Ephesians 6 "The Sword of the Spirit"

Introduction

As we begin to close out our study of the Armor of God we are left with just two remaining pieces. Up til now we have had nothing but defensive articles. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation are all the pieces that make up the armor to be worn. Now we must look to the weaponry of spiritual battle. The piece we’ll look at today is the “Word of God’ which is also known as “The Sword of the Spirit”. While the other elements of the armor were to protect the believer, the Word of God (especially the Gospel; see ,; ) is the one offensive weapon that allows the believer to take back territory from the enemy.

The Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

“For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”

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. You and I were “cut to the heart” (; ) when the Word convicted us of our sins.

When we think of a sword one the first things that comes to mind is something like a big metal knife. In thinking this you would be correct but I also want you to think of a sword as something like a scalpel.

Christ is the living word of God. , tells us that Jesus Christ is the Word.

John 1:1–4 KJV 1900

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 1:14 KJV 1900

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Satan tries to use the Word of God to confuse us, so it is important that we know every word that God has given us. tells us to “study to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the word of truth”. tells us to hide the word of God in our heart that we wont sin against him.

The Sword

“For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper that any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”

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. You and I were “cut to the heart” (; ) when the Word convicted us of our sins.

When we think of a sword one the first things that comes to mind is something like a big metal knife. In thinking this you would be correct but I also want you to think of a sword as something like a scalpel.

A material sword pierces the body, but the Word of God pierces the heart. The spirit wrote the Word, and the Spirit wields the Word as we take it by faith and use it.

The Spirit uses the Word of God kind of like a surgeon uses a scalpel. He doesn't come in swinging the sword around in a violent chaotic display of force causing damage to everything it comes into contact with. He very delicately and with great precision cuts away those areas in our lives that cause great pain and suffering (sins in our lives).

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

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.

Have you ever been reading or studying your bible recieved that one thing you needed that day? I submit that moments like this it’s the Holy Spirit carving out of Scriptures exactly what we need for that moment and that day.

Christ used the Word of God

Christ used the Word of God to meet satan in the hour of His temptation. When He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Christ used the sword of the Spirit and defeated the enemy. Three times Jesus said, “It is written” (). Note that Satan can also quote the Word— “For it is written” ()—but he does not quote it completely.

We should use the Word of God

Satan tries to use the Word of God to confuse us, so it is important that we know every word that God has given us.

Be careful when you use the Word that you are using it in context and the way it was intended to be interpreted. “You can prove anything by the Bible,” someone said. True—if you take verses out of context, leave out words, and apply verses to Christians today that do not really apply. tells us to “study to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the word of truth”. tells us to hide the word of God in our heart that we wont sin against him.

The better you know the Word of God, the easier it will be for you to detect Satan’s lies and reject his offers.

Jesus is the Word of God

Christ is the living word of God. , tells us that Jesus Christ is the Word.

Closing

In closing, The “whole armor of God” is a picture of Jesus Christ. Christ is the Truth (), and He is our righteousness () and our peace (). His faithfulness makes possible our faith (); He is our salvation (); and He is the Word of God (, ). This means that when we trusted Christ, we received the armor. Paul told the Romans what to do with the armor (): wake up (), cast off sin, and “put on the armor of light” (). We do this by putting “on the Lord Jesus Christ” (). By faith, put on the armor and trust God for the victory. Once and for all, we have put on the armor at the moment of sal­vation. But there must be a daily appropriation. When King David put off his armor and returned to his palace, he was in greater danger than when he was on the battlefield (). We are never out of reach of Satan’s devices, so we must never be without the whole armor of God.