In Ephesians 6:17 we read Paul's admonition, “Take [up] the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.” A few weeks ago, Don talked about the helmet of salvation. So far, everything Paul has mentioned has been “defensive" in nature. (i.e. The belt of truth. The armor of righteousness. Sandals of peace. The shield of faith. The Helmet of Salvation). However, the last things Paul mentions are “offensive" weapons of war. Arm yourself with the Sword of the Spirit—the Word of God. And next week we conclude our Soul Strong series with Ephesians 6:18, “Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request. . .”
After the Day of Pentecost, the early church exploded in growth. Thousands of people were being saved daily. People genuinely repented of sin, believed on Jesus, professed their faith, were baptized for the forgiveness of sin, and received the Holy Spirit. There is no greater adrenaline rush than seeing people being baptized. Of all the things Jesus commands, baptism is one of the most public and visible marks of salvation. And what a spectacle it is, to see the old self buried in that water grave, washed of sin, then resurrected to become a new creation!
Baptism is a new birth, but not a physical birth, it’s a spiritual birth. Jesus says at baptism a person is “born of water and spirit." Baptism is a baby breaking out of his or her earthly womb, and through water, taking in the very breath (and Spirit) of the Living God. So, as you can see, baptism is one of the most momentous moments in a believer’s life. Like a new birth. How do you top your birthday? Jesus said in John 3 that to enter the Kingdom of God one “must” be born again.
I've read the Old Testament more deeply and carefully in this past year alone than all the fifty years I've been a Christian. There was that moment in Genesis 4:7 when God warned Cain, “If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” Essentially, sin is knocking at the door, it wants to break in, but you must master it. I spent my entire early life thinking that the key to spiritual victory (mastering sin) was all about “keeping the sin out” of my life. I imagine Cain to be about as strong as any man, physically. He worked the ground. He daily fought under the hot sun against the cursed soil, the thorns and thistles, and the sweat of his brow. He could subdue the earth but he couldn't subdue his sinful nature. He couldn't keep the sin out. In fact, not a single man… from the days of Adam all the way to the present… with the exception of Christ Jesus… ever mastered or ruled over sin. James 1:14-15, “But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.”
I've spent most of my Christian life being a foolish Galatian. Do you remember what Paul said to the Galatians? In Galatians 3:1-4, Paul says in part, “You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? 4 Did you experience so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing?”
The whole secret to the victorious Christian life—which hasn't really even been a secret—comes down not to what you “keep out" of your life but “who" you let in to govern your life. I concluded long ago that my human spirit isn't strong enough to hold the door closed on sin. The human spirit can make a valiant effort—but my spirit isn’t strong enough to ward off temptation. My spirit isn't strong enough to ward off desire. My spirit isn't strong enough to undo sin and put the genie back in the battle. Nor it my spirit strong enough to fend off death. The key to mastery of temptation, evil desire, sin and even death itself is . . . in the words of God Himself as spoken by the prophets . . . Zechariah 4:6 “Not by power, nor by might… but by my Spirit says the Lord of Armies." And there are so many other sayings in your Old Testament Scriptures. Jeremiah 31. Ezekiel 36:25-27, I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone[a] and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
Aha Moment. The Spirit of God will prevail where my spirit always fails. That kind of sounds like good news doesn't it? Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” Galatians 3. Did you become soul strong in your own strength or might… or by trusting (believing, relying upon) the Spirit? After beginning by learning to rely on God's Spirit, do you think you’re going to finish well relying on your flesh? Did God pour out his Spirit on your life for nothing? What? You don't think you need the Holy Spirit? You think you can go it alone? Are you strong enough? You got yourself, Cain? Temptation? Desire? Sin? Death?
Galatians 5:16, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:22-25, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5 is how the Spirit of God, the Lord Armies, fights back temptation, desire, sin, death, and gets the job done!
Now let’s come back to Ephesians 6. Paul mentions two practical ways we can let the Spirit of the Lord of Armies into our life to fight for us. First, there is Ephesians 6:17 “Take [up] the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.”
One of the most terrifying portraits in Scripture, is of Christ Jesus our Lord, and is in Revelation 19:11-16, “Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. 14 The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. 15 A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. 16 And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
The Sword of the Spirit is synonymous with the Word of God. The Word of God is synonymous with the very Word of Christ Jesus our Lord, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Lord of Armies. You can try to fight your own battles and lose. Or, you allow the Spirit of Christ to fight your battles. Why are so many Christians living defeated, unchanged, unsanctified, unholy lives? Why is the door flying off the hinges in most Christian's lives, and in most Christian homes? Why is Satan having his way so readily and easily, enticing believers, first into temptation, then evil desire, then full blown sin, unto death?
The only way to fight a spiritual battle is with spiritual means—and the Sword of the Spirit… the Word of God is one of the two most spiritually lethal weapons at our disposal. One of the first things we see in Acts, is all those new baby Christians dripping wet, after their baptisms. They had received the Spirit… but had to learn what it meant to “begin” in the Spirit. And how did they begin? Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” To continue in the Spirit, they had to begin and continue in the Word! And it was by the Word of the Spirit that the power of God was unleashed in the Church. Acts 2:42-47, “Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”
Incidentally, a few chapters later in Acts, how did Satan attempt to disarm the power of the apostles or the church? The Devil tried to make the leaders of the Church so busy that they'd neglect the Ministry of the Word and Prayer! Take the Word out of the Church. Take the Word away from Leaders. Take the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, out of the hand of the Christian… and Devil can have his way. I don't think there is any way you can understate the power and necessity of God's Word as the Spirit's means of not just waging war, but winning the war in your life against temptation, desire, sin, even death.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Physically, you eat bread and you live, or you don't and you die. Spiritually you eat the Word and live, or you don't and you die.
And then also… the only way to fight a spiritual battle is with spiritual means—First, the Sword of the Spirit… But then also, Prayer. Prayer is the other most spiritually lethal weapons at our disposal. Ephesians 6:18, “Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.” Philippians 4:5b-7, “The Lord is near. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
How do we win the battle? Try harder Christian. Just Do It. It's always been a formula for defeat. No, you get on your knees, and you open your heart and mind to the Spirit of the Living God. You recognize that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.” And so, what do you do? You invite the Revelation 19 Lord of Armies to show up and slam the door on temptation, desire, sin, and death itself. Think about it. Word and Prayer are two ways we can bring heaven down. . . And God will fight for you.
“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. 14 The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. 15 A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. 16 And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”