Word of God | Ephesians 6:17

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAYER

REVIEW

If you are saved in Christ, you should experience victorious Christian living as you walk in faith.

In our text, we are told to:

Be strong in the Lord

Stand with God’s armor

Supplicate with saints

We will see God’s resources for us include:

God

Truth

Righteousness

Gospel of Peace

Faith

Assurance of Salvation

Word of God

Prayer

Church

Ephesians 6:10–17 KJV

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Last week we learned of the helmet of salvation—assurance of salvation. Connected and foundational to assurance of salvation is the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God.

Without God’s sure Word we could never have assurance of anything about God, life, or salvation, and we could never stand up against the schemes and attacks of the devil.

ρημα (rhema)—word (statement) of God

γραφή (graphe)—scripture; writing

ITS FORMS

Decrees—what God determines to be

Genesis 1:3 KJV

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Declarations—what God says or commands

Exodus 3:14 KJV

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Documents—what God has given in the sixty-six books of the Bible

Its Claims—OT refers to itself as the Word of God almost 4000 times, NT refers to events or quotes of OT about 400 times, clear teaching on inspiration

Hebrews 1:1–2 KJV

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Its Proofs—prophecies, accuracies, resurrection

Its Use—by the writers, by Jesus (about 1/10 words), its community, its overlapping existence

Its Cohesiveness—over 40 writers over about 1600 years

In the beginning God . . . Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Doctrines—teachings in the Bible

i.e., “the word of Christ”

Colossians 3:16 KJV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

We believe the Word of God as found in the sixty-six (66) books from Genesis to Revelation is God’s divinely inspired revelation of Himself to mankind and is to be treasured and obeyed. The Holy Spirit superintended human authors in various ways such that, through their individual personalities, vocabularies, and writing styles, they recorded God’s Word to man without error.

All Scripture is complete without any mixture of error for its matter and entirely true and trustworthy. It reveals God’s judgements by which we will all be tried, and it testifies of Jesus and His work of redemption. Therefore, Scripture is, and shall remain to the end of the world, our final authority in all faith, practice, and conduct, and it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.

ITS ORIGIN

Revelation—From God to Human

Inspiration—From God through Human to Written Word

The Holy Spirit superintended human authors in various ways such that, through their individual personalities, vocabularies, and writing styles, they recorded God’s Word to man without error.

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

θεόπνευστος (theopneustos)

—God breathed

2 Peter 1:21 KJV

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 22:43 KJV

He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

Acts 1:16 KJV

Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

Acts 28:25 KJV

And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

Preservation—God has miraculously assured we have many thousands of manuscript copies

Isaiah 40:8 KJV

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: But the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Translation—By God’s grace, Christians have translated God’s Word into thousands of languages

Both Human & Divine

To deny its humanity leads to careless interpretation

To deny its divinity leads to heresy

ITS POWER

Equal with God’s Authority

John 17:17 KJV

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Psalm 119:89 KJV

LAMED. For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.

What God decrees and says is settled.

Psalm 119:140 KJV

Thy word is very pure: Therefore thy servant loveth it.

By Which We Will All Be Judged

Me

Church

Nations

World

Spiritual Powers

ITS SUBSTANCE

Understandable

Psalm 119:130 KJV

The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.

1 Corinthians 2:12–14 KJV

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Substantial

Takes time

Matthew 15:16 KJV

And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?

John 12:16 KJV

These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

Takes effort

2 Peter 3:15–16 KJV

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Designed for a lifetime of relationship with God in His Word.

Revealing

Hebrews 4:12–13 KJV

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

ITS UNIQUENESS

General Revelation

Romans 1:18–20 KJV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Special Revelation

Romans 1:16–17 KJV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

ITS USE

Psalm 19:7–10 KJV

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Psalm 119:105 KJV

NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.

Proverbs 30:5–6 KJV

Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Psalm 1:1–2 KJV

Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Acts 17:11 KJV

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

2 Timothy 3:14–17 KJV

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

1 Timothy 4:13 KJV

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

. . . give yourself wholly to them . . .

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 4:1–5 KJV

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Ephesians 4:11–14 KJV

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Trust

Read

Study

Meditate

Teach

Obey

Battle

CONCLUSION

Isaiah 11:4 KJV

4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, And reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, And with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

God judges with His Word.

God’s declarations, judgement, and word either result in conviction and conversion or condemnation and destruction. It depends on if the hearer responds to it in faith or unbelief. It is a double-edged sword.

For many, both the judicial and written word of God is reason to rejoice. For others, it will be reason to weep.

It exposes all, and none can hide from it. It clarifies what otherwise is confusing.

We must cling to it, believe it, and find our protection in it. Be eager to believe all God has said.

God and what He says should alway be our resource for offensive weapons. We get ourselves in a lot of trouble and confusion when we try to navigate and combat deceptions with our own thoughts!