Week 5 "How 2 Defend Against the Enemy" *Sword of the Spirit*
***Ephesians 6:17- the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God...
***Physical***
*** 1. What is the sword of the Spirit?
***It was a short sword that was designed for close hand-2hand combat...
***It was only about eighteen inches long, and the most effective of the swords because it was sharpened on both sides, so that no matter which way the soldier held the sword, he had tremendous cutting power...
*** the sword was known be used in both defensive attacks and used offensively when attacking...
***Spiritual***
*** 1. What is the sword of the Spirit?
***Well, Paul describes it as the word of God in verse 17...
*** The Greek word for "word of God" is (rhema)- which means it is a timely word of God applied to a particular situation by the power of the Holy Spirit...
*** Reference Time*** ( Take the class to these scriptures)
1. Hebrews 4:12- For the Word of God is LIVING and POWERFUL, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is the Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart...
*** NOTE*** The demands of Gods Word requires choices.. and for in order to recieve the fullness of Gods Word we must not only read the Word, Hear the Word, and meditate on the Word..(Phillipians 4:9), but we must apply the Word to our daily lives!!! We must make the choice to allow the Word to change and shape our lives.... And if we do this, then----
*** This scripture is saying that the Word of God ( A.K.A.- the sword of the Spirit) is these things...
1. Living- (this means its active , even today, right now)
2. Powerful- (energizing, effective, life changing, dynamic as it works in us)
3. Sharper than any 2-edged sword- ( means that it is sharper than the physical sword, that Paul describes)
4. Piercing even 2 the division of the soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow- ( able to cut to the deepest parts of our nature...)
5. It is the Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart- ( it is so deep, that it penetrates the mind, which activates the heart...), ( It actually discerns what is good and evil in us)- meaning, what is evil, it makes good, and what is good, it makes greater...
2. Isaiah 49:2- And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, and made Me a polished shaft: In His quiver He has hidden Me...
*** In this scripture, Isaiah is prophecying that the one called Immanuel will be born of a virgin.. the phrase "like a sharp sword" is a description often used for Christ...
*** This scripture is also saying that with the sword of the spirit, ( the Word of God) in us, we will be giving the power to conquer the earth...
*** NOTE*** The sword of the spirit is the only offensive weapon that we have... (Its all we need plus some...)
*** NOTE*** The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God itself, not necessarily the Bible as a whole, but the specific word that needs to be spoken at a specific time....
*** NOTE*** To have the precise word, at the precise time, we must be intimate with our Bible...
*** Remember when Paul said that it was both a weapon of defense and a weapon of offense!!!
*** DEFENSIVELY***
Examples:
1. When the devil tempts us: We should respond by knowing God's promises: (James 4:7)- "Resist the devil and he will flee"...
2. When the enemy tempted Jesus in the wilderness: (Matthew 4:1-11)
*** NOTE*** We strike deadly blows to the enemy when we know, believe, and claim God's truths and promises...
*** NOTE*** If we know God's Promises, then when satan lies, we can crush him with the truth...
*** OFFENSIVELY***
1. When we proclaim forgiveness and freedom to those held in darkness,
*** Basically, when we minister or testify to the lost, then we are on attack... (Col.1:13) because God's Word begins to deliver them...
2. Remember Hebrews 4:12- The Word is living and it is active and it cuts to the bone, and discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts...
3. Isaiah 59:11-- This a promise of the Lord that, when He sends His Word out, He is guaranteed that it will not come back to Him empty or void....
( Same for us, if Christ is living in us, then we can be assured that His Word used properly will get the job done...)
*** What is the Word???***
1. perfect
2. trustworthy
3. right
4. radiant
5. pure
6. righteous
7. more precious than gold
*** What does the Word do for us if we apply it and accept it?
1. it revives the soul
2. makes wise the simple-( the Holy Spirit will give you ultimate knowledge and revelation through the Word, and you will be wise in God's eyes and to the world, but it will be made simple so that you can explain it...
3. gives joy to the heart
4. brings light to the eyes
5. His Word teaches us what is wrong
6. and if we keep His Word, it brings great reward...
*** Closing***
1. How can we use the sword of the Spirit in Spiritual Battles???
1. We can study the Bible so that "we can correctly handle the truth" ( 2 Timothy 2:15)
A.) We must know and live the Word because just simply reciting the Word will not have much impact on the enemy, if we are unholy...
2. We can tell the good news found in the Word...Offerering hope to people held in bondage...
3. Memorizing the Word will help us guard against sin.. ( Psalms 119:11)
A.) Scripture states that: Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You...
4. When we do all of the above, we can then teach the Word to others so that they, too, will know how to use the sword of the Spirit...
Created about 3 years ago
