THE SWORD
Eph. 6:17
INTRODUCTION:
1. Quotes about the Bible:
a. Victor Hugo, French writer, 1802-1885
“England has two books; the Bible and Shakespeare. England made Shakespeare, but the Bible made England.”
b. Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, 1858-1919
“A thorough understanding of the Bible is better than a college education.”
c. Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States, 1809-1865
“I am busily engaged in the study of the Bible. I believe it is God’s word because it finds me where I am.”
“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good of the Savior of the world is communicated to us through the Book.”
d. Robert E. Lee, Civil War General who fought for the Southern Confederacy:
“In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength.”
e. President George Washington, First President of the United States
“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.”
f. Napoleon, Emperor of the French (1804-1814), 1769-1821
“The gospel is not a book; it is a living being, with an action, a power, which invades everything that opposes its extension, behold! It is upon this table: This book, surpassing all others. I never omit to read it, and every day with some pleasure.”
g. Pascal, French philosopher and mathematician, developed the modern theory of probability, 1623-1662
“I prefer to believe those writers who get their throats cut for what they write.”
h. Isaac Newton, English mathematician and scientist, 1642-1727
“We account the scriptures of God to be the most sublime philosophy. I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatsoever.”
2. In Revelation we see a picture of the Lord wielding the sword.
Rev 1:16-18
(16) And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
(17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
(18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
I. THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SWORD
A. The sword is the word.
1. John Wesley said of this passage;
“And the sword of the Spirit, the word of God - This Satan cannot withstand, when it is edged and wielded by faith. Till now our armour has been only defensive. But we are to attack Satan, as well as secure ourselves; the shield in one hand, and the sword in the other. Whoever fights with the powers of hell will need both.”
2. Barnes noted concerning the sword;
“The sword was an essential part of the armor of an ancient soldier. His other weapons were the bow, the spear, or the battle-axe. But, without a sword, no soldier would have regarded himself as well armed.”
3. Illustration;
“In a museum in Scotland, resides the sword of the famous Scotsman Wallace who was a hero and patriot. A visitor once said, “I do not see how it could win such victories.” “Ah sir, you do not see the arm that wielded it,” came the reply.” (G.B. F. Hallock. 2500 Modern Illustrations. Harper’s and Brothers Publishers. New York. 1935. Pg. 269.)
B. The description of the word.
1. It is the production of the Holy Ghost (II Tim. 3:16, II Pet. 1:19-21).
2Ti 3:16
(16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Pe 1:19-21
(19) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
(20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
(21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2. It is the instrument the Holy Ghost uses to influence his purposes.
II. THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE SWORD
A. Satan’s assaults will be stopped by the word.
1. Martin Luther wrote:
The prince of darkness grim
We tremble not for him,
His rage we can endure,
For lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him!
Eph 6:11-12
(11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
2. The “wiles of the devil” are a method of traveling over, that is, travesty, (trickery): - wile, lie in wait (Strongs).
a. Against the wiles of the devil - The word rendered “wiles” (μεθοδεία methodeia), means properly that which is traced out with “method;” that which is “methodized;” and then that which is well laid - art, skill, cunning. It occurs in the New Testament only in Eph_4:14, and in this place. It is appropriately rendered here as “wiles,” meaning cunning devices, arts, attempts to delude and destroy us. The wiles “of the devil” are the various arts and stratagems which he employs to drag souls down to perdition. We can more easily encounter open force than we can cunning; and we need the weapons of Christian armor to meet the attempts to draw us into a snare, as much as to meet open force. The idea here is, that Satan does not carry on an open warfare. He does not meet the Christian soldier face to face. He advances covertly; makes his approaches in darkness; employs cunning rather than power, and seeks rather to delude and betray than to vanquish by mere force. Hence, the necessity of being constantly armed to meet him whenever the attack is made. A man who has to contend with a visible enemy, may feel safe if he only prepares to meet him in the open field. But far different is the case if the enemy is invisible; if he steals upon us slyly and stealthily; if he practices war only by ambushes and by surprises. Such is the foe that we have to contend with - and almost all the Christian struggle is a warfare against stratagems and wiles. Satan does not openly appear. He approaches us not in repulsive forms, but comes to recommend some plausible doctrine, to lay before us some temptation that shall not immediately repel us. He presents the world in an alluring aspect; invites us to pleasures that seem to be harmless, and leads us in indulgence until we have gone so far that we cannot retreat. (Barnes)
B. The assaults of the world are stopped by it.
1. Illustration;
Many years ago in a church in England, a preacher entered the pulpit and said:
"Brethren, before I preach, allow me to tell this story. Many years have passed since I was in this place. On that evening there came three young men, not only with the intention of scoffing at the minister, but with their pockets filled with stones to throw at the preacher. After a few words, one of them said, 'Let us be at him now.' But the second replied, 'No, let’s hear how he does.'
"The minister went on, when the second one said, 'We have heard enough; now throw your stones.' But the third stopped them, saying, 'He is not so foolish as I thought; let us hear him out.' The minister preached and ended his sermon without being interrupted.
"Now listen! One of these three young men was executed a few months ago. The second lies under sentence of death in the city jail for murder. The third," continued the minister, while the tears ran down his cheeks, "through the grace of God, is the one who is speaking to you now."
2. Illustration;
“The Christian is not ruined by living in the world, but by the world living in Him.” (Unknown)
3. The word will bring one out of the world (Jn. 17:16-19; Gal. 6:14: I Jn. 2:15-17).
Joh 17:16-19
(16) They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
(17) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
(18) As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
(19) And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Gal 6:14
(14) But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
1Jn 2:15-17
(15) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
(16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
(17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
C. Our hearts are overcome by it.
1. It fights against the distrust of our hearts.
2. It battles against the complacency in our lives.
3. It wars against our rebellion.
III. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SWORD
A. We must learn the art of using our sword.
B. We must keep our sword polished.
C. We must know our marching orders and seek our captain for strength.
1. We cannot wage war against the Devil with weapons of this world.
2. The weapon that is provided is all-sufficient.
3. We must use it for spiritual purposes.
CONCLUSION:
1. The bible is right.
2. We must remember to use it as sword to divide to cut men in order in half to show them who they really are.
3. We must not use it to stab and jab, but in love for souls.
