Spiritual Warfare – The Whole Armor of God
The Sword of the Spirit (Part 9)
† Scripture Reading
Ephesians 6:17
“Take the Helmet of salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
PRAYER
† Over past few weeks we have discussed the different parts of the Armor of God and how Paul had related them to pieces of a 1st century Roman Soldiers armor.
All the pieces up to now have been defensive only, enabling the wearer to be not only protected, but “to withstand attacks from our enemy”.
If you were to have every piece we have talked about up to this point, you would be capable of withstanding the devils attacks in your life.
But God gives us more!
He wants us to be able to send the devil running, not just be able to withstand his attacks!
So the scriptures say that we have “The Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
We have talked over the past few weeks about the importance of Biblical Study, the importance of reading the word and placing in your heart and mind, the importance of MEDITATING on God’s word.
Each piece of the whole armor of God is a result of God’s word.
It is true that the armor comes to us through the Holy Spirit, but we receive and equip it because of the word of God.
† 1st The Belt of Truth
What Truth?
The truth of Jesus Christ that is taught to us through the scriptures, the word brings us to the truth and acceptance of Christ, if not directly from you reading the scriptures, then indirectly by someone else reading the scriptures and being called to evangelize.
† 2nd The Breastplate of Righteousness
Not our righteousness but God’s
If it were not for the Word of God, many of us would be living in condemnation and guilt not knowing that when we accept Christ, we put on God’s righteousness. The Word brings us to that righteousness through reading the scriptures.
† 3rd The Shoes of Readiness to Share the Gospel
How can you share the Gospel of peace or of Christ if you don’t know Christ’s story?
The Word of God gives us accounts of Christ and the centuries of preparation it took for Him to come and fulfill the Father’s will. We wouldn’t know of the trials and glorious works of God from our history without the word of God.
† 4th The Shield of Faith
The scriptures tell us that Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. You cannot hear the word of God and increase your faith without the word of God. As your faith increases, your shield becomes stronger and you can extinguish the flaming darts of the devil!
† 5th The Helmet of Salvation
You take the helmet and wear it by filling your mind with the word of God.
Without the Holy Scriptures, it would be nearly impossible to fill your mind the word of God daily!
It would be easy to remember a handful of scriptures if asked, but how many could remember the book of Psalms, or Revelation? We rely on the Word of God in print to read, study and meditate on so as to fill our minds with God’s Holy Word in turn, placing the Helmet of salvation and hope of things to come on our heads.
Take the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
A sword is for defending against attacks, but it is also for attacking.
† In SCA there was a man I knew who fought with 2 swords instead of using a shield.
Now I wouldn’t suggest not using a shield when it comes to the whole armor of God, but he fought Florentine.
Florentine is the art of wielding two weapons at once, one in each hand. It is a style developed by the Italians in the city of Florence, hence the name.
This is also a type of cooking, named for the same reason.
So a sword can be defensive, but God has more than that planned for us. We have a weapon that can defeat our enemy. A weapon that the devil has NO defense against!
Satan MUST obey the word of God. He has no CHOICE in the matter.
† Mark 1:25-27
“25. and Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
26. and when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27. and they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, what thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.”
They MUST obey the word of God.
Jesus has given us His Sword! We have His authority! And we need to start using it in our lives.
† Luke 10:19
“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome ALL the power of the enemy, nothing will harm you.”
Jesus says here that we have His authority! And we have His word; let’s start using it in our lives!
Jesus shows us HOW to fight with sword of the spirit in Luke 4
The devil wants Jesus to obey HIS word; trying to trick Jesus into obeying him instead of the Father in heaven.
Satan Attacks
“Turn this stone into bread.” – obey me
Jesus Defends with the Sword of the Spirit.
“It is written, Man does not live on bread alone.”
Satan Attacks
“I will give you all authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” – I will give you anything if you obey me, sound familiar?
Jesus Defends with the Sword of the Spirit.
“It is written, Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.”
Satan Attacks – (trying to use the sword of the spirit)
“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,
for it is written:
‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in your hands, so that you won’t strike your foot against a stone.’” – (first recorded suicidal thought)
Jesus Defends with the Sword of the Spirit.
“It says: do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
We see here that Jesus defended himself against 3 attacks from the devil. The devil even tried to use the word against Jesus, but anyone who reads the word, and studies it filling their head with it and wearing the Complete Armor of God will be able to withstand attacks from the devil, not just withstanding, but using the sword against him until he flees!
How long would Satan have continued to attack if Jesus did not use the sword of the Spirit against him?
Jesus also used His word in Luke 4:35 when He spoke to the demon possessed man.
† Luke 4:34
“Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”
They are laughing and mocking Jesus here. Calling Him Jesus of Nazareth instead of acknowledging Him is Lord and God. Remember it was a general consensus at the time that “nothing good can come out of Nazareth”
“Have you come to destroy us?”
They were tempting Him. They know that now is not the time. They taunt Him.
“I know who you are – the Holy One of God!”
They defy Him to His face. Telling Him, we know who you are and who we are mocking.
Jesus attacks with the Sword of the Spirit.
“Be Quiet!” Jesus said sternly.
Modern translation – “Shut up!”
Jesus attacks again with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
“Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
They must obey the word of God.
How do we TAKE the Sword of the Spirit?
We TAKE the Sword of the Spirit by picking up the Word of God, by reading it, studying it, filling your mind and heart with it, meditating on it.
Where did a soldier keep his sword? He keeps his sword in a scabbard.
Where do we keep our Sword of the Spirit? We keep our sword in our heart.
† Luke 6:45 Jesus says;
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart, his mouth speaks.”
If your heart is filled with the good of the word, it is from the OVERFLOW that your mouth will speak good things.
How can you have an overflow of the word in your heart if you don’t continuously fill it?
If you take just enough to get you through the day, or the week like some do with Church, how can you have an overflow to come out of your mouth?
We NEED daily bread to fill our hearts until they overflow with the good of the word of God.
† Hebrews 4:12
“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
The Word is living and powerful!
So sharp it separates the soul and spirit!
We are Body, Soul and Spirit.
Body
Sight
Smell
Hearing
Touch
Taste
Soul
Your Will
Emotions
Mind
Spirit
Conscience
Your body is the physical, and your soul is your mind, and the spirit is at the center of all of this.
The Conscience drives your will.
Are you self willed, or do you submit to the Lord.
It drives your emotions.
Do you weigh life with the word of God, or selfishness?
It controls your mind and thinking.
Do you think on Godly things or selfish and ungodly thinking?
This is why we NEED the Spirit of God.
Because the Spirit that is within us, will show through our soul and body, whether it be a God spirit, or an ungodly spirit.
Because our soul and body are based on our spirit, we reveal what is working on our inside.
And the Word of God, sharper than a two-edged sword is powerful enough even to separate OUR spirit from our soul, replacing it with the Spirit of God.
It discerns our thoughts and intents of our hearts!
This is what is meant by “walking in the Spirit”
We allow God’s spirit to rule our
Emotions
Will
Mind
And our bodies will follow!
We need to study God’s word, filling our hearts to overflowing, reading God’s word sharpens our sword!
We need to allow God’s Holy Spirit to fill us and lead us.
We need to walk in the Spirit with the FULL armor of God wielding the Sword of the Spirit!
PRAYER
