Part 8: The Sword of the Spirit
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
We are down to the last piece of armor found in the Whole Armor of God. It’s a very important piece, as are all of them.
Tonight, we are going to note the weapon of the soldier that was both defensive and offensive … the sword of the Spirit. As a matter of fact, it’s our ONLY offensive weapon.
The sword referenced here was anywhere from six to eighteen inches long and usually had a double edge. It was made for close combat.
In hand-to-hand combat on the battlefield, it was the main weapon of the Roman soldier, other than the spear. It was attached to the belt of the soldier in a sheath and was readily available if needed.
In the same manner, the sword of the spirit is a defensive and also offensive weapon for the Christian.
It is a weapon forged by God, not men. The sword is the Word of God. The Scriptures are an effective weapon for the Christian that knows the Word and obeys it.
In verse 17, “word of God” refers to the gospel: the offensive weapon given to the believer is the good news of peace and reconciliation that believers embrace and proclaim and that results in standing firm against one’s enemies.
This sword helps us to fight against doubt, deception, discouragement, depression, depravity, and disobedience to the Lord. It also is effective in the battle for the souls of mankind and standing for truth, righteousness, and justice.
12 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.
Thomas Guthrie said, “The Bible is an armory of heavenly weapons, a laboratory of infallible medicines, a mine of exhaustless wealth. It is a guidebook for every road, a chart for every sea, a medicine for every malady, and a balm for every wound. Rob us of our Bible and our sky has lost its sun.”
Friends, the Bible is an effective weapon because it is God’s weapon. It comes from Him.
Let’s look at a couple things tonight concerning the sword of the Spirit...
THE RECEPTION OF THE SWORD
THE RECEPTION OF THE SWORD
Ephesians 6:17 (KJV (WS))
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Here we are again, like with the other pieces of armor, we are commanded to take the sword of the Spirit.
The Christian soldier is provided all that he/she needs to be victorious in the spiritual war. God gives us the armor and we are to receive the armor. We are to take the sword of the Lord and go on the offensive against the devil and his demons.
Why should the Christian soldier take up the sword of the Lord? How can the Christian take up the sword of the Lord?
If we do not take up the sword and use the sword we can never be a faithful and fruitful Christian.
Dr. David Smith said, “The sword of the Lord has power to convict of sin, power to convert the soul, power to cleanse from sin, power to comfort the sorrowing, and power to conquer Satan.”
For those reasons alone I believe we should all seek daily to take up the sword of the Lord. We are to receive the sword, rely on the sword, and use the sword in spiritual warfare.
You might be wondering, how do we receive the sword, preacher? Let me give you a few ways:
By Reading The Word
By Reading The Word
The Bible is the greatest selling book in all the world, but it is not the most read book in all the world.
*Many Bibles set on shelves, in the back of cars, on the dresser by the bed, in the corner on a box gathering dust and is seldom, if ever, opened and read.*
We cannot truly say that we have received the word if we never read the word.
Reading the word of God should be a top priority for all of us every day.
When we do not read the Bible we are not fully dressed in the armor of God.
By Reviewing The Word
By Reviewing The Word
We are not just to read the word like we would a newspaper, but we are to study the word.
We are not just to read the word for information, but to study the word for transformation.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
It takes time, dedication, commitment, consistency, and passion to learn the word. When we study to get a hold of the word of God we will find that the word of God will get a hold on us.
By Retaining The Word
By Retaining The Word
We are to take the word of God and keep the word of God.
9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Memorizing Scripture is retaining God’s word.
We are to be actively learning and retaining God’s word.
The soldier will be ready with his commander’s instructions. The Christian soldier should be ready with his Commander’s instructions.
The Bereans in the Book of Acts had the testimony that they read the word, reviewed the word, and retained the word!
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 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.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
So, we’ve got the Reception of the Sword, now let’s look at:
THE REVELATION OF THE SWORD
THE REVELATION OF THE SWORD
It Is The Spirit’s Weapon
It Is The Spirit’s Weapon
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
The Spirit is the source of the sword, making it powerful and effective.
When we get filled with the Spirit of God we can rightly use the Spirit’s sword. We are commanded to take the Spirit’s weapon!
○ As a defensive weapon the Spirit’s weapon deflects the enemies attacks.
○ As an offensive weapon the Spirit’s weapon divides and destroys the enemy.
○ We cannot wear out, exhaust, dull, bend, or break the Spirit’s sword.
○ It will not get rusty if we don’t use it, but we will get rusty if we don’t you it.
Warren Wiersbe wrote, “A material sword pierces the body, but the Word of God pierces the heart. The more you use a physical sword, the duller it becomes; but using God’s word only makes it sharper in our lives. A physical sword requires the hand of a soldier, but the sword of the Spirit has its own power … 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.”
It Is The Sovereign’s Word
It Is The Sovereign’s Word
Paul reveals the sword of the Lord to the Ephesians. The Spirit’s weapon is the ‘Word of God.’ Paul reveals the sword of the Lord as the Sovereign’s word. The sword of the Spirit is the Sovereign God’s Holy Word.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
This Book is like no other book and we need to believe the word and obey the word of the Lord. We cannot be fully equipped soldiers in the Lord’s army without the sword of the Lord.
We commonly speak of the 66 Books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, but in reality there is only one book—the Bible, consisting of 66 chapters. They are all written by the same author, the Holy Spirit, and have one message, redemption.
There is no other book like it. Forty different writers were used, from Moses to John written over a period of some 1500 years. From fishermen to philosophers, they never contradicted one another, but all are in perfect agreement and harmony.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
The skilled swordsman who has courageously engaged the enemy and lived to fight another day knows his sword and how to use it.
He studies. He practices. He sharpens his skills long before the next battle ever takes place. Imagine an ignorant and brash man who recklessly storms the battlefield.
Why is he ignorant? His only familiarity with a sword is that he’s heard other men talk of swords.
In what way is he brash? He believes that since a sword has hung for years on his wall that he can suddenly pick one up and effectively use it to fight a war.
How crazy! He very well may dismember himself or someone else before ever engaging the enemy.
And yet, how much more foolish is the man who has heard other men talk of God’s word, has a copy of the Bible on a shelf at home, has described himself as a Christian for years, but has never learned to effectively use his sword in the service of his King?
Ignorance will not defeat the Tempter. Error cannot destroy arguments. Assumptions have little power in the face of tormenting trials. We have no hope of victory if we fail to arm ourselves with truth.
The moment we leave God’s word behind and begin relying upon our own wisdom and experience, we’ve doomed ourselves to destruction. It’s as if we throw away our sword and decide to fight the great red dragon with our bare hands.