The Helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Spirit
Ephesians chapter 6:10-20
Good Morning Everyone - Happy that you are with us this morning.
We have been in a series “When the enemy attacks”
Ephesians chapter 6:10-6:18
Prayer-
We have looked at all the pieces of the armor of God except the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.
We have the belt of Truth
We have put on the Breastplate of Righteousness
We have put on the shoes of peace
We have taken the shield of Faith
One piece we have not talked about is the helmet of Salvation.
Very clearly a helmet is headgear the soldier wears.
I think Paul sitting in prison and looking at his guard notice that the helmet was head protection.
It is to protect him from taking a blow to the head.
Spiritually it is not allowing the enemy to invade your mind.
How many believers struggle in their mind? The mind is a large computer of data and thoughts, emotions, principals, like an elephant a lot of times we don’t forget when it would be in our best interest to forget and move on.
The devil uses that at times to cause us to stumble in our walk with Him.
We are told and encouraged to bring all our thoughts under the captivity of Christ.
Headgear today is a big thing-
Some of us rode a bike without a helmet
Some rode in cars before seat belts
Some rode in back of a pickup/ could explain why some of us are the way we are!
Illustration-
Local pastor friend of mine a few years ago was riding his bike on HY 230 near the Penn State campus and rode over some train tracks, it stopped the bike instantly and catapulted him skidding on the ground, cracking his head on the road with his helmet on. The helmet completely split into 2 pieces. He was okay except for the scrapes and cuts from the road. Do you think he is an advocate for helmet safety? Of course he is!
Except when behind the pulpit, he wears a baseball cap all the time. (I don’t see him without a hat) I bet he is glad for a bike helmet! It is not having any headgear on, it is having the right headgear for the right job where it is needed. The helmet of salvation is allowing the Lord to protect our minds-
Remember this is not about getting saved.
You have to be saved and in a relationship with the Lord because the armor of God is not available to us until we are children of God.
The assurance of salvation is our impenetrable defense against anything the enemy throws at us. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). The idea in this verse is that, as we prepare for Satan’s attacks, we must grab that helmet and buckle it on tightly. Salvation is not limited to a one-time act of the past or even a future hope. God’s salvation is an ongoing, eternal state that His children enjoy in the present. It is daily protection and deliverance from our sin nature and Satan’s schemes.
Because of the power of the cross, our enemy no longer has any hold on us (Romans 6:10; 8:2; 1 Corinthians 1:18). He knows that, but he also knows that most of God’s children do not know that—or, at least, they do not live as if they know. We must learn to keep our helmets buckled so that his fiery darts do not lodge in our thoughts and cause us to stumble. Through this helmet of salvation, we can “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Each piece is supposed to accomplish something spiritually in your life if you will let it.
You have all the body wear- you look like a soldier and very quickly we will learn if you have been taught by God to be able to do spiritual warfare and not only survive but to successfully accomplish something for the kingdom of God.
For each of these pieces is for defensive purposes.
Again, let me say this- you cannot defeat the enemy in your own strength.
He gives us protective armor to combat the attacks that we face.
He gives us only one offensive weapon, and that is the Sword of the Spirit. It is to be used by praying believers, prayed up In the Spirit of God.
The sword for the Roman soldier was a long double-edged sword about 24” long.
It was edged on both sides so that it could do damage going in and coming out as it was thrust into someone’s body.
They developed it by trial and error and found that this sword was good in hand-to –hand combat with the enemy.
The soldier carried it on the right side and was attached to the belt and below his breastplate.
You can see how you need all pieces of the armor and how you needed to know how to use them.
Once a soldier was properly trained, he could wield that sword with accuracy and power.
For the believer- the sword is the word of God. (Repeat)
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to the dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
The word of God is God’s truth- revealed by Jesus Christ (incarnate word)
The word of God is active in accomplishing God’s purpose- Amen!
The author of Hebrews describes it as living power that judges as with an all seeing eye, penetrating a person’s innermost being…soul, spirit, joints, marrow.
God’s Word! God’s spoken word recorded for us to use as a weapon against the enemy of your soul.
The spoken word of God thrust Satan out of heaven for his rebellion and disobedience.
The spoken word of God is what will keep him defeated.
Every encounter that Jesus had with Satan Mt. 4
Turn these stones to bread
Throw yourself down and let the angels protect you
I’ll give you all this if you will fall down and worship me.
Was answered by…..it is written! The spoken word of God recorded.
It is written
“Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
“Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
Away from me Satan, for it is written… “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.”
Mt. 4:11- “Then the devil left him, and the angels came and attended him.”
If there is anything that a Christian better be skilled at, it is to be using God’s Word.
2 Tim. 2:15-
“Do your best to present yourselves to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
The sword is the word of God- it defeats the enemy and it will transform our lives.
The soldier’s sword can only destroy. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
The thief thinks only of himself.
Jesus is interested in his people and enables us to live life to the full.
The word of God is a double-edged sword. It will defeat the enemy and transform our lives if we will let it.
Knife in a soldier hand brings death.
Knife is a surgeon’s hand brings healing and comfort.
The battle is spiritual and must be fought in God’s strength depending on the word and on God through prayer and relationship with Him
1 Sam 17:45-
“David said to the Philistine, “you come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the army of Israel, whom you have defiled.”
David’s strength was his reliance on God. The power that was in the name of God, and his dependence on the promises of God.
The sword (word of God) is the only offensive weapon that believers have against a much stronger enemy.
If you are not reading God’s word, and praying, you literally have no weapon against the enemy. You have no weapon to what happens to you when attacked in your life.
Psalm 44:6-
“”I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory, but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.”
In God we trust- all others pay cash! Sorry that is not in the bible, but it is the truth!
Over 54 times in the New Testament, Jesus says to us I tell you the truth!
For some your life would be better if you take the truth of God and apply it to your life.
Take the sword of the Spirit – and know by reading God’s word what truths that you should be standing on when under trials. Amen or Oh Me…you pick!
Jesus says: “My words will never pass away”!
King David said- “I have hidden your words in my heart.”
“Every word is flawless”
“All your words are truth.”
God says:
Deuteronomy 11:18-
“Fix these words of mine in your heart.”
Sow the word
Proclaim the word
Trust the word
Eat the word
Apply the word
Read the word
Meditate on the word
Are you getting it? The word of God will change your life and will help you with what you are going through now!
The word of God is not just words. It is power and direction for your life from a God who loves you and cares for you.
Unless you have a commitment to God’s word, you will never get a grip on the word, and the word will never get a grip on you.
Hebrews 5:13-14-
“Anyone who lives on the milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
For some of you today, you are not reading God’s word for yourself and you are not praying and seeing God’s direction, only praying when you have a crisis.
Remember (v12) “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
You are fighting other people and the enemy is kicking the snot out of you!
The Spirit of God helps us in our weaknesses.
Even helps us when we don’t know what and how to pray.
The Spirit of God intercedes for us at those times.
There has been times that I have cried before the Lord, saying nothing! Because I could not find the words or get the words out.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayers and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.”
Anxiety and prayers are opposites- the answer to worry is prayer!
Last point-
First, if you missed it- the importance of the word of God in your armor- use the sword that gives you offensive power against your enemy.
Last point, prayer
Prayer is a powerful tool!
Paul tells us- ‘pray without ceasing”. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
John Maxwell-
“We teach what we know, but reproduce what we are.”
If we pray only when we are in crisis, fighting for results that we don’t believe will happen. We are in trouble.
The time to pray is before, during , and after a trial in our lives.
Prayer produces or reproduces a heart that is trusting God, a person that has a relationship with God, and wants God’s will to be done in our lives.
If you ate as much as you prayed- we would have a lot of starving people in the world.
We have Christians trying to fight without the word of God and without the power of God working in their live.
Kid’s prayers
Please send mommy a new baby, the one from last week cries too much.”
Could you send my brother some brains, so far, he has none.
We laugh, but what if any are the prayers going up to God.
Oh God Help me!
Oh God I need….
I know it’s been a long time…..
We need to come back to Him, we need to tell Him we need the power of God working in our lives because we have made a mess of things!
Closing quickly,
I want to ask you a question- how much of God’s word are you reading and applying to your life?
How much time are you spending with Him? In the word of God or in prayer?
Then ask yourself if some of the things going on in your life are because you have walked away from His word or advise?
Praying is the supply line for frontline battles. Are you in or out?
God word gives us direction- yes or no?
I would like you to bow your heads for a moment- this is personal and private between you and God.
If you would have to admit this morning that your reading of the word and your prayer life is not where it should be, but you want it to be better, can I pray for you this morning? Would you raise your hand?
If you are here this morning and you cannot say that you have a relationship with God that is personal, but you would like that to happen this morning, can I see your hand so I can pray for you this morning?
Lastly, if you are here this morning and you have to admit that you have not done things that the Lord has told you, you want to make that right this morning, let me see your hand?
That should be about all of us, if not, you should be praying for all those that have raised their hands!
Prayer/Amen
