Spiritual battles are like natural battles they are not fought constantly. Soldiers go to battle when a problem arises. Afterwards they return to their homes for a time of rest and are there until they are needed again for a battle.
This series has been designed not to make you go looking for a battle but to prepare you for when a battle comes your way; that you will be equipped to stand against them.
Battles will come but not everyday, the armor has been given to us by God so that we might maintain our victorious position over Satan.
In this lesson we are going to be looking at one of the most aggressive weapons that God have given us, “The Sword of the Spirit” The reading is taken from Ephesians 6:17 which say, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.”
The Roman soldier had his choice of five different swords for battle. Of these the Holy Spirit chose one to represent the “Sword of the Spirit”. Before we look at this sword lets look at the different swords the Roman soldier had to choose from.
The First sword was known as the gladius sword. It was an extremely heavy, broad-shouldered sword with a very long blade. Of all the Roman soldiers swords the gladius was the most ornate. However due to its weight it was also the most cumbersome and most difficult to use. This sword was so heavy it was often referred to as the two handed sword as it required to hands to hold and use. This Sword had to be swung with all ones might.
Furthermore this sword was only sharpened on one side the other side was blunt and dull. After suffering a defeat at the hands of the Carthaginians, the Romans gave up the use of these swords for a sword more like what the Carthaginians had used to defeat them.
The Second Sword was short and narrow. It was about 17 inches in length and much lighter as you can imagine it was well liked for its ease of use and grew in its popularity throughout the empire.
The Third sword was even shorter and was concealed in its scabbard under the Roman soldiers coat. It looked more like a dagger than a sword and was used to inflict a mortal wound into the heart of an enemy.
The Forth sword was a very long and slender sword. This sword was usually carried by the cavalry, as opposed to the more durable swords carried by the infantry. This sword was also used in a sport similar to modern day fencing. This sword was not the kind of sword you would use in battle.
The Fifth sword was the type of sword that Paul had in mind when he wrote about the spiritual armor in Ephesians six when he said, “ …and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
The word for the sword referred to in this text, is taken from the Greek word machaira (ma-chai-ra) This sword was about 19 inches long and was razor sharp on both sides of the blade. Because both sides were razor-sharp, it was much more dangerous then the other swords. The very end of the sword turned upward, causing the point of the blade to be extremely sharp and deadly.
The sword would inflict a much deadlier strike than the other swords, the Roman soldier after stabbing his enemy and before removing the blade would grip the sword tightly and twist it then pulling it out of his enemy it would take the mans entrails out as the soldier removed it from his enemies body.
Of all the swords available this was the most dangerous sword of all. While the other swords were deadly, this one was a “terror to the imagination!” This sword was not only used to kill a soldier’s enemy but to literally tear out his insides – It was a weapon of murder.
Here in Ephesians Paul uses the word “machaira” to describe “the sword Spirit”
In doing so Paul is telling the Church that God has given a weapon that is just as brutal it has the power to tear our enemies to shreds. This weapon is called “the sword of the Spirit.”
Paul continues to tell us more about this sword of the Spirit he says, “…The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Paul says that this “sword” is the “word of God.”
The expression “word” is taken from the Greek word rhema (rhe-ma). The word rhema is one of the most familiar Greek words used in the New Testament. It describes something that is “spoken clearly, spoken in unmistakable terms, spoken vividly, spoken in undeniable language, or something that is spoken in unquestionable, certain, and definite terms.”
In the New Testament, this word carries the idea of a “quickened word such as scripture, a word from the Lord” that the Holy Spirit supernaturally drops into one’s mind, thus coming alive supernaturally and empowering that believer.
These rhemas are so powerful, that when the Holy Spirit quickens such a word or verse in the mind of a believer, there is no doubt that he has heard from the Lord!
Jesus referred to the quickening work of the Holy Spirit in John 14:26, when He said, “ But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
When the Holy Spirit drops a word into our hearts or reminds us of a verse, or bible promise, that word, verse, or promise fills our entire being with faith. He speaks to us in such a way that it is clearly undeniable, unquestionable, unmistakable, certain and definite.
Therefore, a rhema is a specific word, which the Holy Spirit has quickened to our heart or mind for a specific time and special purpose.
So when Paul says, “…the sword of the Spirit, that is the word of God,” he is referring to the Holy Spirit’s ability to make a “word” vividly come alive in your heart and mind at a moment of need.
One expositor has translated this, “…that the Spirit yields, as He draws forth a special word of God.” This kind of word from the Lord gives you “sword power” in the spirit realm.
Like the other pieces of the armor the Sword and the Loin belt were inseparable. Just like the Shield rested on a clip on the right side of the Loin belt the sword rests in a sheath on the left side of the loin belt. Just as the loin belt was the support for the shield it was also the resting place for the sword.
As we have seen before the loin belt is representative of the written word of God, the Bible. This written word of God is the primary source for a rhema from God.
A genuine rhema – a word, verse or promise which the Holy Spirit quickens to your heart and mind at a specific time and for a specific purpose is so strong it is as if God has put a supernatural sword into your hand.
With the sword in your hand, you have a powerful weapon to repel the attacks of Satan, the Holy Spirit gives these words – They are supernaturally empowered by Him to enable us to withstand the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional attacks of the adversary.
The “ sword of the Spirit” is a word that the Spirit yields! It is a specially “ quickened.” This is the Holy Spirits rebuff to the devils attempt to penetrate the mind with slanderous lied and accusations!
Have you ever experienced “the sword of the Spirit” before? Have you ever been in a situation, when suddenly, the Holy Spirit reached into that reservoir of scripture that you had stored up in your heart through study, prayer and meditation, he quickened one of those verses to your mind at a point of need?
Have you ever had a verse come to mind out of nowhere empowering you just at the right moment? Naturally speaking you weren’t even thinking about that verse. Yet, it seemed to pop right into your mind? When that verse came to your mind you knew things were going to be all right.
While reading the Bible a verse seems to jump right off the page and right into your heart and carries a special measure of power in your life. It is as thought God speaks to you through such life transforming words.
Think of the written word, the Bible like a gladius sword of a Roman soldier; It is like a broad-shouldered and extremely heavy blade. This huge blade is great for making a sweeping blow against the enemy. On occasion however we need a more precise word – a smaller word – a two edged sword – a rhema – to deal the enemy a fatal blow!
We need to stab the enemy! This requires rhema, or a “specifically quickened word” from the scriptures that the Holy Spirit has placed on our heart. With a rhema like this we have “sword power!”
Vegetius, a Roman historian from circa A.D. 380, said, “…A stroke with the edges, though, made with ever so much force, seldom kills, as the vital parts of the body are protected by both bone and armor. On the contrary, a stab, although it penetrate but two inches, is generally fatal.”
It is not the sweeping action of the sword that kills, but on the contrary, it is the stabing action that mortally wounds a foe. Vegetius tells us that stab penetrates two inches is all that is required to kill an adversary.
Many people mistakenly think that they have to have the whole bible memorized before God can speak to or use them. Memorizing scripture is good, and we should commit as much scripture to memory as possible, it is not necessary to know the entire Bible in order to have “the sword of the Spirit” at our disposal.
It is also not necessary to receive prophecy that is ten pages long in order to have “ the sword of the Spirit” at your disposal.
The Spirit can speak a lengthy personnel word to our hearts about our lives, but this is the exception, and not the rule. It is Important to note that throughout history it is clear that most great men and women of God, who have earned a place in history, have done so by obeying a single, simple word from God.
Noah received a relatively short word from God that saved him and his family from destruction (Genesis 6:13 - 7:4). Considering the ramifications of the flood and the history making consequences of Noah’s obedience, the Lords word to him was quite brief and simple. The history making life-changing word must have lasted a whole ten minutes.
God’s word to Abraham, which led to the establishment of the Jewish people, and ultimately to walk the faith we all know now, was 3 verses long a mere seventy five words. (Genesis 12:1-3)
Mary the mother of Jesus received a short word from the angel Gabriel, The most important word from the Lord was a mere eight verses long Yet it changes the lives of men and women yet today.
The list of men and women today who have heard and obeyed a simple word is too long to cover in this session. By obeying a simple word from the Lord men and women have altered history. It is because of those who obeyed simple, specially spoken words from the Lord that we enjoy many of our spiritual blessings today.
You might say that these men and women stabbed the domain of darkness by responding to a word they had heard from God concerning the purpose of their lives. Though these words from the Lord were brief and straight to the point, they did great damage to the domain of darkness.
Remember it only takes a two-inch sword to fatally wound the enemy. When the Holy Spirit puts a sword – rhema - in your hand, it will probably be short, and to the point. The Lord knows that long word would be confusing to the majority of us. Therefore he speaks clear, vivid, unmistakable, undeniable, certain, definite, and easy – to understand words to us.
Most times, the rhema which you desperately need will come right out of the bible, as the Holy Spirit supernaturally makes a verse to leap right off the pages of the written word and into your heart where it begins to release great amounts of power.
When that verse supernaturally jumps into your heart it becomes a mighty blade in your hand that is capable of mortally wounding the word of the devil in your life!