Head Protection

Head Protection

Words of Faith 5-13-2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Ephesians 6

    [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.

      One of the last things a Roman soldier put on was the helmet.  He wore a helmet made of bronze with leather attachments and protection for the sides of the face.  The previous items of armor were laid out for a soldier. But the last two items--the helmet and the sword-- would be handed to the soldier by an attendant or by his armor-bearer.  There is something very powerful in that image.  This was the order of the armor.

      When we think of salvation, we might think it should be first.  Did Paul make a mistake here?  Of course not.  What we want to remember is that this is not a theological "ordo salutis" or "order of salvation."  This is an "order of armor" -- the things we need to put in place each day before heading into our place in the world and in life. 

      In the "order of the armor," everything starts with Truth, Jesus Himself.  The person of Truth, Jesus, then did the work of purchasing our righteousness--the breastplate that guards the heart.  The peace of the Gospel is offered next, and all this is received by faith--the shield that protects us.  We know that it is by grace we have been saved, through faith--and this not from ourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

      The Helmet of Salvation is armor that you already have but need to receive with thanksgiving and put in place each day in order to walk in victory. Salvation is not something that we earn or deserve.  It is not something that we can even pick up for ourselves; it is placed on us. 

      Salvation is a blessing that we receive by grace through faith.  Yes, we participate in the moment and process of salvation by faith.  By faith, we receive, but we do not work toward it or for it or in any way lift it.  Salvation is a gift we receive by participating with the working of the Spirit. 

        It is important to realize that our Salvation is much more than a ticket to heaven reserved for a future date.  Our Salvation in Christ provides armor for the mind that is essential. We need to meet with the Lord daily and reflect upon our Helmet of salvation and its protective value. The Psalmist declared: The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1) The Salvation of the Lord is the protector of our "head."  Salvation is the Lord’s presence upon your head and countenance that keeps the enemy out of your head. 

       Paul explained to the believers at Corinth the importance of demolishing the strongholds that the Enemy seeks to establish in the mind--the arguments and pretensions that set themselves up against the knowledge of God.  The Helmet of Salvation is armor against the invasion of pretense--pretending to be something we are not.  The Helmet of Salvation helps us to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

        The usual simple question is this-- Are you saved?  But there is more. There are further questions to be asked-- Have you taken the armor of salvation and applied it to your head as a protection for Your mind?  As you head into battle, have you checked that your salvation is "in place"?  Are your thoughts protected?  Is your thinking secure in the knowledge of His love for You expressed in His act of salvation?

       LORD, You are my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? You are the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?  Armor my thoughts against the attacks of the Enemy.  Armor my mind against any imaginations that are set against the knowledge of God.  Protect my mind from argument and pretension.  Take captive my thoughts and make them obedient to You.  In Jesus’ Name.