Outer Banks Community Church

Worthy Walk Series – Ephesians 6:17

Intro: What is it that God has created in you? For whatever the reason, I will always remember the old Young Frankenstein Movie with Marty Felton and Gene Wilder. When I first saw this movie decades ago it was a time when the theater was the best way to watch a movie. There are several great scenes that still come to mind when I recall that movie. First of all it was hilarious, one of the scenes that made me laugh the most occurred when Marty Felton who was Gene Wilders (the mad scientist) assistant. Marty Felton was asked to go down into the basement and get a brain for the monster that Dr. Frankenstein was creating. As the horrifying events continued to unfold it was later evident that Dr. Frankenstein’s creation was given an abnormal brain. Dr. Frankenstein with all his intelligence couldn’t be guaranteed that what he created would have any defects. God instills within us if we so choose to accept a perfect spirit! We must decide whether we will allow the abnormities of life to intertwine. Let me go back to the first statement I made, what is it that God has created in you? Are you alive and active are you living or have you not yet come alive.

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

The NIV says: “For the word of God is living and active.”

Text: Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV)

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Application: Protect and Serve!

1. Helmet of Salvation:

We have put together 4 parts of the full armor up to this point; The Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, The Shod‘s of the Gospel of Peace and the Shield of Faith. We can’t leave out protecting the head and the mind. The fifth piece of God’s armor is represented by the Roman soldier’s helmet, without which he would never enter battle. Some of the helmets were made of thick leather covered with metal plates, and others were of heavy molded or beaten metal. They usually had cheek pieces to protect the face.

The purpose of the helmet, of course, was to protect the head from injury, particularly from the dangerous broadsword commonly used in the warfare of that day. It was a large two–handed, double–edged sword that measured three to four feet in length. It was often carried by cavalrymen, who would swing at the heads of enemy soldiers to split their skulls or decapitate them.

The fact that the helmet is related to salvation indicates that Satan’s blows are directed at the believer’s security and assurance in Christ. The two dangerous edges of Satan’s spiritual broadsword are discouragement and doubt. To discourage us he points to our failures, our sins, our unresolved problems, our poor health, or to whatever else seems negative in our lives in order to make us lose confidence in the love and care of our heavenly Father.

The sign of the Christian soldier is the helmet of salvation (deliverance). He must protect his mind and its thoughts, keeping all thoughts focused upon the Leader, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His objective of reaching the world with the glorious news that men can live forever.

The helmet that protects the mind of the Christian soldier is salvation. Unless a man has been saved, his mind cannot be protected from the fiery darts of temptation. The mind of an unsaved man is focused upon this earth; it is normal and natural for him. The unsaved man sees nothing wrong with being his own person and doing his own thing just so he is reasonably considerate of others. His mind and thoughts are upon the earth; and the fiery darts of extravagance, indulgence, pleasure, self-centeredness, worldliness, and immorality are a part of the unsaved world's daily behavior. The mind of the saved man is focused upon Christ and His mission of sharing the good news of life, both life abundant and life eternal. Because of this, Satan launches his fiery darts of temptation against the mind of the believer, trying to get his thoughts and attention off of Christ and the conquest and ministry to souls. The Christian soldier desperately needs the helmet of salvation.

“For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 (HCSB)

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

For Satan, the battle is never over, and he loves to attack us with discouragement the moment we think we are safe. The test of a person’s character is what it takes to stop him. Some people retreat as soon as the first shot is fired, while others fight through battle after battle with no thought of giving up. Satan will try every means to discourage and deter us, reminding us of defeats and dangers and setting every possible object in our way to destroy our assurance in Christ.

Because the adversary will never lay down his sword against us as long as we are on earth, God’s armor is a constant necessity until we leave this earth forever. Only when our work on earth is finished can we say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”

The truly surrendered life is the life committed to aggressive, confrontive, and unreserved obedience to all of God’s commands. We must continue to be imitators of Christ. Paul’s own spiritual helmet was his firm hope in the completion of his salvation.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

The faithful believer does not “lose heart in doing good,” because he knows that “in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.” The Soldier that is alive and active will experience a worthy walk with his helmet of salvation strapped on!

2. Sword of Spirit:

The sword was a weapon used for both defense and offense. The sword was used both to protect and to fight off and slay the enemy. The sign of the Christian soldier is his use of the Word of God. By living in the Scriptures, he protects himself from the onslaught of the enemy; and he fights and wins battle after battle, day after day. Remember: Jesus Christ Himself overcame the onslaught of the devil by using Scripture: Matthew 4:4-10 “But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' 7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' " 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "

The written Word is the one weapon that assures victory for the Christian soldier, for the "Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword.”

The emphasis of the present passage is on how believers are to use the sword of the Spirit. It is not a physical weapon designed by human minds or forged by human hands but the perfect spiritual weapon of divine origin and power. Like the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation, it is always to be at hand, ready to be taken up and used when a battle begins.

Scripture teaches many truths about itself. First, and most importantly, it claims God as its author. “All Scripture is inspired by God,” “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21

The Bible also claims that it is inerrant and infallible, containing no errors or mistakes. It is flawless, faultless, and without blemish. As God’s own Word it could not be otherwise.

• The Bible claims that it is complete. 
• The Bible claims to be authoritative.
  
• The Bible claims to be effective.
  
• The Bible also claims to be foundational.