Revisiting Ephesians: Sword of the Spirit (Part III)
Ephesians 6:17b
Last time we in the book of Ephesians, we looked at one of the four facets of using the sword of the Spirit with skill and precision. If there’s an Achilles’ heel in the church today, it would be in the lack of understanding, wisdom, and implementation in how to wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. We live in a time where the word of God is used as a footnote and clay symbol to promote our personal religious agendas. We are biblically inept, which means we lack the power and requisite foundation to withstand the onslaught of the enemy that comes from all directions in the guise of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
This is surprising, seeing that reading the word of God is a commandment. It is crucial to be in the word of God every single day. Not only is this for our spiritual well-being, but it is also something that the Lord expects from his people (Deuteronomy 11:8).
Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it; (Deuteronomy 11:8)
When we fail at our regular and consistent immersion in God’s word, we not only do ourselves and the church a disservice, but ultimately it is the glory of God that suffers.
Reading the word of God is an expression of love. There is a direct correlation between reading the word of God and keeping His commandments. This is the running theme throughout both the Old and New Testaments (Joh_14:15, Joh_15:10).
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:10)
The child of God reads the Word daily, not simply out of duty but also to love the Lord Jesus. It is manifestly impossible to keep His commandments if you do not know what they are. The chosen method by which the Lord has chosen to communicate that to the world is through His word. And this is not cumbersome to the people of God, but a joy and delight for them (Psa_1:1-2).
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalms 1:1-2)
The word of God is a powerful weapon (Hebrews 4:12).
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Yet, we saw last week that people who call themselves Christians neglect that power, which is why they can’t get victory in their lives. Is it any wonder that the church in America is so defective? Is it any wonder why professing Christians have just as many, if not more, problems in their lives than people of the world? We have been given the tools for a life of joyful, godly, overcoming living (2 Peter 1:3).
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (2 Peter 1:3)
Yet we refuse to use it. This is the fact in the midst of the reality that something like 87% of households are said to own a Bible.
We also learned that most Christians haven’t read the entire Bible. But it takes a whole Bible to make a whole Christian. Every true child of God should read the entire Bible on a regular basis.
It must be understood that people who don’t read the Bible, have no desire to plumb its depths, or are trying to circumvent God, His Son, and His word by some other method — whether that be by some other religion or some other man-made spiritual path (which is idolatry) — are counting on the useless works of their own hearts and are thieves and robbers (John 10:1).
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)
God only accepts one Way and one Way only, and that is through His Son Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
Everyone is not a child of God. Everyone is a creation of God. You must be chosen and choose to be a child of God. It is an eternal and awesome privilege. The children of God love His word. If there is no desire to immerse yourself in the word of God, if reading God’s word is drudgery to you, if you have no interest in understanding what the word of God says and knowing what it means, if reading Scripture is the last thing on your mind and you gather with the church not to hear from God and understand his word but more so to get some entertaining anecdote that a last you the rest of the week then there is something wrong with you and it’s quite possible that you are not a Christian at all. The heart’s attitude toward the word of God is one of the marks of whether someone is truly saved (Jer_15:16, Psa_50:16-17).
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)
But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. (Psalms 50:16-17)
This morning, we’re going to turn our attention to the skill use of the word of God, focusing on the other facets we have mentioned before. Pressing into mastering these facets will bring victory, wisdom, and reflect a God-glorifying, Christ-magnifying life.