Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.16UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.12UNLIKELY
Fear
0.59LIKELY
Joy
0.52LIKELY
Sadness
0.49UNLIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.45UNLIKELY
Confident
0.23UNLIKELY
Tentative
0UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.94LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.69LIKELY
Extraversion
0.04UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.05UNLIKELY
Emotional Range
0.79LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Sword of the Spirit
Introduction
The phrase “sword of the Spirit” is found only once in Scripture, in .
The sword is one of the pieces of spiritual armor Paul tells the Ephesian Christians to put on as part of the “full armor of God” that will enable us to stand our ground against evil ().
The sword is both an offensive and defensive weapon used by soldiers or warriors.
In this case it is a weapon belonging to the Holy Spirit.
Swords were used to protect oneself from harm or to attack the enemy to overcome or kill him.
Throughout the world, there are certain individuals—real and fictional—whose identity remains almost inseparable from their weapon of choice.
From England, there is King Arthur and his sword, Excalibur.
The sword is the only item listed by Paul that serves in an offensive capacity.
Even if we have all the rest of the armor equipped perfectly, without our sword, we amount to little more than heavily armored moving targets.
Perhaps this is why we remember the name of King Arthur's sword and not, for example, his footwear.
While the rest of the armor is undoubtedly vital, it is the sword and only the sword that allows us to attack—to directly do the work that needs to be done.
What purpose did the sword serve in the Roman army?
sword here
The Roman gladius has become known as "the sword that conquered the world."
Adapted from a Spanish design, the prowess of the gladius in close range combat made it a fearsome tool in the hand of a skilled Roman warrior.
When sharpened, its dual edges wreaked havoc on unarmored foes, while its tapered point could pierce through even heavy metal armor.
Picture Roman sword here
A Roman infantryman would go into battle armed with more than just his gladius.
He would also have a dagger (pugio), several one-time use spears (pila) and lead-weighted darts (plumbatae), but the sword was his main means of attack.
The sword is the only weapon Paul lists as part of the Christian arsenal.
I What is the Sword?
Gideon was ready to do battle, but God had other plans.
What is the Word of God?
He was about to show His people just how powerful a God He was.
God told Gideon to let anyone who was afraid of the upcoming battle return home.
Twenty-two thousand men took the opportunity to leave their ranks, leaving only 10,000 remaining.
But God was looking for a smaller group still.
God then told Gideon to have the remainder drink from the spring, and all those who lapped the water like a dog would remain, while the rest were sent home.
Finally, with only 300 men, Gideon and his little army surrounded the Midianites.
On signal they blew trumpets, broke the pitchers covering their torches and shouted, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" (
What is the Word of God?
.
Then the unthinkable happened.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
God's Word—the Holy Bible—illuminates.
It reveals to us the good and the bad, the wise and the unwise.
It is the ultimate tool in learning how to live the best possible life, free from the restraints of stumbling in darkness.
Sanctify them by Your truth.
Your word is truth.
).
Then the unthinkable happened.
These 300 men—holding not swords, but torches and trumpets—routed the entire Midianite camp.
Scripture records that God "set every man's sword against his companion throughout the whole camp" (
These 300 men—holding not swords, but torches and trumpets—routed the entire Midianite camp.
Scripture records that God "set every man's sword against his companion throughout the whole camp
God's Word is truth, plain and simple.
We can have perfect confidence in the fact that His words are accurate, true and unerring.
When followed, they guide us without fail in the paths that we need to walk.
We can be destroyed by lack of the knowledge of God (),
but we will be blessed if we hear and keep the Word of God ().
And the knowledge is not just for us.
We are to be ready to answer others who ask us ().
1 peter 3.
Why a sword?
Why a sword?
heb 4.12
The all-powerful sword of the living God is able to cut through every defense our enemy can raise—down to the very division of bone and marrow.
When wielded by a servant of God, nothing can withstand its ability to cut straight to the core of a matter and uncover the truth.
As soldiers in God's army, It is our responsibility and duty to use His Word to discern the truth and then follow it.
When God's Word shows us something wrong in ourselves, we can use this spiritual weapon to "surgically" remove the offending thoughts and actions ().
Unlike all other pieces of the armor of God, which are solely defensive, the sword is uniquely suited for both defensive and offensive roles.
A solid defense is invaluable, but the sword is the only way we can complete the work we have been given to do.
).
So before the Israelites even had a chance to reach for swords, God plunged the enemy camp into chaos and wild defeat.
The Israelites were delivered from their foes by a miracle.
Notice that Jesus Christ used the Bible to counter Satan's attacks (, , ).
We must also learn to live "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" ().
II Train to use the Sword
In both cases it was necessary for a soldier to get rigid training on the proper use of the sword to get maximum protection.
In both cases it was necessary for a soldier to get rigid training on the proper use of the sword to get maximum protection.
All Christian soldiers need the same rigid training to know how to properly handle the Sword of the Spirit, “which is the word of God.”
The sword that Paul refers to here is the Holy Scriptures.
We know from that the word of God is from the Holy Spirit and written by men.
Since every Christian is on the spiritual battle with the satanic and evil forces of this world, we need to know how to handle the Word properly.
Only then will it be an effective defense against evil, but it will also be an offensive weapon we use to “demolish strongholds” of error and falsehood ().
It all God !
Records the story of Gideon and his 300 men: Gideon and 32,000 Israelite troops gathered near the Midianite camp, but they were severely outnumbered by their 135,000 oppressors.
Records the story of Gideon and his 300 men: Gideon and 32,000 Israelite troops gathered near the Midianite camp, but they were severely outnumbered by their 135,000 oppressors.
Gideon was ready to do battle, but God had other plans.
He was about to show His people just how powerful a God He was.
God told Gideon to let anyone who was afraid of the upcoming battle return home.
Twenty-two thousand men took the opportunity to leave their ranks, leaving only 10,000 remaining.
But God was looking for a smaller group still.
God then told Gideon to have the remainder drink from the spring, and all those who lapped the water like a dog would remain, while the rest were sent home.
Finally, with only 300 men, Gideon and his little army surrounded the Midianites.
On signal they blew trumpets, broke the pitchers covering their torches and shouted, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" (
.
Then the unthinkable happened.
These 300 men—holding not swords, but torches and trumpets—routed the entire Midianite camp.
Scripture records that God "set every man's sword against his companion throughout the whole camp
.
So before the Israelites even had a chance to reach for swords, God plunged the enemy camp into chaos and wild defeat.
The Israelites were delivered from their foes by a miracle.
This famous story illustrates an invaluable lesson: It is God who gives the victory.
His sword is what will deliver us.
III Sharpen the Sword
s?
We Must use the sword not got back to the familiar and mundane
We must take the sword
The sixth piece of armor Paul mentions in is "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
How does a Roman soldier's sword help us understand how to use the Bible to win our spiritual battles?
Intro: Almost everybody loves babies!
I often hear people say, “Oh, they just grow up too fast!”
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9