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WEARING THE HELMET OF SALVATION IN ENEMY-HELD TERRITORY!

This past week my daughter and I went on several hikes. We hiked the base of South Mountain which was an easy to moderate hike. We then tackled the summit trail at Piestewa (py-ess-tuh-wah) Peak, formally Squaw Peak. It was listed as moderate on the internet, but as strenuous by the Park Service.

The latter description was more accurate as the trail was not only steep but very rugged. We hiked for an hour before we declared ourselves to be at the top of some peak. We declared ourselves victors and came down the same way we went up - slowly.
In preparation for these hikes we made sure we had water and some granola bars. We also put on shoes that were as near to hiking boots as we had available to us without making a major purchase. Then, as we got out of the car and headed toward the trailhead we put on hats to give us some protection from the sun. I tend to wear a baseball style cap that advertises Camden, Maine. This allows me to act like someone from out-of-town, as someone who doesn’t have the slightest idea of what they are doing.

I mention all of this to you, just as a reminder that normally the last thing we do before venturing out into the world is that we grab a hat – assuming we are doing something that calls for a hat. It not only protects us from harmful sun rays, it normally identifies us in some manner.

It may identify us as a DiamondBack fan, a Boston Red Sox fan, as ASU alumni as having traveled in some part of the country, or as belonging to some organization. Granted, it doesn’t tell the world too much about us but it does suggest something about who we are in reality.

In like manner, the last two pieces of armor that a soldier would take up would be his or her helmet and their weapon or weapons. A kevlar helmet being hot and uncomfortable would be put on by a soldier in Iraq only when they stepped out into a hostile world; a world of impending danger. He or she would then take in their hand whatever weapon or weapons they had been issued.
In Ephesians 6 we see the same order taking place. In fact, in the Greek the outline of Paul’s thinking is divided by the word “take” in v. 17 which is an imperative rather than another participle. This word “take” parallels the imperative “stand” as found in v. 14. So in vv. 14 - 16 we are to put on those pieces of armor which will allow us to stand firm as we confront our world. In vv. 17 - 20 we actually step out into the world in which we live and as we do so we take up the last two pieces of armor.
In review, we stand firm by:
– Buckling truth around our waist.
– Putting in place the breastplate of righteousness.
– Fitting our feet with the gospel of peace.
&
– Taking up the shield of faith.

We now come to the second mandate. The mandate that tells us to receive what has already been provided for us. The mandate that tells us to take up the last two pieces of armor as we head out the door. We’re told to take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Both will be needed in the heat of battle.

Whereas the first four pieces of armor are strategical in nature, the last two are tactical. The first four are put on in the war room. They are put on as a reminder of how we are to conduct and protect ourselves in this campaign against the evil one. The latter two pieces of armor are put on at the last moment. In waging war against the gates of hell they are of utmost importance.

The first, our helmet of salvation, serves at least three purposes. It identifies us as belonging to the Lord’s army. It protects our head; that is, it allows us to keep our head in any and every situation. And, it gives us the confidence to turn to our Helper in time of need for it is a constant reminder that our hope is in the Captain of our salvation.

First, you and I have been saved, not by anything that we have done ourselves, not by good works, but by the grace of God in Christ Jesus. Yes, we’ve placed our trust in Him. But, in light of his revelation to each one of us whether through a friend, through difficult circumstances (usually of our own making), and/or through the preaching of the Word, “trusting” in the One who has revealed himself to us is nothing to brag about; it was simply something we had to do.

And, whether we know it or not, our salvation reveals itself in public. Those who know Christ truly are new creations. The old has gone and new has come; and the new nature is a whole lot kinder than the self-centered old nature. As we grow in Christ, as the fruit of the Spirit grows within us, this new identity reveals itself in 101 different ways. As it does so, others take note of the fact that we belong to Christ.

Second, a helmet, whether in baseball, football, or on the battlefield, is designed to protect one’s head. In the case of baseball players, football players, or soldiers in Iraq it is designed to protect them physically, mentally, and, I suppose, emotionally. The head, of course, is vulnerable to lethal or incapacitating blows. And, the mind is essential for directing and coordinating the actions of the body. So protection of the head, wherever the possibility of injury exist, is of prime importance.

If this is true in the above mentioned arenas of conflict, how much more true is it in the spiritual realm? Once we step out into the real world, our head, our mind, our thinking, is going to be bombarded with a world-view that is contrary to everything the Bible teaches us.

The world, through some very educated people, in a variety of ways, will tell us that there is no ultimate reality. It will tell us that what we see is what we get. It will tell us that the only purpose we might have in life is that which we chisel out for ourselves. It will tell us that there are no absolute truths and hence, the only god worthy of worship, is the god of tolerance.

To combat the world-view that bombards us we need to take every thought captive to Christ. We’re to have the same mind within us as is in Christ. And that only happens through the saving work, the day by day work, of Christ within us as we set our minds on the things that are above, not on earthly things. It is Christ who saves us from the world and from ourselves through the renewing of our minds. The helmet of salvation is part of his armor, not ours.

Third, the helmet of salvation gives us confidence to turn to our Helper in time of need. It reminds us that we belong to the One who entered our world to rescue us from the dominion of darkness. And in reminding us that we now serve under the banner of love in his kingdom, it gives us confidence to come to him in prayer. For in Hebrews 4:16 we read:
Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Additionally, look at the context of these final two pieces of armor. In Ephesians 6:17 - 20 we read:
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always (literally, in all persistence) keep on praying for all the saints.
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Note the sequence of events within the chapter. In the war-room we buckle on the belt of truth, we put on the breastplate of righteousness, we fit our feet with the gospel of peace, and we pick up the shield of faith. In the war-room we receive our instructions. Then, as we are about to go out the door we put on the helmet of salvation and take the only the weapon that has been issued to us. And the moment we’re out in the world, we start praying like crazy.

John Piper once made the observation that in order to sustain a heart for prayer we have to think and talk about something besides prayer. First, we need to talk about or remind ourselves that we are a people at war. The New Testament, of course, crackles with military jargon. Paul, in addition to admonishing us to put on the full armor of God as seen here in Ephesians, urged Timothy to fight the good fight and to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He knew that we don’t live in a demilitarized zone. We live in a war zone where battles are fought every single day and where people get hurt.

Second, in order to sustain a heart for prayer, we need to remember that we serve a mighty God who is sovereign over all that takes place in this war-torn world. Paul at the beginning of this section in Ephesians challenged us to “be strong in the Lord and his mighty power.” And Job, after everything was said and done in his season of trial, acknowledged God’s mighty power by saying: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.” You see, it wouldn’t make any sense to bring our prayers and petitions to a wimp. So, again and again, Scripture reminds us that our God is a mighty God and he delights in exercising his power on behalf of those who are fully committed to him.

Finally, our helmet reminds us that our hope is not in ourselves but in the One we serve. For in I Thessalonians 5:8 - 11, which is the only other place in the New Testament where the metaphor of armor is used, we are told:
“But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

The helmet identifies us as belonging to Christ, it protects our head and allows us to keep it in the heat of the battle, it gives us the confidence to pray, and it reminds us of our Blessed Hope.

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