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Sword of the Spirit

Psalm 149:6
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;

Ephesians 6:17
17 […] the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

We are in week 6 of our series on Spiritual Warfare where we’ve been walking through Paul’s analogy in Ephesians 6 of the Roman Soldiers’ armor and our Spiritual Weapons. Paul also tells us that “we are not ignorant of his [Satan’s] devices”, so we need to learn to use this armor less “Satan should get an advantage of us” [2 Corinthians 2:11]. These weapons are designed so that we can tear down the strongholds and overcome the tactics the enemy will use to hinder our walk with God.

Thus far we’ve talked about the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Shoes of Peace, the Sheild of Faith, and the Helmet of Salvation. In this session we will be discussing the Sword of the Spirit, which verse 17 tells us is the Word of God.

Now, if you have been faithful to Bible Study and have paid attention you are probably wanting to ask this question. “Why has Paul identified two pieces of armor to represent the Word?” Because in Session 3 we identified that the Belt of Truth represents the Word of God, since the Bible says that “thy word is truth” [John 17:17].

So then, why does Paul specifically say the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, when he already identified the Word in the armor? You must remember that the Greek language is much more descriptive or diverse than the English language. [Lexiconic Note: The Greek language has around 5 million words, while the English language contains approximately 150,000 to 250,000 words that are derived from Greek.]

In John 17:17 the word “Word” was translated from the Greek word λόγος (logos), while the word “Word” in Ephesians 6:17 was translated from the Greek word ῥῆμα (rhema).

Logos: This term represents the totality of God's Word as found in the Scriptures. It encompasses the overall message, principles, and teachings of the Bible, which are considered the inspired and authoritative revelation of God's truth. Logos is often associated with the eternal and unchanging nature of God's Word, providing a solid foundation for Christian faith and practice.

Rhema: In contrast, Rhema refers to a specific, personal message from God that is communicated to individuals in particular situations. It emphasizes the immediate and timely application of God's Word, often experienced as a direct revelation or insight from the Holy Spirit. Rhema can be seen as a specific utterance or instruction that applies the broader truths of Logos to an individual's life.

In Paul’s analogy, the belt is the Logos, while the sword is the Rhema. The Logos is identified as the belt because EVERYTHING is attached to the Logos, or the totality of the Word. But we have been given the ability to pick up the Rhema, or the spoken, specific Word of God, and wield it as an offensive weapon to attack our enemy.

It is important to remember that a Rhema word is never separate from the Logos. The Logos is the entire Word. Rhema is a specific Word. More specifically, Rhema is Scripture made alive, placed in your spirit by the Spirit (the Holy Ghost).

It is important to truly understand that Logos and Rhema work together, they cannot work apart. The Word of God, whether referred to as Logos or Rhema, is all inspired, is all eternal, is all dynamic, and is all miraculous. Logos is the Belt of Truth. Rhema is the Sword of the Spirit. Logos is the total revelation of God. Rhema is a specific revelation from God. Logos is the written Word that came from God, Rhema is the spoken Word that flows through us as we agree with the written Word (Logos) of God.

John 1:1,14
1 In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word (Logos) was with God, and the Word (Logos) was God.

14 And the Word (Logos) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Five chapters later, we hear Jesus speak these words.

John 6:63
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words (rhema) that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

He who was the Logos said that His spoken words would be Rhema, because they are spirit and life, but notice His next words.

John 6:64
64 But there are some of you that believe not […]

Compare this to where the writer of Hebrews likened the Word to a two-edged sword.

Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word (logos) of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

But notice 10 verses earlier it was written,

Hebrews 4:2
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word (Logos) preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

The Logos without faith (or belief) will not profit the hearer, but Paul exclaimed that you must have faith with the Word (Rhema).

Romans 10:17
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word (Rhema) of God.

I like to look at it this way. When I think of a Roman soldier in combat what I see in my mind is a soldier with his shield in one hand and his sword in the other. He fights with both. We too must take up both the shield and the sword, faith and the specific, spoken Word of God to combat our enemy.

Matthew 17:20
20 And Jesus said unto them, […] If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

When we take the faith, which has been given to us [Romans 12:3], and the Logos, which has been given to us [2 Timothy 3:16], and speak a specific Word (Rhema) over our situation, we have been promised that Hell cannot prevail [Matthew 16:18].

You need to find some promises in this Logos (Bible) and you need to begin believing, you need to begin speaking, you need to begin combining the Word with your faith. You need to begin speaking the spoken Word that agrees with the written Word. When you do, watch Hell retreat and your enemies scatter [Psalm 68:1].