Skip to main content

The Sword of The Spirit

             Take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17b)

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Jesus answered, “It is written: …”

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: …”

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written:” (Matthew 4:4a, 7a, 10a)

 

 Sunday School teachers have long pointed out that the sword is the only weapon mentioned.  Of course, you could shove or bonk someone over the head with the shield, but that’s not an effective or safe use. No, we are advised to use the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And if we consider the example set by Jesus in Matthew 4, one might say we’re supposed to engage in repartee or quick-witted and witty replies drawn from Scripture.

          To do that, we need to be well-versed in what Scripture says, as Jesus demonstrated. But, a quick note here, Jesus didn’t feel the need to say “In Deuteronomy 8:3, it says…” The chapter and verse divisions weren’t added until later. While it is definitely useful to know where to find passages in the Bible, not knowing chapter and verse doesn’t make the passage less useful for spiritual warfare.

          This passage is simple to apply when it comes to comforting others. It’s not always easy. We may have to prayerfully search Scripture for passages that apply to our current situation or someone else’s. We need to know, practice, and teach proper understanding of the text. I don’t mean that we should say, “Read [Biblical reference] and apply it.”

          Instead, we should practice or demonstrate and/or explain the process, taking them through praying, using a search engine, properly evaluating the text, discussing practical steps to try, and ending in prayer again.

          The other factor we need to impress on ourselves and those we are trying to comfort so that they can do battle themselves is that the bulk of spiritual battle is within ourselves and with ourselves. The Word of God divides our souls, spirits, joints and marrow, and the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. While Jesus was putting Satan in his place, He was also putting Himself in proper relationship with the Father, with Satan, with Himself, and with everyone and everything else.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...
2 comments
Read more

Think About These Things

                 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) This passage is a major challenge for me. Like everyone else, I struggle to keep my thoughts from wandering off into the weeds, then wondering what possible benefits those weeds might have… Sigh. But as a writer, I have to delve at least a little into the ignoble, wrong, impure, unlovely, and debased. After all, there’s no story if everything’s just as it should be and everyone’s happy. As Christians, there are times when we need to deal with all the negatives, but that makes it even more important that we practice turning our minds by force of attention to what is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. It’s just too easy to get stuck in a swamp. With my...
1 comment
Read more

A Virgin?

           Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)           This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)           But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”            “How will this be,” Mary asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more