October 21, 2007

Ephesians 6:10-17

The Sword of the Spirit

v17 - take it - take it off the desk, off the shelf and read it/stand on it, memorize the word

sword - the Roman soldier always had a sword with him

          -it was around 2' long

          -easily accessible

          -soldiers spent hours with it to know how to use it

          -their lives depended on the use of their sword

***the sword represents the word of God -

  ------------word - is Rhema which speaks of an alive, now word...

2 Statements:

(1) Our size, strength and gender are not the issue, but our position and our weapon are -  Matthew 4 (it is written)

-the enemy cannot stand up to the word of God

(2) we cannot use the sword anyway we want to use it - 2 Timothy 2:15

-rightly dividing - means to cut straight

(3) Right and worng can be identified - 2 Peter 1:21

-God's word is absolute truth

-it is a sword given by the Spirit

-God can tell us what is right and wrong

3 Things About The Word or the Sword of the Spirit

1. The Word or sword divides - Matthew 10:34-40

-when you swing the sword, people get saved

-when you get saved, two things happen;

             a.) you make some enemies

             b.) you make a choice - Luke 14:26-27,33

2. The Word of God always works - Isaiah 55:11-12

-no matter what we see, feel or think

-it is the Word and Jesus that get the job done

3. The sword - the Word of God can draw blood - 1 Peter 1:18-23

-it can be an offensive weapon or a defensive weapon

offensive - wherever you  would cut the Bible, it wwould bleed - REDEMPTION

defensive - apologia - apologetics - the defense of the gospel - against "isms"