Put On Your Helmet
ICS Daily Devotions
Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Our spiritual armour consists of three offensive, three defensive, and one neutral weapon. The breastplate, the shield, and the helmet are defensive weapons. They protect us and give us confidence and assurance to move forward in our spiritual growth.
The Roman soldier’s helmet is essential to the armour because it protects the head from injury during battle. No soldier would go into war without it because he would be subject to the fatal attack of the enemy’s axe or sword.
It is fascinating that Paul named this piece of the armour “helmet of salvation” because the last frontier is the battle in the mind regarding our salvation, where the devil will put doubt, fear, and tormenting thoughts to immobilise us. The Bible says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Therefore, our thoughts determine our actions. The wiles, devices, and deceits of the evil one come through the mind, for he knows that if he can seize the mind, which is a position of control, he can manipulate our emotions and actions.
Salvation essentially means deliverance, safety, preservation, pardon, restoration, healing, wholeness and soundness. Therefore, we need to put on our helmets of salvation by renewing our minds with the Word of God because God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9).
Romans 12:2 (NKJV) 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.
The word “world” in the Bible is kosmos, which means the world’s system. The world system operates differently from the Kingdom of God because they have opposite values. For example, while the world advocates individualism and contractual marriage, God teaches covenantal marriage and relationships. There is fear, torment, and control in the kingdom of darkness, whereas in the Kingdom of God, there is liberty, joy, peace, and freedom.
The values and principles of this world have indoctrinated us since we were born into this world. The whole world is under the sway of the evil one to fulfil his agenda. The lust of the eyes and the lure of this world keep us away from God. The world pressurises us to conform to its standard rather than God’s.
However, being born again means we can operate free from the world system. God’s system is far better financially and healthier. It takes faith to operate in God’s system after we have renewed our minds with the Word of God. We must think of His Words to walk in His ways and train our minds to believe what is true, especially about our salvation, what it entails, and the finished work of Christ that concerns us. We win in our thought life by renewing our minds with the Word of God.
Sermon Series：The weapon of our spiritual warfare
