Empowered by the Helmet of Salvation

Summary

In today's gathering, we delved into the profound significance of the "helmet of salvation" as part of the armor of God, a metaphorical framework provided by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. This armor is essential for spiritual protection and strength, enabling believers to stand firm against the spiritual forces of evil. The helmet of salvation, in particular, is crucial as it safeguards our minds, the control center of our spiritual and physical being. Without a sound mind, even the strongest believer becomes ineffective in their spiritual journey.

The helmet of salvation is not merely a protective gear but a symbol of our assurance in God's saving work through Jesus Christ. It shields us from the enemy's favorite weapons: doubt, fear, guilt, and discouragement. By understanding our identity in Christ, we can resist these attacks and hold onto the truth that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Our salvation is secure, not because of our deeds, but because of Jesus' finished work on the cross.

To actively put on this helmet, we must engage in the intentional renewal of our minds through God's Word. The world bombards us with messages that often contradict God's truth, making it imperative to immerse ourselves in Scripture. This practice equips us to discern truth from falsehood and strengthens our spiritual defenses. Moreover, the helmet of salvation reminds us of our present reality in Christ, empowering us to live victoriously with confidence and peace, even amidst life's trials.

As we navigate the challenges of life, the helmet of salvation anchors us in God's promises, ensuring that we remain steadfast in our faith. It is a daily commitment to guard our thoughts and align them with what honors God. By doing so, we not only protect ourselves but also gain the boldness to share the gospel with others, spreading the assurance and peace that comes from knowing our victory is secure in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The helmet of salvation is vital for protecting our minds, the battlefield where spiritual warfare often occurs. It shields us from doubt, fear, and guilt, reminding us of our secure identity in Christ. [30:48]

- Our salvation is not based on our works but on Jesus' finished work on the cross. This assurance allows us to stand firm against the enemy's lies and live confidently in God's truth. [38:46]

- Actively putting on the helmet of salvation involves renewing our minds through Scripture, enabling us to discern truth from falsehood and resist worldly influences. [41:44]

- The helmet of salvation empowers us to live victoriously, providing confidence and peace in the face of life's trials, knowing that nothing can separate us from God's love. [46:16]

- By guarding our thoughts and focusing on God's promises, we can counter the enemy's attacks and walk in the victory already won by Christ. [55:31]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Announcements
- [02:45] - Introduction to the Armor of God
- [05:15] - The Helmet of Salvation
- [08:30] - Spiritual Warfare and the Mind
- [12:00] - The Assurance of Salvation
- [15:45] - Renewing the Mind with Scripture
- [19:00] - Living Victoriously in Christ
- [22:30] - The Power of God's Promises
- [26:00] - Call to Action and Prayer
- [30:00] - Offering and Invitation
- [33:00] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Helmet of Salvation

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 6:10-18
- Romans 8:1
- Romans 12:2

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Observation Questions:

1. What is the significance of the "helmet of salvation" in the context of the armor of God as described in Ephesians 6:10-18?
2. According to the sermon, why is the mind considered a battlefield in spiritual warfare? [30:48]
3. How does Romans 8:1 relate to the concept of the helmet of salvation and the assurance it provides to believers?
4. What role does the renewal of the mind, as mentioned in Romans 12:2, play in putting on the helmet of salvation? [41:44]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the helmet of salvation protect believers from the enemy's attacks of doubt, fear, and guilt? [38:46]
2. In what ways does understanding one's identity in Christ help in resisting the lies of the enemy?
3. How can the practice of renewing the mind through Scripture be seen as an intentional action of putting on the helmet of salvation? [41:44]
4. What does it mean for salvation to be a present reality, and how does this understanding empower believers to live victoriously? [46:16]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent situation where doubt or fear affected your spiritual journey. How might the assurance of salvation have changed your response? [38:46]
2. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle with negative thoughts. What steps can you take to renew your mind with God's truth in that area? [41:44]
3. Consider your daily routine. How can you incorporate a practice of reminding yourself of your identity in Christ each morning? [46:16]
4. Think of a time when you felt discouraged in your faith. How can the truth of Romans 8:1 help you overcome such feelings in the future?
5. What are some practical ways you can guard your thoughts against worldly influences this week? [41:44]
6. How can you share the peace and assurance of salvation with someone who is struggling with their faith?
7. Reflect on the concept of living victoriously in Christ. What is one specific trial you are facing, and how can the helmet of salvation give you confidence and peace in that situation? [46:16]

Devotional

Day 1: Guarding the Mind in Spiritual Warfare
The mind is the battlefield where spiritual warfare often occurs, and the helmet of salvation is vital for its protection. This metaphorical helmet shields believers from the enemy's attacks, such as doubt, fear, and guilt, which can undermine their faith and effectiveness. By understanding their secure identity in Christ, believers can resist these attacks and remain steadfast in their spiritual journey. The assurance of salvation provides a strong defense, reminding them that they are not condemned but are secure in God's love. [30:48]

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, ESV)

Reflection: What negative thoughts or emotions are you currently battling? How can you use the truth of your identity in Christ to counter these attacks today?

Day 2: Assurance in Christ's Finished Work
Salvation is not based on human efforts but on Jesus' finished work on the cross. This assurance allows believers to stand firm against the enemy's lies and live confidently in God's truth. Understanding that their salvation is secure, not because of their deeds but because of Christ's sacrifice, empowers them to reject feelings of inadequacy and condemnation. This truth is a cornerstone of faith, providing peace and confidence in the face of spiritual challenges. [38:46]

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to accept that your salvation is secure? How can you remind yourself of Christ's finished work when doubts arise?

Day 3: Renewing the Mind with Scripture
Actively putting on the helmet of salvation involves the intentional renewal of the mind through Scripture. The world often bombards believers with messages that contradict God's truth, making it essential to immerse themselves in His Word. This practice equips them to discern truth from falsehood and strengthens their spiritual defenses. By aligning their thoughts with God's promises, believers can resist worldly influences and remain grounded in their faith. [41:44]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to immerse yourself more deeply in Scripture? How might this practice help you discern truth from falsehood in your daily life?

Day 4: Living Victoriously in Christ
The helmet of salvation empowers believers to live victoriously, providing confidence and peace even amidst life's trials. By anchoring themselves in God's promises, they can navigate challenges with the assurance that nothing can separate them from His love. This victorious living is not about the absence of difficulties but about the presence of God's peace and strength in the midst of them. Believers are called to embrace this reality and walk confidently in the victory already won by Christ. [46:16]

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:57-58, ESV)

Reflection: How can you remind yourself of God's promises when facing trials? What practical steps can you take to live more victoriously in Christ today?

Day 5: Guarding Thoughts and Sharing the Gospel
By guarding their thoughts and focusing on God's promises, believers can counter the enemy's attacks and walk in the victory already won by Christ. This daily commitment not only protects them but also gives them the boldness to share the gospel with others. As they align their thoughts with what honors God, they become more effective witnesses of His love and grace, spreading the assurance and peace that comes from knowing their victory is secure in Christ. [55:31]

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the assurance and peace found in Christ? How can you intentionally share the gospel with them this week, using your own experiences of victory in Christ?

Quotes

Thank you, Jacob and worship team. You know, Jacob, what you said for the confession and after that, before this song, that might be better than anything that I have prepared for you. I'm going to set that up right now. Well, today we're going to continue our series on the armor of God. And we are... We are looking at the helmet of salvation. So, we're still in Ephesians. Paul wrote this book, the book of Ephesians. He wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus. He wrote that while he was imprisoned in Rome, around 60 to 62 A .D. And this letter, the entirety of this letter, he's emphasizing unity in Christ, is what he's writing to that church. He's emphasizing unity in Christ, and the believer's new identity, and how to live a holy life. That was Paul's emphasis to the church in Ephesus. So, chapters 4 through 6, Paul makes this shift. So, chapters 1 through 3, Paul's kind of talking theological, and what does God have to do with all of this? But he makes a shift from theology to kind of the practical Christian, living. So, he goes from head stuff to heart stuff. [00:24:34] (93 seconds)

He goes from knowledge to in here. He's giving instructions to believers on relationships, spiritual growth, and standing firm in their faith. And Paul concludes this letter to them by reminding the believers that their struggle is not against flesh and blood. Their struggle is against the spiritual forces of evil. He presents this armor of God that we've been looking at for the last few weeks. He presents it as this metaphor for the spiritual protection and the strength that believers need to resist the enemy's schemes. Every piece of this armor of God that we've looked at, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation that we'll look at today, the sword of the Spirit, which is next week, and then the shoes of readiness, each piece of that reflects some core Christian values and virtues and practices that we need to do. [00:26:13] (73 seconds)

This metaphor, of course, is drawing from a Roman soldier's gear, and it's emphasizing vigilance and strength and defense. Now, I think it's interesting, and we've talked about this, as a staff, it's interesting to note that when you look at all of these pieces of spiritual armor, the armor of God, How many pieces have anything to do with offense? Just one. The sword. Everything else, all the rest of it, has to do with defense. We have to be protected before we go on any kind of offense or any kind of attack. And I think of it like sports. I'm a hockey guy, and we have to have all of our gear on. The stick does no good if you get pucks shot at you and you get hurt right away. You're not going to be able to go and score. If you play football, if you don't have your gear on, you're probably going to get hurt when you get tackled. And then any kind of offense you try to do is not going to do any good because you're already down for the count. You've already been hurt. Likewise with our spirituality. We have to protect ourselves before we can do anything else. [00:27:19] (77 seconds)

Finally, Be strong, Paul says, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand the evil day and having done all, to stand firm. Stand, therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. And as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying at all times in the Spirit with all power and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. [00:28:42] (71 seconds)

And also for me, that my words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly as I ought to speak. God, we thank you for the writings of Paul. We thank you, God, for this letter to the church in Ephesus, the Ephesians. God, we pray that our hearts, our minds, and our spirits would be open to hear you speak to each one of us this morning as we hear about the helmet of salvation. God, and I pray that you'd give me the words to speak. I pray, God, that the words of my mouth and the meditation, the invocations of all of our hearts together would be pleasing and acceptable in your sight. For God, our strength and our Redeemer. Amen. [00:29:52] (53 seconds)

All right, so we are going to look at arguably the most important piece of the entire armor of God, the helmet of salvation. Deals a lot with the idea of spiritual warfare. And as I was... I kind of laughed when I saw that what I was... If you remember one of the other times I preached, it had to do kind of with spiritual warfare too. I'm like... So I told Pastor... dave and greg i'm like you guys just like to go when the tough topics come up the spiritual warfare stuff you leave that for for me to wrestle with all all week and and wonder am i going to be stricken ill on sunday morning because you want to know who doesn't want me up here talking about this this morning the devil the devil does not want me to share the message this morning but i'm here i'm fine we'll get through this all right the most important piece i think of the entire armor of god is the helmet of salvation in paul's letter he tells us to take up this helmet as part of our spiritual defense he says take up the helmet of salvation so kind of the questions that we're going to explore this morning really there are are two so why why a helmet why a helmet in the first place and second what does salvation have to do with a helmet why is it the helmet of salvation you know kind of like some of the others why was it the breastplate of righteousness why were those two combined why is it the belt of of truth why is it the sword of the spirit why is it the helmet of salvation why a helmet and what in the world does salvation have to do with a helmet helmets they're an important piece so helmets are not optional in battle a helmet protects the brain any kind of helmet that that we wear it protects your head it protects the mind the the brain which of course is the control center of the entire body without a a A sound mind, even the strongest soldier, the strongest athlete, if your head gets hurt, you're ineffective. [00:30:48] (159 seconds)

Spiritually speaking, the helmet of salvation, it protects our minds. It enables us to stand firm in the faith and resist the attacks of the enemy. Whatever that enemy is, Paul, of course, talking about soldiers in battle. It will protect your head in battle. So we're going to go a little bit deeper into three aspects of the helmet of salvation. So I kind of said why a helmet and what does a helmet have to do with salvation. So that's kind of very, very burdensome. It's a bird's eye view of where we're going in this message. And then kind of going in a little bit closer, what is the significance that a helmet has in protecting our minds? How can we actively put this helmet on or take it up, as Paul says? And then what power does a helmet provide us to live victoriously? Or the helmet of salvation, how does that help us to live victoriously? So we're going to look, we're going to go first at protecting our minds. [00:33:35] (68 seconds)

So Paul, of course, wrote this to the Ephesians. And he used the imagery of this armor of God and this armor being rooted in the idea of Roman soldiers. because they would have been familiar with with what all this armor was that Roman soldiers would have would have worn they wore helmets and their helmets were made of of metal and and leather and those would guard against the the injuries in the head during to the head during combat so just like a physical helmet would would protect the the Roman soldiers the helmet of salvation it guards our minds from spiritual attacks you we've heard it said a lot there's been countless books that have been written on the topic of of our mind being a battlefield you've heard of those books right the one of the most popular most well known is of course the battlefield of the mind written by Joyce Meyer the mind is a battlefield where we're so much of our spiritual warfare happens think about it spiritual warfare most often happens right here it happens in our mind proverbs 23 7 says as a man thinks in his heart so is he see Satan knows he knows that if he can corrupt our thoughts [00:34:38] (97 seconds)

if he can corrupt our thoughts he can corrupt what goes on up here he can influence all of our actions everything he can influence our attitude as long as he can get at our mind he can affect our beliefs if he can get to our mind Satan knows that he knows that I just have to go after their mind and they're going to mind and their mind and that's all I need if I can get at their mind I can influence their actions I can influence their attitudes and I can influence their beliefs I just have to get to their mind to when things like doubt and fear and guilt and discouragement and disillusionment and feelings of unworthiness those feelings are his favorite weapons doubt and fear and guilt and discouragement those are satan's favorite weapons to come at us with but our salvation our our assurance of god's saving work in jesus christ protects us against any doubt any fear any guilt any shame any discouragement that the devil tries to throw at us when we understand who we are in jesus our minds are shielded from the lies of the enemy romans 8 1 it reminds us there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in christ jesus to the helmet of salvation it helps us hold on to that truth there is no condemnation for those who are in christ jesus so when we have our salvation it helps us hold on to that truth there is no condemnation for those who are in christ jesus so when we have doubt and fear and guilt and discouragement that satan is throwing at us we know that there is no condemnation because we have the helmet of salvation and we are in christ it reminds us that our salvation is secured [00:36:19] (134 seconds)

not because of what we've done. Because if I had to secure my own salvation, I'd fail. All of us would fail. Our salvation is secure not because of anything that we've done, but because of what Jesus already accomplished on the cross once and for all. Our salvation is not based on our works. Jacob kind of mentioned that. It's not based on our efforts. It's not based on our worthiness because I'm not worthy. I'm the most unworthy of anybody. But it's based 100 % on the finished work of Jesus. That's what our salvation is based on. It says in Ephesians, for by grace you have been saved through faith. Ephesians 2. So this is earlier what Paul is writing. You have been saved through faith by grace. Not that of yourselves. It's the gift of God. Not of works, lest anyone should boast. You see, Jesus' sacrifice, it secured our salvation once and for all. It's done. Our salvation is secured. When Jesus said on the cross in John 19, it's finished. He wasn't just referring to His life on earth. I mean, He was, but He was saying that it is finished. The entirety of my purpose, my coming to earth is finished. Your debt is fully paid. It's done. Once and for all, it is finished. [00:38:46] (105 seconds)

And because of that, we can rest in the assurance that our salvation is not fragile. It's not dependent on our performance because like I said, if it was dependent on my performance, if my salvation, if my salvation depended on me, I got big problems. Big problems. We all would. Our salvation is not dependent on us, on our performance, but on God's unchanging promise. When doubt creeps in, when Satan tries to come at us with those words and he whispers, you're not good enough. When he says that to us, when Satan says, you're not worthy. When Satan says, you've gone too far. When he says any of those things, we've got the helmet of salvation that says, I am saved. I am redeemed and I am secure in Christ. Paul goes on and he says, take up the helmet of salvation. Take it up. That indicates that there is, there's an intentional action on our part. We have to take up this helmet and put it on. Well, how do we do that? Well, it's not enough just to own a helmet. If you own a helmet, but you never put it on, that helmet does you no good, right? It doesn't do you any good. You have to put the helmet on. Romans 12 .2 tells us, do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed, by the renewing of your mind. And this is the key to renewing our mind. The Word of God is the key to renewing our mind. Every day, we are bombarded... [00:40:21] (116 seconds)

with messages from the world every single day we are bombarded with messages from the world many of which dare i say most of them contradict god's truth you ever looked at facebook or instagram or uh snapchat or twitter x whatever it's called now any social media you look at any of that most of the things that we see on there in some way are going to contradict god's truth you look at instagram and you see well i'm not good looking enough i'm not pretty enough i have to look like this i have to act like this i have to do this i have to be this when god is saying you are who you are kate actually talked about this at true light you are who you are and you are uniquely you you said it better than i did uh you are you for this purpose that's the truth i created you to be you i didn't create you to be this person you are you that is god's truth you don't have to be as good as this person at sports you don't have to look as good as this person you don't have to be as as skinny as this person you are you and that is how i created you and that is the truth we see things that just contradict the truth all the time but without precisely regular time in Scripture, our minds are vulnerable to these lies. That this is how you should act. This is what you should do. But Scripture tells us this is how to act. This is how to be and this is what to do. When we meditate on God's Word, we're less vulnerable to the lies. [00:42:17] (111 seconds)

When we're staying in the Word, we can equip ourselves with the truth of God that tells us we are good enough. We are worthy. We're exactly as God created us to be. And that enables us to discern between what's true and what's false. What's of God and what's of Satan. The helmet of salvation also involves us remembering who we are in Christ. The very beginning, the beginning of Ephesians, Paul says, we are marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. So what that's saying is that our salvation is not just a past event. It's not just a future hope. Our salvation is also a present reality. It's something that we live into right now. A present reality. When we wake up in the morning, which we all did because we're here, when we wake up in the morning, we need to remind ourselves, like when we get up and we stretch, instead of grumbling about having to go about our day, we should wake up and remind ourselves, I am a child of God. I am saved by His grace and nothing can separate me from His love. What if we woke up and reminded ourselves of that every single morning? [00:44:04] (88 seconds)

When we wake up, what if we just start our day, and we say, you know what? I'm a child of God. I am saved by His grace and nothing can separate me from His love. You think that might transform our mindset going into our day if we just said that every morning? I'm a child of God. See, I think that mindset might change or transform how we face the challenges that come at us and the temptations that come our way throughout the day. I know it would for me. Philippians 4 gives us a filter for our thoughts. It says, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, or excellent or praiseworthy. Those are the things that we should think of. So we have to guard our thoughts. To put on the helmet of salvation, it means to intentionally direct our thoughts towards that which honors God. That requires vigilance. That requires us to stay the course. Because it's so easy. Just think about it. It's so easy to let negative thoughts or destructive thoughts or sinful thoughts take root in our minds, which then go to our hearts, which then lead to actions. [00:46:16] (110 seconds)

We have to remind ourselves that I am a child of God, saved by grace, and nothing can separate me from His love. So living victoriously, how does the helmet of salvation help us to live victoriously? It doesn't just protect us. It empowers us in some way to live victoriously in Christ. See, we have confidence. We have confidence to face trials when we have the helmet of salvation on. When the helmet of salvation is firmly in place, we can face any trial with confidence. Romans 8, 38, it says that neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. That confidence, it enables us to persevere even when life gets tough, and it does. And if your life hasn't ever gotten tough, it will. It will at some point. But we know that our ultimate victory is secure no matter what happens in this world because we can persevere. A soldier who knows that his helmet is secure, can engage in battle without fear of injury, usually, for the most part. It's a metaphor. So we know that helmets can be broken. But, using Paul's metaphor, if you have your helmet on, you're going to be confident in your salvation. [00:48:12] (108 seconds)

second corinthians ten five it reminds us to take captive every thought and make it obedient to christ one of satan's oldest oldest strategies is to make us question god's truth one of satan's oldest oldest strategies is to make us question god's truth one of satan's oldest oldest strategies is to make us question god's truth one of satan's oldest oldest strategies is to make us question god's truth just like he did all the way back in the garden of eden just like he did all the way back in the garden of eden just like he did all the way back in the garden of eden to eve to eve to eve did god really say did god really say did god really say not to eat the fruit from the tree of not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge knowledge knowledge his oldest strategy is just to make us his oldest strategy is just to make us his oldest strategy is just to make us question just to make us think question just to make us think question just to make us think maybe maybe maybe god didn't say this maybe god god didn't say this maybe god is saying this he wants to distort our perception of god's love satan wants to distort our our perception of god's grace and god's power and when we allow negative thoughts to take root in our mind they influence our attitudes and our behaviors leading us away from god's purpose but friends we're not defenseless we've got the helmet of salvation to to guard our minds and we've got the sword of the spirit which is god's word to fight back against live lies so when satan says and he attacks us with fear when he says things that that come at us and make us fearful we can counter with god's promise that says do not fear for i am with you when satan brings guilt we can stand on romans 8 1 that says there is no condemnation for those who are in christ jesus see by filling our minds with the truth of god's word praying continually focusing on the truth of god's word and we're not afraid of the truth of god's word on christ we resist the enemy's schemes and we walk in victory now for those who are already in in christ remember that the helmet of salvation is your protection it's your confidence and it's your strength put it on daily let it guard your thoughts guide your actions and give you peace if you're here this morning and you're not sure about your salvation i just want to encourage you don't leave here this morning without making that decision don't do it romans 10 9 promises if you declare with your mouth that jesus christ is lord and if you believe in your heart that god raised him from the dead you will be saved [00:55:31] (173 seconds)

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