In our last Vida, we discussed the supercritical Helmet of Salvation and the Shield of Faith. These are cool terms, “I’m putting on my helmet,” but how do they work out in my life? Good question, because we don’t go around wearing a helmet or carrying a shield. They are symbolic, but they, like all weaponry, refer to solid decisions that we make. It’s like updating your iPhone. It’s the same phone, but the programming has been upgraded. It does something more that it didn’t do previously. The spiritual armor works the same; it updates our spirit man, enabling them to be more proficient in the art of war and hence allowing us to live more righteous lives.
I will tell you how they work for me. Remember, I’ve been a believer all my adult life, so having a history with Christ has its benefits. For example, you can say, “I’ve seen this Goliath before, or have had financial concerns before, or have had to look for a job before, and in all these trials, He has been faithful. And remember, in a trial, S.T.O.P : Stop the panic, worry, and fretting, and Take the Opportunity to Pray and recall His promises. Christ was faithful before, and He will be faithful again. Remember, He willingly went to the Cross in obedience to His Father for us; how much more will He care for us now? We took our Goliath down once before, twice, etc., and by Christ’s strength, we can take him down again. How do we do it? We use the armor provided by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 6:10-18
The Christian’s Armor
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might (note the emphasis, in the power of His might, not yours or mine).
Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (wiles – the method of taking down prey. Satan knows our weaknesses and lust and knows how to bait us)
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (our battles are spiritual, so we fight spiritually using God’s Word. In our strength we are no match):
Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having the Belt of Truth (foundational truth Acts 4:12 no other name…) and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And put on the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
So when I’m troubled, stressed, or not having a good day, I purposely remember the helmet of salvation (this is where training pays off). It reminds me that here is not my home, and the problem I’m dealing with, however grave, is defeatable, or I’ll outlive it. I saw a movie with Ben Affleck, and the setting was World War II. Every time things became challenging, you would see him pull out a picture of his girlfriend, and seeing her gave him strength for the next thing he had to do. That hope of going home gave him the strength and the desire to fight courageously to make it home. That’s precisely what the Helmet of Salvation does for us. It keeps us grounded and focused. Way too many believers get caught up in the concerns and affairs of this life, living as though this is all there is, that here is all that matters. That’s how you lose the war of spiritual purity and intimacy with Christ. My three favorite “Helmet” verses are….
Philippians 3:20
For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look to (and for) the Lord Jesus Christ: (this is a strong mindset that the helmet of salvation gives us).
1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming ( this is how the helmet of salvation affects our minds; it gives us a true and accurate hope for our future, a true north).
2 Peter 3:11
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness (our hope should regulate our conduct)?
In studying these verses, we see that the Helmet of Salvation is a mindset. You and I are ambassadors of a righteous nation, a completely different country with opposite values, and we are here to represent those values. Via God’s Word, we are anchoring our minds to the Truth, which is the structure and framework of that Nation. If we obey them, they help us to represent our King fully. That Truth helps us through the ups and downs in this life. To live life with minimal regrets because of God’s Word in us is incredible.
The parable of wise and foolish builders is a good example. One who built his house on the sand had no desire to represent anyone but himself, and the one who built his house on the rock was the one who did not lose sight of his purpose or calling. This parable, as simple as it is, exemplifies a vital truth and a grave warning.
Matthew 7:24-27
Build on a Firm Foundation (Luke 6:47-49)
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock (in scripture the rock represents Christ).
And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it (great is mega in the Greek, massive, overwhelming, large) and very sad because it didn’t need to be.
What was the difference between the two builders? They both knew how to build, but their expectations and the foundation they built on were different. The foolish builder felt that life was all going to be okay. As far as he was concerned, he had just purchased beachfront property, the best the world had to offer. There’s no need to go through all that extra work digging in rock for his footings; that’s for the super paranoid. The wise builder knew building on the rock was more work, but he also knew the ocean (representing humanity and its values) was not to be trusted.
As beautiful and inviting as the ocean was, it was unpredictable, and trusting it would be foolish (Christ never trusted man because He knew the heart of man. From loving him one moment to calling for his Crucifixion the next). So, the wise builder was willing to put in the extra work, and as we know, it paid off. He listened to wisdom, which is what Christ’s words are. Living for this world and for all its pleasures, disregarding anything Christ has said or done, is to be a foolish builder. A funny saying comes to mind; “get all you can, can what you get, then sit on the can.” In essence, living for anything or anyone except for Christ is the attitude of those who ignore His Words.
We are foolish to believe that there is no God when His handiwork is all around. We have the testimony of the scriptures, and to not do an honest investigation of what is written is to do ourselves a Great Disservice. The Bible can defend itself if one comes with an honest heart, an open heart to want to learn and not to accuse or find fault. To believe we see it all and understand it all is foolishness. And to disregard the life of Christ, His claims, teachings, and miracles, and then on top of that, the Crucifixion, as though it meant nothing, that there was no purpose to it, is to be a very, very foolish builder.
Nothing is more potent than Truth, for the Author of the Truth is The Eternal God, The Great I AM, Creator Of Heaven and Earth. Every armor we are to wear and use is tied to verses in His Word and has the power of God Himself via the Holy Spirit. Just like Michael, the Arc angel did not rebuke satan in his own strength but said the Lord rebuke you, pronouncing the Holy name of God; Kurios (meaning Lord and Master) is also how we are to fight our fights.
Jude 1:9
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, did not bring against him an abusive accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee ( which was power enough to defeat satan and gain the body of Moses).
So likewise, when we know God’s Word and stand on God’s Word, we get the victory. It might take a bit, but if we stay with it, not wavering, knowing that we are in a battle that requires us to be fully engaged and convinced in our mind( helmet of salvation ) that He can do what He has promised, our victory will come.
James 4:6-8ll
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble ( verse 7 is valid only if verse 6 is followed).
Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil (stand on specific scriptures that pertain to your struggle), and he will flee from you.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded (come true with God; He knows us and loves us, and will not leave us like we are)
Winning our battles requires a knowledge of God’s Word and a daily visit with Him. God required Joshua two visits a day in the scriptures, and what The Father requires of one child, He requires of all His children. An easy way to fulfill this is to read Proverbs in the morning( or you can put Proverbs on audio and listen while you are getting ready for work or eating breakfast) and then have your study during your lunch hour. That’s how I have done it for years. And yes, it means you pack a lunch and eat at the office or park, which means you only go out for lunch with some. It might hurt a bit, but five years from now, when two or three of your co-workers are having problems in their marriage or with their kids, but your marriage and kids are doing well, it will have paid off, not to mention a stronger walk with Christ.
Now, why is Abraham called the “Father of our faith?”
Romans 4:20-22
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
He was fully persuaded that what he had promised, he could also perform.
And therefore, it was imputed to him for righteousness.
For good reason, Abraham is called the father of our faith, believing that Sarah, who is 100 years of age, could still conceive and bear a child. That’s a miracle, and then when God asked for Isaac to be a blood offering, Abraham obeyed, believing that what God caused to come to life from a dead womb, He could also raise from the dead. God had no intention of Abraham killing his son, but He tested Abraham so as to bless him so that his descendants would be like the stars of the sky. Abraham believed, and therefore, we are blessed. Know that behind all tests and trials is a God who is preparing us for the next step and the following blessing, and let’s take a side step from our study and ask what you consider a blessing. God asked Solomon that same question.
2 Chronicles 1:7-11
On that night, God appeared unto Solomon and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast showed great mercy unto David, my father, and hast made me reign in his stead.
Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this — thy people, that is so great?
And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor — the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge — my people, over whom I have made thee king:
Do you agree that knowing God intimately is a blessing more than riches or fame or getting what we want? Do we have a limit on believing in God? Jesus asked the disciples after He preached a hard and offensive message, “Will you too also desert me,” or will we be more like David?
Psalms 119:10-12
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
How do we follow in Abraham’s footsteps? It is first by putting on the helmet of salvation. That’s exactly what Abraham did when he believed and obeyed God over every visible circumstance that spoke to the contrary.
1 Thessalonians 5:8
But let us, who are of the day, be sober (as opposed to being distracted, drunk, partying, or foolishly minded), putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
These verses represent the best definition I know of what the Helmet of Salvation produces in us; without it, our walk would be fraught with defeat and sadness. People who know us will not want to be Christian because of our poor example.
Father,
Do all this in us… thank you, and Amen.