Ephesians 6:17b Individual Pieces of Armor-Sword--Part Two

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

A. The whole armor is needed to fight the spiritual war.

Ephesians 6:11–12 NKJV

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Eph

B. The Sword of the Spirit is an important part of the Armor of God.

Eph

Ephesians 6:17 NKJV

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

1. The rest of the armor protects you so that you can use the Sword, but the Sword both protects you and the ones whom it is your aim to protect.

A. If you are wearing the Armor of God, you are protected because God’s Armor is impenetrable and therefore, you should be bold to go into war and fight.

Hebrews 13:5–6 NKJV

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

B. This is where the Sword comes into play, because the war needs to be fought.

1 Timothy

1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1. There are those who need to be protected and those who need to be saved.

Psalm 82:3–4 NKJV

3 Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked.

2. Pure and undefiled religion before God (paraphrasing): ‘Protect the ones who cannot protect themselves.’

James 1:27 NKJV

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

C. Ask yourself three questions:

1. Do you have the Sword available to use?

A. In order to be able to use the Sword, you must know how to obtain the Sword.

B. In order to be able to obtain the Sword, one must understand and acknowledge it’s power.

C. In order to obtain the Sword, one must understand that he needs the Sword.

2. Do you know how to use the Sword?

A. Ask yourself three questions to determine if you know how to use the Sword.

1. Are you willing to learn how to use the Sword properly?

2. Are you willing to teach others to use the Sword properly?

3. Are you willing to be an example of how to use the Sword properly?

3. Will you survive the war?

D. The lesson will focus on question number two today.

D. Next Sunday, we will continue this discussion and ask the next question.

1. Are you willing to teach others to use the Sword properly?

BODY:

1. DO YOU KNOW HOW TO USE THE SWORD?

A. Are you willing to learn how to use the Sword properly?

Acts 17:11 NKJV

11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

1. Every soldier must be willing to learn how to use their weapon properly.

2 Timothy 2:14–19 NKJV

14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

A. The Word of God is a Sword.

Ephesians 6:17 NKJV

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Hebrews 5:12–14 NKJV

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Heb 5.12

B. Thus, the one using the Sword must know how to use it properly.

Hebrews 5:12–14 NKJV

1. If the Sword is not used properly, it can cause damage both to the one using it and the ones who are to be protected by it.

Matthew 24:11 NKJV

11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

Matthew 24:12 NKJV

12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

2 Peter 2:1 NKJV

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

2. If the Sword is used properly, it will protect both the one using the Sword and and the ones who are to be protected by it.

1 Timothy

1 Timothy 4:16 NKJV

16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

2. What does it mean to be willing to learn to use the Sword properly?

A. One must be willing to put in hours of diligent study.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

1. If it is impossible to please God without faith and faith comes from His Word, then one must put in hours of diligent study to diligently seek Him to have proper faith.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

B. One must be willing to seek God with a whole heart.

Psalm 119:9–10 NKJV

9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

Psalm 119:9–11 NKJV

9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Matthew 22:36–38 NKJV

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.

Matt 22.36-

.9-

1. The Psalmist continues is to tell the people how he sought God with his whole heart.

Psalm 119:10–15 NKJV

10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.

Ps 119.10-15

A. By not wandering from God’s commandments.

John 14:15 NKJV

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

B. By hiding God’s Word in his heart.

Deuteronomy 6:4–6 NKJV

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

Deut 6.4-

C. By being willing to listen to God’s Word.

Revelation 2:29 NKJV

29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

Rev 2.29

D. By being willing to rejoice in God’s Word as much as in all of his riches.

Philippians 4:4 NKJV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Philippians 4:4–13 NKJV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

E. By meditating on God’s precepts and contemplating God’s ways.

Isaiah 55:7–9 NKJV

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isa 55.7-

Isaiah 55:8–9 NKJV

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

F. By delighting himself in God’s statutes.

Isa 55.

Psalm 1:2 NKJV

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Matthew 5:12 NKJV

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Ps 1

Acts 5:41 NKJV

41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.

1 Peter 4:13–14 NKJV

13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

G. By not forgetting God’s Word.

1 Corinthians 15:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

CONCLUSION:

1. Do you know how to use the Sword?

A. Are you willing to learn how to use the Sword properly?

1. If so, you will be willing to:

A. Put in hours of diligent study.

B. Seek God with a whole heart by:

1. Not wandering from God’s Word.

2. Hiding God’s Word in your heart.

3. Listening to God.

4. Rejoicing in God’s Word.

5. Meditating on God’s Word.

6. Delighting in God’s Word.

7. Not forgetting God’s Word.

B. If you can do all of these things, then you are on your way to knowing you can use the Sword properly.

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