The holy spirit's sword

THE HOLY SPIRIT'S SWORD
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God.
— Ephesians 6:17
GOTQUESTIONS.ORG
Question:"What is the swordof the Spirit?"
Answer: The phrase “swordof the Spirit” is found only once in Scripture, in
Ephesians 6:17. The swordis one of the pieces of spiritual armor Paul tells the
EphesianChristians to put on as part of the “full armor of God” that will
enable us to stand our ground againstevil (Ephesians 6:13).
The swordis both an offensive and defensive weaponused by soldiers or
warriors. In this case it is a weaponbelonging to the Holy Spirit. Swords were
used to protect oneselffrom harm or to attack the enemy to overcome or kill
him. In both casesit was necessaryfor a soldierto getrigid training on the
proper use of the swordto getmaximum protection. All Christian soldiers
need the same rigid training to know how to properly handle the Swordof the
Spirit, “which is the word of God.” The swordthat Paul refers to here is the
Holy Scriptures. We know from 2 Timothy 3:16–17 thatthe word of God is
from the Holy Spirit and written by men. Since every Christian is on the

spiritual battle with the satanic and evil forces of this world, we need to know
how to handle the Word properly. Only then will it be an effective defense
againstevil, but it will also be an offensive weaponwe use to “demolish
strongholds” of error and falsehood(2 Corinthians 10:4–5).
God refers to His Word as a swordin Hebrews 4:12. Here the Word is
describedas living and active and sharper than a double-edgedsword. The
Roman swordwas commonly made in this manner. The fact that it had two
edges made it easierto penetrate, as well as to cut in every way. The idea is
that of piercing, or penetrating; the Word of God reaches the “heart,” the
very centerof action, and lays open the motives and feelings of those it
touches.
The purpose of the swordof the Spirit—the Bible—is to make us strong and
able to withstand the evil onslaughts of Satan, our enemy (Psalm 119:11, 33–
40, 99–105). The Holy Spirit uses the power of the Word to save souls and
then to give them spiritual strength to be mature soldiers for the Lord in
fighting this corrupt and evil world we live in. The more we know and
understand the Word of God, the more useful we will be in doing the will of
God and the more effective we will be in standing againstthe enemy of our
souls.
Armor of God: Sword of the Spirit
by Dave Johnson
“And take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians
6:17). What is the significance ofa weaponbeing listed in the armor of God?

The first five elements of the Christian armor are defensive pieces—
armament the Christian canuse to defend againstspiritual attack. Why
would an offensive weaponbe listed with the other pieces of armor? What use
should a Christian make of it?
The Roman sword
The swordused by Romansoldiers was known as a gladius; and in the hands
of a skilled man, it was a fearsome weapon. In fact, it became knownas “the
swordthat conquered the world.” It was sharpened on both sides, making it
lethal againstan unarmored foe. The point was also sharpened, enabling it to
pierce armor.
An infantryman in the Romanlegions would also go into battle with a dagger,
a few spears and possibly a few darts. But the gladius was the only offensive
weaponlisted by Paul, and it was the main weaponin the soldier’s arsenal.
The swordis the Word
Paul defines the sword of the Spirit as the “wordof God” (Ephesians 6:17).
This isn’t the only place where God’s Word (the Bible) is describedas a
sword. The author of Hebrews also makes reference to it: “Forthe word of
God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edgedsword, piercing
even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a
discernerof the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature
hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to
whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13).
The Word of God is even sharper than the gladius! It is capable of piercing to
the deepestlevels of one’s heart and attitude, and it is also a tool of
discernment in the hands of the skilled user.
This gives rise to two questions:
1. Is the sword of the Spirit only for use as an offensive weapon?
2. Who or what is the foe againstwhich the swordis to be used?
The swordis also for defense

While the gladius was the primary offensive weaponavailable to a
legionnaire, it was also invaluable for defense, being used to parry and deflect
attacks by an opponent. So also is the Word of God valuable in defending
againstspiritual attack.
Jesus Christ Himself demonstratedhow valuable it is to be grounded in the
words of the Bible when He was attackedby Satan during a time of extreme
physical weakness due to His fasting.
Notice the example in Matthew 4:
“Then Jesus was ledup by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the
devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwardHe was
hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of
God, command that these stones become bread’” (verses 1-3).
Satanknew full well that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, but he prefaces
eachof his attacks by saying, “If You are the Sonof God” (emphasis added
throughout). He wanted to pull Christ awayfrom His dependence upon the
Father and the realization that He was there to do the Father’s will. Eachtime
Jesus usedthe Scriptures to defend againstand refute Satan’s ploys.
“But He answeredand said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”’” (verse 4). This is a
quote from Deuteronomy 8:3, and it shows where Jesus Christ’s priorities
truly were.
Satancontinued the attack:“Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set
Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of
God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: “He shall give the angels charge
over you,” and, “In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot
againsta stone”’” (verses 5-6).
This is an incomplete quote from Psalm91:11-12. Satanleaves outa very
important thought. Here’s verse 11 with the missing part in italics:“ForHe
shall give His angels charge overyou, to keepyou in all your ways” (Psalm
91:11). The idea being conveyedis that God will send angels for protection

when it’s needed, not that you should throw yourself from great heights just
to see if God will save you.
Jesus saw through this tactic and answeredSatan:“It is written again, ‘You
shall not tempt the LORD your God’” (Matthew 4:7; quoted from
Deuteronomy 6:16).
Satanmade one final attempt: “Again, the devil took Him up on an
exceedinglyhigh mountain, and showedHim all the kingdoms of the world
and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You
will fall down and worship me’” (Matthew 4:8-9). Satanplaces all the cards
on the table. The point of all these attacks was to have Jesus worshipSatan
instead of God. Again, the final answerin the next verse comes from
Scripture:
“Then Jesus saidto him, ‘Away with you, Satan! Forit is written, “You shall
worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve”’” (verse 10;
quoted from Deuteronomy6:13).
This was the end (on this occasion)of Satan’s efforts to unseat Christ as the
ruler of the world to come. In eachcase,Jesus skillfully used a thorough
knowledge ofthe Scripture to parry and deflect the attacks.
What a masterful example of how to use the sword of the Spirit—the Word of
God!
Who is the enemy?
We have seen, from the example of Jesus Christ, that the enemy of the
Christian is Satanthe devil, as he tries to separate us from our God (see also 1
Peter5:8-9).
A more refined question might be: What do we attack with the sword? How is
it used as an offensive weapon?
The apostle Paulused a military analogywhen he talkedabout the Christian
fight. He described thoughts and attitudes that we must defeat, just as a
soldier would use his weapons to defeatthe enemy.

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 Christian battle, and that is how we use the
offensive weaponin our armor.
“Forthough we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For
the weapons ofour warfare are not carnalbut mighty in God for pulling
down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts
itself againstthe knowledge ofGod, bringing every thought into captivity to
the obedience ofChrist” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
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 Christian battle, and that is how we use the
offensive weaponin our armor.
Training is needed!
Roman soldiers could not be sent into battle without having extensive training
in the use of the gladius. They were first trained using shields made of wicker
and swords made of wood. These items were typically about twice the weight
of the normal swords and shields. The thought was that if the trainee could
use these heavier items skillfully, he would be at an advantage when using the
real weapons, whichwere much lighter by comparison.
After training extensively with the woodenweapons, the soldiers were then
paired againsteachotherfor further training in combat techniques and
moves. The importance of the training was reflectedin the food rations given
by the Romans. Instructors often receiveddouble rations. Trainees who didn’t
achieve desired levels of skill were given inferior rations until their training
evaluations improved.
As Christians, we also must train and be skillful in the use of the sword. The
author of Hebrews tells us that we must become gradually more
knowledgeable and skilledin the Word of God, until we are able to use it to
discern goodfrom evil.

“Forthough by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach
you againthe first principles of the oracles ofGod; and you have come to need
milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled
in the word of righteousness, forhe is a babe. But solid food belongs to those
who are of full age, that is, those who by reasonof use have their senses
exercisedto discernboth goodand evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14).
This level of skill—this proficiency with the Word of God—comesby “reason
of use.” We have to be familiar with the Bible, and we must have our spiritual
senses sharpenedby it in order to make full use of this piece of armament God
has given us!
The swordand you!
The desire to become knowledgeable inGod’s Word—skilledin the use of the
sword—has to come from within. Do you see how valuable it is, and do you
desire to have a high level of skill?
Notice the attitude shownby the psalmist when it came to God’s Word:
“I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keepYour word. I
have not departed from Your judgments, for You Yourself have taught me.
How sweetare Your words to my taste, sweeterthan honey to my mouth!
Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way”
(Psalm 119:101-104).
This is the attitude and approach to God’s Word that canmake a skilled
spiritual warrior. The training and skill levels are up to you!"
The Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God
The sixth piece of armor Paul mentions in Ephesians 6 is "the swordof the
Spirit, which is the word of God." How does a Roman soldier's sword help us
understand how to use the Bible to win our spiritual battles?

The Bible, in Judges 7, records the story of Gideon and his 300 men:
Gideon and 32,000Israelite troops gatherednearthe Midianite camp, but
they were severelyoutnumbered by their 135,000 oppressors. Gideonwas
ready to do battle, but Godhad other plans. He was about to show His people
just how powerful a God He was.
God told Gideon to let anyone who was afraid of the upcoming battle return
home. Twenty-two thousand men took the opportunity to leave their ranks,
leaving only 10,000remaining. But God was looking for a smaller group still.
God then told Gideonto have the remainder drink from the spring, and all
those who lapped the water like a dog would remain, while the restwere sent
home. Finally, with only 300 men, Gideon and his little army surrounded the
Midianites. On signalthey blew trumpets, broke the pitchers covering their
torches and shouted, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" (Judges 7:20).
Then the unthinkable happened. These 300 men—holding not swords, but
torches and trumpets—routed the entire Midianite camp. Scripture records
that God "setevery man's sword againsthis companion throughout the whole
camp" (Judges 7:22). So before the Israelites evenhad a chance to reachfor
swords, Godplunged the enemy camp into chaos and wild defeat. The
Israelites were delivered from their foes by a miracle.
This famous story illustrates an invaluable lesson:It is God who gives the
victory. His swordis what will deliver us.
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Taking the Sword
Throughout the world, there are certainindividuals—real and fictional—
whose identity remains almost inseparable from their weaponof choice.
From England, there is King Arthur and his sword, Excalibur. From the
Middle East, Ali and his scimitar, Zulfiqar. From Spain, El Cid and his long
sword, Tizona. From Scotland, William Wallace andhis unnamed claymore.

The swordis the only item listed by Paul that serves in an offensive capacity.
Even if we have all the restof the armor equipped perfectly, without our
sword, we amount to little more than heavily armored moving targets.
Perhaps this is why we remember the name of King Arthur's sword and not,
for example, his footwear. While the restof the armor is undoubtedly vital, it
is the swordand only the sword that allows us to attack—to directlydo the
work that needs to be done.
What purpose did the sword serve in the Roman army?
The Roman gladius has become knownas "the swordthat conquered the
world." Adapted from a Spanish design, the prowess of the gladius in close
range combat made it a fearsome toolin the hand of a skilledRoman warrior.
When sharpened, its dual edges wreakedhavoc on unarmored foes, while its
tapered point could pierce through even heavy metal armor.
A Roman infantryman would go into battle armed with more than just his
gladius. He would also have a dagger(pugio), severalone-time use spears
(pila) and lead-weighteddarts (plumbatae), but the swordwas his main means
of attack. The sword is the only weaponPaul lists as part of the Christian
arsenal.
What is the Word of God?
Psalm119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
God's Word—the Holy Bible—illuminates. It reveals to us the goodand the
bad, the wise and the unwise. It is the ultimate toolin learning how to live the
best possible life, free from the restraints of stumbling in darkness.
John 17:17
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

God's Word is truth, plain and simple. We can have perfect confidence in the
fact that His words are accurate, true and unerring. When followed, they
guide us without fail in the paths that we need to walk.
We canbe destroyedby lack of the knowledge ofGod (Hosea 4:6), but we will
be blessedif we hear and keepthe Word of God(Luke 11:28). And the
knowledge is not just for us. We are to be ready to answerothers who ask us
(1 Peter3:15).
Why a sword?
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 soul and spirit, and of joints and
marrow, and is a discernerof the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The all-powerful swordof the living Godis able to cut through every defense
our enemy can raise—downto the very division of bone and marrow. When
wielded by a servant of God, nothing canwithstand its ability to cut straight
to the core of a matter and uncover the truth. As soldiers in God's army, it is
our responsibility and duty to use His Word to discern the truth and then
follow it. When God's Word shows us something wrong in ourselves, we can
use this spiritual weaponto "surgically" remove the offending thoughts and
actions (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
Unlike all other pieces of the armor of God, which are solelydefensive, the
swordis uniquely suited for both defensive and offensive roles. A solid defense
is invaluable, but the swordis the only way we can complete the work we have
been given to do.
Notice that Jesus Christ used the Bible to counter Satan's attacks (Matthew
4:4, 7, 10). We must also learn to live "by every word that proceeds from the
mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
Swords are used for close combat, not long-range warfare. Could this imply
the nature of the battle a Christian fights?
Acts 14:22

...strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the
faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of
God."
James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that
the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect
work, that you may be perfectand complete, lacking nothing.
The Romans relied in part on assailing their enemy from a distance with
javelins and darts, but God does not give us that option as Christian soldiers.
If we were able to fight our battles from a distance, we would never
experience an actual trial.
At first glance, that might not seemlike such a bad thing. But when we stop to
considerthat without trials, there is no growth, and without growth, we will
not be able to enter God's Kingdom, we see that trials, however
uncomfortable, are essentialin our journeys as Christians. After all, the
promises of Revelation2:7, 11, 17, 26 and 3:5, 12 and 21 are given "to him
who overcomes"and not "to him who remains as he is."
Paul only lists one weaponbecause we only need one weapon:There is no
enemy the Word of God, coupled with His Spirit, cannotdefeat. And so,
armed only with our sword, we stepout to fight our enemies head-on. The
struggle is real. It is immediate, and it is in front of us. Our future in God's
Kingdom is on the line, and we take up the battle so that we may hold fast to
the future He has promised us.
What promises canwe stand on?
Matthew 24:13
But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Romans 8:31
What then shall we sayto these things? If God is for us, who can be against
us?

We fight knowing the end of the story. Two of the many powerful and sure
promises in God's Word tell us that if we remain dedicated to God and His
Word, we will make it to the end, and we will be saved. There is no doubt in
this statement. God's promises are as sure as the one He told Isaiah: "Indeed I
have spokenit; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it"
(Isaiah 46:11).
So take up your sword. The battle is ours."
Wielding the Swordof the Spirit in Spiritual Warfare
By Don Ibbitson
The swordof the spirit is the word of God (Ephesians 6:12). You read it and
meditate on it, but do you know how to wield it effectivelyin spiritual
warfare?
During years of counseling with clients, I’ve found that many do not use it as
effectively as they might. In this article, I’ll outline a very specific strategyfor
using it to confront demons in hand-to-hand combat.
Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16 that the word of God is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.We are to study to
meditate on it so we will know the ways of God and so He might speak to us as
we ponder His written revelation.
Meditating on a scripture will fortify our spirit man so he can direct our
fleshly, unrenewed soul man. In this way, thoughts can be captured, proper
(biblical) thinking can dominate and the appropriate actionplan can unfold as
a result.
These are all biblically sound ways that the word of God can help us, but I
want to suggestthat there is another specific use for the swordof the Spirit
that is often ignored.

All of the armor is important so we might take our stand againstthe devil’s
schemes. The words “swordof the spirit” presents a visually compelling
depiction for the Bible and it must be understood in the contextof the passage.
The Greek wordfor “sword” is machaira and in the vernacular of Paul’s time
during the Roman occupation, this element of a soldier’s armament was more
like a dagger. It was used for close-in, defensive fighting (or to take a stand
against)and we must apply this definition carefully.
Some contend that the swordis an offensive weaponto go out and attack the
demonic realm, but I suggestthatview is not consistentwith the context of the
passage.
How can we use the word of God in a defensive manner againstthe devil’s
schemes? While scripture is useful for meditation, building up faith and
training, I believe the Ephesians 6:14 verse describes a direct confrontation
with the demonic realm?
The Swordof the Spirit in Action
In order to understand the full implication, we must be aware ofa particular
characteristic ofdemons: they cannotread our minds. Demons know much
about us because theyhear what we speak (and what is spokenoverus) and
they see our actions. They do not know our thoughts so we must speak out
loud to interact with them.
This is exactly what Jesus did during three separate temptations from Satan
himself, as we see in Matthew 4.
Once again, to use the word as a swordagainstthe enemy, you must declare
the Word to him! Let’s illustrate with an example of how this works.
There is turmoil at your workplace andrumors of cutbacks and layoffs are
rampant. You are being overwhelmedwith tormenting thoughts of fear about
losing your job and that you’ll not have the money to pay the bills.
You entertain the likelihoodthat you won’t be able to find another job
quickly, that you will exhaust your savings, end up on food stamps and will
lose your house.

How might you respond so that God’s promises can take precedence in your
mind? Find all the scriptures you canon God’s faithfulness, His provision of
your needs and also the verses that counter fear. Meditate on them, renew
your mind and take up the shield of faith.
When the enemy attacks you, whip out the sword(those scriptures you have
learned) and speak to those tormenting spirits:
“God’s not given me a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind.
The righteous never go begging and my God will meet all of my need out of
His glorious riches. You spirit of fear, you get out of here and leave me alone,
in Jesus name!”
Try it! See if this bold action fortifies your spirit man so that your soul mind
(that wants to play the old tapes)yields to these truths!
We are approaching times where the worldly situation is deteriorating and
God himself will be our only hope. Fight the goodfight now in the midst of
your present circumstances so you will be prepared when the deeperdarkness
comes (Isaiah60:2,).
Be confident and bold. You have the victory and the gates ofhell will not
prevail as you advance in faith and not fear!"
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Sword Of The Spirit
Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 29, 2014
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Scripture: Ephesians 6:17
Denomination: Baptist
Summary: armor of God. Link inc. to formatted text, audio.
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Sword of the Spirit
Ephesians 6:17b
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/SwordOfSpirit.html
Romans 13:12
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore castoff the works of
darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
It has all been defensive gearthus far. Now, how about an offensive
weapon...inmore ways than one, for many are offended by the Word of God
and considerit be offensive!
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the
joints and marrow, and is a discernerof the thoughts and intents of the heart.
In Matthew 4 we see Jesus use His sword. It is the best illustration we could
consider.

v. 1 The language of Mk. 1:12 is even stronger, “Immediately the Spirit
driveth Him into the wilderness.”
God arrangedfor this temptation. Why?
1. To prepare Him to become our High Priest.
Hebrews 2:18
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succourthem
that are tempted.
He's been there and not done that.
Hebrews 4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannotbe touched with the feeling of
our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus has compassionand understanding for us, remembering we are made of
dust, and because He knows exactlyhow it feels to be tempted! And yet
without sin.
"Jesus knowsall about our struggles..."
2. To expose Satan's devices.
The devil prefers to lurk in the darkness and spring out in a surprise attack.
The devil doesn't want us to know his tactics and methods, but Jesus flushed
them out on that day. "We are not ignorant of his devices", thanks to Jesus.
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3. To teachus how our Sword works.
Just because Jesuswas the Son of God doesn't mean His temptations weren't
real. He had laid aside His divine powers. He facedSatanas a man in human
in flesh...using the Sword of the Spirit!
And all His quotations that day were from Deuteronomy 6 and 8. Could it be
that the Lord’s meditation that morning had been in this portion of God’s
Word?
Goodthing He didn't try to win using human reason, like we do. [debate thru
intellect / willpower] Jesus usedthe same Sword that I canuse!
Now, let's expose Satan's strategies:
1. To satisfy a right desire in a wrong way.
vv. 2-3 With a realbody, He gotvery hungry in 40 days. He had a natural
appetite. His taste buds would waterwith the thought of food. Jesus could
have satisfieda legitimate desire, but in an illegitimate way.
So Satan tempted Him to use His power to produce instant food. That is
something we are quite used to today. Put food in a microwave for a minute or
two, and you have a hot meal. Or pull into the closestfastfoodplace, and you
can geta meal pretty quickly. And in the case ofJesus, He
could turn desert stones into bread. After all, John had said that God could
turn stones into sons of Abraham, and if Jesus is God’s Son, then surely He
could turn stones into bread, a lessermiracle.
Later He would demonstrate that He could change waterinto wine, and
multiply a few loaves and fishes and feed thousands. Oh, He had the power.
And why not use it? The desire for food was innocent but strong, the need was
imperative, and He had the powerto secure instant relief.
So, the bait is skillfully wound over the barbed hook.
Jesus'response:v. 4

There's powerin the Word...it is a Sword that fights againstSatan. It's sharp
edges cut at him. It's blunt handle crushes his head. It's pointed tip runs him
thru, and it matters not if you are right or left handed, highly trained or new
to this, Satancannot compete againstGod's offensive weapon!
How about you? You have God given desires.
Sexual desires:They are normal and natural. But God made them to be with
the right species,right gender, and within the bounds of marriage. You're not
just an animal, roaming the countryside sowing your seedwhere you may.
Satanattempts to turn that normal desire into adultery and fornication.
Ambition: I wish more expressedthis natural desire to work and improve
oneself.
Satanturns ambition into covetousness, greed, andselfishness.
Sleepand rest: I'm an addict...I do it every day!
Satanurges us to take it to the extreme of laziness and slothfulness.
Eat: Yes we need food, but we do not meet the need for food by stealing. That
would be satisfying a right desire in a wrong way.
ill.--I heard that Walmart actually posted armed guards in the south
yesterdayto prevent looting!
Also, we eat to live. No problem.
Satanwants us to live to eat...that's gluttony. And you can't spot a glutton
from the outside, necessarily!
Jesus coulduse His Swordbecause it was in His armory [memory]. Whatever
your struggle, there are verses which apply. [examples] Will you hide them in
your heart, so you can meditate upon them, and when needed, draw them
from your sheath?!
2. To sin a sin of presumption.
vv. 5-7 Satanpulls a quote from Psalm 91:11, but left out half of the verse.

Psalm91:11
For he shall give his angels charge overthee, to keepthee in all thy ways.
The child of God has the protection of God...IN THE WILL OF GOD.
When we getout of God's will, His grace will forgive us, but His government
will allow us to suffer the consequences.
ill.--If I jump off of 3rd floor, it is a mistake. If in mid-air I admit my mistake
and ask Godto forgive me, will He? Yes! But who will clean up the mess?
Jesus was tempted with the sin of presumption...purposefully putting yourself
into a situation where God has to bail you out, and do a miracle in order to
rescue you.
ill.--you'll see some TV preachers say, "Justmail me a check and I'll pray a
prayer of debt relief for God to miraculously get your head above water."
Will that help? I do believe God can work miracles, and help us recoverfrom
our past mistakes. Butif it works, should you go out and ring up a bunch of
new debts? After all, you can just pray for another miracle, right? "To him
who knowethto do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
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To be deceivedinto sin, like Eve, is one thing. To fall headlong into sin
willfully, like Adam, is another.
Sunday we quoted 1 John 1:9 - I wonderhow often we sin willfully, knowing
that we can just confess it later. It's the sin of presumption.
Augustine: "Godwill grant forgiveness to every man that repents. But He
may not grant repentance to every man that sins."

His point - that when you become a willful sinner, you start down a one way
streetthat is difficult to return home on.
Christians today want God's promises without God's precepts and it doesn't
work that way.
Shifting gears:We are sometimes tempted to demand a visible proof of God’s
presence and care. Forexample, someone may say, “God, if you don’t heal
me, I won’t believe in you.” [Give me a job / make that girl like me] That is
not faith, but is putting God to the test.
If you have to have a miracle in order to believe what God has already said,
then you lack true faith. True faith does not put God to the test. Jesus quotes
Deut. 6:16
Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
That incident is found in Ex. 17:1-7. There they complained againstMoses
and God because there was no water. They demanded waterand said, “Is the
LORD among us or not?” If He is, then prove it by giving us water.” Instead
of waiting on God’s provision, they put Him to the test. Putting God to the test
is when you insist that God do something to prove Himself to you. True faith
does not demand signs from heavenor miracles, but simply believes the Word
of God.
3. To take a spiritual shortcut.
vv. 8-11 Satanpromises Jesus the world. Problem: He has already been
promised the kingdom of this world! [Psalm2/Revelation]
Satansays, "You don't have to wait. I am currently the godof this world, but
will hand you the title deed of this earth if you just worship me."
Jesus was a man. This means He had trouble with patience just like we do.
But Jesus wouldn't take a spiritual shortcut. He had come this time for the
cross, notthe crown. I'm so glad Jesus had the discipline to wait and do it
right!
Seekerstodaywant the crownwithout the cross.

Satan's glory always leads to suffering.
God's suffering always leads to glory.
I can't promise your best life now. I won't lie to you and say that God has a
wonderful plan for your life. If you give your life to Christ, it may mean a
lifetime of suffering.
But if you pick up your cross, daily, and follow Him, I can promise you the
end result will be and eternity of glory. If you don't repent, and live for self in
this life, I can promise you an eternity of suffering.
Don't try to take a spiritual shortcut. Satan's waylooks to be the easiest, but
ends up being the hardest.
Proverbs 13:15
... the way of transgressorsis hard.
God's way may look difficult at first, but in the end, it proves to have been the
easiestwayto blessing.
Oh, how Sataneffectively uses that kind of temptation today. Satanis always
offering instant gratification. The Bible admits there is temporary pleasure in
sin. Too many are like Esau, who traded the value of his birthright for the
temporary pleasure of a mess of pottage. Youth seem vulnerable to this
temptation. For example, Satanwill say, “Why wait until marriage to
experience the pleasure of sexualintimacy. I will give it to you now. And many
young people fall for such temptations of Satan!
But we need to follow the example of Christ. He maintained loyalty to God,
and endured the cross and suffering, for He knew that beyond the cross, was a
crownof glory.
Hebrews 12:2
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Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that
was setbefore him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is setdown at
the right hand of the throne of God.
We can't just play defense with our armor...we needan offensive weapon. It
offends Satan...cutting him down to size. We must read it, meditate upon it,
study it, and hide it in our hearts.
Psalm119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin againstthee.
If you are a Christian, Satanhas no authority over you. You can’t say, “The
devil made me do it.”
1 Cor. 10:13
There hath no temptation takenyou but such as is common to man: but God
is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but
will with the temptation also make a way to escape, thatye may be able to
bear it.
2 Peter2:9
The Lord knowethhow to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve
the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
James 4:7
Resistthe devil, and he will flee from you.
We resistwith the Sword of the Spirit!"

The Rhema Swordof the Spirit
October6, 2010 Angus MacKillop
Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the whole armour of God, so that we may fight
and stand againstthe schemes of the enemy for as v12 tells us, “we do not
wrestle againstfleshand blood, but againstprincipalities, againstpowers,
againstthe world’s rulers, of the darkness ofthis age, againstspiritual
wickednessin high places.”
In v14-17, we are told to stand, wearing:
the Beltof Truth
the Breastplate ofRighteousness
our Shoes ofthe preparation of the Gospelof Peace
our Shield of Faith
our Helmet of Salvation, and
the Swordof the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
I read recently that Swordof the Spirit, the “Wordof God,” was the Rhēma
Word of God, not the Logos Word of God. But I know for sure that I was
taught that the Sword of the Spirit was the written Word of God, and with
that teaching was admonish to learn as much scripture as possible as it will be
invaluable, indeed necessary, for fighting the enemy.

I decided therefore to check this new teaching out, and to learn more about
the word, “word” in the Bible. Researching the Greek usages found in the
King James Bible, “word” occurs 207 times in 195 verses and there are 5
generalmeanings as follows:
“Apaggellō” – means to announce: – bring word (again), declare, report, show
(again), tell. It occurs 3 times: Matthew 2:8; Matthew 28:2 and Hebrews
12:27
“Epō” – means to speak or say(by word or writing) – answer, bid, bring
word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. It occurs 1 time in Matthew
2:13
“Logikos” – means rational (“logical”):– reasonable,ofthe word. It occurs 1
time in 1 Peter2:2
“Rhēma” – means an “utterance,” orspokenword, as in the “Rhēma Word”
of the Lord, or the spokenword of the Lord. It is used 23 times in the New
Testament. Click here to download an editable attachment listing all the
relevant verses.
“Logos” – meaning the “written” Word of the Lord, as in the “Logos Word”
of the Lord which is The Holy Bible. It is the most common usage ofthe word
and comprises all other uses in the New Testament. It is used 179 times.
The difference betweenthe Logos and the Rhēma word may be describedin
short as the “old” was of doing things and the “new” was of doing things for
the Lord.
After reading all the verses and interpreting them with the correctGreek
meaning, I found that only Ephesians 6:17 was a new understanding.
What is it that makes the Sword of the Spirit more effective with the Rhēma
Word, rather than the Logos Word, as I was previously taught?
I believe the answerlies in Ephesians 6:19 where Paul says “And pray for me,
that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make
known the mystery of the gospel.” (Emphasis added)

The enemy, Satan, knows the Bible very well and is well versedin misusing
and misquoting it as in Matthew 4 when he tempts Jesus. Throughthe Spirit
of Religionhe has been confusing people for thousands of years with the Old
Testamentand ever since the New Testamentwas written. Indeed, he
probably knows it better than most of us, and in that, has a definite advantage
over those who do not know the Bible. He is waiting for us to slip and in a
trespass, so he may have a legitimate claim againstus. By standing with a
Sword of the Spirit sharpenedwith the Rhēma word of the Lord, He gives us
a greattacticaladvantage overthe enemy and renders us strong and
victorious and all the enemy weak.
For as soldiers in opposing armies may be equipped with the same weapons,
the commander who canstrategise betterand use his weapons in better and in
new ways, will win the day. This is what the Rhēma word of the Lord allows
us to do. We can take the Logos word of the Lord, which the enemy knows
and present it in new ways with revelations from the Lord, the “mystery of the
Gospel.” The secretnew things of Jehovahare with those who fearHim and
He will show them His covenant. Thus the advantage will be on the side of the
swordbearer who has the fresh words of the Lord.
As Smith Wigglesworth, a man called”The Apostle of Faith” because ofhis
absolute trust in God says, if we have the Holy Spirit in us, but we do not have
the Word, we can avail little; if we have the Bible knowledge without the Holy
Spirit in us, againavail little; howeverif we are filled with the Holy Spirit and
have knowledge ofthe logos wordof the Lord, we can be powerful forces for
His Kingdom. He says “it is the intention of God that a living word of
knowledge willcome forth from us through the powerof the Spirit of God. It
is the Holy Spirit who will bring forth utterances from our lips and a divine
revelation of all the mind of God.”
It all makes sense now. Ineed to have a foundation of the Logos Word so that
the Holy Spirit can draw it out and use it in a Rhēma fashion to conquer and
vanquish the enemy at all times."

BRIAN BRODERSEN
How to Use the Swordof the Spirit
October2, 2017
Now, when Paul spoke ofthe “word” of God, he used the Greek wordrhema,
not the more familiar Greek word logos. Rhema is an interesting word that
refers to “a saying,” or in our context, a particular verse or a number of
verses. By using this Greek word, Paul is emphasizing the need to know the
Word of God in a detailed manner in order to effectively use it againstthe
devil.
Paul communicates the same idea to Timothy, instructing him to “rightly
divide the word of truth” (see 2 Timothy 2:15). The idea is to be able to bring
the right word from God to bear upon a given situation. A brief consideration
of the earthly ministry of our Lord will enable us to see exactly what Paul is
talking about. We have already consideredthe confrontationbetweenChrist
and Satanin the wilderness and have seenhow Jesus put Satanto flight with
the Word of God. Throughout our Lord’s ministry, He repeated this same
approachas He dealt with the scribes and the Pharisees.
Skillfully Using the Sword of the Spirit
On eachoccasion, ourLord’s skillful use of the swordof the Spirit silenced
His enemies. Take forexample the situation recordedin Matthew 21, verses
15 and 16. The religious leaders were angry with Jesus for allowing the
children to refer to Him as “Messiah.”Do you remember His response?
“Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You
have perfectedpraise’?” (see Matthew 21:16).
How about the time when the Sadducees posedto Him a hypothetical situation
that they thought to be an airtight argument againstthe resurrection? He
responded, “Your mistake is not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of
God”;and again He said, “Have you not read what was spokento you by
God?” (see Matthew 22:29, 31).
Captain of Our Salvation

One last example is found in the Lord’s response to the Pharisees’assertion
that Christ was to be merely the son of David:
“How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? Now David himself
said in the Book ofPsalms:‘The LORD saidto my Lord, …’ therefore David
calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?” Luke 20:41–44
In eachof these examples, the Captain of our salvationis teaching us
indirectly how to effectivelywield the swordof the Spirit. Therefore, we must
study to show ourselves approved, workmenable to rightly divide and apply
the word of truth.
CHRISTIANARMOR.NET
Sword of the Spirit
The Swordof the Spirit is the Word of God
As we study the Swordof the Spirit we must remember that the Lord saves,
heals and delivers His people through His Word. His Word is a weapon,
empoweredby His Spirit, and used to defeatthe lies and powers of Darkness.
The Swordof the Spirit brings sanctification, healing, and deliverance to His
people.
The Swordof the Spirit is the primary means of His delivering power in our
lives. As we live by His Word, then the powerof His Word is releasedwithin
us. The Lord gives His Word to empower His people. This has always been
His primary means of empowering His people. He speaks, His people believe
Him, and as they acton what He says, His Word gives them victory overtheir
enemies.
The Word of God is called the Sword of the Spirit for two important reasons.
God uses His Word as a weaponto defeat every enemy.

His people use His Word as a weaponto defeat every enemy.
The Swordof the Spirit is a Weaponof Combat
2Cor. 3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the
weapons ofour warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling
down of strongholds. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that
exalteth itself againstthe knowledge ofGod, and bringing into captivity every
thought to the obedience ofChrist.
When we acton the Word of God, the Holy Spirit performs the intended
purpose of the Word. The Word of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit
inflicts mortal wounds on the lies of Darkness.
And that is preciselythe effectof the Word of God upon deception and
darkness. The Word of God defeats, with a fatal wound, the lies of darkness
that would bind and blind our mind.
Remember, Darkness flourishes when hidden by a lie. Darknesshas its
greatestinfluence over us when we do not see it. The sword of the Spirit shines
light on the lies of Darkness, taking awaytheir cover, and allowing us to turn
from their inward destructions.
As we wage our warfare using the truth of God's Word, darkness must flee in
the presence ofLight. And as we use the Light of God's Word, to defeatlies
that reside within, one by one, new freedom and power is releasedinto our
heart and mind.
The Word Of GodIs Truth
That the Word of God is Truth cannotbe over emphasized. Our battle with
Darkness is fundamentally a battle with deception. Spiritual Darkness comes
to us through a lie, or a distortion. The powerof Darknessdepends its "wiles"
to bring us under the influence of a lie. Just as light defeats darkness, the
powerof a lie is defeatedby truth.

As we bring truth into our mind, and begin to identify the lies in our thinking,
the powerof darkness is diminished, lie by lie, until our mind is completely
renewedand governedby truth. As we subject our emotions and thoughts to
the Word of God, we disarm the lies of Darkness andstop it's destructive
influences. As we gain victories over inward lies, we find a new freedom as
Jesus Himself now has final sayover the desires of our heart. We give Jesus
the lastword by yielding our heart and its desires to the Word of God. It is
through the renewing of our mind that we are able to recognize, and then stop
the ongoing influence of Darkness onour thoughts, our emotions, our
ambitions, our desires, and our priorities.
Examples of Destructive Thinking:
Do I make decisions becauseofthe love of money?
Do I chronically make bad decisions?
Am I living in chronic sin? Why, what do I really want?
What is it that I really enjoy?
Am I, in reality, a completely unhappy person? If yes, then what is it that I am
not getting?
Do I relate to life as though it (life) is about me and my wants. Or do I relate
to life through the ccomplishments of Jesus onmy behalf.
Am I in constantcompetition or struggle with people?
Am I chronically frustrated, depressedor angry?
Do I define myself or do I allow God to define me?
Do I define reality or do I allow God to define reality?
Who defines truth for me - the culture, the media, my family, my Church, my
own mind, or the Word of God?
Is my life characterizedby thankfulness and joyfulness?
Do I have a sense of security with genuine peace?

The Word Converts the Soul
Psalm19:7-11 (NKJV)
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the
Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the
eyes;9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the
Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than
gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeteralso than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreoverby them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is
greatreward.
The effects ofDarkness are expressedthrough our personalities just as God
expresses Himselfthrough our personalities. Darkness rules in us through lies,
God rules through truth. So, it is as we allow God's Word to rule over our
heart, that darkness is effectively dealt with. The result of God's rule is
spiritual and emotionalfreedom.
We must remember that believing and acting on lies is ultimately a moral
issue, it is sin. If we live by a lie rather than God's Word it is because we
prefer the lie.
God Sends His Word for a Specific Effector Purpose.
Psalm107:20 (NKJV)
20 He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their
destructions.
Isaiah55:8-11 (NKJV)
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Norare your ways My ways, says
the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways
higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the
rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But
waterthe earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seedto the
sowerAnd bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My

mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplishwhat I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
One thing is certain, Godunderstands our problems. He knows exactlywhere
our difficulties lie. He understands anger, depression, frustration,
unhappiness, destructive habits; He understands every problem we can have.
But the really goodnews is that He not only understands our problems, but
He understands us. It is as He fixes us that we become able to manage our
problems. He understands life better than we do and He knows our heart
better than we do. In fact, as God, He alone is the only one that has all the
answers!
The Key: WE Allow God to Define Truth.
We are to allow Him to define our purpose in life; He is the One who gives
meaning. As God, we allow him to define the source ofour difficulties, and we
allow Him to define Himself. God can answerevery question and we allow to
provide the principles we live by.
God Could Have Said Anything, but His Word is what He said!!
The above scriptures tell us that God understands the issues of our life. And
He heals for healing is built into His Word. He says that just as waterwaters
the earth, and causes the earth to bring forth fruit in order that people will
have food. In the same way, God foreseesour need, and sends His Word to
waterour soul and produce in us the health and healing He has purposed.
His word will accomplishHis purposes, for He performs His Word to His
desired end! God designedwaterto do what it does and God designedplants
that need waterfor growth. The Scripture encouragesus to learn from this
simple illustration of God's design. Can you imagine a plant that refused
waterbecause, in the plant's wisdom, it didn't see the relevance or purpose of
water.
Contrastthat plant with a plant that simply accepts God's counsel, accepts
that wateris essentialfor health, and then, in faith, drank deeply of the water
that God gave. We must see ourselves as designedby God, and His Word as
the essentialnutrient of our soul.

God Performs His Word
It is a question of power. God owns all power, otherwise he couldn't fix our
problems. When the scripture says His Word will accomplishthe purpose for
which it is sent, we are to understand that in order for that statement to be
true God must have all power. In other words, nothing can stop God's Word
from accomplishing it's purpose. God Himself performs His Word! Isaiah
55:11 states His Word will accomplishwhat He pleases andprosper in the
purpose for which He sent it! As we submit our hearts to God's Word then the
accomplishing and prospering of His Word begins to work in us, producing
the wholenessand freedom that He wills for His people. Listen to Psalms
Chpt. 1.
Psalm1 (NIV)
1 Blessedis the man who does not walk in the counselof the wickedor stand
in the way of sinners or sit in the seatof mockers. 2 But his delight is in the
law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in seasonand whose leaf
does not wither. Whateverhe does prospers. 4 Not so the wicked!They are
like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wickedwill not stand in
the judgment, nor sinners in the assemblyof the righteous. 6 For the Lord
watches overthe way of the righteous, but the way of the wickedwill perish.
Notice the wholeness andfreedom that comes to the person who allows the
Word of God to rule in their heart. They are like trees that are planted by a
river, trees that bear fruit and whose leaves are always green. He is so affected
by the Word of Godthat he prospers in everything he does.
It is as we submit our lives to the searchlightof God's Word that we are
changed. If we allow God's Word to decide all questions of faith and behavior,
what is right or wrong, inside and outside, then we will be able to see our
heart with God's eye. Otherwise we never see our real problems and never
deal with the destructions of lies that reside within. Listen to Hebrews 4:12
Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest
knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for
what we really are
We all need this supervision of God's Word. No one evercomes to the place in
life that they no longerneed to expose their heart to God.
Listen to Timothy.
2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teachus what is true and
to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches
us to do what is right.
As we walk toward wholeness andfreedom through His Word, may we hear
the voice of God, speaking to us saying, this is the way, walk ye in it."
Peter DeHaanBible, God, Holy Spirit, Swordof the Spirit
What Does The Swordof the Spirit Mean?
In the letter Paul wrote tothe church inEphesus he tells themtoput on spiritual
armor. Includedin his list of gear is only one offensive item:“the swordof the
Spirit,”whichhe says is the word of God.
Many people understandthis as a reference tothe Bible, the writtenwordof
God. Until a fewyears ago, I did, too (eventhoughthe Bible as we know it today
didn’t exist back when this was written). We are thento use the words of the
Bible tocombat evil and the evil one; it is our weapon to fendoff the attacks of
the devil and his minions. Sadly, too many people do use the Bible as a weapon,
but against eachother. They fling Bible verses like rocks, attempting toadvance
their point and subdue all disagreement. They forget the real enemy is not in

the physical worldbut in the spiritual one. They forget to listentoeachother
and to love one another.
Other people see this instructionas a reference tothe spokenwordof God: the
words of the Holy Spirit who directs eachof us. Though a bit jarring to many,
this understanding seems more consistentwiththe text, since it says the word
of God is the swordof the Spirit, connecting wordwithSpirit. While I think this
is a correct understanding, it’s alsoarisky one. What if we hear wrong? What if
what I hear contradicts withwhat you hear? Then we have a problem.
However, we must keepin mind that the spokenword of God shouldalign with
the writtenwordof God. If the two are in conflict, thenwhat we think we heard
must be in error.
Withso much at stake, some people bypass the Holy Spirit andgo straight to
the Bible. While this might be safe, it falls short of God’s intent. Instead, we
shouldlisten tothe spokenwords of the Holy Spirit, confirming themwiththe
writtenwords of the Bible.
This is what the swordof the Spirit means to me.
The Sword of the Spirit
April 19th, 1891
by
C. H. SPURGEON
(1834-1892)

"Take the sword of the Spirit, whichis the word of God."—Ephesians 6:17.
To be a Christianis tobe a warrior. The good soldier of Jesus Christ must not
expect tofindease in this world:it is a battle-field. Neither must he reckon
upon the friendshipof the world;for that would be enmity against God. His
occupationis war. As he puts on piece by piece of the panoply providedfor him,
he may wisely say to himself, "This warns me of danger;this prepares me for
warfare;this prophesies opposition."
Difficultiesmeet us eveninstanding our ground; for the apostle, twoor three
times, bids us—"Stand."In the rush of the fight, men are apt to be carriedoff
their legs. If they can keeptheir footing, they will be victorious;but if they are
borne down by the rushof their adversaries, everything is lost. Youare toput
on the heavenly armor in order that you may stand;and you will needit to
maintain the positioninwhich your Captain has placedyou. If evento stand
requires all this care, judge ye what the warfare must be! The apostle also
speaks of withstanding as well as standing. We are not merely todefend, but
also toassail. It is not enoughthat you are not conquered;you have toconquer:
and hence we find, that we are to take, not only a helmet to protect the head,
but alsoa sword, withwhich toannoy the foe. Ours, therefore, is astern
conflict, standing and withstanding;andwe shall want all the armor from the
divine magazine, all the strengthfromthe mighty God of Jacob.
It is clear from our text that our defense and our conquest must be obtainedby
sheer fighting. Many try compromise;but if you are a true Christian, youcan
never do this business well. The language of deceit fits not a holy tongue. The
adversary is the father of lies, andthose that are withhim understandthe art of
equivocation;but saints abhor it. If we discuss terms of peace, and attempt to
gain something by policy, we have enteredupona course fromwhich we shall
returnindisgrace. We have no order from our Captain topatch up a truce, and
get as good terms as we can. We are not sent out to offer concessions. It is said

that if we yielda little, perhaps the worldwill yieldalittle also, andgood may
come of it. If we are not too strict andnarrow, perhaps sin will kindly consent to
be more decent. Our associationwithit will prevent its being sobarefacedand
atrocious. If we are not narrow-minded, our broad doctrine will godown with
the world, and those on the other side will not be sogreedy of error as they
now are. Nosuch thing. Assuredly this is not the order whichour Captain has
issued. Whenpeace is to be made, he will make it himself, or he will tell us how
to behave to that end; but at present our orders are very different.
Neither may we hope to gainby being neutral, or granting an occasional truce.
We are not to cease fromconflict, and try to be as agreeable as we can withour
Lord's foes, frequenting theirassemblies, andtasting their dainties. Nosuch
orders are writtenhere. Youare to graspyour weapon, and go forthto fight.
Neither may you somuch as dreamof winning the battle by accident. Noman
was ever holy by a happy chance. Infinite damage may be done by carelessness;
but no man ever wonlife's battle by it. To let things go on as they please, is to
let thembear us down to hell. We have no orders to be quiet, and take matters
easily. No;we are to pray always, and watch constantly. The one note that rings
out from the text is this:—TAKETHESWORD!TAKE THE SWORD!Nolonger is it,
talk and debate!Nolonger is it, parley and compromise!The word of thunder
is—Take the sword. The Captain's voice is clear as a trumpet—Take the sword!
No Christianmanhere will have beenobedient toour text unless withclear,
sharp, and decisive firmness, courage, andresolve, he takes the sword. We must
go to heavenswordin hand, all the way. "TAKE THE SWORD."On this command
I would enlarge. May the Holy Spirit helpme!
It is noteworthy that there is only one weapon of offense provided, although
there are several piecesof armor. The Roman soldier usually carriedaspear as
well as a sword. We have seenfrequent representations of the legionary

standing upon guard as sentry, andhe almost always stands witha spear in his
right hand, while his swordhangs at his side. But Paul, for excellentreasons,
concentrates our offensive weaponinone, because it answers for all. We are to
use the sword, and that only. Therefore, if you are going tothis fight, see well to
your only weapon. If you are to have no other, take care that you have this
always in your hand. Let the Captain's voice ring in your ear, "Take the sword!
Take the sword!", and so go forthto the field.
Notice, first, the swordyouare to take is the swordof the Spirit, whichis the
Word of God. That is our first head;and the secondis equally upon the surface
of the text:This swordis tobe ours. We are orderedto take the swordof the
Spirit, and somake it our own sword.
I. First, the Wordof God which is to be our one weapon is of noble origin;for IT
IS "THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT." It has the properties of asword, and those were
givenit by the Spirit of God.
Here we note that the Holy Spirit has a sword.
He is quiet as the dew, tender as the anointing oil, soft as the zephyr of
eventide, andpeaceful as a dove;and yet, under another aspect, he wields a
deadly weapon. He is the Spirit of judgment and the Spirit of burning, and he
bearethnot the sword invain. Of him it may be said, "The Lord is a man of war:
Jehovah is his name."
The Word of God in the hand of the Spirit wounds very terribly, andmakes the
heart of man to bleed. Doyou not remember, some of you, when you usedto
be gashedwiththis sword Sunday after Sunday? Were you not cut to the heart
by it, so as to be angry withit? You almost made up your mind to turn away

from hearing the gospel again. That swordpursuedyou, and piercedyou in the
secrets of your soul, and made you bleedina thousandplaces. At last you were
"prickedin the heart", whichis a far better thing thanbeing "cut tothe heart";
and then executionwas done, indeed. That wound was deadly, and none but he
that killedcouldmake you alive. Doyou recollect how, after this, your sins were
slainone after another? Their necks were laidon the block, and the Spirit acted
as an executioner withhis sword. After that, blessedbe God, your fears, and
doubts, and despair, andunbelief, were alsohackedto pieces by this same
sword. The Word gave you life;but it was at the first a great killer. Your soul
was like a battle-fieldafter agreat fight, under the first operations of the divine
Spirit, whose swordreturnethnot empty fromthe conflict.
Beloved, the Spirit of God has war withthe Amalek of evil and error from
generationtogeneration. He will spare none of the evils whichnow pollute the
nations;his sword will never be quiet till all these Canaanites are destroyed. The
Holy Spirit glorifies Christnot only by what he reveals, but alsoby what he
overturns. The strife may be weary, but it will be carriedon from age toage, till
the Lord Jesus shall appear; for ever shall the Spirit of God espouse the cause of
love against hate, of truthagainst error, of holiness against sin, of Christ against
Satan. He will win the day, and those who are withhim shall in his might be
more than conquerors. The Holy Spirit has proclaimedwar, and wields a two-
edgedsword.
The Holy Spirit wields noswordbut the Word of God.
This wonderful Book, whichcontains the utterances of God's mouth, is the one
weapon whichthe Holy Ghost elects touse for his warlike purposes. It is a
spiritual weapon, and so is suitable tothe Holy Spirit. The weapons of his
warfare are not carnal: he never uses either persecutionor patronage, force or
bribery, glitterof grandeur, or terror of power. He works upon men by the
Word, whichis suitable tohis own spiritual nature, andto the spiritual work

which is to be accomplished. While it is spiritual, this weaponis "mighty
throughGod." A cut from the Word of God will cleave a man's spirit fromhead
to foot; sosharp is this sword. Though by long practice insin a man may have
coatedhimself as with mail impenetrable, yet the Wordof the Lord will divide
the northernironand the steel. The Holy Ghost can make a man feel the divine
power of the sacredWordin the very center of his being. For battling withthe
spirits of man, or withspirits of an infernal kind, there is noweapon so keen, so
piercing, soable to divide betweenthe joints andmarrow, so penetrating as to
the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Word, inthe Spirit's hand, gives no
dash-wound, but cuts into the man's heart, and so wounds him that there is no
healing save by supernatural power. The wounded conscience will bleed;its
pains will be upon it day and night; and though it seek out a thousand
medicines, nosalve but one can cure a gash whichthis terrible swordhas made.
This weaponis two-edged;indeed, it is all edge;and whichever way it strikes, it
wounds and kills. There is no such a thing as the flat of the swordof the Spirit:it
has a razor edge every way. Beware howyou handle it, you critics;it may
wound evenyou: it will cut you to your destruction, one of these days, except
ye be converted. He that uses the Wordin the Lord's battles may use it upon
carnal hopes, and thenstrike back upon unbelieving fears;he may smite with
one edge the love of sin, and thenwiththe other the pride of self-
righteousness. It is aconquering weapon in all ways, this wondrous swordof the
Spirit of God.
The Word, we say, is the only swordwhich the Spirit uses. I know the Holy
Ghost uses gracious sermons;but it is only in proportionas they have the Word
of God in them. I know the Holy Ghost uses religiousbooks;but only so far as
they are the Wordof God toldout in other language. Conviction, conversion,
and consolationstill are wrought, and only by the Word of God. Learn, then, the
wisdomof using the Word of God for holy purposes. The Spirit has abundant
ability tospeak of his own self, apart from the writtenWord. The Holy Ghost is
God, and therefore he is the greatest spirit inthe universe. All wisdomdwells in
him. He thought out the laws whichgovernnature and direct providence. The

Holy Spirit is the great teacher of human spirits:he taught Bezaleelandthe
artificers inthe wilderness howtomake the fine linen, and the gold and carved
work for the tabernacle. All arts andsciences are perfectly knowntohim, and
infinitely more thanmen can ever discover. Yet he will not use these things in
this holy controversy. Inthe quarrel of his covenant he neither uses philosophy,
nor science, nor rhetoric. Incontending against the powers of darkness, "The
swordof the Spirit is the Wordof God." "It is written"is his master-stroke.
Words which God has spokenby holy men of old, and has causedto be recorded
on the sacredpage—these are the battle-axeandweapons of war of his Spirit.
This Book contains the Word of God, and is the Word of God; and this it is which
the Holy Ghost judges tobe so effectual aweapon against evil that he uses this,
and this only, as his swordin the great conflict withthe powers of darkness.
The Word is the swordof the Spirit because it is of his own making.
He will not use a weaponof human workmanship, lest the swordboast itself
against the hand that wields it. The Holy Ghost revealedthe mindof God to the
minds of holy men; he spake the word into their hearts, andthus he made them
think as he would have them think and to write what he willedthemtowrite:
so that what they spoke and wrote was spokenand writtenas they were moved
by the Holy Ghost. Blessedbe the Holy Spirit for deigning touse somany
writers, andyet himself toremainthe veritable Author of this collectionof holy
books. We are grateful for Moses, for David, for Isaiah, for Paul, for Peter, for
John, but most of all for that superintending Editor, that innermost Author of
the whole sacredvolume—eventhe Holy Ghost. A warrior may well be careful
as to the make of his sword. If a man had made his own sword, had tempered
the metal, had himself passedthe blade throughmany fires, and wrought it to
perfection, then, if he were a skillful workman, he would feel confidence inhis
sword. When work is done nowadays, it is, as a rule, badly done. Work done by
contract is usually scampedin some part or another;but whena man does a
work for himself he is likely todo it thoroughly, and produce an article whichhe
can dependupon. The Holy Ghost has made this Book himself:every portionof

it bears his initial andimpress;and thus he has a swordworthy of his own hand,
a true Jerusalemblade of heavenly fabric. He delights touse aweapon so
divinely made, and he does use it right gloriously.
The Word of God is also the swordof the Spirit because he puts the edge upon
it.
It is because he is in it that it is so keenand cutting. I believe inthe inspiration
of Holy Scripture, not only inthe day whenit was written, but onward, and even
to this day. It is still inspired;still doththe Holy Ghost breathe throughthe
chosen words. I told you the swordwas all edge;but I would add that the Holy
Spirit makes it so. It would have no edge at all if it were not for his presence
withinit, and his perpetual working by it. How many people readtheir Bibles,
and yet derive no more benefit therefromthanif they had read an old
almanack! In fact, they would more easily keepawake over an ancient
Bradshawthan over a chapter of Scripture. The ministersof the gospel may
preachGod's Word in all sincerity andpurity, andyet, if the Spirit of God be not
present, we might as well have preachedmere moral essays, for no good can
come of our testimony. The Holy Ghost rides inthe chariot of Scripture, andnot
in the waggon of modern thought. Scripture is that ark of the covenant which
contains the goldenpot of manna, and also bears above it the divine light of
God's shining. The Spirit of God workethin, by, and through, and withthe
Word; and if we keeptothat Word, we may rest assuredthat the Holy Ghost
will keepwithus, and make our testimony tobe a thing of power. Let us pray
the blessedSpirit toput an edge on our preaching, lest we say much and
accomplishlittle. Hear us inthis thing, O blessedOne!
It is "the sword of the Spirit"because he alone can instruct us in the use of it.
You think, young man, that you can pick up your Bible, and go and preach from
it at once, properly andsuccessfully. Youhave made a presumptuous mistake. A
swordis a weapon whichmay do hurt tothe man who flourishes withit inmere

wanton pride. No one can handle the swordof the Spirit aright save the chosen
man whom God hath ordainedfrom before the foundation of the world, and
trainedinfeats of arms. By this the elect of God are known—that they love the
Word of God, and they have a reverencefor it, and discernbetweenit andthe
words of man. Notice the lambs in the field, just now; and there may be a
thousandewes and lambs; but every lamb finds out its ownmother. So does a
true-bornchildof God know where togo for the milk whichis tonourishhis
soul. The sheepof Christ knowthe Shepherd's voice in the Word, and a stranger
will they not follow, for they know not the voice of strangers. God's ownpeople
have discernment todiscover andrelishGod's ownWord. They will not be
misledby the cunning craftiness of human devices. Saints knowthe Scriptures
by inward instinct. The holy life, whichGod has infusedintobelievers by his
Spirit, loves the Scriptures, andlearns howto use themfor holy purposes.
Young soldier, youmust go to the training-groundof the Holy Spirit tobe made
a proficient swordsman. Youwill go in vain to the metaphysicianor to the
logician;for neither of these knows how tohandle a spiritual weapon. In other
arts they may be masters;but in the sacreduse of diving theology they are mere
fools. In the things of the Wordwe are dunces till we enter the school of the
Holy Ghost. He must take of the things of Christ, andshow themunto us. He
must teach us how to gripthis sword by faith, and how tohold it by
watchfulness, soas to parry the adversary's thrust, andcarry the war intothe
foeman's territory. He is well taught whocan swing this great two-handed
swordto and fro, and mow a lane throughthe midst of his opponents, and
come out a conqueror at the end. It may take a long time to learnthis art;but
we have a right skillful Teacher. Those of us who have been inthis warfare
thirty or forty years feel that we have not yet reachedthe full use of this sword;
nay, I know for one, that I needdaily to be taught how to use this mysterious
weapon, whichis capable of so much more than I have yet supposed. It is the
swordof the Spirit, adaptedfor the use of an Almighty arm, and therefore equal
to the doing of far more than we think. Holy Spirit, teachus now feats of arms
by this thy sword!

But, chiefly, it is the swordof the Spirit, because he is the great Master inthe
use of it.
Oh, that he would come and showus this morning how he can thrust andcleave
withit! In this house of prayer we have oftenseenhim at his work. Here the
slainof the Lord have beenmany. We have seenthis swordtake off the head of
many a Goliathdoubt, and slay a horde of cares and unbeliefs. We have seen
the Spirit pile up heaps on heaps of the slainwhenthe Wordof convictionhas
gone forth, and men have seensintobe sin, and fallendown as dead before the
Lord and his law. We also know what the use of the swordby the Spirit of God
means, for withinour own being he has left marks of his prowess. He has killed
our doubts and fears, and left no more mistrusts toworry us. There was a man
of God who was frequently subject todoubts, evendoubts uponthe
fundamentals of religion. He hatedthis state of mind; but still he couldnot get
ridof the habit of evil questioning. Inanswer to prayer, the Spirit came, and
convincedhim of the pride of his intellect, andof the wickedness of setting up
his judgment against the Word of the Lord; and from that day forwardhe was
never the subject of another fit of unbelief. He saw things clearly inthe light of
the Holy Spirit;and that is to see themindeed. The great giant of doubt is sorely
wounded by the swordof the Spirit—yea, he is slainoutright;for the Spirit
works in the believer suchaconvictionof the truththat assurance banishes
suspicion. Whenthe Holy Spirit deals withthe lusts of the flesh, and the lusts of
the eye and the pride of life, these alsolie at his feet, trophies tothe power of
his mighty weapon, eventhe Word of God! The Holy Spirit is glorious inthe use
of this sword. He finds that this weapon suits his hand, and he seeks noother.
Let us use it also, and be gladto do so. Though it is the sword of the Spirit, yet
our feebler handmay grasp it;yea, and find in the grasping that somewhat of
the divine power comes unto our arm.
Dear brethren, is it not a very highhonor put upon you, as soldiers of the cross,
that you shouldbe allowed, nay, commanded totake the swordof the Spirit?
The raw recruit is not trustedwiththe general's sword;but here are youarmed

withthe weapon of God the Holy Ghost, and calledupon tobear that sacred
swordwhich is so gloriously wieldedby the LordGod himself. This we are to
bear, and no other. Does the timidheart enquire, "Wherewithal, my Master,
shall I meet my adversaries"? "Here,"saiththe Holy Ghost, "take this!This is my
own sword; I have done great marvels withit;take it, and nothing shall stand
against you." When you remember the potency of this sword, when the Spirit
tests it uponyourself, youmay take it withconfidence, and use it in your holy
war withfull assurance. That Word of God which could convert you, can convert
anybody; if it could kill your despair, it can remove another man's despondency;
if it has conqueredyour pride and self-will, it cansubdue the like in your
childrenand your neighbors. Having done what it has certainly done for you,
you may have a full persuasionthat, before its power, nocase is hopeless.
Wherefore, see toit, that youuse from this day forth no other weapon than the
swordof the Spirit, whichis the Word of God.
II. This fairly lands me in the secondportionof my discourse. The Word of God is
the swordof the Spirit;but IT IS ALSO TO BE OUR SWORD.
Here I must beginagain, and go over much the same ground. We shall needa
sword.
Our warfare is not child's play: we mean business. We have to deal with fierce
foes, who are only to be met withkeenweapons. Buffets will not suffice inthis
contest;we must come tosword-cuts. Youmay be of a very quiet spirit, but
your adversaries are not so. If you attempt toplay at Christianwarfare, they will
not. To meet the powers of darkness is no sham battle. They mean mischief.
Nothing but your eternal damnationwill satisfy the fiendishhearts of Satanand
his crew. You must take not somuch a flag to unfurl, or a drum to beat, as a
swordto use, and a specially sharpswordtoo. In this combat you will have to
use a swordsuchas evenevil spirits canfeel, capable of dividing asunder of soul
and spirit, and of the joints and marrow. If you are tolive throughthis fight, and

come off victorious, noform of conflict will suffice less sharpandcutting than
sword-work. Dependupon it that in this struggle youwill be forcedto come to
close quarters. The foe aims at your heart, and pushes home. A spear will not
do, nor bow and arrow; the enemy is too near for anything but hand-to-hand
fighting. Brethren, our foes are not only of our house, but of our heart. I findan
enemy withinwhichis always near, and I cannot get away from him. I findthat
my antagonist will get his hand on my throat if he can. If our foes were far
away, and we could play upon them withartillery whichwouldkill at six or
sevenmiles'distance, we might leada pretty easy life. But no;they are here!At
our doors!Yea, withinus;nearer than hands and feet. Nowfor the short sword:
the claymore of Holy Scripture, tostaband cut, near and now. No sling and
stone will avail us here, but we must take the sword. You have to slay your foe,
or your foe will slay you. It is withus Christians as it was withthe Highlanders in
battle, whentheir leader calledout tothem, "Lads, there they are!If you dinna
kill themthey will kill you." There is no room for peace:it is war tothe knife,
not only now, but to life's end.
The use of the sword is needful for attack. I have remindedyouseveral times
already that it will not suffice for the Christiantoguard against sin, and ward off
temptationfromhimself;he has to assail the powers of evil. In our case, the
best methodof defense is an attack. I have heardof one who wouldbring an
actionin law to gain his ends, for he thought this better thanbeing the
defendant. That may be matter of question;but in war it is oftensafer to assail
than defend. Carry the warfare intothe enemy's territory. Be trying towinfrom
the adversary, and he will not win so much from you. Do not merely be sober
yourselves, but attack drunkenness. Donot be content withbeing from
superstitionyourself, but expose it wherever it appears. Donot merely be
devout when you feel obligedtobe so, but pray for the growthof the kingdom;
pray always. Do not merely say, "I will keepSatan out of my family by bringing
up my childrenaright", but go tothe Sunday-school, and teachother children,
and so carry the war over the border. God forbid that we shouldever goto war
as a nation! But if we were at war withsome nation on the Continent, I should

certainly say, "Let the continentals have the battles ontheir ownground:we do
not want a campaign over here."It is wise tokeepthe war inthe enemy's own
regions. If we had fought the devil more in the world, he might never have been
able to invade the churchso terribly as he has done. Attack withthe sword, for
it is your calling, and thus will you best defendyourself.
We needthe swordfor real fighting. Doyou think that you can dream
yourselves intoheaven? or ride there inthe chariot of ease? Or fly on the wings
of brass music? You make a great mistake if you soimagine. A real war is raging,
your opponents are in deadly earnest, andyou must take your sword.
And, further, we needthis sword:this swordof the Spirit, whichis the Word of
God.
We say with David, "There is none like that;give it me." It has wrought such
wonders that we prefer it toall others. Noother will matchthe enemy's
weapon. If we fight the devil withhuman reason, the first time our wooden
swordcomes in contact with a Satanic temptationit will be cut in pieces. If you
do not wielda true Jerusalemblade you are in grave peril;your weapon will
break off at the hilt, and where will yoube? Standing defenceless, withnothing
but the handle of a brokensword inyour hand, you will be the object of your
adversary's ridicule. Youmust have this sword, for no other will penetrate the
foe, and no other will last out the battle. After twenty years, what has become
of the pious resolutions of your youth? What is the staying power of your
consecrationmade in the hour of enthusiasm? Alas, howlittle trust canbe
placedin it!What would become of us after thirty years of fighting, if we had
not the Word of God to rely upon? The Word of the Lordendurethfor ever;but
nothing else does. We may do well inearly days, but we shall fail inold age if
we have not eternal verities tofall back upon.

I can commend this swordto you all, my brethren, althoughyouare sovariedin
character. This swordsuits every hand. Youth or age may alike use this weapon.
These dear girls from the Orphanage, and yonder lads from the Bible-class, may
fight the battle of their youthwiththe Word of God; for Holy Scripture may
impress andguide our freshest life. Youthat have grown grey, you that have
passedseventy or eighty, youwill value the Bible more than ever, and you will
find that this swordis the best for veteranwarriors. Young menand young
women, here is a swordsuitedfor all of you, and well does it become the hand
of the feeblest andthe gentlest. The Holy Ghost has in the sacredWord
preparedan implement of warfare suitedfor great minds and small, for the
culturedand the uneducated. A wonderful swordthis is, which, in the hand of
faith, reveals anadaptation marvellous tothe last degree.
Whatever others may say, it is sufficient for us that this is the regulationsword.
A soldier is not left tochoose his own equipment;he must carry such arms as
his sovereignappoints. This is the regulationswordinChrist's army. The sword
of the Spirit, whichis the Word of God, is what you are biddento take; and if
you in wilfulness resolve toexchange it for another, youcommit an act of
rebellion, andyou make the change at your own risk and peril. Come, then, let
us eachone take the Word of God, and carry it nearer our hearts thanever;for
such is the word of command, "Take the swordof the Spirit, which is the word
of God."
Now, see what we are toldto do. We needa sword;we needthis sword;we are
to take this sword.
Note that we are not toldthat we may lay it down: the demand to take the
swordis continuous, and there is nohint of its being suspended. There is atime,
of course, whenthe soldier of her Majesty may remove his swordfrom his side,
and put off his regimentals;there is never suchatime witha Christian. One
might have thought, from what we have seenof late, that orders had come

from headquarters that the soldiers weretolay down the sword of the Spirit,
the Word of God, and take to lighter weapons. Entertainments, amusements,
farces, and sing-song are now usedto do what the gospel has failedto achieve!
Is it not sadly so? Well, if any will try these silly toys, I can only say that they
have no command from their Lordto warrant themin their proceedings. Take
all these things, andsee what they will do; but you make the trial at your own
risk, and on your own heads the result of failure will fall.
The standing-orders are totake the swordof the Spirit, and no newregulation
has ever beenissuedby the great Captainof salvation. From the days of Paul till
now, the word stands, "Take the swordof the Spirit."All other things will surely
fail, and hence the one sole abiding command is, "Take the swordof the Spirit."
We are not toldto hang up this sword for exhibition. Certainpeople have a
handsomely-boundBible tolie upon the table of the best room; and a fine
ornament it is. A Family Bible is a treasure. But I pray you do not let your love of
the Bible endthere. Witha soldier inwar, a swordis not meant to be hung up in
the tent, nor evento be flourishedinthe air;but it is issuedtobe used. Nor are
we topush this sword intoa sheath, as many do who take the Bible, andadd so
much of criticism, or of their ownopinion to it, that its edge is not felt. Many
men use their lowopinion of inspirationas a scabbard intowhich they pushthe
Bible down. Their vast knowledge makes a beautiful scabbard, and they push
down the sword, saying, "Keep still there!O swordof the Lord, rest and he
quiet!"After we have preachedour heart out, and men have felt the power of
it, they make a desperate efforttoimprisonthe Wordin their unbelieving
theory, or in their worldliness. They holddown the Word all the week witha
firm hand, for fear its edge or point shouldwound them. It is the scabbard of
culture, or philosophy, or of progress, andinthis they shut up the living Wordof
God as in a coffin.
We are not to bury the Word under other matters;but we are to take it as a
sword:which means, as I understandit, first, believe it.

Believe every portionof it;believe it withatrue and real faith, not witha mere
credal faith, which says, "This is the orthodox thing."Believe it as a matter of
fact for every day, affecting your life. Believe it. Andwhenyouhave believedit,
thenstudy it. Oh, for a closer study of the Word of God! Are there not some of
you who have never evenheardor readall that the Lordhas said? Are there not
passages of the Bible whichhave never beenreadby you? It is a melancholy fact
that there shouldbe evena line of the sacredScriptures whichhas never once
come under your eye. Do readthe Bible right through, frombeginning to end.
Begintomorrow:nay, beginto-day, and go steadily throughthe whole of the
sacredbooks, with prayer and meditation. Never let it be suspectedby youthat
God has recordedtruths inhis Word whichyou have never evenonce read.
Study the Word, and work out its meaning. Go deepintothe spirit of
inspiration. He gets most goldwho digs the deepest inthis mine. They usedto
say of certainmines inCornwall that the deeper youwent the richer was the
ore;assuredly is it so with the mines of inspiredScripture. The deeper yougo
under the Spirit's guidance the larger is the rewardfor your toil. Take the sword
withthe grip of sincere faith;holdit fast by a fuller knowledge, andthen
exerciseyourself daily inits use. The swordis to be takenfor earnest fight. You
will not be long before occasionarises insucha worldas this. You will have to
parry withit, to pierce withit, tocut with it, and to kill withit. "Where shall I
begin?"says one. Beginat home, and, for many a day, you will have your hands
full. When you have slainall the rebels at home, and long before that, you may
take a turnat those around you in the world, and inthe professing church.
Inside your own heart you will finda band of bandits whichshould be
exterminated. There will always be needtokeepthe sword going withinyour
own territory. Endthis civil war before you go intoforeignparts. Whenthe war
withinthe city of Mansoul has beenvictoriously carriedthrough, besiege the
heart of your friend, your child, your neighbor. Behold, the worldliethinthe
wickedone! Errors abound, and colossal systems of falsehoodstill standaloft.
Menare still draggeddown by the arch-deceiver. Surely, we feel our swords
flying out of their sheaths whenwe think of the millions who are being ruined
by sinand error. Oh, for a mighty onslaught upon the powers of darkness!

Once more, we are to take this swordwith a purpose.
We are to use it that we may be able tostand and to withstand. If you want to
stand, draw the sword, and smite your doubts. How fiercely unbelief assails!
Here comes a doubt as toyour election. Pierce it throughwiththe Word. Anon
comes a doubt as to the precious blood. Cleave it from head to foot with the
assurance of the Word that the blood of Jesus cleansethus fromall sin. Here
comes another doubt, and yet another. As quick as arm can move, drive texts of
Scripture throughevery newfallacy, every newdenial of truth, and spit the
whole of them upon the rapier of the Word. It will be for your good to kill these
doubts outright. Do not play withthem, but fight them in real earnest. Youwill
find that temptations alsowill come in hordes. Meet themwiththe preceptsof
sacredWrit, and slay eventhe desire of evil by the Spirit's applicationof the
Holy Word. The washing of water by the Word is a glorious cleanser.
Discouragements willarise like mists of the morning. Oh, that God's Word may
shine themaway with the beams of the promises!Your afflictions multiply, and
you will never be able toovercome impatience anddistrust except by the
infallible Wordof God. You can bear trial, and bear it patiently, if youuse this
weapon to kill anxiety. Youwill "standfast inthe evil day", and having done all,
you will still stand, if this sword be inyour hand.
You have not only to standfast yourselves, but youhave to winsouls for Christ.
Do not try to conquer sinin others, or capture a heart for Jesus, except withthe
swordof the Spirit. Howthe devil laughs when we try to make converts apart
from Holy Scripture and the Holy Spirit!He laughs, I say; for he derides our folly.
What can you do, you children, playing withyour little woodenswords—what
can you do against men coveredfromhead to foot withthe steel mail of the
habit of sin? Sunday-school teachers, teachyour childrenmore andmore the
pure Word of God; and preachers, donot try to be original, but be content to
take of the things of Christ, and show themto the people;for that is what the
Holy Ghost himself does;and you will be wise to use his methodand his sword.

No sinner aroundyou will be savedexcept by the knowledge of the great truths
containedin the Word of God. No man will ever be brought torepentance, to
faith, and tolife in Christ, apart from the constant applicationof the truth
throughthe Spirit. I hear great shouting, great noises everywhere, about great
things that are going to be done: let us see them. The whole worldis going to be
embracedwithinthe church; sothey say. I fear the worldwill not be much the
better for inclusioninsucha church. Big boasters shouldheedthe word of the
wise man, "Let not him that girdethon his harness boast himself as he that
puttethit off." If the champion goethforthwith any other swordthan the Word
of God, he had better not boast at all; for he will come back withhis sword
broken, his shieldcast away, and himself grimy withdishonor. Defeat awaits
that man who forsakes the Word of the Lord.
I have done whenI have askedyou toremember that the text is inthe present
tense:Take unto you the swordof the Spirit evennow.
What varieties of people there are here this morning!Believershave come
hither inall sorts of perils;let themeachone take the swordof the Spirit, and
they will overcome every foe. Here, too, are seekers whowishtobe Christians;
but they cannot compass it. What is the matter this morning? "Oh," says one, "I
have beenin the habit of sinning, and the habit is very strong upon me." Fight
withsinful habits withthe Word of God, as the sword of the Spirit:soonly will
you conquer your evil self. Finda text of Scripture that will cleave your sindown
to the chine, or stabit to the heart. "Alas!Satan tempts me horribly,"cries one;
"I have beenlately assailedinmany ways." Have you? You are not the first. Our
divine Lordin the wilderness was temptedof the devil. He might have fought
Satan witha thousandweapons; but he chose to defeat himwith this one only.
He said, "It is written;it is written;it is written."He prickedthe foemanso
sorely withthis sharppoint, that the arch-adversary thought totry the same
sword;and he alsobegan to say, "It is written."But he cut himself withthis
sword, for he didnot quote the passages correctly, nor give the whole of them;
and the Master soonfoundthe way toknock aside his sword, and wound him

still more. Followyour Lord's example. "Oh, but," says one," I am solow in
spirits."Very well;fight lowness of spiritswiththe Wordof God. "The doctor
recommendedme,"says one, "to take a little spiritstoraise my spirits."Those
doctors are always having this sinlaid to their charge. I am not so sure that they
are not oftenmaligned. You like the dose, and that is why you take it. Try the
Word of God for lowness of spirits, andyou will have found a sure remedy. I
find, if I can lay a promise under my tongue, like a sweet lozenge, andkeepit in
my mouth or mind all the day long, I am happy enough. If I cannot finda
Scripture tocomfort me, thenmy inwardtroubles are multiplied. Fight
despondency and despair withthe swordof the Spirit. I cannot tell what your
particular difficulty may be at this moment; but I give you this directionfor all
holy warfare—"Take the swordof the Spirit, whichis the wordof God." You
must overcome every enemy;and this weapon is all you need. If you, my
hearer, wouldovercome sinand conquer unbelief, take sucha word as this,
"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth;" and as you look you
shall be saved, and doubt shall die, and sinbe slain. God grant you his Spirit's
aid, for Christ's sake!Amen."
Addedto Bible BulletinBoard's "SpurgeonCollection"by:
Tony Capoccia
David's WebCreations,
Historical Background
The Roman sword, or gladius, was craftedof iron. Blacksmiths hardenedthe
iron by coating the red-hot swordblade withcoal dust, thus forming a hard
carbon coating on the blade. Sword handles were made of iron, ivory, bone, or
wood.

The Romans usedtheir swords bothoffensively anddefensively. Usedina
defensive manner, the sword, along withthe other armor pieces, enabledthe
soldier todeflect the enemy's blows. As anoffensive weapon, the swordwas
usedto attack and counter-attack anenemy until the weapon seriously
wounded or killedthe assailant. Inbattle, rows of Roman soldiers pressedback
their enemies one stepat a time by alternating aforwardthrust of the shield
witha forwardplunge of the sword.
Biblical Parallels
The apostle John had a visionof Jesus while imprisonedonthe isle of Patmos.
John describedthe Lordas having a "sharp twoedgedsword"coming out of His
mouth (Revelation1:16). Later, Johnwrote, "AndI saw heavenopened, and
beholda white horse;and he that sat upon him was calledFaithful and True,
and in righteousnesshe dothjudge and make war ... and his name is calledThe
Word of God ... out of his mouth goetha sharp sword, that withit he should
smite the nations:and he shall rule themwitha rod of iron"(Revelation19:11-
16). The mighty warrior describedhere is the King of Kings and Lordof Lords,
the living Word of God.
Jesus, Who is the Word (John 1:1, 14), has graciously givenus His writtenWord,
the Bible. The writtenWordwas giventomen by inspirationof God, and it is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, andfor instructionin
righteousness (II Timothy 3:16-17;II Peter 1:21). The Wordis made alive by the
Holy Spirit of God, causing it to be filledwithdivine energy andability. "So shall
my word be that goethforthout of my mouth: it shall not returnuntome void,
but it shall accomplishthat which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing
wheretoI sent it"(Isaiah 55:11). Jesus saidinJohn 6:63, "The words that I speak
unto you, they are spirit, andthey are life."

God's Word, our swordof the Spirit, is able to cut down the strongholds of
Satan. Tragically, however, many Christians fail towieldtheir swords. Instead,
they display their swords as a decorative shelf piece:beautiful tolook at, but of
little practical use. This passive approachmerely gives the enemy agreater
advantage. The Lord said toIsrael's leader Joshua, "This book of the law shall
not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate thereinday and night,
that thou mayest observe todo according to all that is writtentherein"(Joshua
1:8-9;alsosee Psalm1:2, 119:97-100). By actively using the swordof Scripture,
Joshua would have a huge advantage over his enemies:his way would be
prosperous andsuccessful andthe Lord would go withhim wherever he went.
Psalm 149:6 says of the people of God: "Let the high praises of God be intheir
mouth, and a twoedgedswordintheir hand." That double-edgedswordis the
Word of God, and it is a powerful spiritual weapon, perfectly suitedfor spiritual
battles (see Ephesians 5:19). Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the wordof God is
quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedgedsword, piercing evento
the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, andof the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
It is important to realize that whenwe take up the sword of God's Word and
live by it, our family and friends may become offendedat us. Jesus said, "Think
not that I am come tosend peace on earth:I came not to sendpeace, but a
sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the
daughter against her mother, and the daughter inlaw against her mother in
law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household"(Matthew10:34-37;
also see Luke 12:51-53). Jesus continuedby saying that those who love their
father, mother, son, or daughter more than Him are not worthy of Him. You see,
our devotionmust be first be towardGod, thentoward our family. This might

mean making some difficult choices tostandalone against the actions or
opinions of those close to
us. However, Jesus promised, "Blessedare ye, whenmenshall revile you,
and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my
sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:for great is your rewardin heaven:for so
persecutedthey the prophetswhichwere before you"
(Matthew5:11-12).
Practical Application
Learning to use the swordof God's Word requires many hours of practice. Don't
wait until the heat of battle tolearnto use your sword!Rather, store up
Scripture inyour mind and heart on a regular basis throughmemorizationand
meditation. What do those words mean? Well, memorizationmeans tocommit
a passage to memory, while meditationmeans to thoroughly process, ponder,
think about, and apply a passage of Scripture. II Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to
shew thyself approveduntoGod, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the wordof truth."The more you memorize andmeditate upon
God's Word, the more natural it will become to wieldthe sword. You will gain
confidence inspeaking the Word, praying the Word, and singing the Word. The
Scriptures youhide inyour heart and apply to your life will be withyou at all
times, evenif your Bible isn't nearby.
Many Christians neglect the Wordof God because they "don't have time."But
we all have the same amount of time allottedtous each day, so it really comes
down to a matter of priorities. Davidsaidtothe Lord, "Mine eyes prevent the
night watches, that I might meditate inthy word" (Psalm119:148). Certain
activities may not be wrong in and of themselves, but putting themfirst at the

expense of God's Word is. Evenreading books about the Bible shouldnot take
the place of studying the Bible for ourselves.
Paul wrote, "See thenthat ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as
wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not
unwise, but understanding what the
will of the Lord is"(Ephesians 5:15-17). That wordredeemmeans to buy back or
rescue fromloss. Paul expressedhere anurgency that our time is a limitedand
extremely valuable resource. We needtomake wise decisions inhowwe spend
our time so as to make the best use of it (see Psalm90:12). Our goal shouldbe
to understandand do the will of God, which is revealedinHis Word, for "thy
word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light untomy path" (Psalm119:105).
In trying to disarmus, our enemy will oftentry toconvince us that a particular
portionof scripture is not true or relevant for today. Satan may say something
like, "Well, it looks like God has forsakenyou this time and left you ina real
mess. The Bible may sound good when things are going well, but right now you
needsomething a little more practical. I've got a way out for you." Notice the
slander against God's integrity, the questioning of God's Word, and the
contradictionof God's promises (suchas Philippians 4:19 and Hebrews 13:5). In
a situationlike this, don't defendthe Bible toSatan — just use it against him!
When the devil temptedJesus inthe wilderness, Jesus didn't try toreasonwith
the devil or prove His identity tothe devil. Jesus simply responded, "It is written
..." and thendecisively usedScripture tocombat against the devil's temptations
(see Matthew4:1-10).
Remember that the swordis both an offensive and a defensive weapon. Used
offensively, youhide God's Word in your heart, root out sin, and strengthen
your inner man with God's promises before the enemy attacks. Used

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