26 October 2021 - Sword of the Spirit

Ephesians 6:17 (NLT) “take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Paul defines the sword of the Spirit as the “word of God” This isn’t the only place where God’s Word is described as a sword.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (NLT) “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”

Matthew 4:1-3 (NLT) “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. 3 During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

Satan tried to prey on Christ’s physical hunger, but Jesus replied, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’

Matthew 4:4-5 (NLT) “But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple”

Satan continued the attack. Jesus saw through this tactic and answered Satan. Matthew 4:7 (NLT) “Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God”

Satan made one final attempt. Matthew 4:8-9 (NLT) “Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

Turning once again to Scripture, Jesus replied Matthew 4:10 (NLT) “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him”

In each case, Jesus skilfully used a thorough knowledge of the Scripture to deflect the attacks.

We are to use the Word of God to discern those thoughts and attitudes that are contrary to God’s way and use that sword to bring those attitudes and thoughts into captivity. That is the battle, and that is how we use the offensive weapon in our armour.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV) “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”