Me: How is it going?
Prodigal: Just with Petey the Pirate.
Me: He has some sword!
Prodigal: Yes, he does.
This is from the book Overcoming Spiritual Blindness by James P. Gills, M.D.
The one offensive weapon given to the Christian soldier for spiritual warfare is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph 6:17). We have discussed the importance of the Word of God for every aspect of our spiritual life. However, in this passage, rhema is the Greek for this “word” of God, brought forth in specific, direct application to the issue at hand. It carries a very personal encouragement by the Spirit for the individual receiving it. This is the powerful application of God’s Word that is “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb 4:12). It is the Word of God, not just written on the page, but drawn smartly and thrust deeply into the enemy.
When the Lord Jesus was tempted by the devil, He met each approach with a specific and devastating counter: “It is written” (Matt. 4:4). Those three words are Satan’s worst nightmare; using God’s Word against him thwarts his attacks with God’s direction.
The sword of the Spirit can also cut through the hardest layers protecting a heart that opposes God. When told that “every knee shall bow” to Christ, some people may laugh and ridicule, but when the Spirit uses the Word in their hearts it becomes different.
We thank God that the sword of the Spirit continues to work in cutting away sin in our own lives. When God quickens His Word to our hearts, our occasionally prayerless and cold spirits are pierced. Then we return to our first love for Christ, and see through the vanity of temporal things; again we hunger for the satisfaction alone that comes from being in His presence. The sword of the Spirit is mighty and we need it desperately to fight against our own sins as well as in seeking to free others from the enemy who does not easily let his captives go free.
Mark 2:1
And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was reported that he was in the house.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
