July 04, 2020
The bulk of the of the Armor we have studied so far is defensive in nature. The Breastplate, Shield and Helmet are meant to protect us from our Enemy’s assaults and attacks. However, God did not intend for us to simply endure what the devil fires at us. We have also been provided the Sword of the Spirit TO FIGHT BACK.
Why is the Holy Spirit and the Words He speaks to us found in the position of the “Sword”?
The Sword.
Roman soldiers used a Machaira “a short sword or dagger” measuring 12-20 inches in length. This short sword was an especially brutal weapon. It was designed to do maximum damage in close combat with both sides of the blade honed to razor sharpness. A soldier didn’t use a Machaira to injure or maim, he used it to kill. This is the sword Paul had in mind when he wrote:
Ephesians 6:17 – Take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
I like how Moffat translates this verse . . . and take the Spirit as your Sword (that is, the word of God)."
We have been given a powerful weapon in the words of God as we find them in Scripture:
• Psalm 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.
• Isaiah 55:10-11 - As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
• Colossians 3:16 - Let the word “logos” of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
• 2 Timothy 3:15-17 - … from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
• Hebrews 4:12 - For the word “logos” of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
“Logos” is the Greek word that refers - in a general sense - to the entire word of God communicated through Scripture. The truth about sin and the truth about WHO God is, WHAT He has done and WHAT He has promised to do through Jesus.
In Ephesians 6:17 Paul uses a different Greek word, “Rhema” which refers to a specific word or message from God to a specific person that is relevant to a need / situation or moment in time. It is spoken clearly in certain and definite terms. When the Spirit speaks a “rhema” into your mind, you don’t say, huh?
The Machaira was attached to the soldier’s belt when not in use – making it easily accessible at a moment’s notice. Likewise, the Sword of the Spirit is connected to the Belt of Truth. The Holy Spirit is NEVER going to use words that contradict Scripture.
The “rhema” words He speaks to us in times of crisis or despair or discouragement or perplexity or when we need direction or whatever the situation might be ---- those words have their source and foundation in the “logos” word of God:
• Isaiah 30:21 - Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
• John 6:68 - Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words “rhema” of eternal life.
• John 14:26 - But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
God loves us and He is speaking to us all the time ----- Sometimes the WORD demands a response / obedience on our part:
• Genesis 12:1 - Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country and from your relatives and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you”….
• Exodus 3:5 - Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."
• Luke 5:4-5 - And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." 5 And Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at Your bidding “rhema” I will let down the nets."
Sometimes the WORD brings encouragement or promises:
• Genesis 12:2 - {To Abram} And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great….
• Genesis 28:13-15 - {To Jacob} I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. 14 "Your descendants shall also be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 "And behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
• Exodus 3:7-8 - {To Moses} I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. 8 "So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey…..
• Joshua 1:9 – {To Roshelle – March 1997} Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
• Psalm 34:7 – {To Roshelle – Dec. 6, 2019} The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and rescues them.
• Isaiah 41:10 - Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely, I will help you, surely, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
• Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans that I have for you … plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
• Daniel 9:23 - {To Daniel} At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore, consider the matter, and understand the vision:
• Luke 21:14-15 - But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words “mouth = edge of a sword” and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
Sometimes the WORD challenges and deflects a direct assault by the Enemy. The best example of this is Jesus doing battle with Satan in the wilderness:
• Matthew 4:1-11 - Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word “rhema” that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"
Satan wanted to deal a lethal blow to Jesus, but instead, Jesus took the battle to Satan – He went on the offensive – and we have that same resource available to us – we too, can live by every word “rhema” that proceeds from the mouth of God:
Satan says: It’s impossible.
• The WORD says: Nothing is impossible – Luke 18:27
Satan says: Nobody loves you.
• The WORD says: I love you – Jeremiah 31:3
Satan says: You are unforgiveable.
• The WORD says: I forgive you – Romans 8:1 & 1 John 1:9
Satan says: You are all alone.
• The WORD says: You are not alone – Deuteronomy 31:6
Satan says: worry, worry, worry.
• The WORD says: Don’t worry - Matthew 11:28-30 & 1 Peter 5:7
Satan says: You are stupid.
• The WORD says: I will give you wisdom and knowledge - Proverbs 2:6 & Isaiah 11:2 & James 1:5
Satan says: You are weak.
• The WORD says: I will give you strength – Isaiah 40:29-31
Satan says: You are my slave.
• The WORD says: In Me you are free – John 8:32-36
Satan says: You are lost.
• The WORD says: In Me you are saved – Psalm 18:22; 62:2 & Isaiah 33:22 & Matthew 1:21 & Luke 19:10 & John 3:16-17 &
1 Timothy 1:15 & Hebrews 7:25
Scripture is not the only tool of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the WORD comes to us through a friend, a book, a song and sometimes the WORD is not for us, but for someone else………… It happens all the time and we’ll recognize it if we pay attention.
• During a dark time in my life, a friend gave me a book, “Windows of the Soul” – It was just the WORD I needed.
• When a friend was concerned about an upcoming surgery for her husband, a WORD came to me for her and it changed the entire situation.
• My friend and I were in our prayer-time and a WORD came to me that we needed to add a certain person to our list – someone that had not been on my radar for many years – that prayer came just at the right time for her circumstances {we continue to pray for her}.
• As I was writing this sermon, a WORD came to me about the song “The Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns. I have attached a link on the church website.
When the Devil attacks we don’t have to just take it and we don’t have to fumble around trying to come up with something profound to say. The WORDS the Spirit speaks into our lives provide us with penetrating and lethal power enabling us to not only repel Satan’s attacks, but actually inflict a death blow against him.
Wrapping Up
I hope you have taken this study seriously and have come to understand the absolute necessity of daily taking-up ALL the Armor of God. If you still think you can fight the Devil with your wits and the flimsy plastic armor of self-righteousness, you are in for a horrible reality check….. Thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup!!
You and I are engaged in a bloody battle, but we know the outcome – God wins – and because He wins and we are wearing His armor we fight from the position of victory – from the position of an overcomer. We don’t have to hide in our spiritual foxholes – peeking now and then to see if the enemy is coming. NO!! With the Belt of Truth --- the Breastplate of Righteousness --- the Shoes of Gospel Peace --- the Shield of Faith --- the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, we have been equipped and empowered to win every battle we face.
