Put on the Full Armor of God Sword

Put on the Full Armor of God - Sword of the Spirit Allen Lo (July 23, 2017)

Ephesian 6: 10 -18 • 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. • 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. • 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, [a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. • 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Ephesian 6: 10 -18 • 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, • 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; • 16 above all, taking the shield of faith which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. • 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; • 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

The Full Armor of God • • • Belt of Truth Breastplate of Righteousness Feet prepared with the Gospel of Peace Shield of Faith Helmet of Salvation Sword of the Spirit

Sword of the Spirit 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; • What • Why • How • (Action)

Foundation • The Roman Soldier Sword – Contain an offensive aspect to it – The only offensive weapon – Use to drive our enemy back • This offensives aspect of this sword gives us a balanced view of the devil – Satan is a dangerous opponent - therefore we need to be well armed – we need not be terrified of Satan

What is ‘Sword of the Spirit’? • "which is the word of God“- The weapon we are given to attack in the spiritual realm is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God • ‘The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (5) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God… ‘ 2 Cor 10: 4 -5 (NIV)

Why the Scripture is called the sword of the Spirit? • Because it is the Spirit who gave us the Word – 2 Tim 3: 16 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God… • • Literary Inspiration Thought Inspiration Mechanical Dictation Plenary Verbal Inspiration – 2 Pet 1: 20 -21 (NIV) Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. (21) For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Why the Scripture is called the sword of the Spirit? • Because it is the Holy Spirit who enables us to understand the Word of God – 1 Cor 2: 9 -12 (NIV) …(12) We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. – 1 Cor 2: 14 (NIV) The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Why the Scripture is called the sword of the Spirit? • Because the Spirit is the one that enables us to use the scriptures properly – It is the Holy Spirit who teaches us how to use this book in an effective way • • AUTHORITY (Luke 1: 37) INERRANCY (Matt 5: 18) EFFICACY (Heb 4: 12) SUFFICIENCY (2 Tim. 3: 17) – So that we will be able to stand in this spiritual war that we are engaged in

Spirit vs. Scripture • Experience oriented – little scripture – All experience, all spirit with little Bible • Scripture oriented – little or no experience – “We have the Bible and that is enough” • Balance approach – The Spirit has given us a glorious book that instructs us on who God is and what He has done – B. These glorious truths should EXCITE OUR MIND and THRILL us MENTALLY – Start with the truth and then experience it.

The Attack of the Devil • Satan's attack upon the truth through the philosophy of man – Man's philosophies have been the enemy of truth from the beginning – Satan has offered many alternative routes to God – 2 Cor 10: 4 -5 (NIV) … (5) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,

The Attack of the Devil • Satan's attack on truth using the knowledge of man – Rom 1: 18 -20 (NIV) The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, (19) since what may be known about. God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. (20) For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are

Hope of Salvation is an Anchor • “Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil” (Hebrews 6: 17 -19).

How do we use the Sword? • It is a combination of two pieces of armor – "Belt of truth“ + "Sword of the Spirit“ • Jesus using the Sword of the Spirit – Temptation in the wilderness (Luke 4) – When He deals with an inquiring soul (Mark 10) • Apostles using the Sword of the Spirit in evangelism – Peter's first sermon – Paul in Acts 17: 2

Conclusion • We live in a world filled with anti-God theories, philosophies, teachings • Take the Word out of the scabbard and begin to use it • Arm yourself so you can use this weapon – Give yourself to the Bible - study it - understand it - fill your mind with it – B. The church is turning from the Word - trying to replace it with methods, cleverness

Deu 32: 46 -47 (NIV) • he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. (47) They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.

Action • Hold the Sword and take it with you all the time – – – Listen Read Study Memorize Meditate • Practice - start using more scriptures in your conversations - in your chances to witness