The Helmet of salvation.

What we place our hope in will have a great effect on how we deal with the hardships of life. Many people place their hope in material possessions and wealth, some in positions of influence, others place their hope in relationships or affiliations with certain groups of people. But when the object of your hope fails you. A job is lost, a heart is broken, or you feel betrayed by a group of people where then do you place your hope?

As Christians, our hope is placed in our salvation that comes through Jesus Christ. So that no matter what our circumstances, no matter who or what may fail us he is with us and he will not fail us.

This hope that we have in Christ is part of the armor of God that protects us in the spiritual battles that we encounter and is illustrated as a helmet of salvation

Ephesians 6:10-13, 17

How does a helmet protect us in battle? It protects the head. The thoughts that come against us from the enemy, that is the devil, which cause doubt, discouragement and even despair which is the opposite of hope.

1. Assurance of Salvation-

John 5:24 (ESV) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.

this and many other scriptures tell us that we are saved. Secure in the salvation that comes through faith in Jesus Christ and in his death on the cross for our sins. Because of this sin and death no longer have power over us.

You see, salvation is not just a promise for eternity but gives us power in this life to live for God and his purposes.

But not all Christians know this or live like they know this. And this lack of knowledge and assurance is what the devil uses to assault our minds with doubts about our salvation, doubts about our status with God, doubts about the power we have over sins influence in our lives and a feeling of commendation that we just don’t measure up to what we should be.

2. Defeating doubts and condemnation- we have all had the thoughts that come to us when we struggle to overcome sin in our lives. When we’ve dedicate ourselves to God and said we would live for him only to in a moment of weakness to give in to our anger or we give in to our lust and we experience shame and a subtle voice that whispers “ you’re not a Christian, how can you be in ministry, you’re not worthy to lead, gods not going to hear your prayer, you’re a hypocrite, maybe what they say about you is true, you don’t have enough faith, no one really cares about you, you are on your own, maybe you should just end your pain. Perhaps you had heard these words either in your mind or from Satan’s proxies. sometimes these venomous words even come from the lips of professing Christians.

2 Corinthians 10:5

⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

The Bible when read can create a great net that can trap every destructive thought and render it powerless.

What God says is what really matters above all opinions of others above all the condemning statements above all discouraging word that come from the devil.

Illustration the greatest threat to any would-be dictator or group of people who want to control what you think is a populace that is not only educated but knows how to think critically. Why because they are smart enough to notice when they are being fed lies.

Satan tries diligently to stop us from reading scripture because he knows this.

It is by the devils’ design that many Christians struggle to read scripture often. Let us then disappoint the devil and read the word

3. beware of diversions (illustration)

Diversions are a means of causing a distraction to draw attention away from the real threat. Shoplifters cause diversions by working in pairs, one pretends to steal something and while security has eyes on that person the real thief escapes the store unnoticed. In a battle, the enemy will cause a diversion to distract you so you don’t see the attack coming. a doubtful Christian a Christian who feels condemned becomes a distracted Christian. You can become so distracted that you are not aware of the pain or the needs of those around you.

I have noticed this tactic when I start to feel discouraged whether it be life circumstances or something not going the way I wanted it to, my plans have to change and I can easily get all into myself and miss what God is doing around me. Sometimes the greatest cure for your pain is helping others with theirs.

The last thing the devil wants is ministry happening. Let us then disappoint the devil who causes these diversions by trusting in the one who has saved us.