“…and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.” Eph. 6:17
For the last few weeks we have studied critical components of the armor of God needed to fight the battle we forge against the enemy. There is a REAL battle going on and we must remember the resources God has made available to every believer. Our job is to recall these resources and utilize them daily.
We have discussed the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of readiness and the shield of faith. Today we focus on the final two aspects of our armor: the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.
What is the helmet of salvation? We all know how critical it is to protect our heads. We wear bike helmets and ski helmets to cover our heads so if we are hit in an accident we can hopefully avoid a terrible injury. While it may seem obvious, the head houses the brain which tells the body to do everything it does. Without our brains our bodies don’t work. We can’t breathe, walk, talk or eat. Our brains are critical for life.
In the spiritual realm we must understand the battle that is constantly going on in our minds. This is a battle between lies and truth. Satan will do any and everything to get our minds off the truth. As Dr. Constable says, “Satan has consistently aimed his personal attacks at getting people to doubt, to deny, to disregard, and to disobey the revealed will of God.” This happened when Satan tempted Adam and Eve to doubt God’s goodness. His tactics have not changed since the garden, nor have they needed to. His strategy is effective but we have something better.
What are we to do? We must protect our heads by recalling our salvation. The battle always starts in the mind. As God’s children, our salvation reminds us of our inheritance and secure position in Christ. Should even the worst happen and we are dealt a deadly blow, we are still secure in Jesus and heaven is our promised future. Nothing can change this. We need this reminder daily by preaching the gospel to ourselves and mentally putting on our helmet of salvation. This helmet also helps us recall the promises of God in order to fight the battle in the mind.
Pastor, teacher and friend, Dwight Edwards, says it this way:
“What the mind lingers on, inflames the emotions, captivates the will and eventually controls your life.” What is your mind lingering on today? God’s promises or Satan’s lies?
After our helmet is on (along with the rest of our defensive weapons), we pick up our most effective weapon– God’s Word in combination with the Holy Spirit. When we are submitted to the Holy Spirit and armed with truth, we are strong and ready for battle. Nothing can stand against us. We are assaulted daily with spiritual attacks. Remember God’s Word is POWERFUL. It is alive and sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12). When Jesus was tempted in the desert by Satan, he countered each one of Satan’s attacks with pure Scripture, nothing else. While Satan persisted in his tempting of Jesus, he eventually fled. Make note that he left until an “opportune time” (Luke 4). Stay on your guard because our enemy prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Where are you today, friend? Are you doubting God’s goodness and believing the lies of Satan? Have you forgotten your position as a redeemed daughter of the King? Put that helmet of salvation back on by recalling your inheritance. (While we never lose our salvation, we can forget the power that is ours in Christ!) Now that your mind is renewed, pick up God’s Word and let the Holy Spirit help you fight those lies with truth.
My three year old often asks me to play the “soldier song” in the car, Onward Christian Soldiers. He loves singing about being a soldier in the Lord’s army even though he does not understand the reality of spiritual warfare yet. The truth is, I need that song too, even if it is a bunch of 4 and 5 year old kids belting it out on that CD. I need to hear:
“At the name of Jesus
Satan’s host doth flee;
on then Christian soldiers,
on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
at the shout of praise:
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise!”
May the Lord give you strength to fight the daily battle, armed with your helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.
~Courtney
