This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
Are you looking for today’s Scattered Seeds Devotional? Click here to read it.
Did you know…
In addition to our weekly podcast, we have a daily podcast. 5-Minute Marriage is a great way to focus on God, connect with your spouse, and jump-start your day!
Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who supports this ministry through prayer, by sharing these posts, buying the Bible study journals, or sending donations. Because of your support, women around the world are discovering Jesus. Yesterday, we received this incredible news from a reader named Beth L. I know there’s rejoicing in heaven!
I love your Bible Studies and have most of the bound books. You do great work and keep to sound doctrine! Being able to share these on my facebook group with the free downloads has been an enormous blessing to so many women who can not afford books or purchase them. I have many women from other countries, specifically Africa and South America, that have come to Jesus through the facebook group and your studies. – Beth
Are you looking for the table of contents? Click here
Note to email subscribers: If you have any trouble with the images or links on this page. Click through to the blog at TimeWarpWife.com
The study is free as each lesson is provided to you week-by-week! It’s also a great study to do with your husband as it’s not exclusive to women.
Option 1:
If you would prefer to pick up a copy of the study guide instead of printing the lessons out, The Full Armor of God is available at Amazon.com. When you purchase a copy of the study guide you’re helping to support this ministry as we share the gospel with over 500,000 women around the world.
Option 2:
Scroll down the page (near the bottom) to find a FREE PDF version of this week’s lesson. Look for the image with the red seal on it. This is your FINAL lesson in this series of seven weeks. Click through to the table of contents if you have missed anything.
* With either option, make sure you come back on Friday for my thoughts on this lesson.
Subscribe so you don’t miss a post, or exciting information on other upcoming Bible studies.
Chapter 7 – The Sword of the Spirit
When we look at the sword of the spirit in Ephesians chapter 6, we discover that it’s not the typical sword that comes to mind. At least not for me. My first thought would be your average 28-inch sword, but as we look a little closer at Paul’s words, we see this isn’t the case.
Swords come in all shapes and sizes, and the one that Paul is referring to in this context is an ancient weapon known as a machaira. A machaira is a smaller, double-edged sword that one could carry around with them at all times. In fact, the night that Jesus was arrested his followers asked Him if they should draw their swords. That’s when Peter drew his machaira and cut off the ear of a soldier.
Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword [machaira], it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
This metaphorical sword is something we could and should be carrying with us at all times. It’s the word that we hide in our heart, and the truth that cuts deeper than any sword ever could.
Thayer’s Lexicon defines the word this way, “The sword with which the Spirit subdues the impulses to sin and proves its own power and efficacy.”
What Paul is telling us here is to arm ourselves with the sword of the Spirit. He is telling us to prepare for battle by arming ourselves with the truth of God’s Word. The reason truth is so vital to our protection is that Satan is the master of deception. He comes at us with half-truths. He deceives by twisting God’s Word, and he manipulates with tactics like shame, humiliation, and guilt. If we’re not armed with the truth of God’s Word, we’re all the more likely to fall prey to his schemes.
One of the best examples of one wielding The Sword of the Spirit is found in Matthew Chapter 4 when Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, He was faced with three temptations: hunger, pride, and power. Notice how these three temptations appeal to the body, the soul, and the spirit,
Materialism – To prioritize physical comforts over spiritual values
Egoism – Putting your interests above those of others and above those of God’s
Hedonism – An elevated devotion to personal pleasure
Satan attacks us by distracting our minds with the things of this world. His plan is to turn our minds away from the Lord and back onto ourselves. There isn’t anything wrong with having material possessions and interests, nor is it bad to enjoy the pleasures that life has to offer. They do become sin however when we elevate the things of this world above the wisdom of God. And that’s where Satan is crafty.
He knows the scriptures and will use them to tempt us. In fact, looking back at Matthew Chapter 4, we see that Satan used scripture as a tactic to tempt Jesus. Quoting Psalm 91:11 he says, “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
Charles Spurgeon writes, “Satan borrowed our Lord’s weapon, and said, “It is written,” but did not use the sword lawfully. It was not in the nature of the false fiend to quote correctly. He left out the necessary words, ‘in all thy ways’: thus, he made the promise say what in truth it never suggested.”
Jesus was able to wield the sword, because he knew the Word of God. He rightly divided the truth in a way only those who know the Word of God can.
2 Timothy 2:15 reads, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (KJV)
When the Word of God is firmly planted in our hearts we can use it in our defence. We can discern that which is good and that which is evil. We can see the wolf coming before we’re devoured.
When we study the word of God and memorize the scripture we are arming ourselves for the battle. When we truly know the scripture, we can discern when it’s being manipulated or when it’s being used for God’s glory.
Here’s an important thing to remember when it comes to your armor. A sword is useless if you don’t carry it with you. If you don’t study God’s Word, it won’t come to mind when you’re in need of a sword. If you’re reading the Bible and learning God’s Word, you’ll be easily swayed by half truths. The Bible warns us about wolves in sheep’s clothing—the preachers who are more interested in their savings account than they are in saving your soul. Churches that are more concerned in filling the pews than they are with filling the kingdom of heaven. They will tickle your ears with false doctrine and lead people astray. But when you are in the Word and you know the Word, you can wisely discern right from wrong.
And finally, remember to hold that sword firmly. A sword can’t be affective if you’re holding it loosely. In Psalm 119 David talks about how the commandments made him wiser than his enemies, and how he was able to adhere to God’s Word because he loved God’s Word. He meditated on the Word that was firmly planted in his heart.
O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. (Psalm 119:97-98, NIV)
Pause and Reflect
Q. What advantage do we have when we are in the Word, and know the Word of God?
Q. What are some of the tactics the devil uses against us?
Q. What disadvantage is there to not studying God’s Word regularly?
Q. How was David made wiser than his enemies?
Q. What are some examples of “wolves in sheep’s clothing?”
This Week’s Challenge
Memorize a Bible verse from this week’s chapter (or another chapter). Make sure it’s one that you don’t already know. (*wink*)
This Week’s Bible Verse
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV)
The Full Armor of God 7-Week Bible Study Journal available now @Amazon.com
Now available at Amazon.com
When you purchase a copy of the study guide you’re helping to support this ministry as we share the gospel with over 500,000 women around the world.
The Armor of God: Printable Version – Week Seven
Note: This download is only for week 7 of the study. This is our final week. If you are missing any of the chapters, you can find them in the table of contents. Click here to view and download this week’s lesson.
About the Author
Darlene Schacht and her husband Michael live in Manitoba Canada where the summers are beautiful and the winters are cold. Together they’ve come to learn that relationships aren’t always easy, but that marriage, the way God intended it to be, is a treasure worth fighting for.
She began her publishing journey about twelve years ago when she pioneered one of the first online magazines for Christian women, known at the time as “Christian Women Online Magazine.” After three years, Darlene left CWO to blog as a solo author at Time-Warp Wife Ministries.
It was also during this transition that she worked alongside actress Candace Cameron Bure to write the NYT Best-Selling book, Reshaping it All: Motivation for Spiritual and Physical Fitness. Reshaping it All was the winner of both the 2011 USA Best Book Awards and the 2012 Christian Reading Retailers Choice Awards.
Author of more than 15 books, Darlene continues to write and to minister to her readers through her blog at TimeWarpWife.com.
Connect with Darlene:
Facebook: @timewarpwife
Instagram: @timewarpwife
Pinterest: @timewarpwife
Twitter: @timewarpwife
You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife