Real Church
Arrows: The Helmet of Salvation.
6/3/18
Locations & Times
real church
10447 Refugee Rd SW, Pataskala, OH 43062, USA
Saturday 7:00 PM
Today we continue in the fifth week of a 6 week series we are in, called - Arrows! We have been walking through Ephesians 6, studying the armor that God has given all of us to put on, in order to survive and thrive in the spiritual battle we all find ourselves in.
Today we are going to be putting on the 5th piece of armor that specifically protects our minds, called - The Helmet of Salvation!
Charles Malik, who wrote an article on the topic in Christianity Today, stated, “The problem is not only to win souls, but to save minds. If you win the whole world and lose the mind of the world, you will soon discover you have not won the world. Indeed, it may turn out that you have actually lost the world.”
Someone said - “What consumes your mind controls your life."
Another person said - “The devil plants a seed in our mind, but we water it, fertilize it, prune it, and help it grow.”
Someone else said - “Fill your mind with God’s word and you will have no room for Satan’s lies.”
Joyce Meyer - “You can change your life by letting the Word of God change your mind.”
The mind is such a targeted place of attack, that God has specifically assigned a covering to protect it, in:
Ephesians 6:10-17 (NIV)
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
+ The fifth weapon that we are instructed to put on is the helmet of salvation, which is built to guard and protect the mind.
+ The word “Take” in the Greek (Deo), used in this passage means:to bind or fasten with a chain.
+ The only reason anyone would lock something with a chain is if they know somebody is going to try and take it.
One of the greatest oversights regarding our salvation is that it is intended for the entire person, not just our spirit man. Paul addresses three specific areas that can be saved through the experience of salvation, in:
1 Thessalonians 5:23
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul (mind, will & emotions) and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
+ Without question, when we are saved our spirit is born again and we are given a new life and a new beginning in Christ.
+ But Paul tells us in this passage that our whole person, which includes our spirit, mind and body can all be saved through the price that Jesus paid on the cross.
+ At the moment of salvation, our spirit is made new, our minds begin to be renewed, and our bodies can now be healed and restored.
Jesus didn't just die for your future eternity, he also died for your present victory!
In addressing our minds, Paul says in:
Romans 12:2(NIV)
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
+ The word renew used here speaks of a process of renovation, its not instantaneous!
+ This verse goes on to tell us that a healthy, saved and renewed mind is capable of recognizing God's will.
*If we don't renew our mind, it will take us back to what we were delivered from!*
L.B. - “The battle is not against who you've been. It's a war against who your becoming”
1 Corinthians 2:16 (NIV) “…we have the mind of Christ."
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Matthew 22:37
“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
There are 5 enemies of the mind that I want to discuss with us today:
(1) Sinful Thinking!
(Whatever controls your thought life will ultimately control you)
Romans 8:5-8
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”
Since the sinful mind is controlled by the flesh, it leads to a life of destruction and chaos.
Everything starts and ends in The Mind:
>Affairs happen in the mind long before they ever happen with another person!
>Abuse happens in the mind long before it's carried out on another person!
>Murder happens in the mind long before someone loses their life!
>Corruption happens in the mind long before it goes public!
Proverbs 23:7
“As a man thinks in his heart so is he.”
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
“Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.”
(2) Worried Thinking!
(People who constantly worry give small things a big shadow)
Mark 4:18-19 (NIV)
“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful."
+ The word for worry means:to divide or distract the mind. To choke or strangle.
+ Jesus tells us that worry completely cuts off the benefits of God's word in our lives!
Luke 12:25-26 (NIV)
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)
“Anxiety weighs down the heart…”
1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
(3) Double Thinking!
(People are tormented by divided loyalties until they choose)
Joel 3:14 says there are, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!”
The reason that some of us are living in a valley is because we can't make a decision.
Joshua 24:15
"Choose this day whom you will serve.”
If we do not choose then we become what the Bible says in:
James 1:5
“He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”
(4) Conformed Thinking!
(People tend to conform their thoughts to their groups)
Three common places that people conform their thinking, are:
>Cults - Cults tell people how to think, while God tells people to think for themselves.
>Family Programming - While they can be positive, they can also be dysfunctional.
>Cultural Pressure - People often surrender their own thinking so they can fit in.
Daniel refused to conform to Nebuchadnezzar’s demands in:
Daniel 1:8
“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”
(5) Defeated Thinking!
(Whether you believe you can or you can't, you are right)
After all 12 spies returned to give a report on the Promised Land, 10 of the 12 shared this negative report in:
Numbers 13:33
“We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”
There are a lot of people who are living in the desert, because they suffer from grasshopper syndrome.
Today we are going to be putting on the 5th piece of armor that specifically protects our minds, called - The Helmet of Salvation!
Charles Malik, who wrote an article on the topic in Christianity Today, stated, “The problem is not only to win souls, but to save minds. If you win the whole world and lose the mind of the world, you will soon discover you have not won the world. Indeed, it may turn out that you have actually lost the world.”
Someone said - “What consumes your mind controls your life."
Another person said - “The devil plants a seed in our mind, but we water it, fertilize it, prune it, and help it grow.”
Someone else said - “Fill your mind with God’s word and you will have no room for Satan’s lies.”
Joyce Meyer - “You can change your life by letting the Word of God change your mind.”
The mind is such a targeted place of attack, that God has specifically assigned a covering to protect it, in:
Ephesians 6:10-17 (NIV)
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
+ The fifth weapon that we are instructed to put on is the helmet of salvation, which is built to guard and protect the mind.
+ The word “Take” in the Greek (Deo), used in this passage means:to bind or fasten with a chain.
+ The only reason anyone would lock something with a chain is if they know somebody is going to try and take it.
One of the greatest oversights regarding our salvation is that it is intended for the entire person, not just our spirit man. Paul addresses three specific areas that can be saved through the experience of salvation, in:
1 Thessalonians 5:23
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul (mind, will & emotions) and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
+ Without question, when we are saved our spirit is born again and we are given a new life and a new beginning in Christ.
+ But Paul tells us in this passage that our whole person, which includes our spirit, mind and body can all be saved through the price that Jesus paid on the cross.
+ At the moment of salvation, our spirit is made new, our minds begin to be renewed, and our bodies can now be healed and restored.
Jesus didn't just die for your future eternity, he also died for your present victory!
In addressing our minds, Paul says in:
Romans 12:2(NIV)
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
+ The word renew used here speaks of a process of renovation, its not instantaneous!
+ This verse goes on to tell us that a healthy, saved and renewed mind is capable of recognizing God's will.
*If we don't renew our mind, it will take us back to what we were delivered from!*
L.B. - “The battle is not against who you've been. It's a war against who your becoming”
1 Corinthians 2:16 (NIV) “…we have the mind of Christ."
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Matthew 22:37
“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
There are 5 enemies of the mind that I want to discuss with us today:
(1) Sinful Thinking!
(Whatever controls your thought life will ultimately control you)
Romans 8:5-8
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”
Since the sinful mind is controlled by the flesh, it leads to a life of destruction and chaos.
Everything starts and ends in The Mind:
>Affairs happen in the mind long before they ever happen with another person!
>Abuse happens in the mind long before it's carried out on another person!
>Murder happens in the mind long before someone loses their life!
>Corruption happens in the mind long before it goes public!
Proverbs 23:7
“As a man thinks in his heart so is he.”
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
“Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.”
(2) Worried Thinking!
(People who constantly worry give small things a big shadow)
Mark 4:18-19 (NIV)
“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful."
+ The word for worry means:to divide or distract the mind. To choke or strangle.
+ Jesus tells us that worry completely cuts off the benefits of God's word in our lives!
Luke 12:25-26 (NIV)
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)
“Anxiety weighs down the heart…”
1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
(3) Double Thinking!
(People are tormented by divided loyalties until they choose)
Joel 3:14 says there are, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!”
The reason that some of us are living in a valley is because we can't make a decision.
Joshua 24:15
"Choose this day whom you will serve.”
If we do not choose then we become what the Bible says in:
James 1:5
“He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”
(4) Conformed Thinking!
(People tend to conform their thoughts to their groups)
Three common places that people conform their thinking, are:
>Cults - Cults tell people how to think, while God tells people to think for themselves.
>Family Programming - While they can be positive, they can also be dysfunctional.
>Cultural Pressure - People often surrender their own thinking so they can fit in.
Daniel refused to conform to Nebuchadnezzar’s demands in:
Daniel 1:8
“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”
(5) Defeated Thinking!
(Whether you believe you can or you can't, you are right)
After all 12 spies returned to give a report on the Promised Land, 10 of the 12 shared this negative report in:
Numbers 13:33
“We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”
There are a lot of people who are living in the desert, because they suffer from grasshopper syndrome.