“And take... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”
The only offensive weapon that Paul describes is the sword of the Spirit – the word of God. The other items of a Christian's armour can be both offensive and defensive but the most conspicuously offensive weapon, offensive both in physical and spiritual combat, is the sword.
First it is necessary to expatiate what the “word of God” really is. Put simply it is God's utterance, or His gospel. However the sword that Paul speaks of also includes whatever man speaks that is in harmony with His word. Anything that does not agree with His word is self-destructing. It is not a sword by which we fight for God's kingdom but rather a dagger by which we stab ourselves. “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
The Word of God is of the Spirit because it is given to us by the Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21) and because He works with it in our hearts. It is not by our power that we kill the devil and ride forth into enemy ranks and win victories. The Holy Spirit enables us to do so. To Him be the glory!
The Word of God is powerful. By faith we repel the devil and his darts. But by the Word of God we slay him so there are no more darts. Look at how Jesus dealt with Satan's temptations in Matthew 4:3-11. With every attack from Satan, Christ pulled out His sword – the Word of God. He repelled Satan by quoting from the Old Testament!
“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.” (Hebrews 4:12). It is by God's Word that our guilt is revealed and our sin exposed. However it is by God's Word that the Spirit works the faith that brings us to guiltlessness and purity and thanksgiving and praise. It is by God's Word that Satan is put to flight.
Of ourselves we cannot do anything against Satan, and thus as we take and put on and use each piece of our armour we must pray for God's blessing (Ephesians 6:18). Thank Him for this armour. Pray that we may use it well. Pray for the furtherance of His kingdom. Pray for the coming of His kingdom when the spiritual war will be over, the victory will be complete, and Satan will be defeated forever (Rev. 20:10).
The only offensive weapon that Paul describes is the sword of the Spirit – the word of God. The other items of a Christian's armour can be both offensive and defensive but the most conspicuously offensive weapon, offensive both in physical and spiritual combat, is the sword.
First it is necessary to expatiate what the “word of God” really is. Put simply it is God's utterance, or His gospel. However the sword that Paul speaks of also includes whatever man speaks that is in harmony with His word. Anything that does not agree with His word is self-destructing. It is not a sword by which we fight for God's kingdom but rather a dagger by which we stab ourselves. “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
The Word of God is of the Spirit because it is given to us by the Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21) and because He works with it in our hearts. It is not by our power that we kill the devil and ride forth into enemy ranks and win victories. The Holy Spirit enables us to do so. To Him be the glory!
The Word of God is powerful. By faith we repel the devil and his darts. But by the Word of God we slay him so there are no more darts. Look at how Jesus dealt with Satan's temptations in Matthew 4:3-11. With every attack from Satan, Christ pulled out His sword – the Word of God. He repelled Satan by quoting from the Old Testament!
“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.” (Hebrews 4:12). It is by God's Word that our guilt is revealed and our sin exposed. However it is by God's Word that the Spirit works the faith that brings us to guiltlessness and purity and thanksgiving and praise. It is by God's Word that Satan is put to flight.
Of ourselves we cannot do anything against Satan, and thus as we take and put on and use each piece of our armour we must pray for God's blessing (Ephesians 6:18). Thank Him for this armour. Pray that we may use it well. Pray for the furtherance of His kingdom. Pray for the coming of His kingdom when the spiritual war will be over, the victory will be complete, and Satan will be defeated forever (Rev. 20:10).
No comments:
Post a Comment