Take Up Your Sword

 

By Andrea Merrell

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,

which is the Word of God.

Ephesians 6:17 AMP

“On guard!” the man shouted. Instantly, two swords sliced through the air as the crowd watched in anticipation.

Fencing has always fascinated me, especially watching those who are proficient in the sport and precise in their movements. One well-placed jab can take out the opponent.

Even though I enjoy being a spectator, I’ve never had the slightest desire to try it myself. My only desire is to learn to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”—the most powerful weapon in both heaven and earth.

Hebrews 4:12-13 in the Message translation explains it this way:

God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one can resist God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what.

Just as an opponent can be taken out with a natural sword, we are meant to take out our Enemy with the Sword of the Spirit. Jesus defeated him in the desert with the words “It is written …” 

We can do the same.

Pick up your sword every day and keep it sharp.

Photo by Lance Reis on Unsplash

Three Keys to Overcome the Enemy

 By Andrea Merrell

Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:7 NKJV

Most people shy away from talking about spiritual warfare. My grandmother used to say, “Oh, I’d never say anything bad about the Devil. He might get mad.”

I think that’s how many of us feel. We read about putting on God’s armor and fighting against principalities and powers, but it all seems a little intimidating. Not to mention complicated. What if we don’t do it right?

The truth is God—as always—never makes our Christian walk too complicated. He gives us simple instructions then expects us to depend on Him to show us what to do. For example, He tells us to resist the Devil. Why? So he will flee from us. The Passion translation says, “he will flee in agony.” How can we be sure? Because there are three things the Enemy cannot withstand:

The Word of God

"For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword." (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV) 

"And take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." (Ephesians 6:17 NKJV) 

The Blood of Jesus

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." (Revelation 12:11 NKJV).  

The Name of Jesus 

"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth." (Philippians 2:9-10 NKJV)

Don’t wait for the storm. Make it a daily practice. Read, meditate on, and speak the Word. God watches over His Word to perform it. Plead (invoke and apply) the blood of Jesus over your mind, your heart, your home, and your life. And call on the name of Jesus. There’s power in that name. Lift Him up and give Him all the praise and glory He deserves.

That’s how you overcome.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and digitalart.)

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How do you overcome the Enemy? With the Word of God, the blood of Jesus, and the name of Jesus. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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