Notes of Faith January 8, 2025
The Word Is the Sword
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17
There are two Greek words in the New Testament that are translated into English as “word.” One is logos—“word, message, speech, argument, book.” The other is rhema—“word, saying, thing, remark.” Generally speaking, we might think of logos as the Bible and rhema as a verse in the Bible. Both are the Word of God—one the whole, the other a specific part of the whole.
When Paul describes the Christian’s spiritual armor and notes the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” the Greek word he uses for “word of God” is rhema, not logos. In other words, he pictures going on the offensive in spiritual warfare by using specific parts of the Bible: promises, teachings, sayings. Think of how Jesus defended Himself against Satan’s temptations in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Three times Satan tempted Him, and three times Jesus rebuffed the temptation by quoting a verse from Deuteronomy. That’s the way to use the sword of the Spirit, the rhema of God.
Take the sword of the Spirit everywhere you go by committing the promises and teachings of Scripture to memory.
The Bible is a disturbing book, a hammer, a fire, and a sword.
Vance Havner
Matt 4:1-11
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"
5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,
'HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU';
and
'ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP,
SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'"
7 Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'"
8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'" 11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.
Jesus used the Word (specific Word of God) to defend as well as attack those coming against Him. We too, can use the Word of God, if we know it and use it against the enemies coming against us. I pray you are in the Word of God today.
Pastor Dale