ICS Daily Devotions
Equipped With the Sword of the Spirit
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
The most offensive and aggressive weapon that God has given the body of Christ is the sword of the Spirit.
This particular word for “sword,” used in this text is machaira. It was approximately 19 inches long and it s razor sharp on both sides and blade. The very end of the sword was turned upwards causing it to be sharp and deadly. The soldier would hold it with both hands and give the sword a wrenching twist to eliminate the enemy.
There are some believers who have been concerned that they have committed the unpardonable sin in life so they are rejected by God. Usually these people grow up under a very legalistic and religious environment but they really love God and want to live a life that pleases God. We have to be careful because the devil will disguise himself as an “angel of light” who twist the Word and hold it against us.
We need to take our thoughts into captivity or it will take us captive! When we keep our mind focused on God and His Word, we will be able to keep our peace when the devil attempts to drop lies and a series of negative thoughts which create a stronghold in our minds.
We are to be vigilant, watchful, and put on the full armour of God. We are to stand firm with our conviction. The devil is a deceiver, a liar, and a thief. He will not be fair in his dealing but will strike with wickedness.
In the New Testament, the word rhema carries the idea of a “quickened word” or a word from the Lord which the Holy Spirit drops into one’s mind, thus causing it to come alive supernaturally and impart strength to the believer, causing the believer to really know that it is from the Lord. It is describing something that is “spoken clearly, unmistakably, vividly and spoken in undeniable language, certain and definite terms”. This word creates faith in the believer!
Jesus rebuked the devil with the Word when He was tempted by the devil, therefore the Sword of the Spirit is an offensive weapon for us to rebuke the devil against those thoughts and circumstances that seem to attack us and cause doubt to arise within us.
Proverbs 19:21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel — that will stand.
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
These are some words of affirmation from God that His thoughts are always good to give us a future and hope. When we have God’s promises kept in our heart and mind, we can use them to rebuke the devil for trying to put fear and unbelief in our mind. However, we need to fill our mind with the Word of God so that the Holy Spirit can use it to bring to our remembrance to rebuke the lies from the devil.
That is the reason why the loin belt and the sword are inseparable! We must have the logos word in our mind before the rhema word can drop into the heart through the work of the Holy Spirit! A verse that leaps off the pages of the Bible and into our heart carries a special measure of power in our life, which God speaks to us personally, and has life transforming power.
We can deliver a fatal “stab” at the enemy with this word from God! God is light and in whom there is no darkness at all! We need to watch what we think and watch. Suicidal thoughts are not from God. Condemnation is not from God. Lust after a colleague is definitely not from God. Any form of physical abuse or verbal abuse is not from God. Any kind of sicknesses, illnesses and pain are not from God although the devil might want you to think that it is God’s discipline so that he can twist your love for God to suit his means of destroying you!
Let us not be passive and allow the devil to have a good time with our lives but to make use of the armor that God has given us! This will help you to protect your family and yourself from the fiery darts of the evil one. We can start by putting on the armor and praying in the Spirit to believe God for a breakthrough and a turnaround of the situation!
Sermon series: Inner Man
