THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10)

Devotion 9 of 15

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

The "whole armor of God" is required for a very real battle. Because it is a spiritual battle, some have not viewed it as substantial, with real consequences. The Spirit, however, has assured us of the nature of this battle, reminding us that we are NOT grappling with flesh and blood. Rather, we are engaged in conflict "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (6:12). Those who lightly regard this warfare do so at the peril of their own souls.

The contemporary church has had enough disarming theologies. It is time to arm the church, not disarm it! All teaching that makes the "whole armor of God" unnecessary or inconsequential has been pandered off on men by the devil.

This brings us to the consideration of the next piece of armor: "the sword of the Spirit." "And take . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17b)

Some have said this is the only piece of offensive weaponry we have. However, the provision of "all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" may also be considered part of our offensive arsenal (verse 18).

The Word of God is a devastating weapon, cutting both ways with effectiveness and power. The powers of darkness against which we wrestle cannot contend with it. It slices through their deceptions, and topples their bastions of deceptive thought. In a telling expression of this aspect of God's Word, the Spirit says, "For the word of God is quick [living], and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb 4:12). It is the only weapon that can distinguish between the "soul and the spirit," over which many fruitless discussions have taken place. It cuts through to the heart, laying it bare before the Lord.

The Word of God is our "sword" against the onslaught of delusion and deception–against the lies of the devil, and the misrepresentations of the hosts of darkness. It throws the light of truth upon the realm of darkness, exposing its subterfuge and liberating the believer from its power. It has an unparalleled impact upon Satan himself, confronting him with the truth for which he has such hatred, and which he cannot cast down.

In the focused and extended temptation He experienced, Jesus repelled the advances of the devil with the raw and undiluted Word of God. "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God . . . It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God . . . Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matt 4:5,7,10; Deut 8:3; 6:16; 10:20).

We learn something about the use of our sword in our Lord's temptation. He did not simply quote passages of Scripture, as though taking statements from a manual of procedure. He used the Word insightfully, extracting the sense of the text and wielding the foundations of truth against the devil. He knew the Scripture and the God who gave it. He knew the direction and intent of the Scripture, and the spirit of the text as well as the letter. When the devil used Scripture against Him, the Son of God knew how to rebuff the attack. "And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" (Matt 4:6-7).

The word of God is the SPIRIT'S sword, not ours. We take it up, but it is the Spirit who gives it power and effectiveness. Without the life-giving Spirit, the word has no power against the artifices of the devil. If men attempt to emulate Jesus' use of Scripture mechanically and without understanding, it will have no real power. The Spirit will not work through distorted and unlearned use of Scripture, for He is the "Spirit of truth" (John 14:17).

Isaiah said of the Messiah, "And He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword" (Isa 49:2). It is also said of the glorified Christ, "and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword" (Rev 1:16). Thus you have the entire Godhead aligned with the Word. It is the word of GOD, the sword of the SPIRIT, and is also the sword of CHRIST'S mouth (Rev 2:16). It is not possible to expertly wield this sword without the power of heaven being in the matter.

This sword--the word of God, the Spirit's sword–is to be taken up: "And TAKE . . . the sword of the Spirit." It is not to be ignored in preference of the traditions of men. It is not to lie idle while men take up the creeds of their peers and sectarian emphases in their mouths. This sword is not to be neglected while devoting oneself to apologetics, church history, etymological interests, or supposed proven methods and techniques. None of those things, however valued they may appear, are the "sword of the Spirit." Men may imagine they are doing a great work by anchoring people to their humanly devised syllogisms, the Hebrew and Greek texts, and pious platitudes–but they are all devoid of the Spirit of God. If these have any true value at all, it is only measured, and is nothing to be compared with "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."

At some point, the "good soldier" (2 Tim 2:3) must become proficient in the use of Scripture. If he is an expert in language, he must be more expert in Scripture. If he has unusual understanding of history, he must have an even more unusual understanding of Scripture. If he is a gifted logician, able to decipher truth from error, he must be even better at expounding the Word of God. It alone is "the sword of the Spirit."

You cannot hold the Spirit's sword and the wisdom of men in your hand, as though God's Word became more effective in such an admixture. Your PRIMARY understanding must be of the Word, to which all other intelligence becomes subordinate. After exposing your mind to the Word of God, meditating upon and pondering its richness, you need to pray, "Give me understanding" (Psa 119:34,73,125,144,169). You "live by every Word of God" (Lk 4:4), and do battle against the powers of darkness with it as well.

The Western world is now experiencing a famine of both the hearing and understanding of the Word of God. The level of Scriptural illiteracy is at an alarmingly high level. With an unprecedented multiplicity of Bible versions and study "helps" (often, falsely so called), the Scripture is largely unknown. The text of Scripture itself is not known in the churches. Professed believers are generally ignorant of vast segments of the Word, to say nothing of being bereft of the most elementary level of "spiritual understanding." These are commonly known conditions, though they are rarely acknowledged.

Do not wonder why iniquity is so prevalent, or why immorality and ignorance have swept into the churches like a mighty flood! Let no person marvel that divorce rates are now higher among Christians than the world, or why America is now said to be the only continent upon which Christianity is not growing. Do not be dismayed that churches have had to beef up their staffs with counselors and specialists to deal with serious problems among their members.

These conditions are largely owing to the failure of the church to "take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." God will not allow His people to be triumphant when they ignore His Word. No person wearing the name of the Lord will be permitted to gain the victory over the devil without taking "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." Now take up the sword. Put it in your hand. Learn how to hold and handle it. Become adept in wielding it against the powers of darkness against which you are wrestling.

PRAYER POINT: Father, You have supplied me with a sword that is empowered by Your own Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, grant me grace to take it up confidently, and engage the powers of darkness.

– Tomorrow: PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYER --