​Understanding the Armor of God: The Helmet of Salvation (Read time ≈ 5 minutes)
Ephesians 6:17
“and take the helmet of salvation…”
 
The helmet of salvation. This one carries a similarity to the breastplate of righteousness in the sense that it covers and protects vital organs. In this case, our brain which is in our head. We need our brain to work right! It is essential. We have all had those days where you just feel like your brain is in a fog. You can’t think right, make mistakes, get confused too easily, etc. On the battlefield, your brain matters. Not just function but also not taking any damage. Enough damage to your head and/or brain will be the death of you. Then there is the idea of our mind. Although, some believe our mind is contained within our brain, others believe our mind is not confined to our brain or even confined to our body. Of course, science doesn’t like that because it makes a case for our souls and our divinely created nature. But I will digress on that. Nonetheless, regardless of the location of our mind, we often consider it to be a part of our head. Our mind is affected by spiritual matters. Our mind, is perhaps the most heated battlefield we face on a day-to-day basis. Our mind, faces more assaults than any other area of our life. Our mind, is routinely under attack. Our mind needs very real protection.
 
What more in this life could bring greater security and protection to a nonphysical element of us, known as our mind, than salvation itself? Salvation is the very thing that keeps our mind focused and on track. Salvation is the very thing that defends us on the vicious battlefield of our mind. Our mind is generally under attack dealing with issues about us and those around us when it comes to self-worth, self-image/self-esteem, how people view us, our past failures, our capabilities (or lack thereof) for future endeavors, current issues we face and the list could go on all day long. Many of these things we face are lies… and honestly, some of them are true. But the greatest victory we have on the battlefield of our mind is salvation and it is a victory that was not won by our abilities, talents or strengths it was a victory won by the Blood of Jesus Christ and nothing else. This was no one point win in overtime barely squeak out a win with some lucky plays type of victory. It was a resounding, dominant, no questions ask, butt whooping of the devil and his bois. It’s the type of victory that, when put into perspective, and is fully grasped and appreciated can bring protection, defense and victory to even the most vulnerable of minds.
 
Perhaps the most important part of the helmet of salvation that Paul is trying remind us is found in the word “take”. When we understand this, we understand the power of this piece of armor and that it protects us and by no effort of ours. Unfortunately, some translations replace this word with “put on” but it must be “take”! We are told to “fasten the belt of truth”, “put on the breastplate of righteousness”, “put on” as shoes to our feet the Gospel, “take up” or pick up the shield of faith. But for the helmet of salvation, we are simply told to “take the helmet of salvation”. This word “take” is the Greek word Δέχομαι(dechomai), which literally means, “to receive, accept, welcome”. Similarly, how you would take a gift from someone. It is in no part done by you; it is something given to you. All other parts of the armor require some level of effort. The helmet of salvation… just receive it and let it protect you. I imagine, as a warrior, putting on this armor; and we have fastened our belt of truth, we have put on our breastplate of righteousness, we have put on our shoes of the Gospel. We have done all that we can do to prepare for battle and then we approach the Lord of Angel armies, we kneel before Him with our head bowed as he bestows upon our still vulnerable head, the helmet of salvation. The piece of armor in which we cannot do anything for other than to accept it from our Commander and let it rest on our head as it protects us continually from danger. A helmet requires nothing from you, other than to wear it and then it does its job. We cannot raise our salvation in defense of our souls. That would give us too much credit. Our salvation is placed upon us by our Savior and as long as it remains on our head we are covered by His grace. Let this comfort you. Let this bring peace to your mind. Let this remind you, it is Jesus Christ, the Lord of Angel Armies, who is on your side and protecting you in ways you cannot protect yourself. That is what it means to truly dechomai (take) the helmet of salvation.
 

​Understanding the Armor of God: The Shield of Faith (Read time ≈ 5 minutes)
Ephesians 6:16
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one
 
You are a target. This can be alarming for some people, but, as we have been discussing over this series of the Armor of God, we are at war. So, to think that you are a target in a time of war, is not something that is going to be an unexpected happening. You are a target, and they are coming to do damage. Not only shooting darts at you, but darts engulfed in flames. That not only would you be in pain, but that you would be engulfed by flames. These darts are, of course, not physical, actual darts. They are lies and temptations from hell. Designed not only to hurt you, but to engulf you in them. The purpose is not just to cause something momentary but to do lasting damage or even finish you off. These darts are thoughts of pride, lust, anger, envy, fear, and the list could go on. These darts will at least hurt you, if not kill you, after they consume you. This gives us an image of us giving ourselves over to sin, being hit in one area of our life and allowing it to burn, and spread, until it has consumed us entirely. These darts can come flying toward us at any time of any day (yes, even during times of prayer, reading the Bible or at church). We need to be vigilant. We need to be shielded.
 
This is why Paul tells us, IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES to take up the shield of faith. War does not sleep. Our enemy is prowling at all times therefore, we must be shielded at all times. Faith can look like a lot of different things when applied to our Christian life. This Shield of Faith is the part of our faith that should be at work continually. It is a constant, passive faith. It is a mindset. It is an understanding. It is a complete reliance and trust in God and His word and His promises over our lives. This is when you choose to love your enemies instead of obliterate them, when you choose to look the other way when provocative things are forced into your eyesight, you choose to forgive instead of hold a grudge, when you choose to be humble instead of exalt yourself. Not because you WANT to, because you know you don’t. But because you trust God’s Word and what it has to say about those things. You Shield yourself in faith, knowing His promises about those things are true thereby protecting yourself from the pain that they will cause and even more so, protecting yourself from being consumed by sin and becoming a fallen soldier.
 
The Shield of Faith remains fixed to our arm at all times just as our faith must be instilled within us at all times. When we completely trust in God and we completely trust in His will then it will be God and His will that we seek after completely and entirely. When all that we are is trusting and relying on God, His promises and His will is when these flaming darts do not stand a chance against our Shield of Faith. When we are pressing onward towards Christ in complete faith and focused on Him, these darts are quenched on impact. They lodge into our shield, the flame goes out, no harm is done, and we march on for the Glory of our King. This steady, constant faith, though at times may feel like a heavy burden of a massive shield, will be the very thing that keeps you on the right path and in the war of ages. We leave ourselves vulnerable when we lower our Shield of Faith. Shields up, and fight on!
 

​Understanding the Armor of God: Shoes of the Gospel of Peace (Read time ≈ 5 minutes)
Ephesians 6:15
“and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the Gospel of peace.”
 
It seems a bit odd, doesn’t it? The Gospel as shoes for your feet? These aren’t just any shoes. Now, remember, we are talking about armor! Not your Nike Dunks or your Chuck T’s. We are talking about military issue, ready for battle, footwear. In fact, Rome was ruling over much of this region at the time that Paul authored the letter to the Ephesians so he likely was drawing his armor illustration from the Roman Soldier of that time. The sandals that a Roman soldier from this era would wear were fitted with steel spikes on the bottom of the sandals ensuring a firm footing and good traction no matter the terrain that the warrior found himself on during times of battle. There is something unsettling about having unsure footing as you go about your business. Snow falls and things get icy, stepping across wet rocks in shallow water, even slick wet hard floors after mopping. There is a great deal of caution and uncertainty in our minds as we encounter these situations. Simply just walking across surfaces are one thing, but imagine engaging in warfare on an uncertain surface. Perhaps you are a skilled warrior, perhaps you believe your enemy is inferior… but one bad step and you’re dead. This is why the Roman soldiers wore the footwear they wore. They didn’t train for battle just to fall in battle to an unfortunate slip on the terrain. They needed to have the peace of mind that they could stand firmly in the heat of battle on any ground against any enemy.
 
An unstable footing will result in an unstable mind. If we are not firmly standing on the Gospel in all that we do then we are going to find ourselves on shaky ground spiritually. But we know that the will of God is not physically stationary! Jesus has commanded us to GO (Mark 16:15). Going to battle is not about finding solid turf to stand on, but rather equipping us with shoes ready for any terrain our war might take us. This is, the Gospel of peace.  We, as warriors in God’s Kingdom, will face heated battles. We don’t always get to choose where, or when. We just must be ready. But when we are standing firmly on Gospel Business each and every day, when we stand on HIS truth and not our own, is when no matter what battles come our way, and where they are, we will have peace of mind knowing that it is the Gospel that will hold us up, it will keep us on our feet and well grounded in the heat of battle. That we will have the traction we need for any terrain. That it is the Gospel itself that keeps us upright and ready for anything. “Stand on business”? How about “Stand on Faith”. You want peace? You need to stand firmly in the Gospel in all things you do. As you prepare yourself for war, the shoes of the Gospel of peace will have you ready for anything, anywhere, any time with the peace of mind knowing that it’s not you who holds your life on this battle field, but it is God Himself.

​Understanding the Armor of God: The Breastplate of Righteousness (Read time ≈  5 minutes)
Ephesians 6:14b
“…and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,”
 
In the human body there are five vital organs. Four of them are in the torso. The most vital of them all has got to be the heart. The Bible has a thing or two to say about our heart. It says our heart is deceitful and desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9), “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” (Matthew 15:19), our hears are hard like stone (Ezekiel 36:26). The reality of who we are, and what we are, flows from our hearts and is reflected in our behavior (Proverbs 27:19). Just as the physical protection of our heart is crucial, the spiritual protection of our heart is even greater. Left on its own, it causes destruction by longing after fleshly passions, given to anger and greed and will stop at nothing to satisfy its cravings that can never be satisfied fully.
 
Because of this, is why covering our heart with righteousness is the only remedy to heal our hearts of these things. Throughout scripture for mankind, there are two main types of righteousness. Righteous behavior and action and righteousness in spirituality. Righteousness in behavior and action is good but it will never be enough to create within us righteousness in spirituality which is what we need the most. As we are told again about us in the Bible that no one is righteous and all have gone astray (Romans 3:10-12). Choosing to do righteous actions is a choice against the natural desires of our stone hearts but ultimately cannot heal our hearts of it’s deceitfulness. A man can do righteous things on his own accord they will only last a season and never will they be enough to redeem ourselves.
 
Obeying the law does not bring righteousness to us, but only Jesus Christ can do that for us (Philippians 3:9). To put on the Breastplate of Righteousness first and foremost is to put on Christ as your Lord and Savior of your soul so that He can make you Righteous because of HIS righteousness and not yours (1 Peter 2:24 & 1 Corinthians 1:30). It is then and only then through that supernatural impartation of righteousness upon us by the grace of God that we can carry out a lifestyle of perusing righteousness. To put on the Breastplate of Righteousness is also to put on acts of righteousness. But to put on acts of righteousness will be like to put the breastplate on but not fasten it to you. Those acts of righteousness will fall off after a while. We must pursue righteous behavior with our actions (2 Timothy 2:22) while remaining in our faith in Jesus Christ, which is what truly what makes righteousness remain on us and within us. So, through the supernatural gift of righteousness and our labors in righteousness is how we put on the Breastplate of Righteousness and we protect our hearts from its own wickedness and the wickedness of this world. Cover your heart in righteousness and keep it with all vigilance, because the condition of your heart will have a direct effect the condition of your life (Proverbs 4:23).