The last piece of armor is the Sword of the Spirit which I'm pretty sure we all know is the Word of God. God's Word is a double edged sword in our hands (Hebrews 4:12) meaning it's both offensive and defensive. It is not only a very powerful weapon, but without it, we can't possibly win any battles. Jesus Himself used this weapon when Satan attacked him right after he was baptized. He is our model, showing us how to wage war with God's Word. Notice He didn't "bind" Satan or "cast" Satan away somewhere during that attack or any other. He simply fought Him using every piece of armor He tells us about here to protect Himself and the Sword of the Spirit to defend Himself with.
You know, we should tremble when we realize just how powerful God's Word is. After all, it was with His Word that He created us, that He created this world and everything in it. It is His Word that saves us, cleanses us and heals us. It's His Word that renews our minds and makes us more like Him. In 2 Peter 3:7 we're told it's by His Word that the present earth is being reserved for fire. In Revelation 2:16 we're warned that it is with His Word that He will discipline all Christians who are compromising with sin. This isn't speaking of the future, it's speaking of how the Lord currently disciplines those in the body of Christ who are disobedient to His word. Then in Revelation 19:15 He tells us that it's through His Word that He will battle and destroy all who have risen against Him at Armageddon. Let me quote that whole passage for you, for we should understand that THIS is the power of His Word, the Word we hold in our hands and study, and the Word that we often ignore.
Revelation 19:11–21 —I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. *His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. *He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. *The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. *Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. *On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords. *And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, *so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.” *Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. *But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. *The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. *
Doesn't that give you goosebumps? The Word of God can create and destroy. it gives life and takes it. Thankfully, because of His great love for us, we're saved and don't have to ever worry about being under His wrath, for He has saved us from that. That doesn't mean however that we have nothing to be concerned about. We can still displease Him by being disobedient, and I wouldn't think that anyone in their right mind would want to to do that, not after all He's done for us. Why, if we realize the power of His Word, do we not eagerly pick it up and consume it?
His Word is powerful, but it won't do us any good at all if we don't know it; and if we know it, but don't do it, it still won't do us any good. Obviously too, we can't know it, if we haven't read and studied it. Every time we read God’s Word, it becomes more firmly planted in our minds and hearts, and that's how it protects us from attacks of the enemy. We need to speak the Word, pray the Word, live the Word, and let it live in us. That way it becomes an effective part of our armor and we'll have become sword masters with the Word of God, and have strong, well made belts of Truth, breastplates of righteousness, and helmet of salvation, etc. I'm sure that now you can see how all the pieces of armor are reflected in and joined to each other, and how each piece becomes stronger and stronger as we grow in the knowledge of our Lord and His Word.
You know, we should tremble when we realize just how powerful God's Word is. After all, it was with His Word that He created us, that He created this world and everything in it. It is His Word that saves us, cleanses us and heals us. It's His Word that renews our minds and makes us more like Him. In 2 Peter 3:7 we're told it's by His Word that the present earth is being reserved for fire. In Revelation 2:16 we're warned that it is with His Word that He will discipline all Christians who are compromising with sin. This isn't speaking of the future, it's speaking of how the Lord currently disciplines those in the body of Christ who are disobedient to His word. Then in Revelation 19:15 He tells us that it's through His Word that He will battle and destroy all who have risen against Him at Armageddon. Let me quote that whole passage for you, for we should understand that THIS is the power of His Word, the Word we hold in our hands and study, and the Word that we often ignore.
Revelation 19:11–21 —I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. *His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. *He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. *The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. *Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. *On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords. *And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, *so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.” *Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. *But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. *The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. *
Doesn't that give you goosebumps? The Word of God can create and destroy. it gives life and takes it. Thankfully, because of His great love for us, we're saved and don't have to ever worry about being under His wrath, for He has saved us from that. That doesn't mean however that we have nothing to be concerned about. We can still displease Him by being disobedient, and I wouldn't think that anyone in their right mind would want to to do that, not after all He's done for us. Why, if we realize the power of His Word, do we not eagerly pick it up and consume it?
His Word is powerful, but it won't do us any good at all if we don't know it; and if we know it, but don't do it, it still won't do us any good. Obviously too, we can't know it, if we haven't read and studied it. Every time we read God’s Word, it becomes more firmly planted in our minds and hearts, and that's how it protects us from attacks of the enemy. We need to speak the Word, pray the Word, live the Word, and let it live in us. That way it becomes an effective part of our armor and we'll have become sword masters with the Word of God, and have strong, well made belts of Truth, breastplates of righteousness, and helmet of salvation, etc. I'm sure that now you can see how all the pieces of armor are reflected in and joined to each other, and how each piece becomes stronger and stronger as we grow in the knowledge of our Lord and His Word.
LiveJournal Tags: armor of God,belt of truth,bible,breastplate of righteousness,devotional,emotions,Ephesians 6:13–17,god's word,heart,helmet of salvation,Jeremiah 17:9,Mark 7:21,mind,proverbs 10,Proverbs 23:7,Satan's attacks,scipture,shield of faith,shoes of gospel of peace,spiritual warfare,Sword of the Spirit,thinking,thoughts
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