Victory Action #7 Live in Salvation

The Apostle Paul’s Strategy to Winning Life’s Battles

Victory Action #7 Live In Salvation

Ephesians 6:17a

 

Ephesians 6:17a.

“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” 

 

Introduction

            Welcome back to our study called, “The Apostle Paul’s Strategy to Winning Life’s Battles.”  There are times in life when we face severe temptations and even when life’s problems seem to knock us down.  Bad things do happen to good people.  The question then becomes, “how are we to respond?”  Paul’s primary directive is found in Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” 

            Thankfully, he teaches us how to be strong in the Lord.  He instructed us with Victory Action #1-#6. Today, we will consider Victory Action #7 Live in Salvation.

            As we mentioned in our last time together, our enemy, the devil, will attack you with every weapon in his arsenal.  He will lie to you, attempt to cause you to doubt, try to make you full of fear, and tempt you to respond and react to others according to your old sin nature.

            The devil can read the Bible and so he knows that Jesus Christ defeated sin and death.  Our enemy is still fighting because he refuses to believe the Truth and he wants to destroy as many of God’s children as he can.  He wants you to focus on the life struggle in front of you and, by doing so, tempt you to take your eyes of Jesus, the One who brings you hope and life.

            Whether you are facing a loss of job, financial difficulties, failed relationships, or struggles of any kind, you can live in salvation and stand firm as a victory action in winning life’s battles.

 

Helmet of Salvation

            The instruction to “take the helmet of salvation” is actually a command.  When you are in the throes of your struggle it is imperative that you take, or wear, the helmet of salvation.  The helmet of salvation will guard your mind so that you will not be clouded by the lies of the enemy.  Instead, you will think and see clearly and be equipped to act rightly, even in the most difficult hour of your struggle.  If you do not take the helmet of salvation then you are exposed to the enemy and risk losing your life battle.

In a contest, your opponent wants you to focus on him solely and to be afraid.  He wants to intimidate you with his strength, size, cunning, and to remember his conquests.  Certainly, if you focus on the opponent, then your hope will be deflated.  Your will be defeated before the battle begins!  But, what you must do in the heat of battle instead is to focus on the One who has fought these battles before you and won the victory.  His name is Jesus.  He fought the devil and defeated him.  He won the victory over sin and death when He died on the cross for our sins and then rose again on the third day.  His victory assures us of an eternity in heaven.  His victory is our victory.

            When you take the helmet of salvation, you are guarding your mind by accepting the victory that only Christ gives.  It is Christ alone who brings salvation and rescues you from the bleakest of situations.  It is Christ alone who is the One who overcomes spiritual darkness because He is the Light of the world.  As you stand firm when your battle rages, you can do so boldly and confidently because you stand in the authority of Jesus Christ.  If Christ is for you, no one can be against you!

            Paul wrote about this in the New Testament book of Romans, chapter eight.  This passage is vital to our understanding of living in the salvation that Jesus Christ brings.  This is what is says,

            31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:  “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[l] 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

            Let’s say that right now, you are in the biggest, most fierce fight of your life.  Again, you may be in financial despair, or betrayed by a loved one, or facing imminent death.  I want to remind you that living in salvation brings you hope!  You can take the helmet of salvation by doing the victory actions Paul has taught us to do in this passage: put on the armor of God, stand firm, live in truth, live in righteousness, live in the Gospel of peace, and live by faith.  When you do this, you will thrive in the hope of your salvation because you will have your heart’s affection and your mind’s attention on Jesus. 

            Hope is not merely wishing that you will be rescued or wanting to be saved.  Your hope is built on the person, character, and victories of Jesus Christ.  Jesus never fails!  I Timothy 4:9-10 reads, “This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.”  And Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

            When life’s struggles knock you down and you then try to regain you balance, I know that our enemy, the devil, will do everything he can to keep you defeated.  But, when you take the helmet of salvation and live in the salvation of Jesus Christ then you are no longer vulnerable to the enemy.  Living in salvation is a life-changer because you are not standing alone.  You are now aligned with Jesus Christ.  Jesus will rescue you and bring the victory.

 

Conclusion

            I encourage you to follow victory action #7 and live in salvation.  Take the helmet of salvation so that you can overcome with the hope of Jesus Christ.  He will rescue you.  He will take that which was meant to harm you and turn it to good.  King David wrote about this in Psalm 27:1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?”

            I will close with the words of Paul in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

 

Prayer

            Dear Lord, help me to live in salvation.  You alone will rescue me and bring victory.  I trust in you.  May your will be done in my life now.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

  

 

For You to Consider

 

1.     What are the advantages to us if we “take the helmet of salvation” and what do we risk if we do not take it?

 

2.  Why is it important for us to align our lives with Jesus Christ as we encounter life’s battles?

 

3.  Consider your present trial.  What is Lord saying to you as to how you should respond to it today?

 

4.  Why is it important to have hope in the midst of life’s struggles and how can you live in hope?

 

5.  How can you help others live in salvation?

 

 

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