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Take Your Helmet And Your Sword

by Joseph LaValley  
8/05/2016 / Christian Living

"Now just who do you think you are?" Have you ever had that question asked you when perhaps you were too bold or showed too much confidence to suit someone else's taste? In our walk as Christians we need to have the "true answer" to that question well established in our hearts. When we know who we are we can be confident and bold to step out on God's will in our lives.

God has addressed this question of who we are and how we can learn to walk in that true identity, in His Word the Bible. The Bible is the only book that God has entirely authored so we would be well advised to let it speak for itself. It's not a launch pad from whence we can arrive at truth, it is the truth! We need to keep in mind that God's word was never intended for mere theological discourse but to empower us to change lives.

John 6:63 KJV
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Let's look at God's life-changing words regarding this subject.

Ephesians 6:17 KJV
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

First of all, who is God speaking to in Ephesians? What does the book tell us?

Ephesians 1:1 KJV
Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus

The Greek word for saints is hagios, which means holy ones. All of the human race are descendants of Adam and Eve in their spiritually fallen state. We were all physically born into this world spiritually dead, per Romans 5:12KJV (not holy). Only those whom God has made holy are "holy ones". The saints God is speaking to are those who have confessed Jesus as their Lord and are now a part of that new creation in Christ Jesus. He has done this in and through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:15 KJV; Ephesians 2:5 KJV). These "saints" are now a part of the family of God.

Ephesians is speaking to the family of God, and therefore to you if you are born-again. Its first two chapters tell us who we are in Christ - our spiritual identity. We are God's holy ones, the ones in whom God has sealed with His holy spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13 KJV). We are connected with Christ by that gift. It is Christ who builds us up by that Spirit (Ephesians 2:22 KJV). We are seated in Christ at God's right hand. This is our permanent spiritual address.

Ephesians 2:4-6 KJV
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 1:19-20 KJV
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.

What does that spiritual address tell us? In the eastern culture in which the Bible was written, "the right hand" represents the hand of blessing. It is through Christ that all salvation blessings have been given and from whence they flow into our lives. The word "seated", in the above verse, is used to describe Christ's position as well as the Christian's position. It emphasizes the truth that the work of salvation has been completed. "Seated" implies rest. This is a rest from works because the work has been done or completed through Jesus Christ. It's the same usage as when God "rested" on the seventh day in Genesis Chapter 1. The work of creation had been completed so God rested from His activity (obviously God wasn't tired).

We, the born again believers, have been made to sit down in Christ, indicating that salvation wholeness is ours right now, and that work was completed by Christ Jesus. Did you get that! It's been done! We are not to try to earn any benefits but instead are to simply believe who we are in Christ and what we have because of Him. That is putting on the helmet of salvation!

The context of Ephesians Chapter six is instruction in walking out our Christian lives in the light of who we are in Christ. When we finally come to Ephesians 6:10 God is specifically talking about walking in the power of Christ's might to overcome the schemes of satan. This is where we are told to take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.

God has given Christ both an authority and power that is second only to His own.

Philippians 2:9-10 KJV
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth

Christ led captivity captive when he ascended to the Father meaning his authority, his name, supersedes the authority of the devil or any other created being for that matter. I understand that the devil will continue to wield authority over the unsaved but not legally over the born again believer. We have a seat of authority in Christ so when we stand in that God given authority, we will see victory after victory. This is part of our inheritance, we share fully in what Christ has wrought (Romans 8:15-17 KJV).

Does this mean there are no battles? No, but what it does mean is that we have an assured victory when we stand in Christ. Hence, the importance of taking the helmet of salvation. It is our "true identity in Christ" as well as our seat of authority. We share in it jointly.

Ephesians 4:7-8 KJV
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

The "measure of the gift of Christ" is a mind blowing truth! It is all that we are in Christ and all that He is in us. Both His authority and power are ours to wield to bring God's will to pass on this earth. We are part of the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23 KJV) and as such are an extension of His person as we walk by the spirit upon the face of this earth.

In verse eight the phrase "he led captivity captive" is a phrase that comes out of the culture of that time. When a general returned in victory after a military campaign, he would lead a procession through the streets of a city. In that procession would be a number of the enemy captives. It would usually include a king and/or others of power and authority. They would be led forth in shame and defeat for all to see. God is telling us here that at the ascension of Christ, the authority of the devil and all his little minions has been legally broken over the lives of the believers. We are exhorted in Ephesians 6:10 and following to wield this authority. We are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

Ephesians 6:10 KJV
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Verse twelve tells us why. Our God wants us to be aware of the spiritual reality of this fallen world, not merely the physical.

Ephesians 6:12 KJV
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

God tells us that we need to walk in the supreme spiritual power that's provided us in and through Christ. All of the evil things that come against us as Christians are rooted in and brought against us by the devil and his troop of losers.

We as Christians are often times slow to acknowledge this and in some cases there are those who simply refuse to believe it. Often carnal Christians want to assign evil to physical origins only. However, this contradicts what God is telling us in Ephesians Chapter six, "we wrestle not against flesh and blood...". It is spirit power that instigates and moves evil against us in our lives as well as all of life around us.

That being true to God's facts, we need a bigger spirit to see the victory and to invoke its outcome. We have that bigger spirit in the resurrected, ascended and seated Christ.

I John 4:4 KJV
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them. Because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Christ will and does give specific revelation to handle the attacks of our enemy, satan. This is what the second part of Ephesians 6:17 is telling us; "take the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God." The Greek word for "word" in this verse is "rhema". In the context it's talking about a God given utterance. These are God empowered words for the specific situation you are confronted with. If you will pray and declare those words with faith and obedience, you will see supernatural victory.

Take for example my near death experience. No it wasn't a run toward the light episode but the devil nearly did take me out at an early age. It had to do with my crappy 1957 Chevy as well as my former deranged ways. At that time, I was doing a lot of drugs on a regular basis. A girl I knew witnessed to me. The Lord had tugged at her heart to witness and minister Christ to me and to begin praying for me as well. One night, during the time this was happening in my life, I and some of "my companions in crime" got blasted on a myriad of drugs and alcohol. We were all piled into my 1957 Chevy going around ninety miles per hour down interstate 95 at 3:00 AM in the morning, while weaving in and out of the semi-trailer trucks. The next morning as I was driving about town, going thirty miles an hour, my front right wheel simply came off, rim and all - and rolled away. At that speed no personal injuries were incurred. Let me tell you, I sat there stunned thinking how easily we all could have died the night before.

This problem with the wheel could have happened anytime but it happened at a transitional point when I was beginning to listen to God's word and was honestly considering the reality of following Christ. I surely wasn't walking in deliverance but I yearned to do so! What are the odds of that timing? I can say in hind sight it was an attack of the enemy. If I may quote the church lady from the old Saturday Night Live Show, "Could that be satan?"

Also what are the odds that the wheel stayed on that night during the time that girl was praying for me. That young lady had on her helmet of salvation, she had taken her position in Christ. When God gave her a sword of the Spirit, his word in regards to my life, she prayed it in confidence and saved my life. She recognized who she was and she was about her Father's business. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. I'm alive today to attest to the truth that greater is He that is in us than he that is in this world!

Now, I'm not saying that every time you break a shoe lace or have car trouble evil forces have come against you. The Christian life is supposed to be a walk with God. He is the prime mover. He is the one who leads, unveils, and reveals. The problem is never with God; He is always willing to help us in any situation and to deliver us. Rather the difficulty is finding a believer who is willing to take the faith responsibility that comes with their identity in Christ. God is looking for sons and daughters who will believe who they are in Christ, and are willing to wield the sword He puts in their hand on behalf of themselves and others.

It's simply a matter of knowing the heart of your Abba, who you are in Christ and walking by the spirit of God. We must willfully seek the who, what, when, where, and sometimes the "whys" of life's situations from God through His Son. As we respond we will certainly see victories. It is God's will that you come out on top.

I heard a story told by a Christian who shared that at one point in his life, the appliances in his home were breaking down one right after another all in a short period of time. Then his car twice needed repairs during that time period. As soon as he got one thing repaired, something else happened and so it went on and on.

Now, appliances and cars do break down, but this was a bit unprecedented. Finally, this man sought God's wisdom for his situation. He prayed and felt the Lord led him to invoke the authority of Christ's over his things. After doing so all of the problems came to an abrupt stop and that was the end of it! Now you may say that was coincidental, but God says we wrestle not against flesh and blood. So am I saying that this guy had possessed appliances? No but the influence of the spirit kingdom does exist according to God's word. We can, however, be victorious by the spirit of the Lord when situations come against us.

Also, according to God we have a right, as Christians, to enforce the blessings of the Lord. We're not moving God; we are moving in the finished work of Christ that He, God has provided. He is looking for someone to trust in the covenant He's given in Christ so that He can show Himself strong on their behalf. We are not merely trying to hold our ground but we are to take the land He has provided for us as modern day Joshua's and Caleb's.

On a larger scale we can all see the daily atrocities, injustices and tragedies happening around us. Some are man's injustice to man others are caused by human error such as train wrecks, car accidents etc. Then of course others are tragedies of nature such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and such occurrences. Make no mistake about it. These things are satanically moved. Once again I refer you back to Ephesians 6:12 where we are told that our battle isn't in the physical but against satanic spiritual powers that move these people and/or things.

What about these things? Can the authority God has given us in Christ affect a change in these situations? Can our helmet of salvation and sword of the spirit gain victory in these areas? Most assuredly so! It's part of our blood covenant given in Christ.

My wife and I have prayed, together, daily for many years. I'd like relay a situation that happened a few years back. As we were praying my wife felt led to invoke the authority of Christ's protection and delivering power against an attempted bombing in an area of New York City. She knew her authority in Christ (the helmet of salvation). The sword of the spirit which God told her to take was His word to prevent this satanic occurrence. She took up that sword and invoked the name of Christ.

As you obey this walk with the Lord he will give you confirmations, not every single time but enough to assure you that you are hearing from Him. This time a confirmation came a few days later. It was reported in the news that a bombing attempt, by means of a van, was thwarted in that same area of New York City that my wife had mentioned in her prayers. Was my wife the only one to pray God's victory in this situation? You would have to ask Christ, the head of the body. I would hope that He was able to find a large number of Christians who had on their helmet of salvation and were willing to wield that sword of the spirit.

We all need to take our active place in the body of Christ. God desires that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. That involves more than moral conduct. We are to take our place in bringing Christ presence to our sphere of influence. When you have a word (Gr. rhema) from God you are to take that sword of the spirit and with faith declare it to bring God's will into being. Through Christ God has equipped us to do so.

Regarding prayer, our sphere of influence dopes not override people's freedom of will. There are many things that each individual must do and believe for himself. However, let's be honest, only God knows what can be done in each and every situation and since we, the born again believers, are agents of the resurrected, ascended and seated Christ God has equipped us to minister His will as He directs.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 KJV
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are new.
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ as though did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

In verse seventeen "creature "can be more accurately translated "creation". "In Christ" is the born again believer's spiritual permanent position. This is why he's a new creation. He's changed from being spiritually dead in Adam to being spiritually alive in Christ. We aren't ambassadors for Jesus, we are ambassadors for the ascended and seated Christ. That name is the name above all names. We are to go forth in the power of that name to bring God's will to bear as we are led of Him.

What about on a national level? Surely we cannot wield such influence. Oh yeah, we can! Why else would God have put in His word accounts of great victories wrought by individuals against huge evil forces. David 's victory over Goliath; Gideon's victory over a massive army; Johnathan and his armor bearer defeating many. These are just to name a few but we could go on and on. There are many more miraculous examples. They gained victory against great odds because they believed in the covenant they had with God.

Yes, they fought God's enemies on a physical plane but that's because they didn't have an understanding of the true spiritual enemy, the devil, nor were they equipped to battle him on a spiritual level. However, we, as born again believers, have been equipped to do so in Christ. Our blood bought covenant in Christ is so much greater than anything foreshadowed by the Old Testament covenant.

Hebrews 8:6 KJV
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

The ministration that God had imparted to Moses was engraved in stone. That covenant was the means by which God wrought great victories to those who were willing to believe. If great glory was made manifest under that old covenant how much more is available to us under the ministration of righteousness which God made through the blood of Jesus Christ?

Rees Howell was a Christian believer who ran a Bible school in Europe during the second world war. Many a time he and his students turned the tide of battles as they were led to stand in prayer for the allied troops against the Nazis. The Nazi movement was a scheme of the adversary to rule and dominate the world. There certainly were principalities and powers behind it (Ephesians 6:12 KJV). This being obviously so, why wouldn't a loving God want His delivering will to be enforced against the enemy's plans? He did! And thankfully He had believers He could call upon who were willing to obey.

There are many stories throughout history where victories were wrought or tragedies were averted by prayer as believers responded to the Lord's prompting. The type of prayers I'm referring to in this article are not just requests made to God but rather prayer led or prompted by the spirit of God to invoke His will, in Jesus's name, into a given situation. By allowing Him to lead and wielding our God given sword we labor together with God so that His will can be done "on earth as it is in heaven".

Let us, as sons and daughters of God, take our place in the spiritual battle. As we grow to know the heart of our God and who He has made us in Christ we can respond aright. Truly His eyes do run to and fro throughout the whole earth to find someone in whom He can show Himself strong on their behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9a KJV). Let that man or woman be you.

My name is Joseph. I became serious about walking with the Lord back in 1972. My wife and I have been married since 1975, and have two grown daughters. We presently live in Texas. Our e-book -"Come Walk With The Father" is available at amazon.com.

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