Christian Living
Taking the Sword of the Spirit
By: Rick L, King
July31, 2011
Are we taking up the sword of the spirit or our sword? There is truly a difference.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
In the above passage the words say the sword of the spirit. We have been taught that the Bible is the sword of the spirit. This is true but this has a twist to it that if you do not grasp, then you will not walk in power. This is the spirit’s sword, not ours. The Bible tells us that:
Ro 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
We are to be led by the spirit, not the word. I know that raises some eyebrows. We can walk by the flesh or our carnal mind or we can be led by the spirit. We can preach and teach by our carnal mind or do so by the spirit. There is a major difference. When the disciples went to the upper room in the book of Acts, why did they do so? They were taught of Jesus and could have just said all the things that they were taught to the people. It was His Word right? So why could they not have done this? They learned that the kingdom was about power. They waited on the Lord until they were endued with power.
The word “word” in Ephesians 6:17 in the Greek text is Rhema, not logos. The Rhema is a now spoken word where the logos is the written word. In other words, the sword of the spirit is the Holy Spirit speaking now. It is the Holy Spirit leading what is said by His own now words.
Mr 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
The upper room experience was that they waited till they were led and received the power of the Holy Ghost to teach and preach. When we wait, we find that it is the Holy Spirit through us and not us. His words will bring life. When we do it without the power of God then we are being religious and walking in the flesh. God said that we cannot please Him if we walk in the flesh (Romans 8:8). The motive may be correct to preach the Word and help others find freedom and salvation, yet we must realize that we in our flesh cannot do this effectively. This is why Jesus told them to wait till they were endued with power. The Holy Spirit wants to lead.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
When we wait as did the disciples in the upper room, we receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. It then becomes Him through us, as it is His words spoken by His Spirit through us that causes us to be a witness. I think the main issue is that we tend to not want to wait. Man and patience is like water and oil. They just don’t mix well. We must learn to wait. Though our motives may be correct it is still the motive of our flesh. Unless we wait and find out what the Holy Spirit desires to do and say, we go off in the flesh and are ineffective. God wants to minister to people more than we do. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. We must wait until we hear from Him and are empowered and led by the Holy Spirit. Just taking the Bible and quoting verses is not the sword of the spirit. Who asked us to do this?
Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Once we get a hold of this passage and allow only the Holy Spirit to lead us, we will then find that we experience His power in our lives. I have come to base my walk on the scripture. It is not by might or by power (mine), but it is only by His Spirit. It is not automatic, as some believe. We must wait on the Lord to be endued with power.
1Co 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
The word “power” is the same word used with power of the Holy Ghost. Defined in the Greek is Dunamis. It means miracle working power and ability. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to use His sword and lay down our own religious one.
You may want to read my article entitled "The Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Is it Real?"
Questions or comments may be directed to: [email protected] please note that there is an underscore ( _ ) between the r and k in my email address. Thanks.
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You expressed, "We are to be led by the spirit, not the word."
I wholly agree.
2 Corinithians 3:6
...for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
The Acts 16:6, 7
...and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
After they were come to Mysia they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.