All Dressed Up: Part 4
Message Summary:
We have been delivered from the power and the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, the kingdom of God’s Son. But the moment we enter the kingdom of light, we become the target of the enemy. We enter into a war and we need to get dressed up for battle. If we are in a wrestling match with an enemy (Eph. 6:12), then we need to learn how to suit up in the armor God has given to his children to fight their battles. That is why Ephesians 6 commands us to stand strong in the Lord and the power of His might by putting on the full armor of God – the belt of truth (John 17:17), the breastplate of righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21), shoes of the gospel of peace (Romans 16:20), the shield of faith (1 Cor. 16:13), the helmet of salvation (1 Thess. 5:8), and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Heb. 4:12).
One of the final commands from Paul is to fight back with our offensive weapon – the Word of God, which is the Sword of the Spirit. We need to know what the Word of God says so that we can wield it (speak it with authority) like a weapon to fight back when the enemy tries to attack us. When we combine the Word of God with our voice, we release the power of God to confirm it. We must attack the devil’s lies with our words. We cannot defeat Satan with our thoughts. We cannot defeat Satan with our strength of will power. We cannot defeat Satan by avoiding confrontation. We must stand and SPEAK THE LIVING WORD OF GOD!
Speak directly to the enemy in the Name of Jesus.
Speak what you believe against what you doubt.
Speak over your life, marriage, children, job, body, and future.
Speak peace to chaos.
Speak love over hostility.
Speak good to those who curse and persecute you.
The flaming arrows of attack will come, and we must extinguish them with our faith. You must keep our mind on His Saving Grace. But we must also stab back with the declaration of God’s Word.
Scriptures:
[Ephesians 6:13-19 NKJV] 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel…
[Matthew 4:4 NKJV] 4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"
[John 6:63 NKJV] 63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
[Romans 10:17 NKJV] 17 So then faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
[Hebrews 4:12 NKJV] 12 For the word of God [is] living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think Paul called the Word of God, the “Sword of the Spirit?”
Why is the Word of God our offensive weapon?
How is the word of God “full of power?”
How do we control the words of our mouth, and why does this matter?
How do we use the Word of God to fight?
Life Application:
Over the next week, as you study the key scriptures, examine your life and ask yourself this question: Are you spending regular, consistent, unrushed time with the word of God? Are you using the Word of God to fight back against the enemy? Do you know what the Word of God says so that you can wield it with authority? The Word of God is your weapon! Ask the Lord what scriptures you need to be standing on and proclaiming in this season of your life. It is time to release the power of the Word of God!