Highlight:

(17)  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Ephesians 6:17

(4 ) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:4

(7 ) Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Matthew 4:7

(10 ) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

(11 ) Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Matthew 4:10-11

Explanation:

As we think about the armor that we’ve talked about so far, there is some that we were told to “put on”:

• The Belt of Truth
• Breastplate of righteousness
• Gospel fitted feet

Then there was armor we were told to take up:

• The shield of faith
• The helmet of salvation.

The Word of God is a spiritual sword.  It is a weapon to be wielded, not armor to be worn.    When he says to take up the sword of the Spirit he calls it the “word of God”.  I want you to know something important about the word translated “word of God”.

There are a couple of greek words translated into english as “word” found in the new testament.

There is the word transliterated “Apangello”- an announcement or message.

There is the word transliterated “Logos”.  Logos does mean something said or revealed.  By implication it is a topic.  It also has the idea of reasoning or Divine expression as in Christ.  In John 1 we understand that the logos was not just a revelation from God.  The Logos is a person.  “In the beginning was the logos, and the logos was with God, and the logos was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”  Who is this person?  We find out in verse in verse 14 “and the logos became flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”  The Logos is Jesus.

There is another term translated “word”, and it is the term found here in verse 17.  It is the term “rhema”.  This word is more specific in nature.  It has the idea of “an utterance”.  It has the idea of a specific word. 

You see, we must not think that we are taking up the “sword of the Spirit” just by owning the object we know as our Bibles.  We must not think that we are equipped for battle by merely owning the text itself.  I believe the Holy Spirit had in mind that there is a specific “rhema” from God that deals with every kind of situation we face. 

• Are you dealing with doubt?  Do you know what the Bible says about doubt?
• Are you dealing with disciplining your children?  Or are you dealing with undisciplined children?  Do you know that the Bible says something about that?
• What about sexual temptation?  Do you know what the Bible says about that?
• If someone were to come up to you and ask you how they can be right with God, could you take them to the scripture and show them what God has said?

To win at spiritual battle, you must know what the Bible says specifically, and must be able to use it in the moment of doubt, temptation, or ministry opportunity.  We use it both defensively and offensively.

When we put the Bible, God’s written Word in our own hearts and minds, when the Bible gets into us, then we give ourselves the opportunity to be controlled by the  living Word, the Holy Spirit inside of us.  He brings the truth of God’s Word to mind to help us in that moment of battle.

Do you remember in Genesis 1 what it says about the Spirit of God and the Word of God?

(1)  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.(2)  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.(3)  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Genesis 1:1-3

Do you remember in Matthew 3 when Jesus came to be baptized of John?  John told Jesus, “I don’t need to baptize you.  You need to baptize me! “

Jesus told him… 

(15)  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.(16)  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:(17)  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 3:15-17

Jesus was obedient to Father. The Father wanted those there, and for us to know, that Jesus wasn’t just another sinner in line to be baptized. He is the Son of God. God was pleased with Him. The Spirit descended on him like a dove, and look what happened next.

1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Matthew 4:1-11

Three times Satan tried to tempt Jesus, and three times Jesus had the same kind of reply.

(4 ) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:4

(7) Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Matthew 4:7

(10 ) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Matthew 4:10

Application:

If Jesus chose to fight Satan after 40 days of fasting in the wilderness with three verses out of Deuteronomy, don’t you think we ought to figure out where in the 66 books of the Bible has to say about what our temptation is. If Jesus was filled with and moved by the Spirit, don’t you think we ought to get into the Logos of God until the rhema of God gets into us so that it is what comes out of us when it’s time to stand in the evil day.

When he did, look at what Satan did!

(11 ) Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Matthew 4:11

Isn’t that what we are told to do?

(7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.(8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.(9) Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.(10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

James 4:7-10

Response:

How are we going to make a stand against the devil in the evil day if we do wield the sword of the Spirit which is the rhema of God?