THE SWORD THAT HELPS YOU STAND

THE SWORD THAT HELPS YOU STAND Ephesians 6:17 July 11, 1999 Given by: Pastor Rich Bersett [Index of Past Messages] Introductory The wise pediatrician noticed his four-year-old patient was nervous as he approached her for her check-up. So he looked in her ears asking the question, "Do you think I’ll find Big Bird in here?" The little girl said nothing. Next, he took a tongue depressor and looked down her throat. He asked, "Do think I’ll find Cookie Monster down there?" Again, the little girl was silent. The doctor put a stethoscope to her chest. As he listened to her heart beat, he asked, Do you think I’ll hear Barney in there?" "Oh, no," the girl answered, "Jesus is in my heart. Barney’s on my underwear!" The whole point of the passage we’ve been studying for the past couple of months is that, if Jesus is in your heart, then you have the privilege of wearing some special clothing -- and it isn’t Barney-wear. It is "spiritual armor." And the reason the Christian wears it is because once he has surrendered allegiance to Jesus, he becomes the sworn enemy of Satan. We’ve said it several different ways now, but mark it well, if you are serving the Lord, you are standing opposed to the devil, and he does not like it. Wearing spiritual armor is critical to our survival. At U.S. military bases around the world you will often find a sign hanging on the walls which reads "An untrained soldier is just a target." 1 Peter 5:8 affirms that "the devil, like a roaring lion, roams around looking for someone to devour." In other words, you will either be a well-armored Christian or the devil’s dinner. The final formal piece of armor in the apostle Paul’s list is the SWORD. Ephesians 6:17-- "...and [take] the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God." From the ancient Greek broadsword to the thin rapiers of The Three Musketeers to the curved cutlasses of pirates like Blackbeard, aficionados of swashbuckling adventure have always been fascinated by sword fights. It is my goal in this message to stir you up to new levels of adventure in the battle against the enemy, to get you to fall in love again with the sword of the Word of God and to ready yourself to use it as a weapon of destructive force against our mutual arch-enemy, Satan. First, let’s understand a little about the sword Paul refers to here. Then, we’ll take a look at what he meant by the "Word of God." Lastly we’ll consider the meaning behind the "sword of the Spirit." Then I want to close with a couple of important exhortations to the believers. The SWORD: "MACHAIRA," the warriors sword I don’t know about you, but what usually leaps to mind for me when I think of a sword as a weapon is a long, sharp, double-edged sword like Zorro used so deftly in the movies. (Illustrate with the long decorative sword from Niger). The Greek word for that kind of sword was RAMPHAIA, and you’ll find that word employed in the New Testament, but not here at Ephesians 6:17. Here, Paul speaks of the MACHAIRA sword--a smaller sword, carried in a sheath, about a foot long (like an overgrown knife). The Machaira was handy for the soldier to keep at his side, easy to use with precision in hand-to-hand combat. The reason Paul draws on this piece of equipment to illustrate the Christian’s use of the Word of God is clear. It is something every believer needs to keep close at hand, to develop skilled use with it. Make every effort to show yourself approved, a craftsman who is not ashamed, skillfully using the Word of Truth. (2 Timothy 2:15) Listen, church in our corporate and private battles with the devil, our most effective weapon for moving beyond defensive strategy and into the offensive attack mode is this sword, which Paul describes as the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." In Hebrews 4:12, a similar picture is presented: The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword; it penetrates even to dividing soul an spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. The Word: RHEMA, God’s creative word. Again, Paul had a choice of words to use in the original Greek language for our translated word "Sword." LOGOS is the word we usually translate for "Word." It refers to the realm of ideas and concepts; it is used most often to refer to the written message of scripture. In John 1, Jesus is referred to as the LOGOS of God, His Word of grace and salvation to our lost and dying world, the message from God. Logos is the Word used in Scripture, in spoken form and in reasoned arguments. But Paul chooses the less popular word RHEMA, which is also translated "Word." This is the term that carries the meaning of a "living message," a timely communication, and important message for now. The LOGOS is the Word stored on the page or in the heart or shared in discussion, but RHEMA is the Word landing with a PUNCH. It is just the right word spoken at just the right time for just the right reason. It was the word of conviction perhaps years ago which moved you from indecision to a commitment of your life to Jesus. It is that powerful truth that hammers home in your heart while reading through a passage of scripture which was, up to that point, only LOGOS. But when you hit on that RHEMA, you knew you hit a mother lode of truth which you must apply in your life, and now. RHEMA is that experience when you were being assaulted by the flaming arrows  of the devil one day, and suddenly God’s truth came crashing in to your consciousness at the last second before you caved in, and you knew victory. Remember the time when you were trying so desperately to effectively share your faith with someone, and their questions were far too difficult, and you cried out desperately for God’s help, then you spoke something from somewhere deep within, and suddenly the other person’s eyes misted over and you knew that God had just touched him. That was RHEMA through you to him. When you find yourself in a tense time of anxiety or decision-making, and the Holy Spirit calls up in your mind some teaching from the Scripture you encountered years ago and never thought much about. Now, suddenly it is fresh revelation. The RHEMA Word of God is not the whole counsel of the written scripture; it’s not a doctrinal statement or a thesis from one of the epistles. It is the truth of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit for a special reason in the here-and-now-ness of your life. It is the Word used immediately effectively in your heart and mind. It is God "cutting" into your awareness with something you need to not only know, but feel, experience deeply and obey. No wonder it is pictured as a sword. In the face of temptation Jesus responded to Satan in the wilderness, Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Forty years later, the Holy Spirit would inspire the apostle John on the island of Patmos with a vision of the glorious Christ, and his description at Revelation 1:16 says, out of his mouth came a sharp, double-edged sword. Isaiah wrote of the Lord’s calling in his life to be a prophet who would speak RHEMA words of warning, judgment and a call to repentance, and he said it this way: He made my mouth like a sharpened sword. By the way, coming back to Ephesians 6:17, did you notice that the sword is the only piece of the panoply of armor for spiritual warfare that can be used offensively? Every other item is used for defending against the attack of the devil, but the sword can be used for a more aggressive form of warfare - offensive attack. And notice how the Word of God relates to every other piece of armor... Belt of Truth - The Word is the Truth. Jesus: Thy Word is truth Breastplate of Righteousness - His righteousness is revealed through His Word Shoes of readiness of Gospel - The Gospel is the Word of God Shield of Faith - Faith comes by hearing - hearing the Word of Christ Helmet of Salvation - We are born again through the living and abiding word of God How is this piece of equipment, this RHEMA Word of God used by the Spirit defensively? 1. Corporate response to Satanic attack or oppression. I believe the Word of God spoken and believed is powerful against the enemy. Ephesians 3:10 teaches us that God’s intent was that NOW, THROUGH THE CHURCH, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. I like it when we read the scripture aloud in our Celebration services. It is at one and the same time, a declaration of our corporate faith, and it is the church of Jesus Christ putting the devil on notice that He has been defeated by God’s plan, and we know it, and we are declaring it and believing it. Let’s declare some of that truth right now--repeat after me, (Colossians 2:11-13) When I was dead in my sins God made me alive with Christ. He forgave me all my sins having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against me and that stood opposed to me; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Whenever the devil brings an attack or oppression against this church or any part of Christ’s church anywhere, it is the church’s privilege to pull out the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and start speaking to the demonic realm with the truth of God. 2. Also, when you as an individual believer face temptation, follow the example of Jesus in the wilderness, and speak the Word of God right at that old serpent. Remember Psalm 119: Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you...How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your Word! The human body survives and thrives by being well-nourished. So it is with our spirits: we need the pure milk of the word; we need the meat of the word of God, so that we can be strong against the enemy’s attack. May I suggest humbly that, if you are feeling powerless against the enemy’s attack, it might be partly because you haven’t eaten any good healthy food lately and your spirit is sluggish. It might be because you’re not walking in the Spirit and therefore your ears aren’t tuned in to hear His RHEMA messages to you. 3. The third area of defense the sword of the spirit, the Word of God, provides us, is a protection against false teaching. The most powerful false teaching that ever encroaches on the church is not some doctrinal dispute over the end times or exactly how the Holy Spirit does or does not function. No, the most insidious and successful false teaching that infests the church is worldly value systems. But in an environment where the Word of God is continually preached, taught, believed and obeyed, the world’s belief systems cannot take root. Paul said, Don’t be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind--then you will be able to test and approve what God’s good, pleasing and perfect will is. But the Word of God as the Sword of the Spirit is also an OFFENSIVE weapon. How does the Lord’s church use His RHEMA Word offensively against the devil? I think of 2 ways: 1. Evangelism. There are only two things which convict people of their sin, their need for righteousness and the truth of judgment: the Word and the Spirit. When these two are brought together, you have RHEMA truth. I believe the Lord would have His people bring RHEMA truth to the unbelieving world around us. 1 Peter 3:15 - In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. How can we be more offensively effective in bringing RHEMA truth to the unbelieving around us? I’ll tell you what we need to do--pray for them, asking God to reveal to us what He wants to say to them, so we can speak to them RHEMA Truth which will bring conviction and conversion. Why is it that only one out of every 200 + people in America who are evangelized with a standard gospel presentation or tract will respond positively? May I suggest that particular approach was RHEMA truth to only one out of 200 of them? The other 199 need to hear from God, too, and it is our job to stay in prayer for God’s power and leading, words of wisdom and words of knowledge, prophetic insight into their lives, staying in close touch with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Then, might God send us the harvest we’ve been asking Him for? The RHEMA Word of God is our primary offensive weapon against the enemy’s plan to keep people blinded and in bondage to sin. We must cultivate our ability to use this spiritual weapon better. Three "stays" will help us: 1) stay on your face, praying for God’s leading and power, 2) stay in His Word, filling yourself with His truth, 3) stay close to His Spirit so when He whispers those special messages that will touch people we won’t miss them. 2. The second offensive maneuver of the RHEMA Word of God is to SPEAK STRENGTH INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST. Here is what Paul commanded the church in Ephesians 5:18-19 - Don’t get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:16 - Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Did you catch that? We strengthen one another as we speak the truth to one another! The Word of God, especially in the personalized format of RHEMA Truth, inspired by the Word and the Spirit, should be spoken by among and throughout the Body of Christ with regularity. We do spiritual warfare when we carry the sword of the Spirit with us into our homes, cell groups, Celebration services and all our interpersonal relationships. Let us resolve to speak the Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit to one another more deliberately and regularly. Let me add a word of direction to that. Let us be careful as a church about what we think the Holy Spirit might be saying to others through us. WE do not have a problem in this area, but it is easy to develop one even involuntarily, as we try to obediently speak the RHEMA Truth into one another’s lives. Let what we say to one another be trained by these rules: 1) every word will edify 2) check what you are about to say against the written Word of God (if you don’t know the Word very well, you should be less quick to utilize prophetic utterances which are to be checked by that Word--people who believe they have the gifts of the Word of Knowledge and the Word of Wisdom but are not very familiar with the Word of Truth, very often will share "words" that are neither knowledgeable nor wise). 3) beware your motives when sharing (never out of even a hint of spiritual superiority, or anger, or jealousy, or "parenting". 4) always with that delicate balance of love and truth. I.E., YOUR SWORD SHOULD NEVER DRIP WITH THE BLOOD OF WOUNDED BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. Conclusion: three exhortations 1. Store up the LOGOS - Get to know the Word of God revealed in holy scripture, and get to know it well. Get the "macro-picture" any way you can. Be wise, not in your own wisdom, but in the word of God. You’ll know when you’re getting somewhere when you find your speech is laced with scripture. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16). This is so important for the growing believer. All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, SO THAT the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2. Reach for RHEMA. As you read the Word, as you hear sermons, lessons shared in cell groups, teachings over the radio or in your personal Bible studies, keep your heart’s antenna tuned in to hear the precious RHEMA Truth God may have prepared for you at that time and place in your life. Listen to the Holy Spirit always. 3. Hang around "Word-wise" people. Get under the tutelage of good teachers and other believers who have had the privilege of years more exposure to God’s Word than yourself. Learn from them, emulate them insofar as they emulate Christ. Look for the worn out Bible, the note-takers, those willing to listen, those who speak truth in love.           [Back to Top]