Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17 NLT
Lot richer than this first looks.
Logos
John 1:1-5 NLT
Steve last week
Not even a piece of armour, but it's more important.
If you don't have a helmet, the sword is a little unwieldy
Sword offensive and defensive
Would you attack someone who had a sword?
Jeremiah 1:4-10 NLT
Moses, burning bush.
Daniels compartriates in the fire, another was there with them.
This was Jesus. The word.
Do we know the word?
Both Jesus and the Bible
How do we use the sword?
If God says….. how do we check that it is true?
Against the plumb line of the word
Accuracy of prophecy
Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV
Proverbs 4:13 NLT
Proverbs 4:20-22 NLT
Psalm 119 Longest Psalm for a reason. All about reading and learning the word.
So how are we engaging with the word?
How are we using it to fight back against the devil's schemes?
How is this corporate rather than individual?
Teaching
Speaking into one anothers lives
Prophecy
Being Jesus to one another, and also to the poor and lost
All of these are us corporately wielding the sword of the spirit.
But the Bible bores me?
I struggle to read….
I've tried, and failed at numbers…..
Look at which version you are using.
What ways are there to get the word?
Bible study, personal and corporate.
Small groups - Pastoral care. Input. Prayer
Sermons
Books
Songs - prob most powerful way that anybody learns the word.
Memorising
Don't be put off.
This is a battle.
Pray, read the word, wield your sword
Questions for groups
What is your relationship with the word like?
Where do you struggle with scripture?
What application do you have for how we wield the sword of the spirit corporately?