Fully Equipped and Ready for Battle

Text: Eph. 6:13-17

PPHC – 2/25/07 Prepared to Prevail Series

I. The Helmet of Salvation

A. Presented At No Expense To the Soldier (Gal. 2:8) [American taxdollars provide – SP.]

1. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:”

2. Yet, it is not without cost to Someone.

a. 1 Pet 3:18 - For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

B. Protects the Head; the “Control Center” of the Body

1. Its purpose: To absorb any blows to the head encountered in battle (i.e. football).

a. The soldier can survive a broken arm, leg, broken ribs…but a blow to the head can immobilize the soldier or be fatal.

2. Within our head is our minds…our minds are the battlefield where war rages. This is what the enemy attacks most ferociously.

a. It becomes essential, therefore, that we don protective headgear to safeguard our minds.

C. Provides the Soldier with the Needed Authority

· Authority: Put a helmet on a 12 yr. old boy and he is instantly transformed into a 60 lb. Kamakazi-pilot.

1. Often, they placed emblems on top to strike fear into the hearts of their enemies. Marvin the Martian

a. Why is that necessary prior to the engagement of battle?

1. It’s an “intimidation” tactic that defeats you inwardly before the battle ever begins.

Example: Numbers 13 & 14 – “The 10 Spies’ Negative Report of Canaan”

1. What they “saw” hindered their faith in God. (giants, walled cities)

2. They spoke (dibbah – spoke in hushed tones) what they saw to the rest.

3. The Israelites compared themselves to the report. (We are but “grasshoppers!”)

4. Defeated before the battle ever began!

b. I believe the emblem on top of our helmets is the CROSS of Calvary.

1. It strikes fear into the heart of the enemy - it was here that he lost his greatest battle.

a. 1 Thes. 5:8 “for a helmet, the hope of Salvation” - our hope is satan’s greatest dread.

2. With the helmet’s protection, it gives one the authority that is needed to get on top of

their circumstances, instead of letting the circumstances get on top of them.

a. Oft times, people will say...“I’m doing alright, under the circumstances.”

b. The Christian’s response s/b = “Well, what are you doing under there (the

circumstance)?”

1. Mat. 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you

rest.”

a. “Labour” = to feel fatigued; a worrisome toil; “heavy laden” = spiritual anxiety; “rest”

(anapauo – ana {in the midst of] & pauo [a release] a release in the midst of your

labors and anxieties = to cease from any movement that you may recover and collect

your strength.

b. “Ye shall find rest unto your souls” - psuche (mind, will, emotions).

2. Many times we have let our circumstances become our God…our lives revolve around our GOD…all some talk about is their sickness, a wrong done to them, hurts of the past… (contrast to Ps. 16:8 – I have set the Lord always before my face.”)

a. When this happens, we are not in proper relation to God...(Phil. 4:13).

2. Paul (2 Cor. 4:8-9) “we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed,

but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed...”

a. We are “pressed like grapes”, but not “crushed in spirit”. We are “perplexed” but not “driven to despair”. We are “mistreated”, but not “abandoned.” We are “thrown to the ground not caring where we may fall”, but “never struck out and destroyed.”.

b. WHY? Because Paul had learned HOW to put on the helmet of salvation: He had a “clear understanding of what God had promised him”…this gave him hope!

Hope is what you think about and “understand” – Heb. 6:19
“[Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it--a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,”…
1 Thess. 5:8 “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”

II. The Sword of the Spirit

A. The Soldier’s Sword (a long saber - rhomphaia) & (a short dagger-like sword -

machaira).

1. Machaira - short with a needle-like point for hand to hand combat.

a. “Two-mouthed” - (double edged).

b. Heb. 4:12 - “The Word of God is sharp and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged

sword....”

B. The Sword, the Word of God

1. Not the written Word as it may sit on our coffee tables.

2. Not the Logos – the totality and all its meaning

3. The rhema, a specific inspired word given for a specific moment...not the totality of the

Word and all its meaning.

C. Jesus in the wilderness...didn’t argue with satan...simply hit him with the Word.

1. Satan isn’t worried about our words; they carry no authority/weight with him...

2. The “Authority” is in the Word.

The firefighter never goes to bed very far from his turnout gear...never goes to the scene without being fully dressed out...he never knows what he may face when he gets on the fireground.

1. Belt of Truth (Holds It All Together)

2. Breastplate of Righteousness (Enables us to Stand in Confidence)

3. Shoes of Peace (Enables Us to Stand in the Heat of the Battle)

4. Shield of Faith (Quenches the Fiery Darts of the Enemy)

5. Helmet of Salvation (Covers our minds, intellect, and reasoning)

6. Sword of the Spirit (The Word of God Ready to be Spoken)