Giants and Grasshoppers - Part Twelve

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Today we will look at the sword of the Spirit.

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Transcript

Sunday July 18th 2021
Giants and Grasshoppers
Part Twelve



1). Eph 6:10 ¶ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints

Last week we had looked at the helmet of salvation, a piece of the armor that God has provided that makes a direct connection to our thinking, a piece of the armor that has to do with our mind and the focus of our thoughts. In Ephesians Chapter 4 we are told – Eph 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

We are also told in – 1 Pe 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

There is then an individual responsibility to renew our mind through ‘epignosis’ knowledge and then to make sure that we keep our thought processes aligned with that ‘epignosis’ knowledge of the Word of the Kingdom, with a view to the salvation of our soul by girding up the loins of our mind – Php 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel…..

Php 2:2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

1 Pe 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another…….

2 Co 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

We can see from these verses just how important it is for us to take individual responsibility for aligning our thinking with the Scriptures because this has an impact on us corporately.
a). If we are all submitted to the Scriptures, having on the helmet of salvation, then we will all be of one mind concerning the Kingdom and our participation in it. This will bring us to the unity of the faith. Here is safety and protection – Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

And here we might find an echo of the gospel of peace with which our feet are to be shod. But, if this is not the case, if we are not all on the same scriptural page, then we might easily understand how deception can find a place to take hold in us and how division can come from it.

2). To be able to have on the helmet of [the hope of] salvation is totally dependent upon receiving and understanding the Word of the Kingdom. The Word of the Kingdom is essential to having our waist girded with truth, as it is for having on the breastplate of righteousness, and having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. And the same is true for the shield of faith. 
a). The paramount importance of the Word of the Kingdom to possessing the whole armor of God is very obvious. But going beyond the obvious to the next piece of the ‘armor’, we come to the sword of the Spirit, which is clearly said to be, ‘the Word of God.’
b). And so, because the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is specifically itemized in addition to what we have seen before, we will realize that there is something of significant importance that we are to know about the Word of God, the Word of the Kingdom, with respect to the spiritual warfare through the sword of the Spirit.
c). The whole armor of God has been given to us to protect us from the wiles of the devil so that we should stand and having done all to stand. And what is significant about the sword of the Spirit is that it is the one, and only weapon, that we are given. A part of the armor, but a weapon, nonetheless.
d). There is no spear, no slingshot, no dagger, just the sword of the Spirit.
e). Now, throughout the spiritual warfare verses in Ephesians Chapter 6 we have seen the armor portrayed in a defensive capacity - ‘stand against the wiles of the devil’ v 11, ‘withstand in the evil day’ v 13, ‘having done all, to stand’ v13, ‘stand therefore’ v 14
f). All of these relate to standing firm – being grounded, steadfast, resolute, immovable. And this is entirely consistent with what we find elsewhere in Scripture - Jas 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

We are to submit to God – to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. And we can note that the word translated ‘resist’ in James, is the Greek word – ‘antihistemi’ – which is the same word translated as ‘withstand’ in Ephesians 6:13.
g). So then, to resist the devil, to withstand in the evil day, to stand firm are all one and the same thing - Col 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard,

Heb 3:6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

Heb 6:11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

All of these verses demonstrate an immovable resolve to stand firm through having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, a resolve that requires faithful obedience, patient endurance and long-suffering.
h). And these we must have if we are to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil, so as to be recognized as an overcomer at the Judgment Seat.
i). And so, within the overall defensive posture that we see in the pieces of the spiritual armor and given the necessity of standing fast with patient endurance within Scripture as a whole, how should we understand the use of the sword of the Spirit, the one weapon that God has given to us?

3). The answer to our question is found firstly by recognizing exactly what we are dealing with in the phrase, ‘the Word of God’ – 
2 Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

These are very familiar verses for us, and we would normally amend the translation of v16 to say, ‘All Scripture is God breathed…’ And we amend the translation in this way because the phrase ‘by inspiration of God’ is a translation of one Greek word, ‘Theopneustos’, which is a compound word made up of ‘Theos’, God, and ‘pneuma’, breath, Spirit.
a). And a connection between ‘Theopneustos’ and a sword, can be found in – Heb 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 discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Word of God then, which is ‘Theopneustos’ is alive, and it is powerful. In fact, there is nothing more powerful in all of God’s creation than the God breathed Word.
b). And to begin to see the nature of its power we can go back to the foundation, to the first mention of God’s breath in Scripture – Ge 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

God formed the Man from the dust of the ground, but he was not created alive. Life had to be subsequently imparted to him by God breathing into his nostrils ‘the breath of life’, which resulted in the Man becoming a living soul.
c). And here in this foundational verse is the inextricable connection between God’s breath and life, a connection that remains unchangeable.
d). And within our own experience, within the spiritual realm, the only way that spiritual life can be maintained is through God constantly breathing into us the breath of life – Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Eph 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be [continually] filled with the Spirit,

Jn 6:53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you……63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

The ‘Theopneustos’ Word is the only sustainer of spiritual life. Without it there is nothing.
e). The power of the Word of God, as we have seen here, is extraordinary, but there is still more we can add – Jn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word,

Ps 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

Heb 1:3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power…..

It is the same ‘Theopneustos’ that sustains our life that created the Universe and upholds all things within it, even the created fallen angel who is our enemy. Such is the extraordinary power that God has given us in the sword of the Spirit.
f). And if we follow the Scriptures towards their conclusion, to the time when Christ will return to the earth to completely overthrow the Antichrist, Gentile world power, and Satan’s rule for all time, we will find that this overthrow is described in a particular way – Re 19:15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.

2 Th 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

I hope we are beginning to see the enormity of the power that the Word of God has and understanding this will explain why the sword of the Spirit is given to us as a weapon as part of the whole armor of God.
g). The Word of God is the most powerful thing that we have at our disposal when engaging our enemy in the spiritual warfare. It can never fail.

4).  But let’s please remember that the extraordinary power contained in the Word of God that has been given to us, must be kept within the context of our present position with respect to Satan and his angels – Heb 2:6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him a little [Lit. for a little while] lower than the angels…….

For the duration of Man’s Day, human beings, and within our present dispensation, faithful Christians, remain lower in power and authority than those who continue to rule over the earth. This situation exists for ‘a little while’, for approximately 6000 years, but it will change when God removes Satan as the earth’s ruler and places His Son with the many sons brought to glory on Christ’s throne instead.
a). Until that time comes though, we would do well to remember what the Lord teaches us through the OT type of Saul and David -  
1Sa 26:7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, "God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!" 9 And David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?" 10 David said furthermore, "As the LORD lives, the LORD shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. 11 "The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD'S anointed. 

As the type clearly teaches - "The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD'S anointed.”
b). We cannot stretch out our hand against our adversary, who remains the Lord’s anointed until God sees fit to remove him and remain blameless. The sword of the Spirit has not been given to us for this purpose.
c). That said then, how are we to understand the use of the most powerful weapon in God’s universe within the spiritual warfare? What are we to do with that which is our hands?
d). The answer is to be found in the example provided by the Lord in His encounter with Satan in the wilderness. This is an encounter about rulership and who has the right to hold the scepter in the 7th Day. It is an encounter that parallels the one which took place in the Garden, with the same end in view and has a parallel with our own spiritual warfare – 
Mt 4:3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" 7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'" 8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

What is so obvious in each of the instances recorded in these verses, is that Satan’s tactic used against Christ, as it is used against us, is exactly the same as he used against the Woman in the Garden, to misuse the Word of God – ‘Has God indeed said?’
e). And on each occasion, we see Christ wielding the sword of the Spirit – ‘It is written’ – the most powerful weapon in the universe, that cannot be overturned, that cannot be contradicted, that produces an abundance of life in the face of death.
f). Not at any time did the Lord, who is the Word made flesh, use the sword of the Spirit to challenge Satan’s authority as the earth’s ruler. Even though Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the second person of the Trinity, He could never assert His own authority in that context, because it is impossible for Him to act outside of that which the ‘Theopneustos’ Word has set in place. When the Lord came to the earth He came - Ro 8:3……in the likeness of sinful flesh

Jn 14:30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little [for a little while] lower than the angels,

And because during His first advent He remained, ‘a little lower than the angels’, Our Lord acted entirely out of faithful obedience to His Father as the Son of Man, within the parameters that God had set with respect to this.
g). And in our Lord, we find the perfect example of submitting to God, resisting the devil and seeing him flee from you. The perfect example of how the sword of the Spirit is to be used in the Spiritual warfare.
h). And as a result of conducting Himself entirely within the parameters of God’s fixed laws – Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor,

As we have seen, we have also been made for a little while lower than the angels and in Jesus, crowned with glory and honor, we see our living hope of rulership in the age to come through our victory in the spiritual warfare – Heb 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Today is the day in which we are to stand fast, to hold fast, to take up the whole armor of God, to use the most powerful weapon in the Universe, the sword of the Spirit, to overcome our enemy in the spiritual warfare.
i). And we are to do this entirely within the parameters God has set, in the full assurance of hope of that coming Day when the One who is the embodiment of the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, will strike the enemy of our souls a fatal blow, just as the Scripture has said - Ge 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

The bruising of the serpent’s head will come at the appointed time through the Seed of the Woman.  But it isn’t now. And it isn’t at our hands.
j). And at the appointed time it will be the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who will administer the final blow - Re 19:19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Re 20:7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

And our complete victory over the enemy of our souls must also wait for Christ’s actions at this time yet future.  In the present our victory in each individual battle day by day comes from standing firm, holding fast, withstanding every attack that the enemy brings, by taking up the whole armor of God along with the sword of the Spirit.
k). Only when we stand before Christ at His Judgment Seat, if we are found worthy to be coheirs with Him, can we then regard our victory over the present rulers of this world to be assured.
l).  How we respond now in the daily battle will determine either our victory or defeat in that coming day.

5). As we come to the conclusion of our study of the sword of the Spirit, I hope we have seen that we have at our disposal a weapon of incredible power - Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword

 This is a weapon that is vital for us to use in our defense against the premeditated, systematic attacks of those who seek to stop us realizing the goal of our calling. 
a). I hope we begin to realize that God has given us this weapon of such power as He knows that we will need such a weapon if we are to stand against the wiles of the devil.
b). And I hope we also realize that having the sword of the Spirit is not just the ability to quote Scripture but to use it out of a mature knowledge of the Word of the Kingdom - Isa 28:9 ¶ "Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts?

This sword of the Spirit is not for the untrained, again bringing us back to that point in Ephesians Chapter 6 – ‘Finally my brethren…’
c). Just as in the natural any swordsman would have an intimate knowledge of his weapon with respect to its weight, its balance, its strength – so in the spiritual, our sword, the Word of God, must be understood with the same level of intimacy - Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little."

Scripture must be compared with scripture under the ministry of the Holy Spirit, guiding us into all truth, if the sword that God has given us is to be properly used -1Co 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

 Unless we are prepared to study scripture and study it in the way God has seen fit to give it to us – beginning in Genesis and building on that foundation, our use of the sword will more likely resemble Peter’s use of a sword on the night of the Lord’s arrest – we will swing it around in the dark cutting off someone’s ear, finding ourselves outside of the plan of God.
d). But if we will engage our enemy according to God’s instructions for the spiritual warfare, and if in this we will properly employ the sword of the Spirit, then our victory over our adversaries can be assured.

We will need to continue next time though – if we remain and the Lord is willing.