In the heat of hand-to-hand combat when soldiers fought with clubs, pieces of chain, swords, and axes, helmets that gave secure protection to the head were invaluable. Made of thick leather or brass and capped with plates of metal to cover the temples and forehead, ancient helmets were often ornately decorated with engravings and crowned with a plume or a crest that clearly identified who a soldier who and to whom his allegiance had been pledged.

The soldier who fights for the King of kings is instructed to “take the helmet of salvation” (Eph 6.17). Just as a helmet was accepted by a soldier from the hands of the officer in charge of supply and distribution, salvation is a gift. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2.8-9).

As citizens of the kingdom of heaven, we’ve been reconciled to God through the gift of his Son. We “who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Eph 2.13). The time has come, therefore, to take up the helmet of salvation and unashamedly declare our allegiance to the King. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5.1). Turn your back on selfishness. Run away from the darkness of sexual immorality. Renounce idolatry. Reject jealousy and anger. Bridle your tongue and cast off hypocrisy. Hold your head high as you receive your helmet of salvation and advance the cause of holiness with courage. Refuse to remove your helmet! What reason is there to give up when the victory of our God has already been assured?

______________________Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
_________________________you preserve my life;
______________________you stretch out your hand against
_________________________the wrath of my enemies,
_________________________and your right hand delivers me.
______________________The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
_________________________your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
_________________________Do not forsake the work of your hands. (Psa 138.7-8)

(Boot Camp: Equipping Men with Integrity for Spiritual Warfare, pg. 226-227)

Come back next Monday as this series of posts on the armor of God continues:

• The Armor of Holiness (1)
• The Belt of Truth
• The Breastplate of Righteousness
• The Shoes of Readiness
• The Shield of Faith
• The Helmet of Salvation
• The Sword of the Spirit
• Arming Ourselves in Prayer

Days of trouble come.  To all of us.  Maybe you’ve experienced a day of trouble or a night of restlessness recently and can painfully relate to Asaph’s personal anguish in Psalm 77.  Here’s a sampling:

• In the night my hand is stretched out without wearying (77.2)
• My soul refuses to be comforted (77.2)
• I moan (77.3)
• My spirit faints (77.3)
• My eyelids are open (77.4)
• I am so troubled that I cannot speak (77.4)
• “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?” (77.7)
• “Has God’s steadfast love forever ceased?” (77.8)
• “Are his promises at an end for all time?” (77.8)
• “Has God forgotten to be gracious?” (77.9)
• “Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” (77.9)

Days of trouble come.  To all of us.  But here’s the question: where do you turn in days of trouble?  On what do you meditate during nights of extreme restlessness?  Asaph encourages us to remember.  Listen to his battle plan when he found himself in the grip of doubt and despair:

_______________Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
____________________to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

_______________I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
____________________yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
_______________I will ponder all your work,
____________________and meditate on your mighty deeds.
_______________Your way, O God, is holy.
____________________What god is great like our God?
_______________You are the God who works wonders;
____________________you have made known your might among the peoples.
_______________You with your arm redeemed your people,
____________________the children of Jacob and Joseph.

_______________When the waters saw you, O God,
____________________when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
____________________indeed, the deep trembled.
_______________The clouds poured out water;
____________________the skies gave forth thunder;
____________________your arrows flashed on every side.
_______________The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
____________________your lightnings lighted up the world;
____________________the earth trembled and shook.
_______________Your way was through the sea,
____________________your path through the great waters;
____________________yet your footprints were unseen.
_______________You led your people like a flock
____________________by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Days of trouble come.  To all of us.  The next time you experience a day of trouble or a night of weary restlessness, think of Asaph.  Read Psalm 77.  And remember.  The God who worked wonders in the lives of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Deborah, Gideon, Samson, Samuel, David, Nehemiah, Esther and Daniel continues to reign.  His right hand is still mighty.  He is everlastingly faithful and holy.

In the day of trouble and night of restlessness, turn off the television, log off of the Internet, and use your Old Testament to appeal to the years of the right hand of the Most High.  Remember his wonders of old.  Meditate on his mighty deeds.  He can use those ancient accounts of deliverance, conquest and victory to break the grip of doubt and despair in your life, if you will remember, meditate and appeal.

This final sermon of a 9-part series on the life of Elijah is taken from 2 Kings 2—the account of the LORD taking Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind.  Too often, we allow death to limit or cloud our views of life, its meaning, and eternity.  This sermon is not only an historical study of Elijah’s final earthly steps, but an encouragement to recognize that the same God who took Elijah has also promised to return and take us one day as well.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.  Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thes 4:13-18)

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Rev 22:20)

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For more interactive outlines and mp3 recordings, be sure to visit the Sermons archive.

NOTE: Advertisements on the above player are randomly generated by the service provider and do not necessarily imply endorsement of the material advertised. Readers are always encouraged to apply the “Berean test” (Acts 17:11) to all that they see and hear.

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one” (Eph 6.16).  There were two types of Roman shields in the ancient world.  One was small and round, designed especially for hand-to-hand combat.  The other was much larger, measuring four by two and a half feet, and described in terms more similar to a “door” than a shield.  The Spirit commissions the soldier of the cross to take up this latter shield in the defense of his soul.

This shield is solid, designed to protect the whole body.  Usually made of light wood, such shields were frequently lined with brass and covered with several folds of thick leather.  They could be drenched with water so that as enemy arrows dipped in pitch and set on fire collided with them, the points were blunted and the flames were extinguished.  An ancient soldier needed only to kneel down and hold his shield above him, and he would be protected from the flaming barrages of the opposition.

The Spirit tells us that the Christian’s shield is forged in the fires of faith.  If truth is rock-solid, undeniable fact as revealed by the Creator, faith is unshakeable trust in the Revealer and his revelation.  “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10.17).  God’s assurances of things hoped for form our shields.  The conviction of things not seen can quench the hottest flames (Heb 11.1).

From a distance we’ve studied many of the evil one’s “flaming darts”—temptations to operate in selfishness, to give in to sexual immorality, idolatry, jealousy, or anger, to lose control of our tongues or to hide behind the masks of hypocrisy.  Our Adversary is intent upon our destruction.  His own defeat is already certain, but he will use whatever he can to cause fear in our hearts, doubt in our minds, worry during our nights, and rebellion throughout our days.  If he can drag us down to the pits of destruction along with him, he will.

But even when this great red dragon blows the hottest fire of his fiercest wrath in our direction, as we stand firm behind the shield of our faith, we have nothing to fear, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5.4-5).

Temptations will continue to come.  Trials will continue to arise.  Just because you hold the shield of faith in your hands does not mean that the dragon will give up in his efforts.  If anything, his attention is enhanced and his hatred is all the more incensed by those who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb.  Like a prowling, roaring lion he continues to seek those whom he can devour.  But you can “resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world” (1 Pet 5.8-9).

Remember, the devil cannot force you to lay down the shield of your faith.  As long as a soldier has his shield, he feels secure.  As long as a Christian has his faith, he will overcome.  God will deliver him, defend him, vindicate him, provide for him, and ultimately reward him for his faithfulness.  But as soon as you choose to lay your shield down, you invite your own devouring.

Don’t lay it down!  “In all circumstances”—at home, at work, at school, at play, in busyness and in rest, in times of rejoicing and in times of sorrow—hold on to the shield of your faith.  You will find nothing else that can extinguish the Evil One’s flaming arrows.

(Boot Camp: Equipping Men with Integrity for Spiritual Warfare, pg. 225-226)

Come back next Monday as this series of posts on the armor of God continues:

• The Armor of Holiness (1)
• The Belt of Truth
• The Breastplate of Righteousness
• The Shoes of Readiness
• The Shield of Faith
• The Helmet of Salvation
• The Sword of the Spirit
• Arming Ourselves in Prayer

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel.  And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah.  But David remained at Jerusalem.  It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. (2 Sam 11:1-2)

Some might wonder how this was even possible.  The secret lies in the terrain of Jerusalem.  Ferrell’s photo below shows where David’s palace would have been (look for the railing along the top), as well as the common residences below.  From this angle, we can easily envision King David looking down from his roof and being able to see Bathsheba.

The City of David from below. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins (ferrelljenkins.wordpress.com)

Artist Balage Balogh has illustrated this biblical story for us in the image below.  Take a look at his work at Archaeology Illustrated.

King David on his balcony (Balage Balogh)

Ferrell maintains a great blog on biblical studies, archaeology, travel and photography.  Be sure to regularly check it out.

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ.  He is the true God and eternal life.  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:20-21)

In order to keep ourselves from idols, we must develop the ability to identify idolatry in our hearts.  As a practical aid, consider these 13 questions from Kenny Stokes:

1. What do you most highly value?
2. What do you think about by default?
3. What is your highest goal?
4. To what or whom are you most committed?
5. Who or what do you love the most?
6. Who or what do you trust or depend upon the most?
7. Who or what do you fear the most?
8. Who or what do you hope in and hope for most?
9. Who or what do you desire the most? Or, what desire makes you most angry or makes you despair when it is not satisfied?
10. Who or what do you most delight in or hold as your greatest joy and treasure?
11. Who or what captures your greatest zeal?
12. To whom or for what are you most thankful?
13. For whom or what great purpose do you work?

“The heavens proclaim [God's] righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.  All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!” (Psalm 97:6-7)

• “I am the bread of life” (John 6:22-40)
• “I am the light of the world” (John 8:2-18)
• “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:1-30)
• “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:1-27)
• “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 13:36-14:6)
• “I am the true vine” (John 15:1-8)
• “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:48-59)

Each of these statements carry implications—if they are true, they naturally imply certain things about Jesus, God, and the meaning of life.

Because they carry implications, our acceptance or rejection of Jesus and his claims carry natural consequences.  “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)  A serious question worthy of our utmost attention.  This sermon is an examination of Jesus’ claims and an encouragement to build your life on them.

• Interactive PDF
• Download the mp3 file

For more interactive outlines and mp3 recordings, be sure to visit the Sermons archive.

NOTE: Advertisements on the above player are randomly generated by the service provider and do not necessarily imply endorsement of the material advertised. Readers are always encouraged to apply the “Berean test” (Acts 17:11) to all that they see and hear.

Thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of some very talented people, our Sunday morning adult Bible class at Laurel Canyon on The Life and Times of Jesus the Christ is freely available to watch online. Most recently available is:

• Week 24 — Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ  (Matthew 16; Mark 8; Luke 9)
• Week 25-26 — Jesus is transfigured on a high mountain  (Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke 9)
• Week 27 — The parable of the lost sheep and a lesson in forgiveness  (Matthew 18)
• Week 28 — “Now the Feast of Booths was at hand”  (Luke 9; John 7)
• Week 29 — An adulterous woman is brought before Jesus  (John 8)
• Week 30 — Jesus heals a man born blind  (John 9-10)

For the archive of previous Bible classes in this series, be sure to check out the Video page.