Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Our spiritual armour consists of three offensive, three defensive, and one neutral weapon. The breastplate, the shield, and the helmet are defensive weapons. They protect us and give us confidence and assurance to move forward in our spiritual growth.
The Roman soldier’s helmet is essential to the armour because it protects the head from injury during battle. No soldier would go into war without it because he would be subject to the fatal attack of the enemy’s axe or sword.
It is fascinating that Paul named this piece of the armour “helmet of salvation” because the last frontier is the battle in the mind regarding our salvation, where the devil will put doubt, fear, and tormenting thoughts to immobilise us. The Bible says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Therefore, our thoughts determine our actions. The wiles, devices, and deceits of the evil one come through the mind, for he knows that if he can seize the mind, which is a position of control, he can manipulate our emotions and actions.
Salvation essentially means deliverance, safety, preservation, pardon, restoration, healing, wholeness and soundness. Therefore, we need to put on our helmets of salvation by renewing our minds with the Word of God because God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9).
Romans 12:2 (NKJV) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The word “world” in the Bible is kosmos, which means the world’s system. The world system operates differently from the Kingdom of God because they have opposite values. For example, while the world advocates individualism and contractual marriage, God teaches covenantal marriage and relationships. There is fear, torment, and control in the kingdom of darkness, whereas in the Kingdom of God, there is liberty, joy, peace, and freedom.
The values and principles of this world have indoctrinated us since we were born into this world. The whole world is under the sway of the evil one to fulfil his agenda. The lust of the eyes and the lure of this world keep us away from God. The world pressurises us to conform to its standard rather than God’s.
However, being born again means we can operate free from the world system. God’s system is far better financially and healthier. It takes faith to operate in God’s system after we have renewed our minds with the Word of God. We must think of His Words to walk in His ways and train our minds to believe what is true, especially about our salvation, what it entails, and the finished work of Christ that concerns us. We win in our thought life by renewing our minds with the Word of God.
Sermon Series：The weapon of our spiritual warfare (Part 4)
戴上你的头盔
以弗所书 6:17 并戴上救恩的头盔，拿着圣灵的宝剑，就是 神的道；
我们的属灵的盔甲是由三种进攻性武器、三种防御性武器和一种中性武器组成。护心镜、盾牌和头盔是防御性武器。这些武器保护我们，给我们信心和保证，在我们的属灵成长中前进。
罗马士兵的头盔是盔甲的重要组成部分，因为它可以在战斗中保护头部免受伤害。没有士兵会在没有头盔的情况下参战，因为他会成为受到敌人战斧或战剑的致命攻击的对象。
保罗把这部分盔甲命名为“救恩的头盔”是很有意思的，因为最后的战线是关于我们拯救的思想之战，魔鬼会用怀疑、恐惧和折磨人的想法，使我们无法动弹。圣经说“因为他心怎样思量，他为人就是怎样。(箴言 23:7 )。所以，我们的思想决定我们的行动。邪恶之人的诡计和骗局都是从脑海中浮现出来的！因牠知道，如果牠能抓住思想，也就是控制的位置，牠就能操纵我们的情绪和行动，
救赎的本意就是：拯救、安全、保存、赦免、恢复、治愈、完整和健全。所以，我们应戴上救恩的头盔，用上帝的话语更新我们的意念，因为上帝的意念高过我们的意念，同样，祂的道路高过我们的道路；(以赛亚书 55:9)
罗马书12:2 不要效法这个世界。只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良，纯全可喜悦的旨意。
世界这个字在圣经里是 Kosmos 指的是世界的系统。世界体系的运作方式与上帝王国的运作方式截然不同。因为他们有相反的价值观。譬如，当世界提倡个人主义和合约婚姻，而上帝教导盟约婚姻和关系。在黑暗的王国里有恐惧、折磨和控制，而在上帝的王国里，有自由、欢乐、和平和自由。
自从我们出生在这个世界上，这个世界的价值观和原则就已经灌输给我们了。整个世界都卧在恶者的权下，以实现牠的计划。眼目的情欲和世俗的诱惑使我们远离上帝。世界迫使我们遵守它的标准，而不是上帝的标准。
然而，重生的经历，意味着我们可以在世界体系之外自由运作。上帝的体系在财务上更好、也更健康。在我们用上帝的话语更新了我们的思想之后，凭信心才能在上帝的体系中运作。我们必须思考祂的话语，才能走祂的路，并训练我们的头脑去相信何为真理，尤其是关于我们的拯救，它意味着什么，以及与我们有关的基督完成的工作。我们通过用上帝的话语更新我们的心思意念，在思想生活中获胜。
讲章系列：我们属灵争战中的武器（第四部分）
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