Armor of God: The Sword of the Spirit!

INTRO:

I know that we are into the advent season “Peace” is this weeks emphasis.

But today we will be wrapping up the “Armor of God” series.

What we have looked at over these last weeks is …..

Of all the pieces of a soldiers armor ….

The belt was the most IMPORTANT because it held everything together.

The breastplate was the most BRILLIANT and GLORIOUS because it was made of brass and when the sun shined it reflected off the breastplate and made a dazzling spectacle.

The Shoes.

The Shield.

The helmet was the most NOTICEABLE.

When a Roman soldier walked down the street with his helmet on, the brightly colored plume of horse hair spouting from his helmet would stand out in any crowd.

You couldn’t help but notice.

The same it true when it comes to our Salvation.

People will notice your salvation.

Today we are going to be looking at the final piece of the armor “THE SWORD of the SPIRIT.”

BODY:

Ephesians 6:10–17 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,”

The word “SWORD” in the Greek is the word “Machaira” and it describe a sword approximately 19” long, with both sides being razor sharp.

The Roman soldier wore on his girdle a short sword which was used for close-in fighting.

In Hebrews 4:12 it reads “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

It compares the Word of God to a sword, because it is sharp and is able to pierce the inner man just as a material sword pierces the body.

This two-edged sword inflicted a wound far worse than other swords.

AND the sight of it brought fear to people’s minds.

Very often the tip of this sword was turned upward and sometimes even twisted like a corkscrew.

Because of its razor-sharpness, it could easily be thrust into the abdomen of an adversary, and by a simple twisting of the sword while it was inserted, the attacker would spill the victim’s insides out and onto the ground.

Church - metaphorically speaking - You and I were “cut to the heart” when the Word convicted us of our sins.

Turn to Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

A material sword pierces the body, but the Word of God pierces the heart

All of this meaning is packed within the Greek word machaira — translated here as “sword.”

This sword - church - is the only offensive weapon God provides us with.

Here is something very interesting when it comes to a sword …..

We know that a material sword pierces the body, but as we have just read, the Word of God pierces the heart.

I want to point out 2 “spiritual differences” between the physical sword and the Spiritual sword though …..

The more you use a physical sword, the duller it becomes; but using God’s Word only makes it sharper in our lives.

A physical sword requires the hand of a soldier, but the sword of the Spirit has its own power, for it is “living and powerful” (Heb. 4:12).

The Spirit wrote the Word, and the Spirit wields the Word as we take it by faith and use it.

A physical sword wounds to hurt and kill, while the sword of the Spirit wounds to heal and give life.

But when we use the sword against Satan, we are out to deal him a blow that will cripple him and keep him from hindering God’s work.

So spiritually speaking, ….. God has given you a razor-sharp sword that strikes fear into the heart of demons and can deliver a deadly blow.

And I want us to notice something “…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

We have already seen that the belt of truth is the written Word of God, but this facet of God’s Word is different.

In this verse, the term “word” is the Greek word rhema, and it describes a word spoken clearly; spoken vividly; or spoken in undeniable language.

It denotes a word spoken in unmistakable, unquestionable, certain, and definite terms.

In the New Testament, the word rhema carries the idea of a quickened word — something in the Scriptures that suddenly comes alive.

And when that word comes alive, it places razor-sharp sword-power in the palm of your hands!

Scriptural Illustration:

I want to give you a “perfect example of the sword of the Spirit in action” is when Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted by the devil.

This account is documented in Matthew 4 and Luke 4.

For 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus was intensely tested by Satan, and at the end of that time period — when Jesus was at His weakest point — Satan struck with a vengeance.

Because this testing of the devil was so extreme and intense, the Lord Jesus needed a rhema — a “sword of the Spirit” — to withstand the attacks.

Jesus faced the enemy in the same way we face the enemy in life, and He gave us an example of how we are to answer Satan.

Every time Satan hurled his lies and tried to pressure Jesus, over and over, Jesus said, “It is written....”

The Holy Spirit, in all of His power and might, provided a specific verse in due season!

He drew a scripture out of that reservoir of Scripture stored up inside of Jesus’ spirit and quickened one of those verses to His mind.

Jesus then spoke it with great power and authority.

He wielded that rhema word like a mighty blade — and the enemy could not stand against it!

The Word of God in Jesus’ mouth became a deadly sword that He stabbed the enemy with again and again.

CONCLUSION:

When you’re in a difficult place, the Holy Spirit will reach into the Word of God that is stored inside your spirit and give you the perfect verse you need in that moment.

Sometimes He will cause the Bible verse you are reading to leap off the page and come alive in your heart.

That verse is the answer you need!

It is the rhema sword of the Spirit that will inflict a deadly blow to the enemy as it comes out of your mouth.

Indeed, the Scripture itself is filled with every rhema word you will ever need, which is why the “belt of truth” is so important.

Remember, the sword hung on a clip on the side of the belt, which symbolizes the Bible.

As long as the Word is wrapped tightly around you, you will have access to any word the Spirit will give you.

It will become a sword for you, and be exactly what you need to put the devil on the run!

Declaration:

I confess

that I have the sword of the Spirit,

which is the word of God,

and that this spiritual weapon

is working in my life!

I have the exact word I need

for every situation —

a specific,

quickened word

from the Scriptures,

placed in my heart

by the Holy Spirit.

Because this rhema from God

is in my heart,

I have real sword power

to use against the enemy!

I declare this by faith

in Jesus’ name!

Closing Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving me the sword of the Spirit as part of my spiritual weaponry. When the devil attempts to attack me, please help me be sensitive to hear the exact rhema that the Holy Spirit desires to drop into my heart with which I can then deal the enemy a fatal blow. Starting right now, I open my heart and soul to listen so I can hear any scripture or word the Holy Spirit wishes to give me to use against the works of the devil in my life. I pray this in Jesus’ name!