Spiritual Warfare: Armor-Sword Of The Spirit Ephesians 6:17b

Introduction:

The sixth and final piece of the armor is "The sword of the Spirit". The other five pieces of armor

protect either the whole body or specific parts of the body. This piece of armor's purpose is to

keep the enemy back as a whole; defending against his strategic attacks.

Dr. D. Martin Lloyd-Jones wrote:

"One of our main troubles is that the devil tends to terrorize us and to frighten us, and

produce in us a craven spirit and a feeling of hopelessness. And if he succeeds in doing so

we are already defeated. But the Apostle's statement about the sword is the final antidote

to such feelings. It reminds us that if we view these things in a New Testament manner

we must not shrink back in the craven fear; we must be confident in our ability to resist

him. We must have the assurance that though he is so great and powerful, and though all

we have seen concerning him and his forces is true, it is not a hopeless battle. It is

possible for the Christian so to resist the devil as to cause him to flee."1

Three words used in Greek to refer to Word of God:

"Graphe": refers to the actual writings or Book of God—the Bible; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20.

"Logos": refers to the Message of the Bible; Hebrews 4:12. Jesus is the Personification of this

message to mankind, John 1:1-3.

"Rhema": refers to the specific declaration concerning the message of the written word;

Ephesians 6:17.

Lesson:

1) The Weapon

The "Sword of the Spirit" is both an offensive and defensive weapon. Two swords: one large that

took both hands to handle; one small, dagger size of 6” to 8”. This smaller sword is the one Peter

used to cut off the ear of the servant of the High Priest. The smaller sword is the one implied

primarily. The sword is identified as the Word of God.

"Two Greek words are commonly translated word in English: logos, which describes the Bible

as a whole, and rhema (the term here), which refers to a particular "saying of God" that has

special application for a given situation. The Bible as a whole is an armory from which to select

swords for specific battles. Jesus illustrated the use of the "rhema of God" in His victory over

Satan in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11)."2

1 D. M. Lloyd-Jones. The Christian Soldier: An Exposition of Ephesians 6:10 to 20 (Grand Rapids,

Michigan: Baker Book House, 1977, July 1979) 324.

2 David Jeremiah. The Jeremiah Study Bible (Brentwood, Tennessee: Worthy Publishing, 2013) 1649,

study notes on Ephesians 6:17.

2) The Word

God reveals Himself in nature, Psalm 19.

God reveals Himself in man’s conscience, Romans 2:14-15.

One must settle belief concerning the Bible. Is it the Word of God or not?

The Word is of and by the Holy Spirit who is the Author of the Scriptures.

Revelation: God’s divine unveiling of what we could not know otherwise.

Special Revelation: God reveals Himself in the Living Word (Jesus Christ) and the written Word

(the Bible). Revelation deals with content of Scripture. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

Inspiration: deals with the recording of the content of the Bible. Divine element in inspiration—

Holy Spirit guided writers to ensure accuracy and inerrancy. (2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:16)

Human element in inspiration—writers wrote in their own vocabulary and with their own

personality. Result is the Bible! Inspiration extends to the very words used, 1 Corinthians 2:13.

Inspiration relates to the original manuscripts: (Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 3:15-16)

‘Theopneustos’: God—breathed. All Scripture is God Breathed. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Plenary: complete or entire; In 1 Timothy 5:18 Paul quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7.

Verbal: the very words themselves; 1 Corinthians 2:13-16; 1 Peter 1:20-21.

Infallibility: perfect ultimate authority, completely trustworthy, will not mislead us, ‘Sola

Scriptura’: Scripture only. Inerrant: free from all errors and there are no mistakes (Matthew 5:18)

3) The Wielding

Only through the enablement of the Holy Spirit can we use the Word properly!

In Luke 4:1-14, the Lord Jesus provides His example of properly and effectively using the

"sword of the Spirit" against the devil.

The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God is powerful and is continuing to be used by our

Lord: (cf. Revelation 1:16, 2:16, 19:15)

In Luke 10:25-28, the Lord Jesus provides one of many examples of properly and effectively

using the "sword of the Spirit" with men.

Begin with the gospel, Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Map the plan of salvation.

In Acts 17:1-4, the Apostle Paul provides an example of properly and effectively using the

"sword of the Spirit."

Create your list of possible temptations and the Scripture to use for your defense, your Sword!

Conclusion:

The difference between the "truth" of the first piece of armor, "the belt of truth", and the truth of

the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God", is the first is the "logos" of the Word—the

central truth of salvation and the entirety or whole counsel of God. The second is the "rhema" of

Scripture, the particular verses which are appropriately used to resist the tactics of the enemy.

"The reason so many Christians are living defeated lives is that they haven't graduated from

graphe to logos to rhema."3

Learn to use the rhema, "God says", for Satan is unable to stand against the powerful force of the

utterance of God.

3 Tony Evans. Victory in Spiritual Warfare (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2011) 128-129.