SUIT UP // Week 5 // Helmet of Salvation
Ephesians 6:10-17a NIV
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’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.
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Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else for everything you do flows from it.
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1. Keep Your Mind on How God Sees You.
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Ephesians 6:17a NIV 17 Take the helmet of salvation ...
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Philippians 2:12b NIV Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling...
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Philippians 2:12- 13 Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and act in order to fulfill His good purpose.
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Romans 12:2 NIV Do not conform to the pattern in the 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.
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1 Samuel 16:11-13 NIV 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.
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2. Keep Your Mind on What God Says About You.
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1 Samuel 17:22-27;30 NIV
David left his things with the keeper of supplies he ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were. 23 As he was talking with them Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance and David heard it. 24 Whenever the Israelites saw the man they all fled from him in great fear. 25 Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel.The king will give great wealth…the king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel. 26 David asked the men standing near him. “What will be done for the man who kills the Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God?” 27 They repeated to him what they had been saying... and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.” 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before.
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1 Samuel 17:31 31 What David said overheard and reported to Saul and Saul sent for him.
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1 Samuel 17:32
32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine. Your servant will go and fight him.”
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3.Keep Your Mind On What He Has Already Done.
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Mark 6:47-52 NIV Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake and Jesus was alone on the land and he saw the disciples straining at the oars because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn He went out to them walking on the lake and he was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake they thought he was a ghost. 50 They cried out because they saw him and they were terrified. Immediately He spoke to them and said, “Take courage. It's I. Don't be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them and the wind died down and they were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves.
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1 Samuel 21:8-9 NIV 8 David asked Ahimelek, “Don’t you have a spear or a sword here? I haven’t brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s mission was urgent.” 9 The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one.” David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
1. If the term “Salvation” in the Ephesians list of God’s Armor actually means Deliverance and Freedom instead of our eternal security, How does this change how you view the helmet and what it does? Does it change how you see the journey of walking with the Lord and the processes He is calling us to? How?
2. How does meditating on what God has told you or what He says about you help to change your perspective of battles or struggles? What are two habits that you can put into place to help you do that daily?
3. What are 3 instances in your life that you’ve seen God move powerfully? Do you have reminders of these to help you easily remember? Why might that be helpful in keeping these at the front of your mind during hard times?