29/01/22 // The Sword Of The Spirit // Peter Williams

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?