The Helmet Of Salvation And The Sword Of The Spirit
These two are included together because they are not distinctly separated in the text passage. At this point, we are ready to enter into fighting. We are dressed for battle and have our weapon(s) with us.
A. The Helmet of Salvation
1. The Hope of Salvation
“…putting on…the hope of SALVATION as a HELMET.” (1 Thess. 5:8) “For in this hope we were saved.” (Romans 8:24a) “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, (mind, will and emotions), firm and secure.” (Hebrews 6:19)
2. The Benefits of Salvation
“Yet to all who received Him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12) “I (Jesus) have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10b) “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us.” (1 Peter 1:3) I tis through the Word that we will gain knowledge of Him and receive everything we need.
B. The Sword of the Spirit
“Take…the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT which is the word of God.” (Eph. 6:17b) The Bible is a book, not a sword. It only becomes a sword when it comes out of our mouths. The Greek word for “word” used here is “rhema,” which means “utterance” or “spoken word.” It is not the “logos” (written word) which is the sword, but the rhema. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7b) When Jesus was face to face with the devil, he quoted scripture. He used the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT , the rhema word of God. We have a sword. The devil doesn’t. When we quote scripture, he can’t resist or overcome it. There is nothing he can attack us with that we can’t resist or overcome.
C. The Battle For the Mind
1. Anchoring the Soul
The soul is said to consist of the mind, will, and emotions. We are saved “in hope” (Romans 8:24) and hope is the “anchor for the soul.” (Hebrews 6:19) Your mind (part of the soul), therefore, can be anchored, or steadied, by hope. The Greek word for soul can also be translated “mind.”
2. Controlling the Mind
God and Satan battle for control of your mind and thoughts. Your mind holds the power of choice. “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” (Romans 8:5-7) “All of us also lived aming them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.” (Eph. 2:3) “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5)
Praying The Warrior's Prayer 