Standing in the Spirit
Ephesians 6:17,
August 12, 2007
Morning Service
Introduction
Recently National Geographic ran an article about the Alaskan bull moose. The males of the species battle for dominance during the fall breeding season, literally going head-to-head with antlers crunching together as they collide. Often the antlers, their only weapon are broken. That ensures defeat. The heftiest moose, with the largest and strongest antlers, triumphs. Therefore, the battle fought in the fall is really won during the summer, when the moose eat continually. The one that consumes the best diet for growing antlers and gaining weight will be the heavyweight in the fight. Those that eat inadequately sport weaker antlers and less bulk. There is a lesson here for us. Spiritual battles await. Satan will choose a season to attack. Will we be victorious, or will we fall? Much depends on what we do now--before the wars begin. The bull-moose principle: Enduring faith, strength, and wisdom for trials are best developed before they’re needed.
Craig Brian Larson.
Just as the Alaskan moose needs strength for its battles, we also need strength for our spiritual battles.
This morning we are continuing our series of messages on the full armor of God. If you have your Bibles open them to Ephesians 6:17. Today we shift our focus to the Sword of the Spirit.
Stand firm then… Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
When Paul speaks of the sword, he uses the Greek word machaira, which is where we get our word machete. The sword was a common weapon for the Roman soldier. It was primarily used in close quarter hand to hand combat. This same word was used to describe the swords carried by soldiers who arrested Jesus, the sword used by Peter to cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant and the sword Herod’s men used to execute James.
Paul further describes this sword by saying that it is of the Spirit. When Paul says this he is communicating a dual truth. The weapon of the Christian is indeed spiritual. The phrase that Paul uses here is also used in Ephesians 1:3 and 5:19. Both cases the phrase is translated spiritual.
Many times I have heard this passage quoted and said that the sword is the person of the Holy Spirit. Paul is not saying that the weapon at our disposal is the Holy Spirit. Instead He is saying that our spiritual arsenal comes from the Holy Spirit. The sword that Paul speaks about comes from God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Work of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit reveals the reality of spiritual truth to humanity. In fact, all divine truth flows through the work and the person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told the disciples before they received the Holy Spirit that He was coming. Look at Acts 1:8 with me
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Jesus wants you to receive something more. This word receive literally means to take or to gather but not in a selfish or greedy way. It means to take what is already yours. A good example of this is when the Fed Ex guy stops at the house and delivers a package to me. The job that guy is doing is bringing to me what is already rightfully mine and all I have to do is accept it. Jesus is saying here that there is more that belongs to us as believers, all we have to do is gather it in.
Jesus understood it would take power to change a persons life and He makes what you need available. In fact, He sends it “Fed Ex”, ready to be received. All you have to do is accept it.
The word that Jesus uses here for power is the Greek term dunamis, which is where we get our English words dynamite and dynamic. The meaning is to be given the strength or the ability to perform a certain task.
Jesus understood that we would need more power in our lives to make them dynamic for Him. Jesus sends the ability or the strength that we need through the work and person of the Holy Spirit.
Christ reveals the power of the Holy Spirit because the Spirit was His partner in ministry. Just think about what the Spirit did in the life of Jesus.
• Pre-birth: The Spirit conceives Jesus in the womb
• Pre-ministry: The spirit protects and anoints Jesus like a dove
• Ministry: The Spirit gives Jesus the power He needs to live a sinless life
• Post- Resurrection: The Spirit fills the church as a promise of Jesus
Sanctification is the process that the Spirit uses to
1.) Make you holy – Holiness is being set apart for the work and use of God
2.) Make you pure – Salvation removes the guilt of sin from your life and sanctification removes the stain of sin from your life.
3.) Make you perfect – John Wesley: Sanctification is the giving of a perfect love for God
Our English word witness comes from an Old English word we do no use very much anymore but we used it in Elizabethan times and afterwards. It is the word wit. ‘To wit’ means ‘to know’ A ‘wit’ is ‘a knowledgeable person.’ So a ‘witness’ of some who knows something and testifies to it.”...
Jesus is calling for us to be His witnesses. He calling for us to stand and share the knowledge of Him with a lost and dying world and to get it done we need the power only He can give and the Holy Spirit within us.
The Work of the Word
* The Word accomplishes the will and purpose of God (Is. 55:11)
* The Word is powerful like a fire and hammer (Jer. 23:29)
* The Word is filled with the Spirit and life (John 6:63)
* The Word is alive (Acts 7:38)
* The Word is part of our spiritual defense (Eph. 6:17)
* The Word is living and active (Heb. 4:12)
* The Word is living and enduring (1 Peter 1:23)
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
How is this word of God, the Bible, "living and powerful"? The word of God is not simply a collection of God’s words, a vehicle for communicating ideas; it is living, life changing, and dynamic as it works in us. The demands of the word of God require decisions. We not only listen to it, we let it shape our lives. Because the word of God is living, it applied to these first-century Jewish Christians, and it applies as well as to Christians today. The word of God lives, and it gives life to those who believe—energizing this present life and promising eternal life. Most books may appear to be dusty artifacts just sitting on a shelf, but the word of God collected in Scripture vibrates with life. The Pharisees imagined that the word of God was a set of static rules, and modern critics have argued that the word of God is nothing more than an archival record of a nation. Both groups have erred. The word of God—living and powerful—breathes life for people today. God reaches out to those who look into its pages, calling them to life, meeting their needs, expressing their deepest emotions, offering answers to their greatest questions.
The word of God penetrates through our outer facade and reveals what lies deep inside. The metaphor of a two-edged sword pictures the word of God, like a knife, revealing who we really are on the inside. It discerns what is within us, both good and evil. It penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual lives. This "two-edged sword" pictures the sharp, short sword that the Roman soldiers used in close combat. The sword’s double edges made it ideal for "cut and thrust" warfare. The word of God, sharper than a two-edged sword, pierces even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow. These words develop the metaphor; they are not a commentary on people’s physiological or spiritual makeup. Nothing can be hidden from God; neither can we hide from ourselves if we sincerely study the word of God. It reaches deep past our outer life as a knife passes through skin. It delves deep into our inner lives, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The word translated "is a discerner" can also be translated "judges" (NIV). At this point, our thoughts, motives, attitudes, and intentions are shown to us as being good or evil; we cannot escape God’s judgment on them and we dare not ignore God’s warning to us. We cannot keep secrets from God.
Our church is in a desperate need for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
* We need to see the power of God poured into our midst
* We need to see God doing what only He can do
* We need to see God bring His solutions to our problems
* We need to see God bring His strength and ability into the church
