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THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
Ephesians 6:17
(June 2, 2019 – SUN p.m.)
     Some of the pieces of armor Paul had mentioned are the defensive weapons that protect our spiritual lives.--v. 14- 17.
     We need to abide in the truth, we need to live in righteousness, we need the confidence of the gospel for foot protection, we need walk and live by faith to stand under the fiery attack of the enemy, and we need the important protection of salvation that gives us the confidence to secure our armor on and face the foe that threatens and trouble us.
     We are instructed to be defensive and now Paul challenges us to be offensive.
     Indeed, the Roman soldier had more than just one offensive weapon, but Paul in our passage mentions just one, and that is no other than the Sword.
                We’ll tackle all about this and learn as we pursue the rest of the message.
I- THE KIND OF THE SWORD
     A. The Appearance of the sword
     The sword of the Roman was described as a short and two footer sword prepared for battle.
     B. The Aim of the sword
     It was purposely designed to stab rather than swing and cut.
     Never just for display. It emphasizes the offense. To fight. James 4:7 says "...Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." it means to fight back. How? Use the sword of the Spirit by living in the Word of God.
II- THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SWORD
     A. Identification of the sword
     Our text is very plain, “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
     The word is the word of God.
     The term used for “Word” here is not logos that is found in John 1:1 and many other scriptures.
     The term used here for “Word” is rhema which means individual word or statement.
     Indeed, the whole word of the Bible is important, however, it is the believer’s knowledge of individual portions of the word that are most useful in battling victoriously against spiritual evil forces
III- THE KILLING POWER OF THE SWORD
Now this time we’ll talk about how mighty the sword is.
     A. Practical application as the Savior wielded
     In his battle with Satan, the powerful sword was wielded by our Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 4:1-11)
Matthew 4:1-11 “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”
     We can see here, that it is not how many verses do you know or how long is your sword.
     Each individual statement of Scripture is a sharp sword, mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds against the whole wicked forces of the Devil.
     Jesus here pulled out three individual statements of the Scriptures to defeat Satan.
1. Jesus used Deuteronomy 8:3 in v.4
2. Jesus used Deuteronomy 6:16 in v.7
3. Jesus used Deuteronomy 6:13 in v.10
     In verse 6 the Devil tried to used Psalm 91:11, 12 by wrong application as out of context.
     How many statements of passages in the scriptures do you have?
     Are you studying the Holy Scriptures to prepare you to face the difficult situation of your life?
     Be a man or woman of the Scriptures.
     B. Powerful armor for spiritual warfare
Here are some Bible verses to let us know how reliable and sharp the sword of the Spirit.
          1. Isaiah 49:2 “And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;”
          2. Hosea 6:5 “Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.”
          3. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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.”
     If you are not hurt by the preaching of the Word in the pulpit it means you are not hearing the Word of God.
     Because it is sharper than any two-edged sword, it would convict and changes our lives from walking in disobedience as servants of unrighteousness to a faithful, committed servant of God.
     C. Produces accomplishment more than physical sword weapon
     This mighty spiritual sword greatly accomplishes far more than a physical sword can. The Bible clearly says in Hebrews 4:12 this powerful, sharp sword of the Spirit which is the word of God is powerful and sharper than any two-edged physical or material sword. It has an amazing effect by piercing deeply in our soul and spirit, and of the spiritual joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart of man. It is the incomparable sword.
     The power does not rely on the hand of the swordsman but the swordsman depends on the power of the sword.
     There is a comparison between the physical sword and sword of the Spirit in one commentary: “Material swords are dead and grow dull, but our spiritual sword is living and gets sharper the more we use it. The soldier doesn’t give power to the sword—the sword gives power to the soldier. A material sword cuts the outer person, but God’s sword pierces the inner person and exposes everything just as it is. A material sword brings death to living people, but the sword of the Spirit brings life to people who are dead in their sins.”
– Warren Wiersbe, Be What You Are: 12 Intriguing Pictures of the Christian from the New Testament, Page 119–120