Ephesians 6:17 - The Helmet of Salvation

Todaywe’re continuing in Ephesians chapter 6, where the Apostle Paul is teachingbelievers how to stand strong in spiritual warfare. And our verse today isEphesians 6:17: “And take the helmet of salvation…” Now Paul says morein this verse—he also mentions the sword of the Spirit—but today I want tofocus only on this one piece of armor: The helmet of salvation. Because ifthere is one place Satan loves to attack, it is the believer’s mind. And ifthere is one thing God wants to protect, strengthen, and stabilize in theChristian life, it is the mind. First,the Helmet Protects the Most Vulnerable Place: The MindLetme begin with something very simple. A soldier can take a wound in the arm andstill fight. He can take a wound in the leg and still move. But a blow to thehead can be fatal. That’s why Roman soldiers would never enter battle without ahelmet. We have read that these helmets were sometimes made of thick leather,and other times heavy metal, and they often had pieces that protected thecheeks and face. In other words, this was not decorative. It was essential for theirprotection in the battle. Weneed to remember that the head is the center of our intellectual life, the seatof thought, reason, and understanding. So Paul is telling us that if Satan canget control of your thinking, he can influence your living. That is why thebattle for the Christian is usually a battle for the mind. I will never forgetthat in my early years as pastor I had an entire message called “The Battle forthe Mind.” Right after that a book came out—I believe by Tim LaHaye—called “TheBattle for the Mind”. Kiddingly, I would say, I think he got it from me. Thereal battle is right there in your thinking.  Second,Satan Attacks the Mind Because That’s Where He Has Always WorkedYoumight remember going back to Genesis chapter 3. That is where Satan attackedEve—through her mind. That is what God is speaking to us about. He did notbegin by telling her to commit a gross sin. He began by planting a thought.What was that thought? “Has God indeed said?” The moment Eve beganquestioning the Word of God, her mind became the battlefield. Paul even warnsChristians that Satan still works the same way in 2 Corinthians 11:3: “But Ifear lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your mindsmay be corrupted.” That is his strategy. Satan’s first move is almostalways to distort the truth, to question God’s goodness, to twist theScripture, and to weaken confidence in what God has said. When that happens,the believer becomes spiritually vulnerable. Third,The Helmet of Salvation Is Not About Getting Saved Again. Nowwe need to be very clear about something. Paul is writing to believers. He’snot giving an evangelistic invitation. He’s telling Christians how to standfirm. So when Paul says, “take the helmet of salvation,” he is not saying, “getsaved again.” You don’t put on the helmet by repeating a prayer. You don’t puton the helmet by re-doing your conversion. Only saved people can wear God’sarmor. The armor is not for people outside Christ. The armor is for believerswho are already in the fight. So what does Paul mean? Fourth,The Helmet of Salvation Is Assurance and Hope—The Confidence That You Belong toChristMyfriend, Satan’s blows are aimed at our security. The two sharp edges of Satan’ssword are discouragement and doubt. You can be assured he is going to use them.I’ll never forget what Dr. Falwell said many times during my years at LynchburgBaptist College (today Liberty University): He said, “Satan favorite tool tokeep the Christian down is the tool of discouragement. God cannot use adiscouraged Christian.” We will be looking more about the “helmet of salvation”over the next few days.  Godbless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.