17 "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17
Helmets are meant to protect your head.
The head is vulnerable like our mind is vulnerable to spiritual attacks. A soldier never went anywhere without his helmet so he was always ready for attacks. If he wasn't wearing it he had it tied on his belt with the chin strap. We always needs to have our "helmet of salvation" with us.
The Roman helmet was the most identifying piece of the soldier's armor. Our salvation is to be worn in the same way. It's beautiful, important and should be worn out in the open for all to see.
We must work on our minds. Our minds have to be involved in our faith. If we can't control our minds, we won't be able to live the faith life well at all. Satan will attack our minds. We know this. We need to live purposefully and prepared at all times guarding our minds. Where our minds are, we are.
"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." Romans 12:2
It's very easy to fall into a worldly mindset. If you allow something to enter your mind it will affect it. This can be good or bad. We are to be renewing it -- a continual, daily thing.
Thoughts lead to actions. Actions lead to habits. Habits are hard to break and easy to fall back into even after we break them.
The helmet of salvation will protect us from:
1. Doublemindedness.
"Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do." James 1:8
We can't have it both ways. We have to be committed. We can't live for God and for the world. One or the other. Don't be led astray. Don't be lukewarm.
Pay attention to what's in front of you.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 6:33
Keep your eyes on the prize!
Satan will try and trip us up.
If we aren't facing forward we don't see the traps waiting for us. He disguises them. He is sneaky.
2. A Deceived Mind.
"But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning,your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:3
3 Steps Satan uses:
a. He casts doubt.
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1
b. Denial.
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman." Genesis 3:4
c. Substitute a lie for God's truth.
“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5
How do we get the doubt out?
Focus on God. Focus on what is right. Daily, hold up the word of God. Daily fill your mind with the word of God.
"But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet." 1 Thessalonians 5:8
We must be protected to stand.
The world is a fallen place. We are surrounded by "fallenness."
Yet, this is not the end of the story. God will prevail in the end. God told us the ending for a purpose. The big picture is heaven.
Spiritually, we are what we think. Where our mind is, so are we.
That is where we have the most power to fight Satan. Focus on hope, on salvation.
"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
Someday we will exchange the helmet for a crown. The head covering won't be necessary anymore (in heaven).
We have to stay focused.
We are at war.
The Word of God is the blacksmith that forges our spiritual armor.