Sermon Central
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The Helmet Of Salvation - Spiritual Warfare Part 13 Series
Contributed by Emile Wolfaardt on May 8, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: (PowerPoint Slides and Cell Study Notes freely available by emailing Emile@Wolfaardt.com)
Spiritual Warfare (SW-13)
The Helmet of Salvation
This morning I want to talk with you about one of the most profound and necessary pieces of armor - the Helmet of Salvation and I want to invited you to listen very carefully because I believe this message holds the key that some of you have been needing, been waiting for, been getting ready to receive. It is God’s answer to the question you have been asking. The better you understand the helmet of salvation from the Word of God and apply it practically to your life the more effective you will be in everything you do. Allow me to say that again if you will - I don’t want any of you to miss it. The better you understand the helmet of salvation from the Word of God and apply it practically to your life the more effective you will be in everything you do.
Please open your Bibles with me to the book of Ephesians, and the sixth chapter. The title of out series is simply but profoundly Spiritual Warfare. The day you gave your life to God you got enlisted in the greatest battle mankind has ever engaged in. We are not simply a nation at war, we are a military section in a war - and we fight this war daily on many fronts and in many ways. The Armor of God is designed specifically by God and if you put it on God guarantees your victory. His Word promises that is you put it on you will stand. At the end of the day, others may fall. At the end of the day, other may fail. But you will be standing. As a matter of fact - this armor is the only way for you to stand.
Ephesians 6:13-18 - Read - Pray
There is a whole lot more to the ‘helmet of salvation’ than first meets the eye - or that one may even assume at first blush.
Let’s pick it up in 1 Thessalonians 5:8 "But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on ... the hope of salvation as a helmet."
The Helmet of Salvation is essentially connected to the biblical concept of hope - and if you misunderstand ‘hope’ you will probably misunderstand the point of the helmet. Our modern concept of hope means holding out for a mere possibility, an unlikely chances, an improbable outcome. That is the opposite to biblical hope. Biblical hope is a deep conviction, a certain knowledge, a solid expectation of what is coming. It is knowing the outcome that has not yet occurred. It would be like watching a taped recording or a game that you know the results of. You know you won - you have just not seen it yet. That is the concept of biblical hope.
‘The hope of salvation as a helmet’ or the ‘helmet of salvation’ is not about getting saved. Paul is speaking here to folks that are already saved. Remember, in chapter 1, they are already chosen before the foundation of the world that they should be blameless before Him. They are already blessed in the heavenly realm with every blessing in Christ Jesus. The helmet of salvation is not about getting saved, rather it is about ‘living’ saved. It is not about kneeling at the foot of the cross, it is about taking up your cross and following Jesus.
So what is the helmet of salvation? It is the strength and protection that comes from believing, thinking and acting out of the richness of your salvation.
Right Knowing (truth)
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Right Thinking (wisdom)
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Right Living (obedience)
In other words, the helmet of salvation is not about getting saved, but about ‘knowing,’ ‘thinking’ and ‘living’ saved. It is about the strength and protection that comes when you allow . . .
the mind of Christ to be your thinking,
the call of Christ to be your walking,
the truth of Christ to be your seeing,
the purpose of Christ to be your living,
the destiny of Christ to be your drawing.
You see my friend, once the truth enters your mind, touches your heart, affects your life and walk, and is manifest in your actions, it becomes your nature. The helmet of salvation deals with your nature, you character, your doctrine; what you believe and who you are.
The helmet of salvation is about right thinking, God thinking, salvation thinking about my past, my present and my future.
It is thinking God thoughts about who I am, what I do and where I am headed.
It is getting the divine perspective on my troubles, my trials and my temptations.
It is seeing myself through the eyes of God in relation to my sin, my sorrows and my sicknesses.
