Ephesians 6:17b
17 ...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
This particular blog is a couple of months in the making. It has been an intense time of spiritual warfare for many and I have not been exempt from it. When I started to address this topic as well as other spiritual weapons; I have faced much opposition, distractions, delays and obstacles. To all of our subscribers who look forward to reading our blogs, I apologize and hope that this year we will be able to send out at least one blog per month or as the Holy Spirit leads.
THE IMPORT OF READING GODS WORD
I can't stress enough how critical it is to be in the Word of God in these last days, and to meditate on the Word day and night! Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success". These Words were spoken as God was preparing Israel to take the Promised Land. Canaan was not going to be given over to the Israelites without a fight and they had to ready themselves for the battle.
In spiritual warfare the word of God is a powerful weapon! Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is alive 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". We can take a look at Jesus' temptation in the wilderness to see just how powerful the Word is in warding off the enemy. After a period of 40 days of fasting, Jesus was tempted in three specific areas: The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. These were the exact same areas Eve and Adam succumbed to in the Garden of Eden, causing them to sin against God and His commandments. In doing so they conceded their authority and dominion over the earth to Satan. Jesus however overcame every single temptation with the written Word of God, hence the Apostle Paul could say:
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it" 1 Corinthians 10:13.
The Word of God is a light (Psalm 119:105) and is truth (John 17:17) and when we know the truth we are able to counter the lies of the enemy. The battle starts in the mind by the enemy planting a seed (a lie or deception) and we must at that very moment hold every thought captive "for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. When we hold every thought captive we are following Christ's example (i.e. when He faced temptation in the wilderness) by not allowing the lies of the enemy to tempt us into sin, but to use the Word of God as a weapon against enemy attack.
It is paramount that we know Gods Word in order to wield our Swords (Ephesians 6:17). We get to know God's Word by meditating upon it day and night and hiding it in our hearts. When we know the Word, we are then able to declare it against every thought that does not line up with scripture. When we speak the Word of God, which is power and life, it is tantamount to Ezekiel prophesying that the dry bones come to life, and they did (Ezekiel 37:1-14). Whenever the enemy has caused death in any given area of your life, you can declare God's Word of life and believe that it will be done according to your faith.
Joshua 1:8
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success
Deuteronomy 6:6-8
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
We need to remember that the enemy's role is to steal, kill and destroy and he walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour, but God tells us not to be ignorant of his devices and to constantly be sober and alert (1 Peter 5:8). Being in the Word enables us to be on our guard against the devil's schemes and gives us the strategies on how to overcome in every battle and be victorious over every attack. The enemy will do anything to keep God's people from reading, knowing and applying God's Word because He knows that according to Revelations 12:11 we will overcome by the blood of the The Lamb and the word of our testimony.
SPEAKING GODS WORD
"He sent His word and healed them, And saved them from their destruction" Psalm 107:20. When the enemy attacks you with illness speak the Word over you. Find as many scriptures about healing and declare the Word over your situation. In speaking the Word faith is being produced (Romans 10:17) and when we speak in faith we are ensured God hears us and will grant us our petitions (1 John 5:13-15 and Hebrews 11:6). Apply this to any area the enemy is attacking you in. Look up the scriptures and declare warfare against the enemy by actively and intentionally speaking those scriptures until you gain the victory.
The enemy will not win because God's Word will not return to Him void, it will accomplish what God pleases and will prosper where God sends it (Isaiah 55:11). Jesus rebuked evil spirits, driving them out of people and told His disciples to do likewise. His disciples were overjoyed when they discovered that demons were subject to them in Jesus' name and this is what Jesus' reply to them was: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you" Luke 10:18-19.
The warfare that I have encountered over the last couple of years has not let up but intensified more so in the last year. It ranges from sickness to night torments, betrayal, loss of friends and relationships, gossip, slander and malicious talk (i.e. character assassination), delays to promises and answered prayer, attacks against my mind (confusion/lies form the enemy), etc. Too many to list and I definitely do not want to give the enemy the spotlight, but the enemy is very real and we have to know how to fight or we will struggle in this life as a Christian. We will never experience life more abundantly or victory and true freedom in Christ. I learnt many hard lessons along the way, but one thing I know for sure is that when you speak the Word of God knowing your Authority in Christ, it is so powerful and breakthrough is inevitable.
CONCLUSION
God promises us that we are more than conquerors and we can take God at His Word because He cannot lie and He is a promise making and keeping God who honors His word above His own name (Psalm 138:2). It does not mean that weapons will not form against us, but when they do, we can be assured that they will not prevail against us (Isaiah 54:17) and that God Himself will be our shield (Genesis 15:1) and will fight for us (Exodus 14:14; Deut 3:22 and 20:24; 2 Chronicles 20:17), raising up a standard against the enemy (Isaiah 59:19).
God bless you!
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