“…. and your right hand must grasp the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:17
JWC Wand Translation
We are familiar with the Apostle Pauls exhortation from Ephesians 6 to take up the whole armour of God for enablement to stand in the evil day. Each piece of the armour of God is vital to overcoming, but this week I want to highlight the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Since everything begins with a word from God, our first place is to always find that word that we must hold in the battle. I believe God is specific about holding, not just a word, but the right word, for the right time, right in the moment. While we always have the Logos (the written word), we still need a Rhema word, the spoken, revealed word of God, for us.
Assured by the written word that we have a HELPER, who will teach us all things and bring to our remembrance what Jesus has said, we can also be confident to know when we hear what the Spirit is saying, revealing, that it is a sure word of salvation for us. Psalm 107:20 promises us that the word He sends, heals and delivers us from destruction.
Scripture declares the the word of God is a creative force ~ Genesis 1: 3
The Word of God is truth (not a truth, but ‘the’ truth ~. John 17:17
The Word of God is firmly fixed in the heavens ~ Psalm 119:89
The Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path ~ Psalm 119:105
The Word of God is Spirit and it is life ~ John 6:63
The Word of God is alive and powerful ~ Hebrews 4:12
The Word of God is healing to our flesh ~ Proverbs 4:22
When we are In agreement with His spoken word to us we are better equipped for the battle. We go forth decreeing “God said” and His word does the work. We are the believers. God is the performer. The power of God is His word. All things, Hebrews tells us, are upheld by the word of His power. We are confident that He watches over His word to perform it.
In the battle times, I pause and ask myself, what word am I speaking that He is watching over? What are my words aligned with? Whatever the battle, no matter why it has come, it is still my fight to engage in. We must fight the good fight of faith.
JWC Wand renders Hebrews 4:12 ~ “The word of God is alive and active with more piercing power than a double edged sword”. I like this imagery. It is the kind of sword I want to wield. Revelation tells us Jesus as the word, still has a sharp two-edged sword that comes out of His mouth.
It is this very sword that was spoken of to the church in Pergamum where Jesus addresses the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Repentance was demanded or Jesus would come to wage war against them with the sword of his mouth. Revelation 2:16. A very vivid picture about the way Jesus feels about false teaching. Ephesians tells us not to allow any corrupt communication proceed out of our mouth, but only the things that ministers grace to the hearer. What is more powerful than the grace that is within God’s word.
As the one who is described as ‘the way, the truth, and the life’, we can see where bad teaching leads people out of the way. Where truth is distorted and lies prevail death can ensue. Jesus holds his messengers accountable for what they teach others.
This sword of the Spirit is the word is alive and active with more piercing power than a double-edged sword. The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of God endures forever.
Selah.