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Full Armor of God
Part 9 – The Sword of the Spirit
Rev. Bruce A. Shields
This document is a Sermon Outline. You may hear the full audio of the sermon by following the link Online Audio Files located above for this and other Full Sermon Audios. For a complete list of Sermon Outlines, visit TruthDigest.org or Truth Digest on Facebook; for our Official Church website, visit PS127.org, or find us on Facebook at House of Faith Church. #worship #godheals #newtestament #jesuslovesyou #churchfamily #godsword #loveoneanother #holy #godislove #church #jesus #god #bible #christian #love #faith #worship #jesuschrist #gospel #prayer #christ #christianity #pray #holyspirit #godisgood #hope #blessed #armorofgod
SERMON TIMELINE
1. Introduction
2. Strength of the Lord
3. Put on the Armor
4. Belt of Truth
5. The Breastplate of Righteousness
6. The Gospel of Peace
7. The Shield of Faith
8. The Helm of Salvation
9. The Sword of the Spirit
INTRODUCTION
Today is Sunday. December 3rd, 2023
Today, we are looking at the Sword of the Spirit in the Full Armor of God. After examining what it means to be a follower of Christ Jesus, receive the Holy Spirit and the Spiritual Fruit, which are produced as a fact of having the Spirit of God, we began to look at other benefits of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
The Full Armor of God is the subject of our latest series, and today, we will be looking at one of the final parts of this armor, the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
SCRIPTURE READING
Ephesians 6:10-18 (Legacy Standard Bible)
10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth,
and having put on the Breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.
16 In addition to all, having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one,
17 also receive the helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
18 praying at all times with all prayer and petition in the Spirit,
and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints
Today’s Topic: the Full Armor of God – The Sword of the Spirit
TODAY’S MESSAGE: Receive the Sword of the Spirit
I. THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT IS SOMETHING WE RECEIVE
a.
Many parts of the armor and
how we obtain them
i. Firstly,
we are commanded in Ephesians 6:10
“be strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength.”
ii. Then, “Put on the full armor
of God.”
iii. Verse 13, “Take up the
full armor so you are able to
resist, and stand firm against the evil day” (what
is the day that is evil? Every day in this fallen world)
iv. Most
parts we are told to take or put on.
v. However,
the Sword of the Spirit, just like the Helm of Salvation, we must “receive.”
b. The Sword we must “receive.”
i. Because the Sword represents the “Word of God,” we must receive it.
1. You
cannot “take” the word. It must be given by God.
a. God gives us the word through the Bible
i. Written by those inspired by God’s Spirit
ii. Understood
by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
2. The Word of God can only be given to you by God.
a. Romans 10:13-15
“Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on Him
in whom they have not believed? How
will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a
preacher? 15 And how
will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful
are the feet of those who proclaim good news of good things!”
b.
God sends His messengers to share the
Word of God to those who will listen.
i. As
Isaiah says, “who has believed our report?”
ii. Though
you may physically “hear” the Word of God, this does not mean you have “received”
it!
iii. Or,
as it states in Isaiah, “believe.”
ii. Therefore,
the Sword of the Spirit (Word of God) is something God “gives” to us that we
must receive to use.
c. How do we receive the Sword of the Spirit?
i. We
receive it (the Word of God) by believing what it says and calling on the name
of the Lord.
1. We then receive forgiveness and Salvation through Christ Jesus
2. Receive the Holy Spirit and its benefits
a. Fruit of the Spirit
b. Full Armor of God
c.
Spiritual Fruit
ii. Romans 10:17 “So faith comes
from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
II. THE PURPOSE OF THE SWORD
a. Why Paul chose the Sword to represent the Word of God
i. Without
a weapon, you are defenseless…a sitting duck awaiting attack
ii. God
does not wish His servants to be defenseless.
iii. The
perfect weapon for Spiritual warfare is a Spiritual weapon.
iv. The
Word of God is this perfect Spiritual Weapon.
b. What a sword is used for in combat
i. A
sword is both for attacking and defense
ii. The
Florentine sword fighting technique, developed in Florence, Italy, uses two
swords and no shield.
1. The smaller off-hand Sword is used for defensive maneuvers
iii. The Sword of the Spirit (Word of God) is no different.
1. It
can be used for defense as well as attack.
2. We
see Jesus using it defensively against Satan’s attack in the wilderness.
iv. Attack
with the Word of God? Say it isn’t so!
1. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for
the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the
tearing down of strongholds, 5 as we tear down speculations and every lofty
thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to
the obedience of Christ, 6 and are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever
your obedience is fulfilled.”
a.
Strongholds are torn down through the
Word of God.
b.
Speculations and vain imaginations that
try to rise up against the knowledge of God are taken into captivity and made
subject to the obedience of Christ.
v. The
Word of God attacks (causes offense, destroys, casts down, makes captive)
everything that tries to rise against Yahweh.
c. How do you become more proficient with a sword?
i. The
same way you do with anything
1. Start where you are, not where you think you should be
a.
Luke 5 to Matthew 28 disciples
2. Develop
a “growth” mindset and forget about limits.
3. Read,
study, put into practice (patience, patience, patience)
4. Examine your learning process and do what works
a. Morning or evening reading?
b. Afternoon study?
c.
Alone or group?
5. Seek advice from those who are proficient in the Word.
III. HOW WE USE THE SWORD IN OUR DAILY BATTLES
a. How can the Word of God protect you in life
i. The Word of God directs and guides our steps
1. Psalm 119:133
ii. The Word of God illuminates our path
1. Psalm 119:105
iii. The Word of God makes us wise
1. Psalm 119:130
iv. The Word of God teaches us.
1. Matthew 4:4
2. Luke 11:28
v. The Word of God helps us fight against sin
1. 2 Timothy 3:16
b. How to use it in defense
i. As
Jesus did.
ii. When
you are attacked with false teachings, doctrine, or anything that comes against
you that is unholy or ungodly, speak the Word of God as your defense.
iii. When
Satan attacked Jesus in the wilderness and quoted scripture 100% accurately but
misapplied it because he did not have the Holy Spirit, which gives an understanding
of the Word of God, Jesus replied to each attack with ACCURATE and PROPER
scripture.
iv. If
you do not read or study the Word of God, you cannot use it properly.
2 Timothy 3:16
“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be
equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
c. How to use it in attacks
i. Against
anything which exalts itself against the Word of God
ii. Casting down all vain imaginations
iii. Against false teachers
iv. Against devils
v. Against anything in the way of God’s Word
CONCLUSION
The Sword of the Spirit is probably the most crucial part of the Full Armor of God. Though all the parts rely on each other, the true foundation of all the parts, their function, use, and everything that goes with that, is recorded in the Word of God.
Hebrews 4:9-12 “So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall into the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of
God.
Vs 12 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Next week:
The Full Armor of God Part 10: PRAYING AT ALL TIMES
To see all books by Rev. B. A. Shields, visit
Official Website of Author B. A. Shields
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