Sermon Tone Analysis

Ephesians 6:17b

It was reported last year that worldwide spending on military and defense was at an all-time high in 2020—despite the economic woes related to COVID.

Nearly $2 trillion dollars was spent worldwide in that year (up 2.6% from previous year).

The US has the largest overall military budget at $778 billion (39% of world spending).

The nearest competitor is China which spent $252 billion.

If you ask me, that doesn’t really offer much consolation when it comes to the feeling of security—though this amount of spending does have the effect of making enemies think long and hard if they would like to make war with the US or her allies.

As we conclude our study of the armor of God this morning, I want to go back and look again at this provision of God as a whole.

If the world’s nations are so concerned over the threat and potential of war, what should be said about the believer in the midst of a very real spiritual war?

It is critical to recognize that God’s armor is complete and effective.

It lacks nothing and the wise soldier knows that no single piece of the armor can be laid aside until the battle is finished (BTW—that doesn’t happen until you die or the Lord returns).

JC Ryle: “Not a single piece of the armor can be dispensed with.

The girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, the helmet of hope—each and all are needful.

Not a single day can we dispense with any part of this armor.”

He then goes on to quote William Gurnall (17C English author who wrote what may be considered the most important and complete commentary on spiritual warfare: The Christian in Complete Armour; A Treatise Of the Saints' War against the Devil: Wherein a Discovery is made of that grand Enemy of God and his People, in his Policies, Power, Seat of his Empire, Wickedness, and chief design he hath against the Saints.

A Magazine Opened, From whence the Christian is furnished with Spiritual Arms for the Battle, helped on with his Armour, and taught the use of his Weapon: together with the happy issue of the whole War.) “In heaven we shall appear, not in armour, but in robes of glory.

But here our arms are to be worn night and day.

We must walk, work, sleep in them, or else we are not true soldiers of Christ.”

It is vital that we take up the full armor of God—b/c the whole armor is essentially a picture of LJC.

Christ is the truth (Jn 14:6), our righteousness (2 Cor 5:21), our peace (Eph 2:14), His faithfulness makes possible our faith (Gal 2:20), He is the hope of our salvation (Lk 2:30), He is the Word of God (Jn 1:1,14).

Paul told the church at Rome to “put on the armor of light…put on the LJC” and since we are never out of reach of the devil’s devices (schemes) we cannot for a moment lay aside the crucial protection we have from our gracious heavenly Father.

6) The Sword of the Spirit

In the Roman arsenal there were 2 primary swords: romphaia which is a large broadsword (double edged).

Rev 19:15 , 21

The other sword is a relatively shorter sword “machaira” This is the sword favored in hand-to-hand combat as it was less than 2 feet long.

It was easily attached to the soldier’s belt, always ready to be used and could be wielded in tight, close quarters—described as “suitable as a cut-and-thrust weapon for close work.”

This sword is used several times in NT:

Carried by soldiers to arrest Jesus

Used by Peter in same account to cut of Malchus’ ear (slave of high priest)

In Hebrews the heroes of the faith encounter the sword, some escaped death others succumbed to it (Heb 11:34)

Herod’s executioners put James the brother of John to death by the machaira

This is the sword Paul is referencing in Eph.

Now, he calls it the “sword of the Spirit.”

Paul doesn’t mean that it is a spiritual sword (though it is necessary for spiritual war).

The description “of the Spirit” means the source or origin of the sword is from the HS.

Now, where most of the armor is defensive in nature—the sword is specifically offensive (though the Word of God does give adequate defense against Satan’s attack).

As an offensive weapon—since the HS is the source of this sword Paul has in mind the offensive empowerment by the HS which is necessary for spiritual battle.

There is a further description of this sword: “which is the word of God.”

You can see then why this is the sword of the Spirit…since it is the HS who is the author, source for God’s Word.

A sword is one of many symbols used to describe God’s Word:

Mirror (James 1:22-25)

Fire (Jeremiah 20:9; 23:29)

Water (Ephesians 5:25-27)

Seed (Matthew 13:10-23; 1 Peter 1:23)

Hammer (Jeremiah 23:29)

Food (Job 23:12; Jeremiah 15:16)

Light/Lamp (Psalm 119:105)

Because the Word of God is living, active, penetrating, discerning (has capacity to judge, render decisions, to discern attitudes and thoughts that are found deep in the inner recesses of the heart)—it is our greatest weapon against temptation and falsehood as it purifies ad transforms us into the glorious image of our Lord.

Unknown writer: “There are words written by kings, by emperors, by princes, by poets, by sages, by philosophers, by fishermen, by statesmen, by men learned in the wisdom of Egypt, educated in the schools of Babylon, and trained at the feet of rabbis in Jerusalem.

It was written by men in exile, in the desert, in shepherd’s tents, in green pastures, and beside still waters.

Among its authors we find a tax-gatherer, a herdsman, a gatherer of sycamore fruit.

We find poor men, rich men, statesmen, preachers, captains, legislators, judges, and exiles.

The Bible is a library full of history, genealogy, law, ethics, prophecy, poetry, eloquence, medicine, sanitary science, political economy, and the perfect rules for personal and social life.

And behind every word is the divine author, God Himself.”

When Paul says it is “the word of God”—the term for “word” is not logos...

About 500 years before Christ—Heraclitus lived in Ephesus.

He was the one who said it is impossible to step into the same river twice—all things are in a state of change.

To Heraclitus and other philosophers, all life seemed like that.

But they also asked “if all things are in a state of change why is there not perpetual chaos?”

Heraclitus believed the changes in life were not random but ordered change.

The means of the ordering is what he called the logos—or “reason” that controls it.

He further concluded that all things happen thru this logos and it was the stabilizing principle in the universe.

Later philosophers followed this thinking.

Stoics really developed the concept of logos.

What kept stars in their courses, what makes tides ebb and flow, what makes day and night come in unalterable order, what brings the seasons each in their appointed times?

The term logos gave expression to a deep conviction of the rationality of the universe—an eternal Reason for all things.

John uses this term in Jn 1:1

And he is saying to those steeped in Gk philosophy: the thing that has most occupied your minds—this word (logos), this controlling principle of the universe has come to earth as a man and we have seen him.”

But logos is not the term Paul is using in Eph 6.

He uses another word rhema.

This term means “a saying” or expression, referring to a specific portion, expression or saying of God’s Word.

This is what Jesus demonstrated in His temptation (Mt 4; Lk 4).

You recall the 3 temptations that are recorded: command stones to turn to bread, throw himself off the temple and see if angels would protect, worship the devil to be handed the world…Jesus responded to each temptation with a specific Scripture “It is written”.

That’s what rhema refers to—a specific, timely word that meets the need in any given circumstance.

James Boice:

“Let me put it to you very directly.

Here is Jesus Christ--the holy son of the almighty God, the one in whom neither Satan nor an could find any wrong or gain even the tiniest foothold, Jesus, whose eyes were always on the glory of God the Father and who always lived in the closest possible communion with him.

If this Jesus, your Lord and Savior, has to know Scripture in order to resist Satan and win a victory over him, how much more do you and I need it to win a like victory.”

It’s not enough to have a general knowledge of God’s Word—you must know the specifics—know what the Scripture actually says—you need to memorize it if you are to resist and overcome this terrible enemy.

The word of God (rhema) is powerful.

This word renders judgment and imparts eternal life.

It transforms individuals and has transformed whole communities.

Let me give you 4 words that summarize the power of God’s Word—which becomes a sure sword in the hand of those seeking to resist the schemes of the devil.

Compelling

The Word of God is compelling.

Here’s a definition: evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way; not able to be refuted; not able to be resisted; overwhelming.

God’s Word is able to move us like no other writing can.

John Calvin:

Now this power which is peculiar to Scripture is clear from the fact that, of human writings, however artfully polished, there is none capable of affecting us at all comparably.

Read Demosthenes or Cicero; read Plato, Aristotle, and others of that tribe.

They will, I admit, allure you, delight you, move you, enrapture you in wonderful measure.

But betake yourself from them to this sacred reading.

Then, in spite of yourself, so deeply will it affect you, so penetrate your heart, so fix itself in your very marrow, that, compared with its deep impressions, such vigor as the orators and philosophers have will nearly vanish.

Consequently, it is easy to see that the Sacred Scriptures, which so far surpass all gifts and graces of human endeavor, breathe something divine.

Since it is of divine origin, the sword of the Spirit is inerrant (without error or mistakes).

The Word of God is Pure

The Word of God is Authoritative

Isaiah 1:2 (NASB95)

Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the Lord speaks,

This Word is compelling.

Martin Luther “The Bible is alive.