TBP: The Sword of the Spirit
Battle and Build • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that the state is planning to develop "media literacy tools" to teach K-12…students, and even teachers, to help understand how to spot conspiracy theories and misinformation, disinformation, and online hate," she told the reporters.
Based on who’s standards?
Satan:
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Wasn’t the whole January 6th insurrection just a conspiracy theory by those in power?
Wasn’t the safe and effective COVID vaccines misinformation?
And how much of this war between Russia and the Ukraine is disinformation?
Dare we even mention how much online hate there is for those who hold a traditional, conservative, biblical worldview?
Do I even try to point out the similarities between what the US is doing with our youth and what Hitler did to the youth in Nazi Germany?
Many have already pointed out how we are losing the cultural Marxist war.
But again, this battle is not against flesh and blood. But against the powerful forces of darkness in the spirit realm.
We are given this armor so that we might battle the schemes of the devil.
Armor started with the belt of truth and now ends with sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Bookends to the armor
Also the belt is what holds the scabbard for the sword.
The standard must be God’s truth found in God’s word.
God’s truth pervades every part of the armor.
Righteousness - based on the God’s definition
Peace - based on God’s definition
Salvation - based on God’s definition
Faith - based on God’s faithfulness and in His truthful promises.
Sword of the Spirit
Sword of the Spirit
The Sword
Only Offensive Weapon
So although most of our battle is done defensively, we still have the ability and permission to be on the attack.
Some say we shouldn’t engage in the culture wars anymore.
Some say we have lost the culture war, so why keep fighting.
We just need to keep the balance correct, the focus on Christ, our heads on straight, and our motivations pure.
Makaira - dagger, slaughter knife, surgeons scalpel.
Less sheer power, but ability to cut through our human resistance.
Precision and accuracy
Practice and discipline to use correctly
Subtlety
Of the Spirit/In the Spirit
Reminder, it’s a spiritual battle.
The Spirit supplies or empowers.
Which is the Word of God
Which is the Word of God
Scripture
According to a Gallup poll, a record-low 20 percent of Americans claim the Bible is the literal word of God.
Another 29 percent say the Bible is a collection of “fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man.”
“Today, too many so-called Christians either don’t know or trust God’s Word,” Franklin Graham said. “In their eyes … His judgment is not to be feared. The devil can’t be real. Hell is not eternal.
Word of God.
for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls off, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word which was preached to you.
Logos
Used in John 1 as a reference to the Pre-Incarnate Christ.
Content / substance
A divine reason or plan that coordinates a changing universe.
Living and enduring.
static - stable - not going to change.
and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
Rhema (greek)/ dabar (Hebrew)
I Peter 1.23-25, quoted from Isaiah 40.6-8
A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.
The thought vocalized - turned into action
The words are used to describe divine communication
10 Commandments are actually - the 10 Words.
Creative power of speech - Spoken Word - preached
Power, precision, effect. God spoke and it came into existence
Emphasis on emotional and volitional.
dynamic
For the word 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. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Living - alive,
Active - effective and powerful
Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.’
“Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Sharp - it cuts to the heart, convicts
Piercing - goes through human resistance cuts through our defenses, our masks
Dividing - fact from fiction
Judging - our motives
Laid bare
expose the throat for slaughter.
Bending back of the neck used by wrestlers.
Expose the reality of our inmost being
The Power to Pull Down Strongholds
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
This is why the Word (rhema) of God is described as a sword.
It is why memorizing, quoting and meditating on the Word of God is so powerful.
It is why faith comes through the preaching of the word of Christ.
It is why life comes through the hearing of the Gospel
Ultimately, it is why speaking the name of Jesus is so powerful because of everything encapsulated in that name.
at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
Through All Prayer…Praying
Through All Prayer…Praying
The Word through all prayer
The double edged sword
The Word of God and prayer
Present participle.
to keep on praying
pray at all times
kairos - divine moments/ appointments/ opportune times
making the most of every opportunity.
Be on the alert
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
with perseverance
More of Satan’s Schemes to be wary of:
More of Satan’s Schemes to be wary of:
Matt 4.1-11
Challenge God’s Provision
God won’t take care of you. You need to provide for yourself.
Stones to Bread.
Challenge God’s Protection
God won’t protect you.
Let’s test that theory...
He will give charge to His angels…
Challenge God’s Plan
God’s plan is too hard.
You surely won’t die! Adam and Eve
You surely don’t have to die. Jesus
I can give it all to you. Give me your allegiance just like Adam did.
Each time Jesus said, “It is written...”
So when the devil lies to you, you can say, “It is written, you are a liar and the father of lies.” I’m not listening to you. Get away from me. John 8.44
When the devil tempts you, you can say, “It is written not to love the world or the things in the world. I am to love the Lord my God with all my heart, me soul, my mind, and my strength.” I John 2.15; Matthew 22:37-38
When Satan says God doesn’t love you, you can say, “It is written, nothing can separate me from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ.” Romans 8.38-39
When Satan says, you’re not forgiven, you say, “It is written, “If I confess my sins He is faithful and just and will forgive my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness.” I John 1.9
When Satan stirs you up to anxiety and fear over what’s going on in the world, you can say, “It is written, God’s kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and He will someday establish that kingdom forever.” Daniel 2.44-45
And when the Satanic onslaught draws near, you say, “it is written that no weapon fashioned against me shall prosper. Isaiah 54.17; The gates of hades will not prevail. Matthew 16.18; Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I John 4.4; I will rise up and stand firm in the strength of the Lord. Ephesians 6:10-11.
I will rise up and stand in the gap for my peeps. Ezekiel 22.30.
I will battle and I will build up the broken walls! Nehemiah 4
Recap / Summary:
Belt of Truth
The unveiled reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with the appearance of things.
Integrity.
Jesus Is the Truth.
Breastplate of Righteousness
Being made right with God. Declared righteous.
Doing what’s right in the sight of God. Learning to do what’s right.
Reconciliation - an enemy becoming a friend. We are a new creation.
Righteousness based on God’s truth as the standard.
Jesus Christ is the Way
Sandals prepared with the Gospel of Peace
The Gospel of Peace Leads to Faith - Gives us something to believe in.
The Gospel of Peace Leads to Love - Gives us something to live for.
The Gospel of Peace Leads to Hope - Gives us something to look forward to.
The Gospel brings us peace with God, peace with man, and peace within ourselves.
Always ready to give the reason for the hope that is in you.
Jesus is the Life
Shield of Faith
Faith is based on the truth of God’s word.
Faith is based on God’s faithfulness.
Faith’s reward is greater faith and stability through life’s storms.
Our faith is exercised in community through helping others grow in their faith.
Helmet of Salvation
Salvation is both an one time event and a lifelong process.
justification, sanctification, glorification
Protects the mind from:
meaninglessness
mindlessness
meandering
manipulation
Sword of the Spirit
Our one offensive weapon.
The Word of God and Prayer
Powerful words of life
Supply and Power of the Holy Spirit
The Battle Plan. Next will be building. After Advent.
Closing Song: Soldiers of Christ Arise