The Believer’s Warfare Message 9

The Believer’s Warfare

Message 9

The Helmet of Salvation

Me:

A Facebook post

SBC-Pastors

It’s certainly an interesting group

No sure how well I fit in.

I do get a lot of illustrations from it.

I am always curious how people view pastors

It’s really like being a mail person you never know until you experience it

A pastors question

“I hear a lot about how discouraged pastors are. What discourages you about ministry?”

Here are a few answers

Strong, passionate division in churches (My Top 10):

1. Get vaccinated vs. don't get vaccinated

2. Wear a mask vs. don't wear a mask

3. Right vs. Left (politically speaking)

4. Pro Trump vs. Never Trumpers

5. CRT (mention or reference it and you are tagged!)

6. SBC Politics (Conservative vs. Conservative…yep)

7. Christian Nationalism vs. whatever the other side is called

8. Worship Music (too loud vs. not loud enough)

9. Too hot vs too cold in the church

10. Fox News vs. CNN

Others said this

Everything here lately, Overwork, Biblical ignorance, No pastoral fellowship and or pastor wives fellowship, People

A pretty grim picture

What does that have to do with the helmet of salvation

We:

The Helmet of salvation

Passage

Ephesians 6:17 NIV

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Image

The purpose of this is obvious

To protect a person’s head

But think about why a soldier need would head protection

In case he crashed his bicycle? Tripped and fell?

Hardly

The double-edged sword

Image

It was often carried by cavalrymen, who would swing at the heads of enemy soldiers to split their skulls or decapitate them.

A helmet seems like a good idea

We don’t have to worried about double-edged sword

We are battling a different kind of enemy

God:

The Double-edged sword

It is the “helmet of salvation”

What does that mean?

The gospel brings salvation

What does salvation do for us?

Forgiveness from the plenty of sin

Jesus as Lord

Family of believers

How about security?

What about assurance?

Are you secure in Christ?

This is something you learn

Psalm 91:1–2 NLT

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

Satan’s attack is on the mind

The attacks us with a double-edge sword

Discouragement and Doubt

Think about those poor pastors

I believe the most potent weapon in Satan’s arsenal are discouragement and doubt

What are the tactics he uses?

He will point to our failures

Remind us of our sins or a bad habit

Bring up old hurts

Maybe it’s a hang up – you just can’t pass it

Even how you look

He will use whatever he can to cause us to lose confidence in the love and care of our heavenly Father

You:

When your heart is empty

Only God can fill that need

When we try to get our needs met apart from Him, our efforts lead only to disappointment, discouragement, disillusionment, and despair.

Only Jesus can fill the emptiness in your heart.

Only He is sufficient to meet your deepest needs for acceptance, love, and worthiness.

Only as you turn to Jesus are these needs met,

Only by resting in His love will you find wholeness.

Let Jesus set your path and priorities

We:

Think about those poor pastors

We’ve all been there

But I don’t really fit in anymore

They have given the enemy a sit at their table.

We have been given the power to resist those double-edge sword

Putting our trust in Jesus

Who is winning the battle of your mind?

Psalm 91:2 NLT

2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.