Spiritual Warfare (SW-14)
Ephesians 6:17
The Sword of the Spirit
This morning I want to talk with you about one of the most exciting and powerful weapons available to you in your entire spiritual arsenal. Although every piece of armor is essential - the way you use this one will tell me whether you ‘got it’ or missed that session or perhaps just tuned out. This weapon is the key to your victory. If you will let me watch the way you handle this one, I will tell you whether you are on the road to victory or the road to defeat, success or failure. What we are going to look at today holds the keys to your being what God has called you to be - an overcomer.
Our series is entitled very simply - Spiritual Warfare. And we are busy with a study entitled The Armor of God. This morning I invite you to open your Bibles to the book of Ephesians and the 6th chapter once more as we take a fresh look at The Sword of the Spirit. I want to give you some insights into this passage that will change the way you look at it from here out - and empower you to use this weapon like you have not understood it before. What I am going to show you is profoundly refreshing - but it is not new - everything I am going to show you is directly in this passage - it is not fresh revelation but simply accurate observation. Turn to the person next to you and say this - say ‘Listen up’ - now say this - ‘this is going to be good.’
Ephesians 6:13-18 - Read Pray.
You and I are engaged in a battle that started in Eden and will end at Armageddon. We have knowledge of the outcome - we win. That does not mean we do not need to fight as effectively - rather that we fight as victors. We are not fighting for victory but from victory. We are not looking overcome - we are already more than overcomers. You see, we are called, equipped and empowered to win. We do not win because of what we do but because of what He has done. We get to walk in His victory - we benefit because he defeated Satan. We administer His victory.
Now one of the most powerful weapons that we use as we inflict that victory is found in our verse.
Let’s look at it again.
Ephesians 6:17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
I have always been told that the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God - the Scriptures. Well it turns out there is more.
". . . the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God" - what is the Word of God - the sword or the Spirit? Do you see that the pronoun ‘which’ could refer to either. Does is refer to ‘the sword’ or to ‘the Spirit’? Without going into a Greek lesson . . .
The word "which" is neuter and singular.
The word "sword" is feminine and singular.
The word "Spirit" is neuter and singular.
To be accurate we must say that the "word of God" is describing "Spirit" and not "sword." How does that change the sense of the verse? It means that we should translate it something like this - ". . . and the sword of the Spirit, which (Spirit) is the word of God."
Moffat in his version of the Bible captures this meaning when he translates it ". . . and take the Spirit as your sword (that is, the word of God)."
A number of other translators have translated it similarly.
And there is more - the word used here for ‘word’ is not ‘logos’ but ‘rhema.’ You will remember, there are three different words in Scriptures that we translate ‘word.’
There is the written Word - graphe - 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21
There is the living Word - logos - is Jesus. John 1:1-3, Luke 1:35, Hebrews 4:12
There is the spoken Word - rhema - Jesus said in John 6:63 "the words that I speak (rhema) unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."
What is rhema - it is the word of God boldly received with faith or boldly confessed with faith. That is the sword spoken of here.
And the word used for sword is the short sword that is used in combat, not the long sword used in sword fighting. In other words - lets go back to our verse. I want to give you the Emile - Amplified version.
Ephesians 6:17 "And take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
"As your close combat sword - take the Spirit - which is the faith-received or faith-confessed word of God."
You see my friend, one of the most powerful weapons you and I have against satan is the rhema of God. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God in your mouth, it is the mind of Christ in your speech, it is the truth of God in your confession, it is the power of God is your declaration.
Matthew 4:4 "But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every RHEMA that proceeds out of the mouth of God."
Let me tell you about that rhema.
Rhema Is the Source of Salvation
John 6:68 "Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.’"
Rhema Is the Builder of Faith
Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the ‘RHEMA’ of God Christ."
Rhema Is the Key to Answered Prayer
John 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Rhema Is the Gateway to the Miraculous
Luke 5:5 Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You RHEMA and let down the nets."
Rhema = Revelation + Faith –> Confession + Obedience
Luke 1:38 And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your RHEMA." And the angel departed from her.
God is speaking to you all the time
Romans 10:8 "But what does it say? "The rhema is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching."
He is talking to you because He loves you
There are things He is excited to tell you
Some things are about your future
Some things are for your protection
Many things are for others
Draw close to God
Listen like you are going to obey
Have you ever watched somebody listening to directions they need - they listen to obey.
Go to the places you know God is speaking
Do all for His glory
Do not make your rhema somebody else’s logos - and do not take somebody else’s rhema and try and make it your logos. We hear someone got a breakthrough when God told them to do something, and we try to repeat it to see if it will work for us. But that doesn’t mean that I can take the rhema word God gave Peter and start walking out on the Pacific Ocean!
The Rhema . . .
establishes your life
draws on your promises,
releases your faith,
redefines your reality and
activates your victory.
Hebrews 11:3 "By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the rhema of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible."
Ephesians 6:17 "And take . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
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