17. Lesson 17 Ephesians The armour of God 3 - the helmet and the sword

Church of Christ Dapto The letter to the Church in Ephesus Lesson 17 – The armour of God 3 – The helmet and the sword Ephesians 6:10-17      The helmet of salvation Ephesians 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation The word “take”, …signifies the accepting of something offered by the hand of another. 1 Salvation is His alone Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. There is only one means of salvation offered to the world, and it is only in Christ. It is God who commands all to repent and be saved in Him. There is no other protection from judgement. Salvation in the future Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. The helmet is intended to take away your fears about the power of your past, your future and yourself. Fear of the powers of earth Psalms 27:1 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The helmet of salvation is given to remove fears of the powers of the world through knowledge of the power of the One who died for you, which is far greater than any other power in this world. Guidance for Life Philippians 1:27-28 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved – and that by God. The helmet of salvation does cause you to stand out in the crowd because you now have different aims for your life and different hopes for your future. Your fears are taken away so that you can effectively proclaim the salvation which is in Christ alone. The goal of Life Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. The Philippians are exhorted to carry their salvation to its ultimate conclusion: Christ-likeness. The salvation spoken of here is not justification, but sanctification, victory over sin and the living of a life pleasing to the Lord Jesus. They are to see to it that they make progress in their Christian lives. They are to do this with fear and trembling.2      1-Expositor's Bible Commentary - Edited by the Rev. W. Robertson Nicoll, M.A., LL.D. Ephesians - By Prof. G. G. Findlay, B.A. 2 -Word Studies in the Greek New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Used by permission. All rights reserved. He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4 Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series The Letter to the Ephesians – Lesson 17 – The armour of God – The helmet and the sword January 26, 2019 The helmet of salvation Page 2 The helmet protects the head and the eyes from attacks on your mind. Your thoughts can be twisted by the attacks of Satan to turn against God or doubt your salvation, and even to doubt that Christ came to bring salvation to all those who believe. You will face attacks in your own mind on your focus on Christ, to cause you focus on yourself and enter a downward spiral which leads to a mental depression and a sense of worthlessness. Proverbs 28:26 ESV Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. If you rely on your own ability to think through your problems, you will fail. Jeremiah 17:10 I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve. God searches and knows our minds, and will judge us if you allow your mind to wander from Him Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Jesus commands you to love God will all your mind! Every part of your mind is to be focussed on Christ to obey Him and thus show your love of God. Every attack which attempts to distract from this command is an attack of Satan, and will be foiled by the helmet of Salvation. The helmet protects against attacks through what you think you see in the world. You can be deceived in what you really believe by what you think you have seen. Your eyes can be assaulted by the experiences you have had which you think you cannot reconcile with your understanding of God. The helmet of salvation assures you that if you suffer this attack, remember that it is your understanding of God which is faulty, not God’s plan for this world. You may see, or more likely see on television, terrible events in the world brought on by the sinfulness of men which may cause the thought “Why would a loving God allow suffering?” The helmet of salvation is the protection for being misled by such destructive questions. The helmet shows you what you have been saved from and protects you returning to that lifestyle. Salvation—the fact of salvation, given by God in and through Christ proves God’s love is superior to any other goal of life and guides your thoughts to praise and blessing of Him. You must take the helmet 1 Thessalonians 5:8-9 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. God provides the helmet of salvation as part of His plan to keep you secure and safe from the wrath which is to envelop this world and bring His judgement on those who oppose Him. You are chosen and appointed to escape His wrath through Christ and to see His salvation as you escape the punishment justly meted out to the world. If you refuse to take the helmet He offers, you make yourself worthy of His judgement despite it not being God’s plan for you. He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4 Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series The Letter to the Ephesians – Lesson 17 – The armour of God – The helmet and the sword January 26, 2019 The sword of the Spirit—the word of God Page 3 The sword is for defence and offence. Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Jesus’ words are the Sword Revelation 2:16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Jesus’ Words have the power to defend and attack. Jesus’ words are more powerful than any other force. The Sword is to be used to defend from attacks from outside as Jesus did, and in attack as the Word of Truth is held high so that those who are not saved can hear it and be saved by it. Jesus’ use of the Sword. Matthew 4:3-11 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Though tempted by physical need, hunger, an attempt to twist God’s word, and by the call to worship himself, Christ showed that these would all destroy His relationship with God and bring disobedience to Him. Defending against attacks The attack: “you desperately need this—pray for it and do all that you can to get it” The defence: Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. The attack: “Is God’s plan right, will He really do what He has promised? Test Him! The defence: Matthew 4:7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" The attack: “are you are real Christian? Does God really love you? Prove it by some miracle or stunt!” The defence: Romans 5:8-9 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! The attack: “It is about time you got some credit for all the work that you do. Why not boast about how good you are?” A temptation of ambition and need for personal glory - “worship me and I will give you all the power you want.” The defence: Philippians 2:3-5 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4 Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series The Letter to the Ephesians – Lesson 17 – The armour of God – The helmet and the sword January 26, 2019 Using the Sword Page 4 The sword, the Word, refers to the use of God’s word in your life as a powerful and effective guide and protection from attack and distraction. Isaiah 8:20 Consult God's instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. You are to use the sword to guide and protect by it giving the wisdom you need at all times. 2 Corinthians 6:4-7 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:..in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; You are to use the sword, God’s own words, to show others the way to Salvation in Christ, even though they are under the control of the one who attacks. Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. The Sword is more powerful than your enemies. They cannot counter its use with Truth, but only depend on the lies which they constantly present. All the verses you have hidden in your heart through our verse program are there for the use of the Holy Spirit in reminding you of God’s commands, God’s wisdom for your life, and God’s plan of saving you in Christ. The Spirit also uses the verses you know, which are God’s own words, to convict others of their sin and their need for salvation in Christ. You cannot bring salvation to anyone with your own words because they are not the Sword of the Spirit. The Word of God is also used by the Spirit to remind you of the power of each part of the armour of God and the attacks from which it is designed to protect you. The use of the armour All the armour is given by God and thus has all the power and strength needed to protect... your heart, your mind, your conscience, your words, your hope, your faith, your future... from all those who would weaken you or destroy you by questioning your faith, by questioning your righteousness, by questioning the promises of God, and by questioning the word of God. You are only protected if you know the armour and rely on it as God intended. Without His armour you are weak and completely open to attacks which succeed because you must rely on your own knowledge, which is faulty, your own experience, which is tainted, your own strength, which is not strong enough, and your own version of “faith”. If you do not believe you need His armour you do not believe His words that you are frequently under attack from the evil one. If you proclaim the Gospel of Christ by your life and words, the power and influence of the evil one is drastically reduced in this world. Satan and his kingdom is threatened by every armoured Christian so he will stop at nothing: no lie is too low, no accusation is too base, no insult is too inaccurate, no family relationship or friendship is too close for him to use it to cause you to doubt and return to his kingdom. Only the whole armour of God has sufficient power to overcome every flaming arrow he fires at us. He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4 Dapto Church of Christ Sermon Series The Letter to the Ephesians – Lesson 17 – The armour of God – The helmet and the sword January 26, 2019 Page 5 What does this verse mean for your life? I know that the forces of evil attack the people of Christ at every opportunity. I know that their aim is to destroy my faith and cause me to give up my life in Christ and my hope of eternal life. I know that God is more powerful than any evil force, and knows every attack that they can mount against me. I am to know that God, because of His foreknowledge and love, has provided the means not to halt these attacks, but to prevent them achieving their aims. God’s plan is that I come through these attacks without being moved in any way: in my mind, in my heart or in the faith I have in Christ. My perseverance shows His power. His helmet of salvation protects against attacks on my mind and thoughts and gives me understanding of what I am seeing, so that I can see all things from the perspective of God. If I use the helmet of salvation, by always measuring my thoughts and experiences against the sacrifice that Christ made, then the attacks lose all their power. If I use the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, as my defence against attack, as the basis of my life, and as my foundation for proclaiming the Gospel, then I am protected by God from doing anything which displeases Him. If I rely on my own abilities, knowledge and experiences to try to counter the attacks of evil, I am failing to use the armour of God and leaving myself vulnerable and weak. God provides the armour so that in using it I can proclaim His power, His strength, and His love to all as I stand firm in the faith as a result of the protection He has provided. God is the One who is glorified as I use the armour He provides. I am the one who is blessed by the exercise of my faith in Christ as I use the armour and achieve the result that God intended. God loves me, and has shown in through Christ and through the armour He has generously given as protection from the attacks of evil. From this moment on, I will rely on the armour of God, and no other protection from evil.  Next Lesson: Chosen to pray     Ephesians 6:18-24 Focus Verse: Ephesians 6:18      He chose us in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4