Ephesians 6:17
[17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Soldiers are given head gear in to protect their mind for battle. Can you imagine going to battle without something to cover your head and shield it from any attack. Soldiers are also given weapons to fight the enemy and defeat them. Without such equipment, the outcomes of battles would be hopeless.
When I think of the Helmet of Salvation, I think of that mindset of keeping your wits about you in the battles of life. Getting emotions ahead of thinking can often be the downfall of a person in a tough situation. God has given his promise of eternal life (Salvation from our sinful self) as a reminder that our outcome is secure. We can lay aside every worry (Philippians 4:6) and pray to God, so that we have the right approach to fight our battles. This promise is designed to protect your mental state of mind with the promise of eternity. Our Helmet of Salvation is designed for bringing us peace of mind, and allowing us to keep a state of mind, so as to hear clearly the voice of our Lord.
The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. 2 Timothy 2:15 says “Study to show thyself approved, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, and correctly handles the word of truth” (Paraphrase).
2 Timothy 3:16,17 says “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished for all good works”
Simply put, our sword in battle is the Bible. God’s message to us. When we read God’s word regularly, and take in its message, God is able to speak to us through his Word, and give us guidance in each and every step we take. I have some personal favorite promises in the scriptures that remind me of the power of God’s word for my life. To commit verses to memory is to prepare your mind to respond to God’s voice as various battles come your way. Take some time to look them up and consider some of them .
Joshua 1:8 Psalm 1:1-6
Psalm 119:9-11 Psalm 119:105
John 1:1-12 Psalm 19:7-14
Hebrews 4:12
The incredible thing about God’s word, is that it is designed to defeat Satan’s darts that are thrown at us every day. When Jesus was being tempted by Satan during his walk on earth, he would always combat the temptations with the statement referring to Scriptures that said “It is written”. The one that really rings home to me in this writing is “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”.
When people ask me, “How do I know what God’s will is for me? Or how can I make the best decision about something” I always respond, What does God’s word say about this to you ? The reason for that response is simple… God’s word discerns the thoughts and intentions of a man’s heart. God always leads in step with his written word applied to our every day life. Knowing this eliminates a lot of potentially bad choices.
I will close with this verse for the week :
Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword.. Piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joint and marrow, and is a discern-er of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
May your week be filled with the peace of mind that comes from the knowledge of God’s Salvation for you. And may your mind be sharpened as you walk with your Lord in his word this week.
His Servant,
Jeff
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