THE SWORD THAT OUTSHINES ALL OTHERS

Transcription

1 1 THE SWORD THAT OUTSHINES ALL OTHERS SWAT Spiritual Warfare & Tactics, Pt 5 November 17-18, 2018 ser#3786 Sat Sun E Sun L I. POINT OF INTRIGUE A. When you think of the word sword what is the first thought that comes to your mind? 1. (show photo) Oops! That s not a sword! It s Thor s famous hammer. 2. (show photo) This sword is said to have belonged to William Wallace, the famed 13 th Century Scottish knight who led the fight for Scotland s independence from England. Many think that Wallace stood 7 feet tall to have properly handled this sword. NOTE! With that said, if someone saw the size of Babe Ruth s bat, they may have thought the same. He was (show photo) Curtana the sword of Mercy. This Is the ceremonial sword

2 ceremonial sword used during the coronation of British monarchs. It is one of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. Note that the end is blunt and squared, symbolizing mercy. It s been in use since (show photo) I suspect that the most legendary sword in history has to be Excalibur, the sword of King Arthur. 5. Of course, today, many who are into video games, would argue that The Z-Saber of Mega Man X, also known as The Beam Saber is legendarily famous. (show video clip: 30 seconds) 6. However, often overlooked by the world, is the most powerful sword of all. It was NOT created, but has always existed. Literally, everything that exists, everything that has been created has come from this sword and will come under the scrutiny of this sword. What is the name of this sword? (show photo, p2) The Word of God. B. Our text this morning is Ephesians 6: 11 & 17: PME p 1334; LAB p Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. One of those pieces of armor is the 17 the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

3 John chapter 1 tells us: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. NOTE! Scripture tells us God spoke (the Word) and the world came into existence. Psalm 33:9 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. C. Let s pray! II. THE UNCOMPROMISING, TRUSTWORTHY AND INCOMPARABLE WORD OF GOD. (Now stay with me!) A. How many times in Scripture do we read, This was done so the word of God might be fulfilled? B. Let s look at one example: Psalm 34:20 says, God protects all His bones; not one of them will be broken. This is a prophecy referencing the Messiah. John 19:34-36 tells us: 31 Now it was the day of Preparation NOTE: My maternal grandmother would not prepare a meal on the Lord s Day (Sunday). Therefore, she would prepare Sunday s meal on Saturday and place it in the oven, already prepared that was the work on Sunday. (BTOT) and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses

4 Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. NOTE: This flow of blood and water indicates that Jesus in all actuality died of a broken heart. THINK! One day they were yelling Hosanna to the King, and a week later, Crucify him. Crucify him. Add that kind of fickleness to carrying the sins of the world past, present and future and dying of a broken heart is certainly comprehensible. (LCWOT) 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of His bones will be broken, 37 and, as another scripture says, They will look on the One they have pierced. III. LET S CONNECT THE DOTS A. God has given every believer a suit of armor in which to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. B. One of those pieces of armor is the sword of the Spirit which is (the Word of God). C. Over and over again, God reveals in His word that above EVERYTHING else, ABOVE everything else, His word can be trusted. The sword of William Wallace may fail. The sword of King Arthur may fail. The Curtana of England may fail

5 to show mercy. The Beam Saber may fail to bring victory, but the Sword of the LORD will never fail ever. IV. HOW TO USE THE SWORD OF THE LORD A. When Joel was little (12-ish) he would watch a TV evangelist by the name of Robert Tilton. (show photo) The authenticity of his ministry came under serious scrutiny, and eventually he faded from view. But no one could deny he was quite an entertainer. Besides asking people to make a $1,000 vow, he would often say, holding up the Bible, Take out your sword and chop up the Devil. Chop. Chop. Chop! HOWEVER, the Bible is clear we must handle accurately the word of truth otherwise the Devil will chop us up. B. So how do we use the incomparable word of God to navigate through the storms of life, and defeat the enemy? 1. Apply appropriate Scriptures (Psa 18:30) The bible is God s road map to life and salvation. It s man s 7inal authority for life, faith and the practice thereof. ILLUSTRATION: How many couples have come to the Altar, who were unable to have children?

6 unable to have children? They would ask me to pray for them. I would then place their names in the margin of my Bible next to Psalm 113:9: He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD! Jim & Cris Eddy Ted & Lynn Uibel Linda Eden Mark & Debbie Savidge Mike & Leah Gootch Josh & Lisa Hathaway (show photo) Just to name a few. 2. Meditate on Scripture (Psa 19:14) Meditation makes Scripture come alive. Ngozi Nwoke, says, Until the scriptures come alive in you, your use of them will be like empty cymbals. Meditation builds up your faith in God and His word. It gets you to the level where you know beyond every reasonable doubt that God will do what He said He will do. 3. Pray the Scriptures (Psa 113:9) This is what I, and I m sure many others, were doing for the couples unable to conceive. Praying Psalm 113:9. 4. Declare the Scriptures (Psa 119:105) Declaring Scripture is not presumption; it s an evidence of faith. ILLUSTRATION: From 1986 till 1996, when waiting on God to bring the GCCC family into this building without debt, how many times did I go back to Psalm 105: 19: till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD

7 till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true? More than I can count. 5. Speak Scriptures to the mountain Where in your life are you facing a mountain? In fact, the mountain is mocking you. It s telling you that s there s nothing you can do. It s too tall to climb. It s too wide to go around. It s too dense to tunnel through. What the mountain doesn t say to you is: You can move it. Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Mark 11:23 Ultimately your command is subject to the will of God but your words, spoken in faith, have far more power than you could ever imagine. 6. Give thanks as God s word commands* Giving thanks to God is an act of faith. It tells Him that no matter what the outcome, you are trusting Him that you know He s got it and it will be what is best. Scripture is emphatic: For and in everything give thanks. *1 Thessalonians 5:18; Philippians 4:6; Ephesian 5:20 7. Stand by your declaration of Scripture (Gal 11:8) Guaranteed, the Enemy will test what God has told you. Be patient and declare His word over your circumstance. Then be willing to accept His will and answer. ILLUSTRATION: I remember when Wayne Hilliard called and asked me to help him start Higher Ground. I was dating someone who I thought would be

8 who I thought would be my lifetime companion. After a few months, the young lady wasn t overly pleased that I had gone to Nashville while she remained in Jersey. I understood, I truly did. She was a very beautiful person, she really was. But I also knew what God had told me. I declared God s will over the situation. Our relationship dissolved. Three years later, God brought Sheryl into my life and the rest is history. God s will was done God s way to His glory. (show photos then & now) Stand on your declaration of Scripture; His word won t let you down. VI. INVITATION A. It s the sword of the spirit that puts on the helmet of salvation (Rom 10:17 & John 1:12) 1. The Bible says, Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 2. Listen to what the Holy Scriptures tell us: To as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 Here s how you receive Christ: A dmit your sins have separated you from God. (Psa 14:1-3; Rom 3: 23); B elieve that God did something about your sins through Jesus Christ. (The final Pascal Lamb/Messiah.) (Lev 17:10; Heb 9: 1922); C ommit yourself to His righteousness by

9 22); Commit yourself to His righteousness by confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior. (Isa 53:5; Col 1:22); Do it today! (Isa 49:8; 2 Cor 6:2). Father in Heaven, I m sorry for the things I ve done that are wrong: I am a sinner; forgive me. Thank You for loving me and sending your Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for my sin. Holy Spirit, come into my heart; Jesus be my Lord and Savior. I give You my life. Amen! B. In closing, I believe the LORD would have us take a few minutes and chop up the Devil with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. 1. Find a quiet spot alone if possible. Identify your mountain and speak to it declaring the word of God as your authority. 2. (Bobbie closes with a song of victory belief in Him.) ser3786, THE SWORD THAT OUTSHINES THEM ALL THE SWORD THAT OUTSHINES THEM ALL (SWAT Spiritual Warfare & Tactics, Pt5) (Words w/ Invitation 1836)