Helmet of Salvation (2)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

This morning we turn our attention to the helmet of salvation. When I first thought about the Roman helmet, I pictured helmets decorated with feathers and plumes – really beautiful stuff. However, as I researched it, I found that the helmet was actually pretty plain. It was basically a garbage can with the face cut out. Although salvation is a beautiful reality, I don’t think that Paul was saying that salvation was an intricate and beautiful thing. I believe that Paul was pointing out that salvation protects us. In just a matter of days, high school football players will be returning for a new season. They don’t know that in 1905 America’s favorite pastime was almost banned from the country. It would take pressure on colleges from President Teddy Roosevelt to make the game safer. Of course, there continued to be injuries but fewer. Many of us are aware that just a few years ago, the concussion protocolwas introduced to protect football players of all ages. Obviously, the most important piece of protection against head injuries is the helmet. And, for the Christian, the helmet of salvation is vitally important.

Getting Our Helmets on Right

The topic of salvation cannot be understated and should never be taken for granted. Earlier this year Pastor Sonia, Mark (her husband), Cindy, and I were in Florida attending at church conference. One evening we were walking along a walkway, following the beach. Suddenly we noticed a woman frantically trying to get someone’s attention, so we all ran over to the lady who was pulling a young man to shore. Mark immediately began CPR and within a few seconds he was spitting out salt water and began to breath. As he came to his senses, he realized that he had been saved. He gushed with thankfulness. That is the way we ought to embrace salvation. Each of us were dead in the ocean of sin. Only through the work of the Cross was salvation available. The difference was significant – dark to light, death to life. Eternal death and misery to eternal life and joy.

2 Corinthians 5:17–19 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

The subject of salvation is the subject of the Bible. From the creation of man in Genesis 1 to the restoration of perfection in Revelation 22 the single solution resides in the salvation of man through Jesus Christ.

Though the Bible was written over sixteen centuries by at least forty authors, it has one central theme--salvation through faith in Christ.- Max Lucado

Through salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and out future is secured.- Rick Warren

Just as the apostles were driven to share the message of salvation, it is our message today.

Acts 13:47 NIV

For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

Clear thinking recognizes the significance of salvation and the value of God’s grace and mercy that have provided it.

The Protective Value of the Helmet

The Buffalo Bills should have won the Super Bowl last year. They got robbed in the AFC Championship game. However, it was one of the best games of all time. But, it almost didn’t happen – at least the matchup with Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes managed to clear concussion protocol just a day or two before the big game. Without Mahomes at the quarterback position, the Chiefs were a much weaker team. We need one another to be clear headed. Husbands need spiritual minded wives and wives need spiritually minded husbands. Our kids need parents whose minds are on the things of Christ.

Romans 8:5–6 NIV

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Spiritual Warriors Think Godly Thoughts

My morning devotions had me going through the books of the minor prophets. In one of the verses the prophet delighted because the “eye of the Lord” was on him. I enjoyed thinking about the fact that God delights in His people. That is the type of thing we should be thinking about. Paul reminds us…

Colossians 3:2 NIV

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Spiritual Warriors Set Their Hopes on Heaven

Paul uses the helmet to represent salvation, but it is hard to know exactly what he means without examining some of the other places that he makes similar statements.

1 Thessalonians 5:8–11 NIV

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, 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. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Verse 10 points out that we will ultimately be alive with Jesus and he reminds us to encourage on another. D.L. Moody scolded Christians, “Don’t be so Heavenly minded that you are no earthly good.” I’ve said it myself, but this does not mean that we shouldn’t be aware of the benefit of Heaven because of salvation. Warren Wiersbe says…

Christians have a dual citizenship—on earth and in heaven—and our citizenship in heaven ought to make us better people here on earth. The spiritually minded believer is not attracted by the "things" of this world. He makes his decisions on the basis of eternal values and not the passing fads of society. Lot chose the well-watered plain of Jordan because his values were worldly, and ultimately he lost everything. Moses refused the pleasures and treasures of Egypt because he had something infinitely more wonderful to live for. "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mk 8:36)[1]

Phil Wickham released his song, “Hymn of Heaven”, in June 2021. He said, “The song is all about bringing heaven to this moment with the way we act, the way we speak, and the way we live. It’s letting Jesus be the King in His rule and His way taking over.”

[Verse 1] How I long to breathe the air of Heaven Where pain is gone and mercy fills the streets To look upon the One who bled to save me And walk with Him for all eternity [Chorus] There will be a day when all will bow before Him There will be a day when death will be no more Standing face to face with He who died and rose again Holy, holy is the Lord [Verse 2] And every prayer, we prayed in desperation The songs of faith, we sang through doubt and fear In the end, we'll see that it was worth it When He returns to wipe away our tears (Oh) [Verse 3] And on that day, we join the resurrection And stand beside the heroes of the faith With one voice, a thousand generations Sing, "Worthy is the lamb who was slain" And on that day, we join the resurrection And stand beside the heroes of the faith With one voice, a thousand generations Sing, "Worthy is the lamb who was slain Forever He shall reign" [Outro] So let it be today we shout the hymn of Heaven With angels and the saints, we raise a mighty roar Glory to our God who gave us life beyond the grave Holy, holy is the Lord So let it be today we shout the hymn of Heaven With angels and the saints, we raise a mighty roar Glory to our God who gave us life beyond the grave Holy, holy is the Lord Holy, holy is the Lord Holy, holy is the Lord

Spiritual Warriors Understand the Devil is a Liar

Think about it. Being able to sort through lies takes a clear mind. The devil wants to confuse and disorient Christians just like the defense wants to get the 1st string quarterback out of the game.

The devil uses wiles, devices, and strategies against us but the Apostle Paul said that we are not ignorant of the way that the devil works. His primary roadway into our lives is through our minds. If he gets his way he will set up strongholds and imaginary places and situations.

Destroying Strongholds

A stronghold can be defined as a prison or a fortress. Prisons are designed to keep people in and fortresses are designed to keep people out. Sometimes people have walls around them so thick, others cannot break through the barrier to help them. Others have isolated themselves so much that they cannot get out of harmful patterns in their lives.

How do these kinds of destructive strongholds affect your life?

· Unrealistic fears of rejection will keep you from developing healthy relationships in your life.

· Unrealistic fears about the future of your marriage will hinder you from functioning in the marital relationship as God intended.

· Unrealistic fears about potential failure will keep you from stepping out to obey God and do something worthwhile with your life.

· Unrealistic expectations leave you in paralysis.

In such cases, you must command the devil in the name of Jesus to release his claim on your mind and emotions.[2]

Rational and Irrational Strongholds

Fear is completely irrational. We all have fears but when you really think about it, there isn’t any real threat from them. Snakes, heights, clowns, dark, and mushrooms. Ok, well, maybe mushrooms aren’t on most lists, but I don’t like them. On vacation I was offered a sausage stuffed mushroom to which I declined. But it made me think about why I declined. No real reason, it was completely irrational. Seriously, our lives are filled with irrational strongholds, and some are much more significant than food preference.

Rational strongholds can be just as damaging. Faith battles against rational thinking. Obedience battles against rational thinking. Noah was told to build a boat. Moses was told to strike a stone for water. A staff was thrown into the water to make an axe head float. Jesus spit in the dirt to make mud in one miracle. The world and the flesh tell Christians they are foolish, this adds to the battle of the rational mind.

But, we are instructed to bring our thoughts, rational and irrational into captivity.

2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

The Helmet of Salvation Offers a Renewed Mind

For those who have had the fortune of playing golf with me, they know that I will not be competing at any level. In fact, when I am up at the tee I look out and see the green fairway and the best place for my ball to lie for the next shot. I also see before me 2 rows of trees (and sometimes, houses). I also see the ponds, the streams, and all the hazards. In fact, sometimes my mind is more focused on the hazards than on the necessary shot – and you know where the ball goes. Thank the Lord for Mulligans!

The Christian’s mind is on Christ.

Colossians 3:2–3 NIV

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

· When you are walking in the full knowledge of your salvation, you think and talk like a Christian warrior.

· When your mind is renewed with the Word of God concerning all the blessings contained in your salvation, you think and talk like a Christian warrior.

· When your mind is filled with the goodness of God because salvation is tightly wrapped around your mind, you think and talk like a Christian warrior.

· When you mind is on Christ, the lies of the devil are intercepted and cast down.

Have you been struggling with a mind that has been concussed by the attacks of the devil? Take authority over it this morning and live in victory!

[1]PreceptAustin.com. https://www.preceptaustin.org/colossians_32 [2] Excerpt From: Rick Renner. “Dressed to Kill.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/dressed-to-kill/id595411385

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