New Life In Christ Pt. 21 The Mighty Sword of the Spirit!

The Sword of the Spirit: God's Word.

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

Today, we come to one of two offensive weapons that God has prepared for us: the mighty word of God which is called the sword of the Spirit. 

In our text, the word "sword" refers to a sword used for thrusting forward with a quick stabbing motion to inflict penetrating, often fatal cuts. It is the sword of God that brings justice and judgment. 

In this text, "word" is from the Greek word "rhema." This word refers to the voice of the living God of heaven speaking to man. It is a pronouncement of God. The following texts from John helps us understand the power behind this particular word as seen in the repeated phrase "the words."

"The Words of God"

John 3:34  For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 

When Jesus speaks, God is speaking because He is God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).  The Son of God, Jesus Christ possessed all of the fulness of God's Spirit thus, when Christ spoke He spoke authoritative truth from God.

John 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 

Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the Word of God is living truth that can do surgery in our inner man. The words that Jesus speaks are spirit and life because He speaks as the Son of God. 

John 14:10-11  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11) Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 

A consistent theme in John's gospel is Jesus telling the disciples that He and His Father are one. Thus, the words spoken by Christ are also the Father's words. Jesus speaks what the Father speaks. (See John 17:7-8).

A widely used Roman sword was the "gladius" which was about 18" long with very sharp edges. The Roman army fought shoulder to shoulder in lines of 500 men. They carried a shield in the left hand and drew out a gladius with their right hand. Each soldier had to act in unison coordinating the movement of shield and sword. 

The gladius was used in short, swift stabbing motions. Using this method, a Roman soldier could make up to four stabs per second compared with swinging the sword once in two seconds. 

A line of soldiers would advance toward the enemy's front line troops and thrust out with their shield to draw closer to the opposing forces. Then, the Roman soldiers quickly pulled back their shield and thrust at them with their gladius. This was an exceptionally deadly battle technique. 

This sword in the armor of God is called the sword of the Spirit. The Spirit of God is the Divine Author of scripture. He is the One giving us His sword to use. Like the gladius, the Sword of the Spirit will cut into our heart to bring us to repentance.  

Living Truth Sharper than any Sword

Hebrews 4:12-13  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 discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 

Here is a classic text on the sword of the Spirit, telling us that the Word of God is quick.  The word "quick" means having life giving power and being alive, in the sense of living truth from God. (See John 1:1-5). 

It is "powerful" which is the idea of being energetic and effective. It is "sharper" than any other sword known to man and it has an extremely sharp cutting edge. It is a twoedged sword that is "piercing" with a keen edge that can cut through anything. This sword of the Word cuts into us very much like a Roman gladius. 

This sword "divides asunder" which means it can completely sever in two the soul and the spirit of man. This is the idea of cutting open and laying bare what is in our inner man, our mind, emotions and conscience. For most, this brings terror and fear but also hope and faith, if the gospel truth is heard and heeded. 

We all have had evil thoughts and lustful desires at times. Who would want to have any of those things brought out in the open? Yet, God's Word dissects and exposes what is in our heart so that we might recognize the sinfulness of sin, and turn to Jesus Christ in repentant faith. 

The Word cuts through all pretention and self righteousness to show us our need of Christ. It hacks away at our excuses for rejecting the claims of Jesus Christ, until we reach the end of ourselves and turn to Christ with repentant faith. 

The Word of God cuts deeply and digs into the joints and marrow, which is the idea of a highly skilled surgeon digging out and surgically removing diseased tissue. Sin is the disease that the Sword of the Spirit is aiming at.

The Sword of the Spirit Judges all.

It is a "discerner" which means that it is like a surgeon in an operating room who must quickly decide what to do based, upon what is found after making the incision. Just like a surgeon has bright light to illuminate all diseased tissue and carries a sharp, disinfected scalpel to remove bad tissue, so is the Word of God in our inner man. 

John 12:48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 

Jesus told the unbelieving Jews that by rejecting His words and teaching, they still would be held to account for their sins by the same word spoken by Jesus Christ. They would discover the absolute power and universal authority of God's Word at the Great White Throne judgment.

The phrase "neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight" refers to the fact that nothing can hide from the searchlight of God's Word. Both our soul and body are naked, exposed and laid open before our God. 

The word "open" literally means bent back or laid open and refers to a wrestler who bends back the neck in making a move in order to exploit his opponent's weakness.

Sword of the Spirit in Action.

Stephen preached his only sermon to the same unbelieving Jewish religious leaders who condemned and crucified Jesus Christ. Stephen walked them through their history beginning with Abraham. 

Acts 7:51-53  Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52) Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53)  Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

Stephen used the same terms as the Holy Ghost did, in describing Israel's failure to believe on Jesus Christ. (See Hebrews 3:7-19). They had stiff necks and resisted the Holy Ghost. Stephen laid the guilt of killing all the prophets of God & Christ at their feet. They received the law but did not keep it. 

It cut through their rebel hearts!

Remember that the sword of the Spirit is a stabbing, piercing instrument designed to cut deeply into our hearts. It will expose the evil within so that we might turn to God in repentance and accept His provision of salvation through the work and person of Jesus Christ.  

Act 7:54  When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 

There is no doubt that the Spirit of God did His mighty convicting work in their hearts! They were "cut to the heart." This means that the Spirit of God sawed their arguments for hating Jesus Christ, right in half. He cut the legs off their twisted logic and they knew that their sins were exposed for all to see.

Instead of turning to Christ with repentant faith, they responded with violence and attacked Stephen. The word "gnashed" means that they were biting and grinding at Stephen with their teeth. It is the idea that they were so furious they could not talk. They lost all sense of reason and were shown to be brute beasts foaming with unchecked hatred for Christ. 

The Sword of the Spirit put fear into Felix.

Acts 24:24,25  And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25) And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Next, we see two high officials respond indifferently to the preaching of God's word. They ignored the ministry of the Spirit of God.

In this text, Paul spoke to the Roman governor, Felix and his wife, Drusilla. The Spirit of God convicted him of righteousness, temperance and judgment, as Paul preached.

Felix had two reactions to hearing the truth. First, he trembled. He was afraid and filled with fear at the prospect that brings a sinner under the condemnation of Holy God. 

Second, Felix put off making a decision to exercise repentant faith in Christ. He told Paul that when he had a more convenient time, he would be ready to listen. However, none of us are guaranteed any additional days, other than this day God has given us, right here and right now. There is no record of Felix bowing the knee to Jesus Christ in repentant faith. 

The Sword of the Spirit was met with apathy. 

Acts 26:27-28 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28) Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

The second example involved Paul witnessing to another important government official, in this case, King Agrippa. Paul pressed the king on the truth that he shared about Jesus Christ, and implored Agrippa to turn to Jesus Christ.

Agrippa's response? A somewhat sarcastic and indifferent attitude. In the Greek, Agrippa is using sarcastic language to tell Paul, "you are going to have to do a whole lot more than this for me to become a believer."

Agrippa was like a lot of people are today. They often do not care. They are not interested in the eternal things of God but are focused on the mundane things of this life.

Others turned to Christ when cut by the Word.

Act 2:37-41  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 

The cutting work by the sword of the Spirit pierced through all that stood in the way of people responding to the Word with faith. They were pricked in their hearts. The word "pricked" means that their minds were violently agitated and filled with pain and sorrow over their sins. This piercing or pricking work was done by the Sword of the Spirit. 

They asked an honest question of the Apostles. "Men and brethren what shall we do?" The answer was that they should turn to Jesus Christ in repentant faith and be baptized. What was the result of the Spirit of God wielding the sword of the Word in the hearts of those people? About 3,000 souls gladly received the Word and were born again. This marked the beginning of the New Testament church. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

What is your response to the Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit?

Are you apathetic like King Agrippa was?

Are you fearful but uncommitted like Felix was?

Are you filled with anger like the religious leaders were?

Or, are you one who is gladly receiving the word of God?

My hope and prayer is that you fall into the last response to the ministry of the Spirit of God with the Word of God in the heart of man. This is the response of having repentant, saving faith. God wants to save you and He provided a Savior, His own Son, Jesus Christ.  

May God be glorified by our response to His truth this day.

Bob