THE WORD OF GOD
Have you ever heard the expressions - "He was sharp with him." or "That person sure has a sharp tongue." The word "sharp" is not describing a tactile experience of feeling someone's tongue only to be cut by it. Although the tongue-lashing might feel physical, it is a mental and spiritual slicing that occurs when a "sharp tongue" is used in heated dialogue. We receive an excellent image of this through the Revelation of Jesus Christ in the coming days.
Is this spoken word (Logos) available to the Christian as a sword or is it exclusive to God, used especially for end-time imagery? His Word is available to the Believer as the second edge of God's two-edged sword, a Rhema or Revealed Word, spoken about in Ephesians 6:17 - Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Rick Renner researched that Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, described The Sword in "the sword of the Spirit" of Ephesians 6:17 to come from the Greek word machaira. According to the original Greek (machaira), the Roman equivalent of the "sword of the Spirit" is a double-edged weapon with the tip of the blade pointed upward for more tearing and ripping damage of a potential victim. Many knives and swords have a flat, dull side so that when the knife is flipped open or out it does not hurt the hand. In the case of carrying it on the belt without a scabbard the dull side would not harm the leg. However, in this picture each side of the sword has an edge.
I imagine the Belt of Truth (Logos/Spoken/Written Word of God) supernaturally morphing into the Sword of the Spirit (Rhema/Revealed Word of God) in Ephesians 6:14-17 for a given situation/battle in our life. Meanwhile God's sustaining power and remaining ministries are still active through the tight Belt of Truth still around our waist. The Written and Revealed are the same, it is just one - the Revealed Word of God - is drawn out for battle or comfort or for whatever the need. The Revealed Word is The Written Word of God Spoken aloud to impart loss to the kingdom of darkness (you like that? I thought of that myself, well...with God's help of course).
What screams louder than a trumpet call at this point is that it helps tremendously for Believers to know the Scriptures or Bible first in order for the Holy Spirit to have something to quicken. God could give a word of revelation to a Believer before he/she really knows the Bible. However, I personally believe that is not God's normal mode of operation. John 14:26 convinces me otherwise - But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. If Believers have accepted the Holy Spirit's leadership in their lives plus believe and trust in the powerful living He provides for us every day then we will be able to inflict serious damage to our enemy! "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." - Ephesians 6:12
- In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword.His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. (Revelation 1:16)
- "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. (Revelation 2:12)
- Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (Revelation 2:16)
- Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. (Revelation 19:15)
- The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. (Revelation 19:21)
Is this spoken word (Logos) available to the Christian as a sword or is it exclusive to God, used especially for end-time imagery? His Word is available to the Believer as the second edge of God's two-edged sword, a Rhema or Revealed Word, spoken about in Ephesians 6:17 - Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Rick Renner researched that Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, described The Sword in "the sword of the Spirit" of Ephesians 6:17 to come from the Greek word machaira. According to the original Greek (machaira), the Roman equivalent of the "sword of the Spirit" is a double-edged weapon with the tip of the blade pointed upward for more tearing and ripping damage of a potential victim. Many knives and swords have a flat, dull side so that when the knife is flipped open or out it does not hurt the hand. In the case of carrying it on the belt without a scabbard the dull side would not harm the leg. However, in this picture each side of the sword has an edge.
"The phrase 'two-edged' is taken from the Greek word distomos, and it is unquestionably one of the oddest words in the entire New Testament.
Why is the phrase 'two-edged' so odd? Because it is a compound of the word di, meaning two, and the word stomos, which is the Greek word for one's mouth. Thus, when these two words are compounded into the word distomos, the new word describes something that is two-mouthed. (Dressed To Kill, Renner, p.416)
The spiritual application to the two edges of the "sword of the spirit" is that one edge of the blade represents God speaking to you and the other symbolizes you speaking that same word, out-loud into your situation or to others.
Why is the phrase 'two-edged' so odd? Because it is a compound of the word di, meaning two, and the word stomos, which is the Greek word for one's mouth. Thus, when these two words are compounded into the word distomos, the new word describes something that is two-mouthed. (Dressed To Kill, Renner, p.416)
The spiritual application to the two edges of the "sword of the spirit" is that one edge of the blade represents God speaking to you and the other symbolizes you speaking that same word, out-loud into your situation or to others.
Jesus is called the Logos (Spoken, Creative, Written Word of God) in John 1:14. Jesus is called The Truth in John 14:6. Christians are called to gird themselves with The Belt of Truth (which all other weapons hang from) in Ephesians 6:14. The Belt of Truth is therefore the Logos/Spoken/Written Word of God or the words of Jesus.
I imagine the Belt of Truth (Logos/Spoken/Written Word of God) supernaturally morphing into the Sword of the Spirit (Rhema/Revealed Word of God) in Ephesians 6:14-17 for a given situation/battle in our life. Meanwhile God's sustaining power and remaining ministries are still active through the tight Belt of Truth still around our waist. The Written and Revealed are the same, it is just one - the Revealed Word of God - is drawn out for battle or comfort or for whatever the need. The Revealed Word is The Written Word of God Spoken aloud to impart loss to the kingdom of darkness (you like that? I thought of that myself, well...with God's help of course).
What screams louder than a trumpet call at this point is that it helps tremendously for Believers to know the Scriptures or Bible first in order for the Holy Spirit to have something to quicken. God could give a word of revelation to a Believer before he/she really knows the Bible. However, I personally believe that is not God's normal mode of operation. John 14:26 convinces me otherwise - But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. If Believers have accepted the Holy Spirit's leadership in their lives plus believe and trust in the powerful living He provides for us every day then we will be able to inflict serious damage to our enemy! "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." - Ephesians 6:12
The words that come out of God's mouth are actually SHARPER than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). This same verse continues and says that God's spoken/written Word, His Logos, penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
So, trust His Word, stay in His Word, and use His Word. Know His His Belt of Truth and Sword of the Spirit to keep defended from the devil's schemes/arrows and to deliver a revealed word to someone or a situation. Know yourself victorious through Christ Jesus. Know your enemy defeated!
So, trust His Word, stay in His Word, and use His Word. Know His His Belt of Truth and Sword of the Spirit to keep defended from the devil's schemes/arrows and to deliver a revealed word to someone or a situation. Know yourself victorious through Christ Jesus. Know your enemy defeated!
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