Salvation and Sword

LOTR- Aragorn and Elrond

Connect our thoughts to our actions

What we think, we become

Aragorn thought he was too weak to rule, so darkness fell

Helmet protects mind

Sword represents legacy

1. Get You Mind Right

Ephesians 6:17 NLT

Put on salvation as your helmet

Mental health is a huge issue today

God has been talking about it since the beginning

Salvation protects our mind as we remember where our true identity is found

Helmets helped identify soldiers on the battle field

We need truth, righteousness, faith, peace, an salvation all before we pick up the weapon of our God

The only way for us to walk out our salvation is by remembering that we are saved

2. Keep You Sword Sharp

Ephesians 6:17 NLT

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

We must be in the Word daily

How does a blade become dull?

A sword becomes dull primarily through use and the materials it interacts with. Regular cutting, even on relatively soft materials, causes microscopic wear on the blade's edge due to abrasion and deformation. Over time, this wear results in a rounded, less sharp edge. Additionally, oxidation (rust) and improper storage can also contribute to dulling. 

Even if we are rightly dividing the Word of God, the sword becomes dull because we don’t sharpen in..

How to sharpen a blade?

Whetstones: These stones, when used with water or oil, help to abrade the metal and refine the edge. Different grits of whetstones are used to progressively sharpen the blade.

Living Water

Oil of Anointing

Rubbing it against something abrasive

How do these connect?

Water-Jesus

Oil- Holy Spirit

Abrasive material- other people

Hebrews 4:12 NLT

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Being in fellowship with God and each other is extremely important for our use of the only offensive weapon we have.

All of this is great. But what good is a soldier, a warrior, if they don’t know where the battlefield is?

If you are fighting on the wrong field, you will not only be isolated but vulnerable and confused.

3. Prayer is the Battlefield

Often we end up fighting the wrong battle or in the wrong arena.

Prayer is not simply a weapon, it is the place we fight!

Greatest strategist know that the arena of combat can be used to their advantage.

Ephesians 6:18 NLT

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

When we pray we are engaging the enemy.

The more we pray, the more we understand the terrain.

You have to start somewhere.

Veterans help those new or inexperienced.

4. Remember that it’s not your armor

Isaiah 59 start by God saying that He’s arm is not too short to save the people from their sins.

He lists each one. How terrifying?

Then we get to this part…..

Isaiah 59:14–17 NLT

Our courts oppose the righteous, and justice is nowhere to be found. Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed. Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked. The Lord looked and was displeased to find there was no justice. He was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm, and his justice sustained him. He put on righteousness as his body armor and placed the helmet of salvation on his head. He clothed himself with a robe of vengeance and wrapped himself in a cloak of divine passion.

The reason this armor works is because it was a gift from Someone much stronger and wiser.

Anduril a gift from the elves

I believe we have to put on the armor of God, God doesn’t put it on for us.

Side bar-

Romans 12:19 NLT

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.

Vengeance, revenge, belong to the LORD, not us.

I believe that divine passion is something humans are not capable of.

This also reserved for the LORD alone.

We must always use the whole armor, not just the parts that are convenient.

Belt of truth

Armor of righteousness

Shoes of peace

Shield of faith

Helmet of salvation

Sword of the Spirit

None of this matter if it is not used in prayer.

We should not turn our Sword on each other.