The Helmet and Sword

Ephesians 6:17 KJV 1900

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

The final two pieces of the solider’s equipment that we see here are the Helmet and the sword.

The Roman Solider’s helmet was made of bronze, and extended down over the cheeks to give protection to the whole head.

But again, it is not just a Roman solider that Paul is envisioning, he is drawing this language again from Isaiah 59.

Isaiah 59:17 KJV 1900

For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, And an helmet of salvation upon his head; And he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloke.

Again, this helmet of Salvation is worn by the Lord as he saves his people and judges their enemies.

But now, he gives this helmet to his people for protection. It is the helmet of salvation, which we could say also - the helmet, which is salvation.

No deadly blow can strike those whom the Lord saves. They are secure in the salvation which he has won and accomplished, and protected by his work.

In a similar way, Paul speaks of the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Since this sword is identified as the Word of God, we can understand the Spirit’s role here as the one who makes the sword an effective weapon. The Spirit makes the sword sharp, is it were.

Simply, the Word is powerful because it is God’s Word!

Hebrews 4:12 KJV 1900

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Here, much like the shoes of the Gospel, we see that the solider of Christ is to be on the move, on the offensive. Not with physical swords, but with the Word of God. Wielding it skillfully and accurately, applying it to our lives, against the enemy’s attacks.

The word that is used for “Word” here stresses the act of speaking, and this makes sense to us, for to wield a sword of words, the way we wield it is by speaking those words. Here, then, the call is to speak the Gospel clearly and faithfully in the darkness of this world.

This is a sword of liberation, as those who are still in the chains of darkness may hear this word and be set free by faith.

What’s the Big Idea?

Since our helmet and our sword are God’s very work, we must be confident in the outcome of the battle.

What to Know

We must know our security.

Christ first wore this “helmet of salvation,” as Isaiah prophesied, in defeating his enemies. And he gives it to us. It has been proven by Him, but really, it has been made by Him.

He gives us a helmet of salvation, not as a good luck charm, not in hopes that it will help, but he gives us the helmet of salvation because he has perfected it.

The helmet is for the head, and what is in our head but our brain? The idea of the mind is critical, because the mind is a battleground for this war.

What are some attacks that the enemy can wage on our minds?

confusion

discouragement

doubt

Satan would, if he could, crush our heads. But Christ has given us a helmet to protect us, and it is Satan whose head will be crushed.

John 6:37 KJV 1900

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

What does the Father give to Jesus?

If we are given, whose are we?

What will Jesus never do?

John 10:27–30 KJV 1900

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

What will Christ’s sheep never do?

There will never be a striking blow from the enemy that is powerful enough to take what Christ has given.

Even in the darkest night of the mind, trust in your deliverer. He has given you a helmet of salvation.

We must know our sword.

Knowing all the armor that we have, all the preparation, we are fit from head to toe for battle, finally we must know our weapon.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 KJV 1900

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The Word of God is our sword, and what does God tell us about His word?

it is breathed out by God - directly from Him, really part of Him.

it is profitable - useful!

It’s purpose is for us to be equipped by it and with it.

Any solider must know his weapon, just as any worker must know his tools. You can have the best tools in the world, but if you don’t pick them up and use them, they will do you no good.

What are some ways that we can be familiar with our sword?

We must know our source.

The interesting thing about our weapon is it is also our source of life.

We have already seen that we are saved by faith, but where does that faith come from? How do we know what to believe and trust in?

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Yes, so as we fight the battle, it is not separate from how we entered the army in the first place. Every time we pick up the sword, as it were, we are reminded of our very life source.

Every time we read it, we can see where we came from and where God wants us to Go.

We never grow beyond the need of God’s Word.

Matthew 26:52 KJV 1900

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Matthew 4:4 KJV 1900

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

What to Believe

We must believe that Christ is able to save.

Have any of you ever had a car that you just couldn’t trust?

How about a dog that you couldn’t trust to let outside?

How awful it would be to risk our life to a piece of armor that we cannot trust?

What are things we can trust in this life that will probably let us down?

Hebrews 7:25–27 KJV 1900

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

Everything else we might trust to fix our problems or rescue us has problems of its own.

Every person we trust in to help has things he or she needs help with.

Even our tools and safety devices have malfunctions and breakdowns.

But our salvation rests in the one who needs no saving, our help rests in the one who needs no help.

We must believe that God is unable to lie.

The same of our salvation is true of our sword.

Anyone here ever had a gun go click right when you had a shot at that big buck?

Example of software that always seems to have its trouble at 11:00 Sunday Morning.

Well, what if our sword, which is also our source, were not trustworthy? What if it had fatal defects in its composition?

Titus 1:1–3 KJV 1900

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

What is the promise of hope that is referred to here?

Eternal life

Who gave that promise?

What does it say of God?

How has he shared that promise with us?

preaching - speaking the Word. Faithful people wielding the sword.

We must believe that God’s Word is powerful.

We have already looked at this verse once, but what does Hebrews 4:12 tell us that about God’s Word.

Hebrews 4:12 KJV 1900

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

quick - alive

powerful

It is not just a trusty sword that we keep around for sentimental sake, it is a good sword!

What does this sword pierce?

all the way down to our heart.

The heart, which is where life issues forth from, which is where God desires to find truth. The sword, which is the truth, can penetrate all the way down.

Isaiah 55:11 KJV 1900

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

What is the promise about God’s word here?

And if God’s intention for his word is for it to penetrate deep into our lives, all the way to the heart, and if God cannot lie, then we must believe that it is able to do so.

We must believe it is able to do so in our lives, but we must believe it is able to do so in the lives of those who do not yet believe.

What to Do

Confidently abide in what Christ has done.

Putting on the helmet of salvation is not saving ourselves, it is resting surely and confidently in the salvation that has been won and given for us.

It is trusting that and that alone to protect us against the deadly blows of the evil one.

Ephesians 2:5–6 KJV 1900

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

According to this, what has Christ already done for us?

made us alive

raised us up

made us sit in the heavenlies in Christ.

That is, the efficacy of Christ’s salvation is such that we are as good as there.

Confidently adore God’s Word.

Psalm 1:1–3 KJV 1900

Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Where is the blessed man’s delight?

Can anyone share with us their favorite verse or a precious scripture from God’s Word to you?

We run to those things that we love. Do we run quickly to God’s Word?

Confidently apply God’s Word to your life.

Psalm 119:9–12 KJV 1900

BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: Teach me thy statutes.

What are some practical ways that we can apply God’s Word in our lives?

Confidently articulate God’s salvation through His Word.

This is where the rubber really meets the road, because God’s word goes forth by sharing it. By speaking it.

In our day, what are some unique opportunities that we have to share the Word of God?

What are some hurdles in the way of us doing so?

Three opportunities to speak God’s Word

to us. When we need it, it does us well to simply read and repeat it, reminding ourselves that this is God’s Word, his ways are perfect, and we can trust Him.

to other believers - who need encouragement and strengthening, or correcting in love (Eph. 4:15)

to unbelievers - faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Do we trust the power of God unto salvation, and the truth of God in His word enough to not just stand on it, but speak it?