The Helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit

Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6:17

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

Warfare requires a constant state of awareness, practice and posture.

What is Spiritual Warfare? (Reminder)

Spiritual warfare is the unseen attack against a persons life who is trying to improve their life situation by totally and unequivocally depending on Jesus.

We need to understand the reasoning behind the attacks of the devil. When he chooses to attack it’s because we have demonstrated that we have a calling over our lives and that presents a threat to the devils plans.

Spiritual warfare is designed to challenge your faith and trust in God

When the enemy attacks his intent is to create in you the doubt over what you have believed God has called you to do and you are believing him to do on your behalf.

Spiritual warfare is the unseen attack against a persons life who is trying to improve their life situation by totally and unequivocally depend and trust in Jesus.

If he tells you enough times that you are not capable or able to be the person that God is calling you to be .

Paul, under house arrest, uses the imagery of a Roman soldier’s armor to describe the spiritual battle.

We find ourselves in the final two pieces of armor which are defensive in the helmet of salvation and for the first time we will use an offensive weapon in the sword of the Spirit.

The Helmet of Salvation: Protecting the Mind in Battle

The Roman soldier’s helmet protected the head, the most vital part of the body in battle.

The Helmet provides Awareness

The helmet of the spirit creates a layer of protection for your mind that will empower you to conquer your doubt and your fear.

Some of us have not moved forward because your enemy has created a spirit of fear of the unknown.

Will I be able to?

Maintain my commitment to God

Do what I’ve promised to do.

Be the person God wants me to be.

Truth be told all of us at one point or another have thought that we weren’t worthy of Gods love and forgiveness. But yet the bible tells me in Romans 5:8 “but God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The enemies attack is designes to make you doubt, and for doubt to produce fear on your ability to be able to conquer your doubt.

Imagine a child gearing up for a bike ride, wearing a helmet that’s twice their size. As they struggle to ride because of the weight, they also feel invincible, believing nothing can hurt them. This reflects how we can feel paralyzed by fear and doubt, yet when we wear the helmet of salvation, we are protected and can push through our fears. Like that child, we may struggle, but knowing we are safeguarded by God’s grace gives us the courage to ride on despite our hesitations.

The Helmet will give you the Hope of Salvation

Just as a soldier’s helmet protects the head, salvation protects the believer’s mind from doubt and deception.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 ESV

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

John 10:28–29 ESV

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Not just initial salvation (justification), but the ongoing assurance and hope of salvation (sanctification and glorification).

Offense to accompany our defense:

While all of these pieces of the Armor till this point offer a defensive protection against our enemy, who here is tired of just playing defense against the attacks of the enemy?

Who’s ready to fight back???

The Last piece of the Armor is

The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

What is the Sword of the Spirit:

A Roman soldier's sword was small and precise, designed for close combat.

Your enemy is not fighting from a distance he’s getting all up in your face and my question to you is what are you going to do about.

He’s launching an attack not only against you, against your kids your husband or wife, your entire family is under.

Prayer offers both an offensive and a defensive attack against your enemy but it is only when you remind your enemy of the word of God.

In order to use the Word we need to understand what it is:

The word "Word of God" (Greek: rhema) refers to the spoken, specific application of God’s truth.

rhēma - that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word

The Word of God is our spiritual weapon for resisting temptation and defeating lies.

Jesus set the template for the perfect strategy on how to defeat the enemy using the Word of God.

PRACTICE

Its time for our young people who have a greater ability to memorize scripture to walk up to the front line and start the fight:

John wrote, "I have written unto you young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.” 1 John 2:14

1 John 2:14 ESV

I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

The secret of their strength in overcoming the wicked one was the fact that the Word of God was abiding in them.

Psalms 119:11

11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,

That I might not sin against You.

We have to be ready to use the sword. The problem is that we are only using the sword when need it. We are not in constant practice on using the sword.

When you don’t use the sword it becomes heavy for your hands.

When you use it constantly it becomes light and easy to use in your hand.

For those who don’t use it, life has been drained from the Word in your life, but for those who are in a daily practice of reading and living it they make the word alive in their lives.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Not only did the Spirit give us the Scriptures, but also He makes them alive to us (or us alive to them), and He equips us with the right thrust of the sword at the right time.

Tell your brother are you using your sword correctly?

When Battling Temptation:

Matthew 4:4 – “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Jesus used this to reject Satan’s temptation and remind us that spiritual sustenance is greater than physical needs.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear."

Reminds us that Satan’s temptations are limited and God always provides a way out.

When Facing Spiritual Attacks:

James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

A direct promise that Satan must flee when we stand firm in Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God."

When Attacked by Fear, Anxiety, or Oppression:

2 Timothy 1:7 – "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Reminds us that fear is not from God—we have authority in Christ.

Isaiah 54:17 – "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn."

A promise of divine protection and victory.

When Rebuking the Devil Directly:

Luke 10:19 – “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

Affirms Christ’s authority over Satan is given to believers.

Posture

Conclusion: We have been given all of the tools necessary to be able to not only withstand the attack of the enemy but also to launch a counter attack against all of his efforts. God is asking you today to accept the help that he wants to give you to defeat your enemy.