In Japanese military history, there was an elite fighting force called Samurai; which meant, "those who serve in close attendance to the nobility," They were military nobility of pre-industrial Japan; who followed a very strict discipline of teachings which are still taught in the martial arts called Kendo; meaning, “the way of the Sword.”
With the expansion of the industrial revolution, new weapons of warfare replaced ancient arms and so swords in modern day warfare have faded into ceremonial decoration. In military weddings, the bride and groom may walk under an arbor of drawn swords. Hand to hand combat with swords has been obsolete for many years.
The Armor of God: The Sword of The Spirit, Which is The Word of God
By reflecting on the times in history when the sword was the primary weapon, we can see how effective this offensive and defensive weapon can be. The doubled edged sword of Biblical times; in the hands of a skilled warrior was a powerful weapon. As part of the armor of God, the Sword of the Spirit is one of two pieces of armor that is both defensive and offensive in nature. The other listed weapon is prayer.
A sword is useless if it is in the hands of someone who is unskilled. It is also useless if it never comes out of its scabbard. We carry the WORD of God in a scabbard called the Holy Bible. The cover must be opened in order to use the WORD. It takes great skill to use it; which we call Bible Study and meditation; by which the WORD is internalized and en-graphed into out heart, mind and soul. The WORD is Christ and He lives in us through the Holy Ghost. That is why it is the Sword of the SPIRIT. It is the perfect mind and will of God. The WORD is the living Christ.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The WORD is “quick,” that means alive
The WORD is “powerful,” that is the power of God
The WORD is “sharper than any two edged sword,” It cuts in all directions
The WORD is “piercing,” It cuts deep and through
The WORD is “dividing asunder,” severing, exposing and separating soul and spirit; joints and marrow
The WORD is “a discerner,” of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The WORD is an awesome weapon that God gives true Christians; yet there are also false ministers, who pick and choose what they want to teach and use the word of God deceitfully, dishonestly and in craftiness.
Paul tells the church at Corinth that they didn’t preach themselves, but the true Christ; the LIGHT that shines out of darkness to give the knowledge of the glory of God. Though trouble surrounds them, they are not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. All because Christ lives in them; the WORD manifest in their body!
2 Corinthians 4:1-10 (1) Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; (2) But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. (3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. (6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (8) We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; (9) Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; (10) Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
The Devil can not withstand the Sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD of God; but we must hide the WORD in our hearts; truth in our inward parts. It was the responsibility of every king in Israel; to write for himself a copy of the law, the five books of Moses, and to read from it every day of his reign, all of his life.
Psalms 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Deuteronomy 17:15-20 (15) Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. (16) But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. (17) Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. (18) And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: (19) And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: (20) That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
Our calling in Christ is a royal calling; chosen to be a peculiar people (which means distinctive and special); to be royalty in the priesthood and as a ruler with Christ on His throne.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.:
Jesus Christ is the WORD, He is the Sword of the Spirit that will subdue the nations one day soon and will rule in power and glory. We are called into oneness with Christ; we are called to be a part of Christ’s mighty army, returning to the earth to usher in a new world of peace.
Revelation 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
We have the WORD, a mighty sword if we choose to become skilled in it. We need to be devouring our Bibles and internalizing God’s WORD.
Prayer: Almighty Father, stir me up. Awaken me to the warfare and the stakes of the victory that you guarantee me, if I take my calling seriously enough to make my election sure in Christ. I know that the victory is mine, but I have responsibility to it. Let me seek you daily and suit up daily in the armor of God; in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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