By: General James Green
THE CHRISTIAN’S ARMOUR
In himself the Christian is as weak spiritually as any other man. He must confess his weakness continually and by faith draw his strength from the Lord. God has equipped us with spiritual armor and weapons in order that we may fearlessly attack our enemies and defend ourselves from the onslaught of temptation and sin. In a word, the Christians’ armor is Christ. Considered in detail, the armour is the varied protection we have in Christ. By faith we must take it piece by piece. Twice Paul instructs us to use “the whole armor of God”. The devil is no fool. He will attack where we are unprotected.
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph. 6:13-17
OUR GREATEST WEAPON -THE WORD OF GOD!
BOTH WRITTEN AND SPOKEN!
In the Bible there are two Greek words used to describe the “Word of God”. First there is the LOGOS, the Personal Word, the title of the Son of God. Jesus is identified as such in John 1:1-18, declaring His distinct and superfinite personality, His Deity, His creative power and His incarnation, “…the word became flesh”.
Second there is the RHEMA, the spoken Word. The significance of rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the command to take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (rhema) of God”. Eph. 6:17 Here the reference is not only to the written Word but to the living, powerful Word of the Spirit that will speak through the soldier of Christ. Nothing at all can help us -nothing except the Word of God …We do not mean the dead letter of the Bible only, but the living, Spirit Word of God, the Word that God speaks directly into our hearts. It is never in contrast to the Bible, but rather, when we read the Old or New Testament, something in our hearts starts to burn, and then God speaks the words of Jesus directly into our hearts. The dead letter kills; the Spirit brings life. (2 Cor. 3:6)
THE SWORD
The Sword is the Word of God and is absolutely essential in the Christian walk. In the gospel of Matthew, chapter 10, Jesus says, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth, I came not send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother…”. The first division that many Christians face is with those of their own household. As we share our discovery of JESUS with our loved ones, many of us have had a sad awakening as the sword has brought instead of acceptance, disputes and controversy. Then comes the test as the new Christian is forced to choose between following the Lord or following the opinions of unregenerated loved ones. Many stumble, some turn back and follow Him no more, but there are those who will persist in following JESUS, WHO GAVE THEM A GREATER LOVE than those who are cut away by the Sword. In Ephesians 6:17 we are told, “…take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” This admonition is for the spiritual battle that we fight with the demonic forces that are constantly harassing and opposing the Christian who is advancing in the Lord. We are pressed into using the Sword as a weapon as we engage in war with the dark forces of the evil one.
In Hebrews 4:12 there is another use of the Sword, “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.” In this place we become intimately acquainted with the Sword, to the point of either loving or hating it’s work in our lives. If we yield ourselves to His Sword, we will be divided asunder. The Spirit will expose our sins, He will separate the precious from the vile, the corrupt from the incorrupt. And, if we embrace His fiery truth we will grow to appreciate the ministry of the sword as our lives are brought into greater subjection to Jesus Christ, and with His Sword He does battle to become the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in our hearts!!!