Ephesians 6:17-20 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
In verses fourteen through sixteen, we have been clothed, shod, and shielded by the armor of God. These pieces of God’s armor are purely protective from attacks outside of us. Now we are being instructed to take the helmet of salvation. In God’s armor, I believe the helmet of salvation protects us from within.
Our helmet of salvation guides our thinking in a godly direction; we are given the mind of Christ (1Co 2:16). It protects us from being tossed about by every wind of doctrine. We are increased in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. By guarding and guiding our way of thinking, our helmet of salvation directs us in our dealings with our brothers and sisters as well as the principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places that Paul mentions earlier. In this sense our helmet is not only a protection but also a means of pushing back against these things.
Along with the helmet of salvation, we are to take the sword of the Spirit. Again, this is something that can be used for protection and for fighting against the things that Paul tells us to resist. I believe the order here is important. We are not to take up the sword of the Spirit until we have taken the helmet of salvation. It is not wise to take up the word of God without studying and praying for the guidance of the Spirit in understanding that word. We should never take up the word of God and just start slashing about us; this leads only to destruction. Rightly dividing the word of truth only comes by the deliverance of God through the work of the Holy Ghost.
As we take these things up, it should always be with an attitude of prayer and petition to God. We are to always pray according to the direction of the Spirit and not by our own understanding. When we pray, it should be with confidence in God. We should watch (expect, anticipate) for the answer of every prayer we pray in the Spirit. It is necessary that we be persistent in watching: do not grow weary in waiting for your prayers (prayed in the Spirit) to be answered.
When you pray, seek the Spirit in praying for those whom God sends to declare His holy truth. Our prayers have a direct bearing on the ministry of the word. Pray specifically that the ministers of the gospel be overshadowed with the Spirit to speak the truth of God. Pray that the ministers of the gospel be given boldness to speak the mystery of the gospel with revelation. Ask God for grace upon His ministers to speak frankly and plainly about the truth of salvation by His sovereign grace alone.
As ministers, we are chained (in bonds) to the blessed and fearful responsibility to represent (be an ambassador) Jesus Christ as the only Way, Truth, Life, and Resurrection. We need your earnest prayers and supplications before God so that we may speak boldly of these things. It is necessary (ought to), according to the calling of Almighty God, that we speak these things openly and frankly. When we are all joined together by prayer in the Spirit, we have the whole armor of God as our defense as we press (move forward) toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Jesus (Php 3:14).
May we be clothed together in God’s armor, lifting up our prayers and petitions to Him in the Spirit, and trusting Him to hear and answer!