LEARNING DAILY

Ephesians 6:17, And take the helmet of salvation,

It is quite obvious that a helmet is worn to protect a person’s head from injury. As Paul is in prison, he is looking at the Roman soldier who is guarding him; that is probably the inspiration for writing about armor. He is no doubt comparing the need to protect the physical body to the Believer’s need to use spiritual armor to protect himself spiritually. The message this weekend was about how the helmet did several things for the soldier. According to Pastor Jonathon Moore the helmet not only protected his head, it made him easily identified who he was; the helmet had red horsehair on the top of the helmet (from granddaughter Audrey’s sermon notes).

For the Believer, “the helmet of salvation provides the Christian soldier with their identity and provides their safety in Christ. Salvation of your spirit is automatic (that is saying yes to Jesus Christ). Salvation of your soul takes work” (Pastor Moore). In the blog that is often referred to as walking on the narrow way with all its temptations and difficulties. Believers are to put on the helmet of salvation as they walk this narrow way with Jesus into eternal life in His kingdom. In other words, the Believer’s spirit is saved but their mind and flesh need to change (Moore).

The helmet of salvation changes the way Believers think (NorthRock notes).  However, the old self, the old nature, the old way things have been done, our old thoughts and our tongue need to be changed. Those old things continue to want to be part of the believer’s life, but they must be brought under control. Philippians 2:12 tells Believers to, “work out their salvation with fear and trembling”. Paul is not saying to work out their salvation but to walk the narrow in faith and trust in Jesus Christ; he is telling the Philippians and us to live out their faith by being obedient to God’s Word. This statement tells us to live in worship and respect for God at all times.

Proverbs 23:7 was also used by Pastor Moore to say it is in our thoughts (or our mind) that believers win or lose the battle for what we do. He said, “Our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts.” Audrey wrote in her notes, “The foundation of our actions is our thoughts.” The question for Believers, then, is what do we do? The answer is found in putting on the helmet of salvation! Doing so helps us follow the instruction Paul gives in 2 Corinthians 10:5. “…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  The Believer’s thoughts need to be in obedience to God’s Word. Do you see the importance of reading/studying/ meditating on the Word of God?! Knowing God’s Word helps us to reject negative, immoral, evil thoughts and replace them with what God says.

I told you in the last page of the blog when sharing the message at CBC that there were similarities. Pastor Moore stated, “the helmet of salvation changes how I think about who I am. It helps me to know I am a child of God, part of his family and on my way to eternity in God’s kingdom!”  Putting on the helmet of salvation helps me to stop thinking about what others say about me and focus on what God thinks and says about me” (Moore). He said, Satan knows your name but calls you by your past. Jesus knows your sin but calls you by your potential.” If you belong to Christ, you are a new person; the old life is gone and a new life begins (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Pastor Moore’s last point is important. He said, “Putting on the helmet of salvation changes how I think about what I do.” Philippians 4:8-9 is certainly what every Believer ought to be doing, how we should be putting into practice the life we have in Jesus Christ. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things. The things which you have learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Don’t forget to put on the helmet of salvation when you put on the rest of the armor and take up the shield of faith. It will help you put into practice the Word of God and protect your mind from all the trash the enemy wants to put in it.