THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

MARCH 28, 2022

TOPIC: THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

BY T. O. BANSO

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17 New King James Version).

When Jesus was on earth, He placed so much emphasis on the Word. He devoted much time to preaching and teaching the truth. Acts 1:1 talks of the things Jesus began to do and teach. Jesus performed miracles but He devoted the bulk of His time to the Word.

Nicodemus told Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God” (John 3:2b New King James Version). Matthew 4:23 says Jesus went about Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.  Also in Matthew 9:35, the Bible says Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Similarly, Luke 13:10 says that Jesus taught in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. Jesus devoted much time to teaching and preaching. The Bible says His listeners remarked that He taught as one having authority and not as the scribes (Matthew 7:29; Mark 1:22). Addressing those who came to arrest Him, Jesus said, “I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me” (Matthew 26:55 New King James Version).

The disciples of Jesus also emulated Him by teaching people the Word of God. In Mark 6:30, the Bible says the apostles returned from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught.

Today, we must never despise or sacrifice the teaching and preaching of the Word just because of people’s hunger for predictions (prophecy). It is the Word of God that will make believers grow. 1 Peter 2:2 says as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. And we must mature to be fed with strong meat (Hebrews 5:12, 14).

There is power in the written Word of God. There is power in the Word of God that we speak. Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63 New King James Version). Hebrews 1:3b says Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power.

The Word of God has a self-fulfilling power. It can create what does not exist and restore to life what is dying, has died, or is missing. All scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16a). The Word is a weapon of warfare. The Bible calls it the sword of the Spirit. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17 New King James Version).  

The sword of the Spirit is part of the whole armour of God, which Paul said that we should put on so that we might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). The whole armour includes the belt of truth, the body armour of God’s righteousness (breastplate of righteousness), the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. We must also engage in prayer and supplication, watchfulness, and perseverance.

However, our focus here is the sword of the Spirit – the Word of God. By the Word of God, you will overcome every enemy and opposition. Don’t joke with the Word. Why should you play with the weapon that will guarantee your victory? The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit.

Hebrews 4:12-13 thus: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (New King James Version). Take note of the phrase “two-edged sword.” 

Revelation 1:16 says of Jesus that He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. A sharp two-edged sword! This refers to the Word of God as we have seen in Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17.

Speaking of the Messiah, Isaiah 49:2a says, “And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword” (New King James Version). Also, Revelation 19:15a talks of the sharp sword that comes out of the mouth of Christ. It says, “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations” (New King James Version).

Also, Isaiah, prophesying about the Messiah, said, “He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked” (Isaiah 11:4b New King James Version). That means Jesus shall conquer by His word. The sword of the Spirit! Let the written Word of God become the Word you speak.

The sword of the Spirit will give you victory in the battles of life. The church must give priority to the teaching and the preaching of the Word. The Bible says as Jesus was teaching the people, the power of God was present to heal them (Luke 5:17). We should also teach, preach, listen to, read, study, meditate on, believe, confess, and obey the Word. Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4 New King James Version). Luke 4:4 says a similar thing.

Don’t let other things become more important to you than the Word of God. Don’t be like Martha, who welcomed Jesus to her home but was busy in the kitchen trying to fix a meal to entertain Him. However, Martha’s sister, Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.

See the conversation between Martha and Jesus: “But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.’ And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:40-42 New King James Version).

Give priority to the Word of God. You will prevail because the Word will. Acts 19:20 says, “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (New King James Version).

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS:  Holy Spirit, help me to give priority to the Word of God in my life. Let me not be distracted from the Word of God. I shall not neglect the sword of the Spirit as I put on the whole armour of God. I shall read, study, meditate on, believe, confess, teach, preach, listen to, and obey the Word. I have victory by the Word of God in Jesus’ name.

(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org