Amanda BethSharing the Truths Behind the TRUTH

Aug 1st Monday’s Blog: Sword Of The Spirit

To read previous blogs in this “Armor Of God” series, click here.

The Bible tells us the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. God has given us the only offensive weapon we need—His Word. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, Jesus drove him away by speaking the Word of God. “It is written…,” He said. (Matthew 4:1-11).

Some people spend more time fighting with the enemy than doing God’s will. We don’t have to constantly fight the enemy. God has already given us victory over Satan. The battle has already been won.

As we learn from Jesus, His focus wasn’t constantly on Satan. His focus was on doing the will of God. When Satan got in the way of His mission, Jesus didn’t ignore him. Jesus used His authority to send Satan fleeing.

A couple years ago when God first called me to follow Him and write my book, my family was attacked greatly by the enemy. For about nine months straight we were hit by one thing after another. The attacks were like nothing we had ever experienced before. They were so strange that even others noticed we were being attacked. It felt like we were experiencing the plagues in the Bible. They were so odd that I thought for a moment God was punishing me. I thought I misunderstood His calling and He was trying to stop me from writing the book.

God eventually opened my eyes and showed me that the enemy was attacking me. All my time and energy was spent on cleaning up the messes the devil created. I had no time to work on my book. The devil was trying to distract me from doing God’s will. Once I stopped trying to fix the messes he created, and started speaking the Word of God over those situations and focused on doing God’s will, the attacks stopped and the problems went away.

God didn’t give us His Word just to fight the enemy. He gave us His Word to sanctify us and equip us to do His will.

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

—John 17:17

The Bible says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

I’ve heard people say they don’t need to read the Bible daily since they have read it before. They already know right from wrong.

The Bible isn’t like a book that you read once and that’s it. There is power in God’s Word. When we feed our minds and hearts the Word of God, it gives us power in our spirits. 2 Corinthians 10:4 says, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

God’s Word tears down strongholds that we don’t know exist until we are in His Word. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

God’s Word reveals the dark places in us. His Word opens our eyes to what’s truly in our hearts. We need God’s Word more than we need food and water. Jesus said, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

There is also great power in speaking the Word of God over our lives. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him” (Mark 11:23).

Jesus didn’t say if anyone “thinks” about moving the mountain. He said to “speak” to the mountain. I’ve spoken the Word of God over many situations and I’ve seen His power move mountains. I’ve seen Satan flee through the power of God’s Word. I’ve seen people healed through the power of His Word. I’ve seen strongholds torn down through the power of His Word.  There is power in God’s Word!

A dear friend directed me to Psalm 103:20 one time, which said, “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word” (KJV). My friend pointed out that this verse didn’t say the angels only hearken to God’s voice, but they hearken to the voice of “His Word.” When we speak God’s Word His angels take heed and tend to us as they did to Jesus after He drove Satan away by the Word of God (Matthew 4:11).

I want to clarify that we can’t speak God’s Word apart from His Holy Spirit. If we speak God’s Word apart from Him we will have no power to move mountains. God needs to be the One feeding us His Word. If we try to read and study the Bible apart from God, we will only gain head knowledge. True Godly wisdom is only found through God. He is the only One Who can unlock the hidden treasures in His Word and give us the power we need to move mountains.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe….

—Ephesians 1:17-19

When we allow God to fill our spirits with the power of His Word, we’ll have the wisdom and power to reach others. God will use us to draw hearts to Him.

Ezekiel 3:1-4; 10-11 says, “And he said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.’ So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. Then he said to me, ‘Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.’ So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. He then said to me: ‘Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them.’”

“And he said to me, ‘Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.”

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**Prayer for the week**

Lord,

We praise You for giving us Your Word. Cleanse us through Your Word. Help us to put You first each day and allow You to fill us with Your Word so we can be fully equipped to do Your will. Help us to take up our swords and tear down every stronghold the enemy has built in our lives and the lives of others.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen!

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I thought this song went well with this week’s message. I pray it blesses someone today!

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Come back next Monday as I share more of God’s Truths and the reasons behind the Truths.

All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted.