Part 8
(Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV) 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, 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. [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 with 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—
These lessons are not designed to help you run around looking for the devil under every bush and behind every door. Battles will come but they will not come every day.
- God has given us spiritual weaponry so that when battles do come, we will be prepared to maintain our victorious position over Satan.
Ephesians 6:17 NKJV And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
There were different swords that the Roman soldier could carry but there were two primary ones that he would use:
- Gladius Sword – extremely heavy, broad shouldered sword with a very long blade.
Of the swords, the gladius was the most aesthetically beautiful, however, it was the most cumbersome and awkward to use.
It was referred to as the two-handed sword as it required both hands to use it against the enemy.
- Machaira Sword – (What Paul had in mind in Ephesians 6). It was approximately 19 inches long and both sides were razor sharp making it more dangerous than the other four. The tip was curved slightly upward and was used to gut the enemy causing his entrails to come out upon removal.
This particular sword was a terror to the imagination of the soldier’s enemy.
The reason Paul used this particular weapon in referring to the “Sword of the Spirit” is because it has the potential to rip our foe to shreds.
Ephesians 6:17 NKJV And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
This is taken from the Greek Word “Rhema” which is a very familiar word used in the New Testament.
The word carries the idea of a “quickened word” such as a word of Scripture or a “word from the Lord” that the Holy Spirit supernaturally drops into a believer’s heart and mind thus causing it to supernaturally come alive and impart special power or direction to that believer.
You might say that the written Word of God, the Bible, is like the gladius sword of a Roman Soldier, capable of making a sweeping blow against the enemy.
- On occasion, however, we need a specific rhema word – a smaller, two-edged sword – to deal the enemy a fatal blow.
- A rhema word is a specific word or message that the Holy Spirit quickens in our hearts and minds at a specific time and for a specific purpose.
John 14:26 NKJV But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
When this happens, it floods our spirits with faith because the Holy Spirit has spoken to us in a way that is clearly spoken, unmistakable, undeniable, unquestionable, certain and definite.
- A Rhema word quickened to your heart and mind by the Holy Spirit is as strong and powerful that it is as if God put a supernatural sword in your hand.
It is not necessary for a person to know the entire Bible in order to have the “sword of the Spirit” at his disposal.
A specific Rhema word for the Lord does not have to be long and complicated in order to be valid. Although, the Holy Spirit can speak a lengthy personal word about our lives, however, this is the exception and not the rule.
Most great men and women of God who have earned a place in the pages of history have done so by obeying a single, simple word from God.
- Noah’s instructions about something as catastrophic as the flood were brief and very simple.
- Abraham’s instructions to leave his family and walk with God was a mere 75 words long.
- Joseph received a word about his destiny through two short dreams.
- Moses instructions to deliver the Children of Israel were relatively short considering the scope of what he was to do.
- Mary’s word through the angel Gabriel about the birth of the Messiah was only eight verses long.
- Paul’s life was dramatically changed one day on the Road to Damascus by three simple sentences.
The reason we enjoy many of our spiritual blessings today is that godly men and women obeyed the simple, specially spoken Rhema words they received from the Lord.
The vital work of studying, meditating, and praying releases the Word to become a part of your own inner being.
- Your rhema – that word you need from God today – hinges entirely on the presence of the written Word of God in your life.
People who receive frequent rhema words from the Lord are people who have made the logos, the written Word, a central part of their lives.
But stopping short of confessing the Word of God keeps the Word from becoming that two-edged sword and will keep you from the victory you desire.
The Two-Edged Sword
Hebrews 4:12 NKJV (12) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Revelation 1:16 NKJV He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Revelation 2:12 NKJV “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
Notes from Sparkling Gems from the Greek by Rick Renner:
The phrase “two-edged” is taken from the Greek word distomos and is unquestionably one of the oddest words in the entire New Testament. Why is it so odd? Because it is a compound of the word di, meaning two, and the word stomos, which is the Greek word for one’s mouth. Thus, when these two words are compounded into one (distomos), they describe something that is two-mouthed! Don’t you agree that this seems a little strange? So why would the Bible refer to the Word of God repeatedly as a “two-edged sword” or, literally, a “two-mouthed sword”?
One sharpened edge of the sword came into being when the Word of God initially proceeded from the mouth of God.
- The second edge of the sword is added when the Word of God proceeds out of your mouth!
This is why meditation and confession of the Word of God are so important. You are adding to the reservoir of God’s Word you have stored up on the inside of you and the Holy Spirit can pull one of those scriptures up out of your inner man. Then as that verse begins to fill your mind and come out of your mouth, it becomes a two-edged sword.