The ArmorSample

The Armor

by

Bryan Craig

Day Four- The Helmet of Salvation and Sword of the Spirit

It is interesting that we can be in Jesus and doing His work, and we feel invincible. Then, we realize a new source of attack. It doesn’t appear to be coming from an outside source, but rather, it is coming from within. It is taking up residence in our heads. Yes, a voice within us is telling us we are not good enough and perhaps, that this whole faith journey is a sham. 

The voice calls into question everything we believe and is quick to accuse us of all sorts of sins, past and present. Yes, if the enemy cannot get us with a direct onslaught, he will go to a more subtle, inward approach. I’ve known great men of faith, who I respect, who have lived victorious, conquering lives, who have influenced thousands for Christ. Yet, as they have looked death in the eye, they have had to deal with doubts and fears coming from within. The enemy is relentless.

We must not only guard our hearts, but we are to guard our minds as well with the Helmet of Salvation. I believe Paul calls it a Helmet of Salvation because we need to remind ourselves daily that we belong to Christ. We are part of the Royal Family. Furthermore, Paul teaches that we train our thought lives. In Philippians 4:8, he says,

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.” We must daily be filling our minds with His Word and Abiding in Him, so our thoughts can become His thoughts. “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 Corinthians 10:5)

Now that we have put on the full armor of God, we lastly pick up the Sword of the Spirit. All of the armor has been mostly defensive in nature, but now, we take up our Sword, the Word of God, and we attack. “The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 

When Jesus was attacked in the desert for 40 days, He used the Sword as He penetrated every one of the devil’s schemes. Since The Word of God is Jesus, when we use the Word against the enemy, we allow Jesus to fight the battle for us.

The Word is powerful! As we make disciples in Journey groups, we get men to feed on God’s Word and apply His Word and that changes everything.