Today I continue my series of articles commenting on the concept and principles involved in the Armor of God, which the apostle Paul described in the New Testament. This is the topic of the Sunday school lesson I am currently teaching
The Armor of God – Sword of the Spirit
6. The Word of God, Scripture: Having the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).
Knowledge about God can be gleaned from the observation of nature. His power is shown by His ability to create the stars and the vastness of the universe. The complexity of the cell shows His concern for minute details and causing things to work together properly. The Apostle Paul points this out in his letter to the Romans in the New Testament, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20). This is general revelation, which informs man that God is real but not how to be right with Him.
The word of God is a special revelation from God to mankind about God and His view on things. His view on reality is the only correct position since He is the creator. It tells what God has done in the past and His reaction to what man has done. It (the Holy Bible) has in it the words of eternal life (John 6:68).
A. Scripture is Inspired by God and is Profitable - “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (II Timothy 3:16, 17).”
B. Scripture is Alive, Active, and Sharp - “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 (Hebrews 4:12).”
C. Scripture is Pure - “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it (Psalm 119:140).” “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times Psalm 12:6).”
D. Scripture is Truth - “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth (John 17:17.” “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth (Psalm 119:142).”
E. Scripture is Perfect - “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul (Psalm 19:7a).”
F. Scripture is Sure - “The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple (Psalm 19:7b).”
G. Scripture is Settled - “Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89).”
H. Scripture is Enduring - “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you (I Peter 1:23-25).”
I. Scripture is a Lamp - “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105).”
J. Scripture Cannot Be Broken - “The scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35b).”
K. Scripture Will Accomplish God’s Purpose - “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:10, 11).”
L. Scripture is More Desirable than Gold - “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold (Psalm 19:10a).”
M. Scripture Provides Warning - “Moreover by them is thy servant warned (Psalm 19:11a).”
N. Obedience to Scripture is Rewarded - “In keeping of them there is great reward (Psalm 19:11b).”
O. Know the scriptures - “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalm 119:11).”
P. Think on the Scriptures - “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish (Psalm 1:1-6).”
Q. Obey Scripture - “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14).”
R. Live by Scripture - “And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live (Deuteronomy 8:3).”
“When the tempter came to him (Jesus), he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:3, 4).”
S. Speak the Word of God Faithfully - “The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD (Jeremiah23:28).”
T. God’s Word is like Fire and a Hammer - “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces (Jeremiah 23:29)?”
U. Obedience to God’s Word Demonstrates Love for Jesus - “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me (John 14:23, 24).”
V. Obedience to God’s Word is Wise while Disobedience is Foolish - “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it (Matthew 7:24-27).”
W. Scripture Provides Understanding - “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way (Psalm 119:104).”
X. Scripture is of no Private Interpretation - “Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (II Peter 1:20, 21).”
Y. Scripture is to be Preached - “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (II Timothy 4:2).”
Z. Scripture is Given as Examples - “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come (I Corinthians 10:6-11).”
AA. What is Revealed is for Us and Our Children - “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 29:29).”
BB. Do Not Add to Scripture - “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. ‘ Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar (Proverbs 30:5, 6).”
CC. Scripture Makes One Wise Unto Salvation - “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (II timothy 3:15).”
DD. Scripture Cleanses - “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:25,26).”
EE. God’s Word Is Likened to Seed - “And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold (Matthew 13:3-8).”
The sword which is the word of God is the offensive weapon God has given to believers. It is also a defensive weapon to ward off the cuts of the enemy. You, as a believer, need to memorize scripture to have it to use whenever it is needed. You may not have time to look it up in the Bible. If you are saved, then God will bring it to your memory. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26).”
If you want to get saved you can repent of your sins and invite Jesus into your heart. A simple prayer is, “Lord Jesus Christ forgive me of my evil and come into my heart.”
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