I can’t take credit for this title or for the 4 points that emerged from this sermon. The pastor was talking about part of our armor (found in Ephesians 6), the sword and how important it is and what’s available to us when we utilize it.
Ephesians 6:10 begins Paul’s discussion of the whole armor of God – how we are equipped and enabled:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put
on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against
the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the
cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened
on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the
gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with
which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and
take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God,” (Ephesians 6:10-17, ESV)
When you read the pieces of the armor, you see that you are completely covered, everything is covered. To me, the sword has always been an offensive weapon – something WE CAN DO! However, we need to know the word in order to use our offensive weapon. And who are we wielding this against? Not people. But the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places… and this includes incorrect thinking. The word is: (2Timothy 3:16, ESV)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”
From this description and definition we can fight against those forces in the heavenly places that try to misquote and misuse scripture. We discover, as the pastor shared, that the sword:
1. Protects us – it is written
Agree with what is written – use the word to discover yourself and who you are – and use it
2. Strengthens us
You have to grow and you can’t apart from reading scripture
3. Prospers us
Live according to the Word
4. Convicts us of sin
But don’t consider yourself short – use this knowledge to grow, to become
your best you.
So accept the challenge and become an effective witness:
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a
worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the
word of truth.” (2Timothy 2:15, ESV)
