THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
By: LaRoyce
Ephesians 6:17...the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword. it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the attitudes of the heart.
SWORD- 1.A weapon, usually metal, with a long, sharp blade fixed in a handle or hilt.
2.(figurative)Something that wounds or kills.
3.A symbol of power and authority, especially to judge or impose sentance.
SPIRIT- 1. The invisible, nonmaterial part of humans;
supernatural being (The Holy Spirit);
other lesser supernatural beings.
By the definitions provided, the Sword of the Spirit, is the weapon of power and authority, sharper than any double edged sword, used to wound and kill our spiritual (unseen) enemies, in a nonmaterial war (Spiritual War).
Many Christians (and non-Christians) have a hard time believing that there is a constant spiritual (unseen) war waging over our souls. But the word of God (the sword of the spirit) makes it very clear in Ephesians 6:12 that there is a war, not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and powers of THIS dark world, and the SPIRITUAL forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Our true opposition is unseen, and throughout the word of God, it is made very clear that we must take up arms against the Devil and his schemes. peter says...
1 Peter 2:11- Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires WHICH WAR AGAINST YOUR SOUL.
TWO ELEMENTS WERE PRESENTED IN THE ABOVE PARAGRAPH
1. rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world.
2. Spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms
1.WORLD- The earth and its inhabitants; unbelievers (non-Christians) and their value systems.
In a study of modern popular culture, anyone can clearly see that the WORLD view of morality and living is completely contrary to Christian views. We know that the rulers, authorities, and powers of the world do not have Chrisitian views in their best interest by looking in the word of God at...
Galatians 5:19-21 which says that the acts of the sinful nature are obvious: Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
Galatians 5:22- But the fruit of the SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
When we look at the world from a biblical point of view, the word of God shows us that we live in a time where the lifestyles and attitudes presented in Galatians 5:19-21 are accepted ... So we must understand that living as Christians, in a world full of immorality, is a battle because the world opposes Christian beliefs. This is the physical and psychological aspect of our war...it is the war of the mind, and the WORD OF GOD( SWORD OF THE SPIRIT) IS OUR WEAPON OF DELIVERANCE BECAUSE IT PIERCES OUR SOULS TO REVEAL THE TRUTH, EXPOSING THE DARKNESS OF SIN AND IMMORALITY TO THE LIGHT. (WE NEED TO READ THE WORD OF GOD AND APPLY IT TO OUR LIVES AS WELL AS THE LIVES OF OTHERS).
2.HEAVENLY REALMS (HIGH PLACES)
HEAVENLY- (MEANING) HIGH PLACES OR PLACES UNSEEN ON A HIGHER LEVEL.
REALM- 1. A KINGDOM
HIGH- 1. ELEVATED, LOFTY OR NOBLE; 2. FOREMOST IN RANK
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 ( K J V ) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;
Stronghold- 1. Place or means of protection and refuge; Satan's power.
Casting down imaginations...
Imaginations- 4.a scheming or planning; plot:
...and every HIGH thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
As Christians, we are in danger of being held captive by the devil's schemes
We are in constant spiritual struggles
with THE ACTS OF THE SINFUL NATURE (DEMONS/The kingdom
or ranks of the army of satan) who want to enslave
us to our desires (disobedience) OR AFFLICTIONS OF THE
PAST) by building up strongholds in the mind,
by way of entry points that we open up to them ( OR ENTRY POINTS
THAT WERE OPENED BECAUSE OF PAST EXPERIENCES, generational
curses, Sins, and present day indulgences
opening the door for demons to have their way with us.)
Simply said: Demons can control us through
any part of us that is open to them. Anger, hatred, self-hatred,
bitterness, pride, arrogance, prejudice, dealings with the
occult and occultic practices, witchcraft...
anything that is not of the fruit of the spirit. (Galatians
5:22-24).
We open up entry points to our
minds and emotions by indulging in THE ACTS OF THE
SINFUL NATURE
We
must demolish the imaginations (Evil Schemes) in
our minds so that the devil and his demons have no way to hold
us captive. We learn to do this by reading the word of God.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Jesus is the light of the world, and He came to set the captives free. In Him, through Him, we are set free by the covering of His blood.
Jesus is the Word of God. He came to be our example...but the only way we can keep in step with the spirit, and to stand against spiritual opposition, is to read The Word of God so that we can know how to shine the light in the darkness and to do what Jesus did. WE MUST ALLOW THE WORD OF GOD TO PIERCE EVERY PART OF OUR BODIES, SOULS, AND SPIRITS SO THAT THAT DEVIL HAS NO RIGHTS TO INVADE OUR LIVES.
LETS SHINE THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS...
PICK UP YOUR SWORDS AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH!!!
