Cp. 6 Understanding our Weapons of Warfare - Part 1

“And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” The sword is the word of God in the mouth of His saints. Our sword is both a defensive and an offensive weapon. Rev 12:11 - “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” (NIV)

Christ is the Word: John 1:1 - “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (NIV) Rev 19:13-15 - “He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God… 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword…”(NIV)

The sword comes last, having put on our armor as we mature in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, we come to the point where it is vital that we “rightly divide the word of truth.” If we use the word without the understanding that comes with spiritual maturity then we may say the wrong things, speak false doctrines and err in our interpretation of scripture. 2 Co. 10:4-5 - “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (NIV) Our spiritual sword was forged by the hands and mouth of Christ. It is the sword of the Spirit because only with the guidance of the Holy Spirit can His word be rightly divided and understood. It is the Holy Spirit residing in us that gives the sword its power. The sword is not only used against the enemy but it judges us as well: Heb 4:12 - “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (NIV) The sword is as powerful as the faith we have in its creator. The Word can take down great persecutors of the church, like Saul, (who became Paul) and turn them into great ministers of the gospel. Rightly dividing the word can silence the heretic with their false doctrines and keep at bay the seducing spirits who twist the scriptures to their own ends. These seducing spirits are the types that tempted Jesus after His wilderness experience. The heretic and seducer might quote the word but only those who are holy will have the mind of Christ.

Our desire when we stand before God should equal that of Paul who said that “We have run the race, we have fought a good fight and have kept the faith”. The importance of knowing the word and hiding in your heart can be found with this prophecy: Amos 8:11 - "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land — not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.” (NIV)

As the latter days approach us it will get more difficult to hear solid gospel preaching and it’s not impossible that publication of the bible be halted as, in the eyes of the “politically correct” it may contain “hate speech.” Satan will no longer be held back and his wrath will be against the church. Rev 12:17 - “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring — those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” (NIV)

The results of Satan’s war against the church can be found in: Rev 13:7, 10 - “He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them…10 If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. (NIV)
When sincerely seeking the truth of scripture don’t begin with foregone conclusions then search for scriptures that “back up” your previously held belief, instead enter your search with an open mind and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you unto the truth.
John 16:13 - “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak…” (KJV) We need to pray along with David: “Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart” (Ps 119:33-34 - NIV).

When we enter into spiritual warfare we are battling not only for the honor and glory of Christ but also for our very life and being. This can truly be called “a holy war” and it doesn’t last for a short duration but it is to be our life’s work. Part of our warfare is knowing and claiming the promises of God. 2 Peter 1:4 - “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (KJV) Here’s an example: Ps 34:19 - “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all” (NIV). I’ll provide a lot more in a later chapter.
The scriptures have a cure for every affliction. Meditate upon and memorize the promises, then pray the promises and once you have prayed the promise start behaving as if you have received the promise already. In your acting on faith of having received them, they will become a reality. Don’t let sense, reason or doubt cloud your faith. The bible tells us a little about our attitude towards the enemy and spiritual warfare in general.

Matt 10:28 - “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (NIV).

Rev 2:7 - “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (NIV)

We are to be overcomers in everything we do and every trial and temptation we face. Matt 16:18 - …“and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (KJV) Pr. 3:5 - “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;” (NIV). God will help prepare us for battle: “Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. 2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge…”(Ps 144:1-2 - NIV).

We need to listen and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in understanding His word. Gurnall says, “Prayer is the key that unlocks the mystery of the word.” Always pray for help from God before you begin a period of spiritual warfare. Prayer is the oil that prevents the rest of the armor from getting rusty. Prayer has been called the spear of the Christian warrior because when used effectively by thrusting into the spiritual realm we keep the demons at bay and prevent them from drawing near to us.