I Thessalonians 5:6-8 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the
breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of
salvation.
We have armor as a Christian. Paul tells us here and in Ephesians to be clear-minded and as children of the light to put on some armor– a breastplate, a shield, some shoes. These symbolize faith, love, truth, righteousness, and the gospel. He also tells us to put on the helmet of salvation. Salvation? Doesn't everything about a Christian have to do with salvation? Let's look at why he uses in relation to a helmet.
A soldier in the military wears armor. He, like us as Christians, has a battle to face, a victory to win. Paul told the people of Corinth, Rome, Ephesus and Thessaloníca the same thing. There is a battle, a warfare against spiritual wickedness. When we were saved and joined the side of the Lord, we became part of a global conflict. We get frustrated with this ungodly world and the on-going conflicts the devil throws at us. Seems like one thing gets under control and we wake up the next morning and something else is there. Sure we had troubles before we were saved. The troubles now are worth getting out the trouble we were in. The conflict now is evidence of which side we're on—no conflict–we're in trouble.
When we got saved Jesus began to train us. It's like basic training in the military. We were taken off the street, so to speak, and headed for something we'd never had, a battleground where the enemy knocks us down if we don't keep our guard up. A military person belongs to Uncle Sam. Once you join, you're always a soldier. Your leave can be canceled because you're a soldier 24 hours a day. You sit, stand, sleep and wake up as a soldier. The military speak a certain language and life is conducted as a soldier.
We have to live in this world and many times it's among family and friends who are unsaved, but remember we're in enemy territory–not of mankind, but of Satan. If we're not aware at all times we may be overtaken. The enemy is determined to do so. So we must protect ourselves with armor. We must have the right equipment. We're in active combat. If we let our guard down, Satan is there before we know it. Our major mission is to make disciples of the unsaved, but we are in the battlefield of the devil while we do so. The devil keeps the heat up. He takes no prisoners; he is out to steal, kill and destroy. Our defense if the armor God has supplied to us.
BUT BY ALL MEANS WEAR SALVATION. We have to wear it; it's not just something on the inside. We are not to wear it as a crown. We do have a crown because we are saved, but a crown won't protect us in the battle. We can't wear it as a headdress for it is just for style and won't protect us in the battle. A helmet, the helmet of salvation, will protect us. Without a proper covering for a soldier's head, he would be dead before he knew it.
Satan attacks our head. He wants to change the way we think–don't we see so much evidence of this today. The head controls the functions of the whole body, even to our life. The devil tries to sway and change our minds. The heart and soul works through the brain. We discern truth/error, fact/fiction. We see the devil. We see where the Lord wants us. We can discern what we are to believe. We must never forget the helmet of salvation! It's our relationship with Jesus; it was issued to us by the government to which we're soldiers of. God always takes care of us. The composition of a soldier's helmet is durable. It is metal not plastic and is used for everything from head protection to bowls, seats and pots. A soldier showers in his helmet always ready for battle. It is all purpose. The Lord knew exactly why to call it the helmet of salvation. It is used as the weapon; it is worn visibly to let others know we have a relationship with the Lord. Without the helmet one gets confused, gets out of church and is overtaken by the enemy of our souls.
With it we stand in the sacrifice, the blood, and rest in God's Word. The Bible is truth. The blood is our victory. The Word scares the devil; we must hold on to it. Salvation is not just a belief but a PERSON. Jesus is that PERSON. Another person faces us everyday in many forms, yet all of them are the devil. We do not stand alone when we face him. Jesus is in our heart; when we wear Jesus as our helmet of salvation we find that GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN US than he that is in the world. The helmet was issued to us and not intended to fall off. When we wear it correctly, it will not. Only we can remove it.
Wear it right. God will help us wear it in truth and faith in the blood. This is WHO we trust in. The Bible says who can harm us if we follow the Lord–wear the helmet of salvation.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the
breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of
salvation.
We have armor as a Christian. Paul tells us here and in Ephesians to be clear-minded and as children of the light to put on some armor– a breastplate, a shield, some shoes. These symbolize faith, love, truth, righteousness, and the gospel. He also tells us to put on the helmet of salvation. Salvation? Doesn't everything about a Christian have to do with salvation? Let's look at why he uses in relation to a helmet.
A soldier in the military wears armor. He, like us as Christians, has a battle to face, a victory to win. Paul told the people of Corinth, Rome, Ephesus and Thessaloníca the same thing. There is a battle, a warfare against spiritual wickedness. When we were saved and joined the side of the Lord, we became part of a global conflict. We get frustrated with this ungodly world and the on-going conflicts the devil throws at us. Seems like one thing gets under control and we wake up the next morning and something else is there. Sure we had troubles before we were saved. The troubles now are worth getting out the trouble we were in. The conflict now is evidence of which side we're on—no conflict–we're in trouble.
When we got saved Jesus began to train us. It's like basic training in the military. We were taken off the street, so to speak, and headed for something we'd never had, a battleground where the enemy knocks us down if we don't keep our guard up. A military person belongs to Uncle Sam. Once you join, you're always a soldier. Your leave can be canceled because you're a soldier 24 hours a day. You sit, stand, sleep and wake up as a soldier. The military speak a certain language and life is conducted as a soldier.
We have to live in this world and many times it's among family and friends who are unsaved, but remember we're in enemy territory–not of mankind, but of Satan. If we're not aware at all times we may be overtaken. The enemy is determined to do so. So we must protect ourselves with armor. We must have the right equipment. We're in active combat. If we let our guard down, Satan is there before we know it. Our major mission is to make disciples of the unsaved, but we are in the battlefield of the devil while we do so. The devil keeps the heat up. He takes no prisoners; he is out to steal, kill and destroy. Our defense if the armor God has supplied to us.
BUT BY ALL MEANS WEAR SALVATION. We have to wear it; it's not just something on the inside. We are not to wear it as a crown. We do have a crown because we are saved, but a crown won't protect us in the battle. We can't wear it as a headdress for it is just for style and won't protect us in the battle. A helmet, the helmet of salvation, will protect us. Without a proper covering for a soldier's head, he would be dead before he knew it.
Satan attacks our head. He wants to change the way we think–don't we see so much evidence of this today. The head controls the functions of the whole body, even to our life. The devil tries to sway and change our minds. The heart and soul works through the brain. We discern truth/error, fact/fiction. We see the devil. We see where the Lord wants us. We can discern what we are to believe. We must never forget the helmet of salvation! It's our relationship with Jesus; it was issued to us by the government to which we're soldiers of. God always takes care of us. The composition of a soldier's helmet is durable. It is metal not plastic and is used for everything from head protection to bowls, seats and pots. A soldier showers in his helmet always ready for battle. It is all purpose. The Lord knew exactly why to call it the helmet of salvation. It is used as the weapon; it is worn visibly to let others know we have a relationship with the Lord. Without the helmet one gets confused, gets out of church and is overtaken by the enemy of our souls.
With it we stand in the sacrifice, the blood, and rest in God's Word. The Bible is truth. The blood is our victory. The Word scares the devil; we must hold on to it. Salvation is not just a belief but a PERSON. Jesus is that PERSON. Another person faces us everyday in many forms, yet all of them are the devil. We do not stand alone when we face him. Jesus is in our heart; when we wear Jesus as our helmet of salvation we find that GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN US than he that is in the world. The helmet was issued to us and not intended to fall off. When we wear it correctly, it will not. Only we can remove it.
Wear it right. God will help us wear it in truth and faith in the blood. This is WHO we trust in. The Bible says who can harm us if we follow the Lord–wear the helmet of salvation.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 