you to depression or swell your head. The devil will do whatever he can to whisper words of discouragement in our ears. He would love for nothing more than to get us to like Eve be moved by feelings and emotions rather than truth.
So what is Paul trying to tell us? Don’t live based on feelings and emotions. Feelings and emotions lie, they can be distorted, and uninformed. Take the helmet of salvation the truth of Who God is and who you are in Christ as a cover and protection to your mind to deflect and defeat the schemes of the Devil.
1 Thessalonians 5.8 “But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. The devil would love to destroy you hope and discourage you. 5.11 Paul says encourage one another, why? Because the devil wants to discourage us and make us doubt the promises and presence of God in our life. Ex: Job
B) Receive an encouragement for your mind
The devil loves to attack us with our actions. Remember what you thought last week, remember what you said yesterday, and remember what you did a year ago?
Don’t allow the enemy to discourage you! Our hope of salvation is a firm confidence in what Christ did! We do nothing to be acceptable to Him! Everything you do should be based on what He has already done in your life!
Please remember it is not our mistakes that matter but His mercy! Christ died once for all the righteous for the unrighteous. If there is nothing we can do for salvation then focus on Christ finished work and be encouraged!
However, don’t think that you can do whatever you want. Those that are saved and sealed by the Holy spirit of God live a life patterned by obedience to the will, word and work of Christ.
It is the hope we have in Christ that keeps us from losing our grasp on the reality of God’s grace. If the devil can discourage us and get us to doubt the goodness of God we can be overcome by despair and loose our effectiveness for God’s kingdom. Remember the words of our blessed Lord Jesus do not be discouraged I have overcome the world!
When you are discouraged, or depressed, or distressed remember we can be confident that God will work it to our good.
Ephesians 4.23 “that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
How, How can I have my mind renewed to resist the wiles of the Devil?
1) Desire to pattern your life after God, not the world Romans 12.1, 2
2) Devote time to God’s word so that it transforms you behavior 2 Timothy 3.15-16
3) Develop these as a result of you mind changing relationship to Jesus.
The helmet of the hope of salvation keeps the devils discouragement behind our shield of faith, but within reach of the sword of the Spirit.
Martin Luther’s great Hymn A mighty fortress is our God
And tho this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us: The Prince of Darkness grim, We tremble not for him: His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure; One little world shall fell him.
II. The hilt of the sword of the spirit
It is said that the person that digs the deepest gets the most Gold. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God. The main offensive weapon we have against the enemy is God’s word. This was the Roman hoplites main weapon. It was designed for close combat. Its double edge gave it the ability to pierce and slice. The short sword was the sword held by roman soldiers when Judas led them to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. It was the short sword used by Peter to lop off the ear of the high priests slave. It was the sword used to kill James the brother of John in Acts 12.2. The point is it was used on a daily basis. It was an irreplaceable weapon for the Roman soldier. It was a weapon designed to be precise.
A) Take its powerful edge for eternal life
It is the sword of the spirit that cuts to the heart of man and reveals sin and the need for a savior. There isn’t enough philosophy, scientific fact, evidence textual or historical that will convince you or anyone to receive Jesus Christ. Romans 10.17 says “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Pretty general isn’t it. The Nasb translates more specifically. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ.
The word translated word hrema, it means a specific word about Jesus Christ. You will never be saved just because you believe the Bible. It is because you believe in the specific work of Jesus to purchase you salvation. He didn’t come to be a good man, or a great teacher. He came to be the Savior when He comes again he is coming as sovereign. Reject the convicting cut of the word of God now and you will receive the condemning cut of the King of Kings at his second coming.
B) Take its probing edge for internal life
How do you deal with doubt? Defeat doubt with words of promise, and hope. Feed your soul with heavenly bread. The bread that came down to feed the Israelites is still available to feed our tired and tempted soul today. Jesus parried and deftly dealt the devil a deep blow when He said “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” The words of God give us life. They direct us to an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. They instruct us how to draw near, and experience life abundant and overflowing.
But as with the short sword of the roman hoplite it calls for precision. We are given the Holy Spirit not only as a comforter but also as a teacher of truth. What does the Holy Spirit do? He reveals all truth by opening the word of God to us. How do we deal with loneliness? Fear not I am with you. How do we deal with weakness. God is my rock, and my strength, I will trust in my redeemer. How do we deal with non-believers with gentleness ready to give them an answer for the hope that is within us.
C) Takes its practical edge for external life
The Sword of the Spirit the word of God acts defensively as we parry the up close and personal attacks of the devil. It also acts offensively as we obey the will of God revealed in the word of God. We submit to God and resist the devil and the devil will flee. Where could we learn this truth? The word of God!
The practical wisdom that is in the Bible helps us with our relationships, finances, politics, investment, work, family. There are endless amounts of practical wisdom found in the pages of God’s word.
The wisdom of the ages is bound in its pages. In the pages of the Bible you find the wisdom of God, the way to walk with God, the way to resist temptation.
1) Saturate yourself with the word
Memorize and meditate on its truth as you ask God to reveal all the riches He has for His children.
2) Study the word
Study it to know what you believe. Don’t look only to your pastors for you daily diet of God’s word. Learn to feed yourself so that you can feed others.
Conclusion: We are constantly involved in a spiritual battle. The truth of who Jesus is and what He has done holds all our armor together. The breastplate of righteousness guards our heart from the wily attacks of the devil. The Gospel, the good news that God offers peace in Jesus Christ gives us stability to face any situation. Our shield of faith comes from taking God at His word and looking beyond what we see to see what God has prepared. The helm of salvation our confidence in Christ protects our though life from the carefully planed false accusations and discouragement from the Evil one. The Sword of the Spirit God’s word gives us an ability to attack and annoy the enemy.
Are you confident in Christ? Have you placed your confidence in Him alone to make you right with God? Are your skills with the sword sharpened from communion with Christ and submission to His Holy Spirit and word?
