God’s Word for us today is Ephesians 6:12-17a.
“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places… Take the helmet of salvation.” -Ephesians 6:12,17a
Lots of tough stuff happens in life. How does God protect us when it seems that all is lost? To give us an eternal perspective on things, God gives us the helmet of salvation, and Dennis Metcalf we’ll talk with us about it today.
The Armor of God – The Helmet of Salvation (Ephesians 6:17a)
1. I don’t know about you, but last week I took note of what goes on in my head, and expended a lot of effort “casting down imaginations” and other “high things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.” I needed a butterfly net to bring every thought captive, not to mention raising my shield of faith by calling to mind what I believe. Did you think about what you think about, and if so, what did you notice? Did you consciously take action against marauding thoughts trying to steal your peace?
2. Being conscious of our thought lives highlights how fierce the battle is for our minds. We were reminded of that again this Sunday when the Helmet of Salvation was explained to us. The more we study the armor of God, the more we understand the importance of knowing what we believe and the scriptures that back up our faith. That’s a brain function; hence, a helmet is an integral part of protection. Recap your understanding of the role of the Helmet of Salvation.
3. The “Salvation” part of our helmet is so good, it deserves reinforcement. Review these verses and pick out the components of salvation:
Ephesians 1:4-7
Ephesians 2:5-6
Ephesians 2:8
Ephesians 3:12
1 John 5:11-13
4. If we possess these truths given to us concretely in God’s word, how do we use them when the enemy sows temptation, discouragement and doubt?
5. Share a time when your peace was restored because you used scripture to combat oppressive thoughts. If we know this tactic but rarely use it, what happens?
6. We’ve all had times when circumstances are overwhelming. At those times, the last thing we feel like doing is fighting. If someone asks me, “Do you have your armor on,” my answer is often “no.” There’s knowing about it, and there’s the choice of putting it on. We’re more inclined to put it on if we understand its function and value. How important is it to understand about each piece of armor, and how important is it to be fully dressed for battle?
7. Review whose strength we’re wearing when we put on our armor (this should make us all more courageous!)
8. This week, be conscious about protecting your head with God’s solid promises about salvation, and put on your helmet! Let the reality of salvation sink in deeply, and apply those truths to challenges you encounter.