Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The helmet covered the head and the mind of the soldier.  The head is the soldier’s power to wage war.  His thinking ability is the most important factor in determining his victory of defeat.  How is your thinking ability when trouble comes?  The solider needs a helmet to protect his mind.  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 Lord Jesus Christ, and His objective of reaching the world with the glorious news that men can live forever.  With salvation comes deliverance from sin habits.

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 (the carnal man) is focused upon this earth; it is normal and natural for him…

• To seek more and more
• To possess more and more
• To look at the opposite sex with desire
• To taste and indulge the good things of the earth
• To feel and experience, satisfying his desires and passions
• To have and hoard even when others have little or nothing

We must use the helmet of salvation to protect our mind, to keep our thoughts intact and on track spiritually.

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, license, hoarding, and immorality.

But this is not so with the saved man.  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 Christ and the conquest and ministry to souls.  The Christian soldier desperately needs the helmet of salvation.  The helmet of salvation means the knowledge and hope of salvation – knowing that we are saved and hoping for the glorious day of redemption.  The power of the Holy Spirit in us stirs us to keep our minds and thoughts upon Christ and off sin and this world, arouses us to focus upon Christ and His mission to carry the gospel to a needy and dying world.

Romans 8:6 – “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

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

2 Corinthians 10:5 – “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

Philippians 4:8 – “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.”

Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because He trusts in You.”

The mind must be filled with good things.  The Word of God must be your daily diet if you are to succeed in warding off the temptations and schemes of the devil.  Dieters do not eat chocolate pie, cake, food with high fat content. 

Questions:

• How much difficulty do you have with temptation? 
• How much difficulty do you have with doing things you know are wrong?
• How much difficulty do you have with fantasizing about things that are inappropriate for a child of God?

Your difficulty with living an overcoming Christian life is in direct proportion to your spiritual walk, your spiritual diet.

Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:13 – “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

Psalm 90:8 – “You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.”

Psalm 51 seems an appropriate prayer to pray, especially verses 1-4, 7-12

“Have mercy upon me, O God,
    According to Your lovingkindness;
    According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
    Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    And cleanse me from my sin.
         
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
    And my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
    And done this evil in Your sight^]
   And blameless when You judge.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
    Make me hear joy and gladness,
   That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
   Hide Your face from my sins,
   And blot out all my iniquities.
         
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
     And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

   Do not cast me away from Your presence,
   And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
         
 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
     And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Romans 12:1-2 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  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 12:9-18 – “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;  rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.  Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

You must have your mind renewed, changed.  Without the mind of Christ, you cannot following His teachings.