E26 - Hope’s Harbor Gritty Bible Devotions - Helmet of Salvation - Protect your Mind
Hope’s Harbor
Gritty Bible Devotions
Episode #26
Title: Helmet of Salvation – Then What?
Date: November 25, 2021
Contact: info@hopesharbor.net
Key verse(s): Eph 6:17 – ‘And take the helmet of salvation…’
Intro: In the previous two episodes faith was the focus and how faith is more than mere belief but evidenced by our actions. The application was also brought out.
In this episode, I want to delve into the part our mind plays when it comes to faith; how our mind is the target for Satan’s fiery darts which are his lies and accusations. And how we can protect our minds and therefore keep our faith intact.
There is nothing so sad concerning the Christian walk than to see or hear someone who has forsaken their faith, turned away from GOD and His Word, and returned to the world’s way of living.
The Bible in 2 Peter 2:22 describes this: ‘But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."
Would you agree that anyone who really understood the need to stand firm in faith would ever go back to the old ways of living? Well, it happens too often and my prayer for you and me is we learn something here today that will help us stand strong in our faith.
Devotion focus: Putting on the armor of GOD to protect our minds –
How does salvation protect our minds? Before exploring the answer let me provide a view from Satan’s vantage point.
A Christian is one who experienced a new birth upon placing faith in Jesus’s Atonement when He died on the Cross. The Holy Spirit now resides within the Christian’s spirit and with that Christian’s consent influences the mind and heart for good. When we are ‘born again’ we become the workmanship of Jesus who sets out to change our mindset from the destructive ways of the world’s systems to His mindset of holiness.
With our minds, we determine whether to follow the teachings of GOD set forth in the Bible or not. Our choices as Christians determine our eternal rewards, not for eternal life, that’s already settled, but how we will live in eternity.
This being the case it stands to reason Satan will attack us in our minds. The methods he uses are varied, Paul said in Ephesians 6:11 – ‘Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.’
Wiles means ‘method, trickery.’
In the past, as recorded in the Bible, Satan used trickery, lies, and deception against GOD’s people and even against the Son of GOD. When Satan came against Jesus just before He began His public ministry, Jesus used GOD’S Word to resist Satan.
Now, Satan tried his wiles by using verses from the Bible, taken out of context. He tried to deceive Jesus into complying with his satanic effort to thwart Jesus’s mission to rescue sinners from hell.
Did you notice Satan went after Jesus’s mind? He will do the same to us.
This brings us back to the question of how does salvation protect our minds?
Well, first, when we understand and accept by faith that our salvation is a one-time event, and brings about a once for all time result, this should help guard us against a multitude of false teaching.
Ultimately, all false teaching concerning doctrines in the Bible come from Satan, and most times they are put forth very subtly. The difficulty in recognizing false teaching is it usually contains a grain of truth. Cults are masterful at this very thing.
But, listen to me, Jesus tells us plainly in John 10:27–29 how to avoid being ensnared by false teaching. Listen to this fantastic benefit of salvation:
John 10:27 - “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
John 10:28 – “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
John 10:29 – “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.”
The key to knowing Jesus’s voice is to read and study the Bible with purposeful intent. Read through entire books of the New Testament. I use a Bible program that is a free download from e-sword.net. In this program, you can do word searches, look up the word meanings in the original languages when in the KJV+ version, compare commentaries’ interpretations of passages, etc.
All knowledge gained from Bible study goes toward protecting our minds.
This is putting on the helmet of salvation, meaning by more fully understanding what we gained when we became GOD’s children will go a long way toward protecting us from the wiles of the devil and his minions.
Summary: In the Bible, we have the treasury of GOD’s promised blessings contained in the whole counsel of GOD. Use the Bible to interpret the Bible. My part and your part is to use the ordained means GOD gave us by which to know Him, His Son, and His Spirit.
Action to consider: On a 3x5 card write these verses from Colossians and pray them throughout each day until memorized:
Colossians 1:9 – ‘For this reason, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Colossians 1:10 – ‘that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…’
If you will read these verses, pray these verses, and believe the inherent power contained in these verses… hang on!
GOD declared in Isaiah 55:11 – “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
Will you dare to believe Him?
Next week’s devotion: Renewing the Mind – Key verse: Romans 12:2 – ‘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.’