Misc. - "Helmet of Salvation" - Ephesians 6:17a

“Helmet of Salvation”

This is a mind controlled by God.

Ephesians 6:13-14 tells us of armor to have. Some of the armor we must wear all the time and have as a standing foundation. Therefore having comes first. We must be rooted in the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the “combat boots” of the gospel. Yet now Paul will deal with aspects of the armor we are to take at the necessary moments of spiritual warfare and opportunity.

In the ancient world this usually was a leather cap studded with metal for extra strength. Often some kind of plume or decoration was added, perhaps to identify the solider to his regiment. Salvation is pictured as this kind of helmet, protecting an essential part of the body. A soldier would be foolish to go into battle without his helmet.

1. The Risk to the Christian

We saw last week that the enemy is actively firing darts to our faith, so we need a shield that will extinguish the darts and keep us safe from (1) doubt and (2) discouragement.

The head of the soldier was among the principal parts to be defended, as on it the deadliest strokes might fall, and it is the head that commands the whole body.

The head is the seat of the mind, which, when it has laid hold of the sure Gospel “hope” of eternal life, will not receive false doctrine, or give way to Satan’s temptations to despair. God, by this hope, “lifts up the head” (Ps 3:3; Lu 21:28).

The spiritual application of the helmet is obvious. The apostle is drawing attention to the head, the mind, the brain and the understanding/thinking of the Christian.

***Here, he would, suggest that Paul wasn’t concerned so much with our acceptance and understanding of the faith… but something more general. so it’s not whether we understand particular doctrines, rather it deals with our whole attitude towards the faith.

The tactics of the enemy are more fought in earlier armor. This piece deals with the overall strategy of the enemy - to make you weary, tired, and want to give up.

“I’ve been in this campaign a long time, I am wounded, I am striving, I am struggling, but what is the point of it all?

When does the enemy try to deliver this blow?

a. Times of Collapse

When we get tired… he comes after us.

b. Through Comparison

Elijah

1 Kings 19:10 KJV 1900

10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

c. Times of Conceit

Jonah 4:1–2 KJV 1900

1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. 2 And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

I knew you were going to save them! That’s not what I thought you should’ve done, God.

The enemy will begin to get into our minds in times when we think our ways are better than Gods, or when things don’t go according to the way I hoped.

d. Times of Complacency

1 Samuel 13:19 KJV 1900

19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:

2. The Responsibility of the Christian

Ephesians 6:17 KJV 1900

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

Paul says, “And take...”

Pastor Collin mentioned this last week, but the first three pieces of armor should already be on you.

The Belt of Truth - guarding your emotions and wearing it to be ready for battle

The Breastplate of Righteousness - guarding your heart and symbolizes your righteousness in Christ.

The shoes of the gospel. - this piece gives you better footing for the fight.

Last week we discovered that there are other pieces that Paul encourages believers to “take up” or “put on.”

Ephesians 6:16 KJV 1900

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

see what he says in verse 16?

taking the shield of faith.

it’s a decision to know where your shield is, and pick it up on a daily basis.

tonight, Paul is going to tell us to take up our helmet.

a. This Armor has been Allotted

To allot something means that someone has provided something for us.

God has provided this weapon for us.

b. This Armor must be Appropriated

appropriate something based on the Mirriam Webster dictionary is to “to take or make use of without authority or right”

But let me give you Miles J. Stanford’s definition from The Green Letters. “Seeing what is already ours in Christ, and to be aware of our need for it.” Then it’s making the choice to apply it to our life in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let me give you some examples of this:

Forgiveness - we have a need for forgiveness, and the Bible says that I am forgiven in Christ.

The helmet is a portion of armor which is not attached to the body, but the soldier had to put it on himself.

The helmet worn by the Roman soldier was a kind of cap which was made of leather; but this leather had been strengthened and incidentally ornamented with plates of metal to give it protection.

3. The Result for the Christian

i. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 speaks of the helmet of salvation in connection to the hope of salvation. The helmet of salvation protects us against discouragement, against the desire to give up, giving us hope not only in knowing that we are saved, but that we will be saved. It is the assurance that God will triumph.

ii. One of Satan’s most effective weapons against us is discouragement. When we are properly equipped with the helmet of salvation, it’s hard to stay discouraged.

When you recognize the risk and understand your responsibility, the helmet of salvation will produce some results in your own mind contrary to discouragement that Satan wants you to experience.

wearing the helmet leads to:

a. Renews Your Mind

Romans 12:1–2 KJV 1900

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

b. Remembers Victory

That Jesus already won!

c. Rejects Doubts

He suggests that “salvation” is not being saved but the hope of salvation in the future:

romans 13

1 Corinthians 1:30.

1 Corinthians 15:32.

2 Corinthians 4:6. Faint...

2 Corinthians 6:11-12.

d. Recognizes the Future

1 Thessalonians 5:8 KJV 1900

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.

The Helmet is a mind controlled by God.