Welcome back to The War Series, Dressed To Kill which is our 2nd Golden Series on the website, and our first series of this year. So glad that you can join me today for another blog post about this war series. We have been actively talking about what spiritual warfare is and its components, like The Decision Making Process, Basic Details, as well as our issued uniforms that we would need for combat.
Be sure to go back and catch up on previous War Series posts if you missed any.
Spiritual Warfare Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the peace that surpasses all understanding. We thank you for helping and guiding us when putting on the armor needed to fight the schemes of the enemy. Father, we thank you for the knowledge and know-how when it comes to putting off and putting on our former self to prepare us for our godly self that is in your image. Father, keep is upright and steady in your Word, and help us work on our discipline as well as our core strength. Give us the discernment to know what is for us and what is not. We love and bless your name, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Let’s Get Into It!!
History Facts:
Whether in the U.S military or a Roman soldier the fact remains the same, a soldier’s helmet was the last piece of equipment to put on. It would be foolish to think you would go into battle without a helmet on, without protection. The final piece of armor to put on that provides a covering of a vital part of the body was the helmet. The helmet completed the look of a soldier.
For Romans, the helmet was usually made up of iron or bronze metals, the main objective was to stop and protect the brain and face from fatal blows. If you were to look up a picture of a typical Roman helmet it would consist of the helmet piece itself but with also a neck flair and cheek guards. This new addition gave soldiers more protection from all angles of the soldier.
As for our modern soldiers, their Combat Hard Hats consist of high-quality ballistic materials like Kevlar 129 and Twaron for full protection. Their Hard Hats are not as heavy in comparison to Roman iron helmets, but they have definitely beefed up their protection plan.
Combat Hard Hat
Uniform Details: Our Combat Hard Hat a.k.a The Helmet of Salvation is our 5th equipment armor that we will be issued. We will wear this armor correctly according to the Word of God. We will be covered and fully protected with this armor.
Take the helmet of salvation
Ephesians 6:17
Conscious V.S Subconscious: The Mind is a Battlefield
To grasp the essence of salvation we have to 1st understand the importance of the mind. I previously wrote, Weekly Topic Saturday #33: The Subconscious Mind, that our minds are constantly at war. There is always a fight between our conscious and subconscious. Our conscious mind controls our logic and intellectual decision-making, like communication, language, skills, talents, and awareness. Our subconscious mind, on the other hand, dictates the physical functions of our body, like breathing, digestion, blinking our eyes, feelings, emotions, and memories.
Your mind is powerful! I've always said this motto about the mind and I'm going to say it again. The mind is the most powerful organ known to man, but it's almost the most fragile and impressionable. The mind can endure so much trauma, stress, and heartache that it can protect itself from even you until you're ready to heal and face reality. The mind can also remember a memory right down to a certain smell or fragrance and allow you to live in that memory or moment. The mind is a beautiful complex organ.
Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
Psalm 62:1
Let's break down a few terms to help us fully understand the meaning of Salvation.
Definitions:
Salvation: (1): preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss. (2): Deliverance from sin and its consequences is believed by Christians to be brought about by faith in Christ.
Helmet: a hard or padded protection hat, various occupations in this protection.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Romans 10:10
Salvation is a term that means alot of things especially when it comes to how it is used in the Old and New Testaments. There are verses in the bible that give examples of what salvation is to believers. Salvation, in its simplest form, is the process in which God delivers his people from their sins.
I like to think of Salvation in 3 parts;
1. Past-tense: Upon the cross, Jesus was justified when he paid the ultimate price for sin by dying on the cross for us. We are justified by Christ for what he did for us on Calvary.
Justification: the action of declaring or making righteous in the sight of God.
Let me further explain, if Jesus hadn't died on the cross for our sins, then we would be forced to further conform to a fallen and wicked world with no sense of hope or escape. Take a second and ponder on the thought of how disparaging that would feel to live in a world with no hope?
How would the world be, if we didn't have a way of escape?
How would we do if we didn't have Jesus?
2. Present- tense: As we live according to God’s Holy Word, laws, and commandments, we will be living under a covenant which is the process of being sanctified and continuously being freed from the power of sin.
Sanctification: the action of making or declaring something holy
Let me further explain, I said before we live in a fallen world, where sin is becoming second nature and the bible is becoming a chore. We have to remember the enemy wants us to forget who God is, so he’s doing anything and everything to make sin as appealing as possible. It’s in everything, everywhere, and in everyone! The difference is when we are sanctified by Christ, sin does not drive our flesh, nor do we operate in it. When your thoughts are saved, you can not be clouded by the devil's blows. To be sanctified is to be renewed in the image of God so that our minds are planted and rooted in Christ.
3. Future-tense: To have present sanctification is to be in complete Restoration with Christ. God will never have you lacking in anything because he knows what you need. Restoration is about God restoring and keeping us preserved and covered from harm, danger, or destruction. We also get that in the hopes that one day we will no longer have to deal with sin ever again. For the moment we live in perfect peace with our Heavenly Father in Heaven.
But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares
Jeremiah 30:17
Don’t Wear Your Helmet, and See What Will Happens!
What is the penalty if we don’t use the helmet of Salvation?
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23
Romans 6:23, speaks for itself, it’s death. I can’t and won’t sugar coat that, sorry! When we choose to live unprotected we choose to further distance ourselves from God. Remember sin separates us from God, at the moment when you feel abandoned or alone, check your sin; most likely your sin is making you feel that way because you haven’t prayed let alone repented. The bible says that God will not leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), but unfortunately, we sometimes forsake and leave God and wind up getting lost in sin and confusion.
Are you spiritually decapitated?
When we choose to not have our Combat Hard Hat a.k.a The Helmet of Salvation on, we make the conscious choice to not live according to God’s Word, or according to the truth. We are to walk in truth according to scripture but we can’t do that if we’re unprotected. It is reckless to be unprotected! It is decapitating to be unprotected! When exposed, you’re driven to live according to how you want to live, its all about a “me me me mentality”. The enemy can access you freely and easily when exposed and uncovered. He can access your mind, body, your very own thoughts, and influence your behavioral actions.
He will convince you to do and exploit your mind, body, and soul for his benefit. The devil doesn’t care nor does he like you. He doesn't care about you or your family, he is there to only cause more havoc in and around you, that’s it.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world
1 Peter 5:8-9
You may think you’re fine living as the world does but deep down your lacking something. Don’t fall for the hype of the world, because it will soon teach you that it was never meant for you.
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
John 15:18
Strategic Intel: Combat Hard Hat
Earlier I used the word “impressionable” to describe the mind for the simple fact that Satan uses that to this advantage. He knows that if he can control your mind, he then can control your actions that follow. You have to know that the enemy is the spirit of confusion and lives in total disarray and chaos.
To use this armor strategically we must understand that the Hard Hat protects us from the many schemes and devices that the enemy uses to deter us from our salvation and God. As I mentioned in our definition of the word Salvation, which is the preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss, so satan wants us in utter ruin, and be solely dependent on sin. To cripple us in it.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
Salvation Is Not Bought, It’s Simply a Gift!
Salvation is not something you can earn, buy, or exchange because you did good works. Salvation is a gift from God, it’s completely free. You just have to receive it and believe it. Scripture simply says in Ephesians 2: 8-9, for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. You see that!, salvation is activating your faith by being saved and cleansed from sin, and you cannot do this by yourself; you have to do this through the help of the Holy Spirit that rests within God. This is simply a gift that keeps on giving.
Call To Action: How do we use the Combat Hard Hat properly and in everyday use?
Christians we are called to live apart from the world. The bible tells us that we are IN the world and not OF the world. Our way of living, thinking, and doing is separate from this fallen world. We have to wear the Helmet of Salvation because the devil is busy and he will do anything to sway you in the wrong way. He will make you believe that the way of the world is the best and only way to live.
Everything boils down to a choice. What we eat, drink, or even what clothes we wear all are factors of decision making. It’s imperative to learn the skill of discernment because it allows us to know the difference between what it means to walk in sin or to walk in truth based on the Word. Every choice has an outcome and/ or consequence. Choose wisely.
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.
Isaiah 12:2
Golden Words of Wisdom:
The Hard Hat is essential because it protects the brain. Without the brain, there is no function for the rest of the body.
We have to protect the mind to preserve the body!
To be of the world will result in death, but to be spiritually equipped is to be about your Father’s business.
I'd rather be in perfect peace than to be in pieces at the hand of my enemy
Committing fully to obeying God will ensure that your Hard Hat is tightened securely.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Romans 1:16
This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Hebrews 8:10
Questions To Consider: Ask yourself these questions and try to answer them to the best of your ability.
1. Am I Spiritual Decapitated? Why or why not? Ask God to help you with answering this question truthfully.
2. Do I find that my desire for sin has crippled me spiritually? In what ways?
3. How can I start walking in my salvation?
4. Is my mind exposed to the enemy or am I covered by the protection of my Hard Hat?
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy
1 Peter 1:13-16
Stay tuned for the next blog post!!!
WEEK 4:[THE WAR SERIES, DRESSED TO KILL]: Issued Uniform [Part 6]
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