Stephen concluded his series on the armour of God by looking at the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. (Eph 6:12-17) In natural terms, a helmet protects the head, and in Roman times was usually made of metal which surrounded the face as well as the top and back of the head. Like the other pieces of equipment, this was a defensive piece of armour, whereas the sword was intended to attack the enemy. If a soldier had no means of attack, he would not last long on the battle ground, so the sword was a crucial weapon.
Spiritually, the helmet of salvation reminds us that we must put on Jesus, since it is only through Jesus that we have salvation. Salvation gives us total coverage or protection; Jesus gave everything for us so that we may be saved. The sword of the Spirit is the very word of God, never failing but always prevailing. Jn 1:1 reminds us that Jesus is the very Word of God who speaks life-giving words. Luke 1:37 reminds us that no word from God will ever fail, giving us confidence as we enlist in God’s army, for no matter what weapons are developed, none will be stronger than God’s very word. Jesus is the living Word who protects our minds and enables us to go on the offensive against the enemy.
Our kitbag is held together by prayer, but it is our choice whether we put on the armour of God or not. We are each vital members of God’s army, but just as in the game ‘Game of War’, when the player decides whether to equip the hero or not in order to protect the city, it is our choice whether we avail ourselves of God’s armour and stand firm or whether we allow the enemy to gain footholds in our lives. Let’s stand firm in God and put on the whole armour of God.
We also had a birthday to celebrate:
