If someone handed you a sword today would you know how to use it? Would you know how to hold it properly? Wield it safely and effectively? Defend yourself against an enemy? Protect your family from harm? Why do we need a sword anyway?
We have been handed a sword—a God Sword. Ephesians 6 addresses the Armor of God that we are to put on daily to protect ourselves from spiritual attack. Verse 17 says this, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” We had a pretty cute discussion about spiritual “helmet hair” last week in one of the Facebook groups, but this sword of the Spirit is a different matter. The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God—my Bible. How many of us have a Bible in our home, on our night stand or bookshelf, or in our car and we rarely use it? Do we really know what is inside it? Do we know the One the Book reveals to us? We are missing out on the power of God in our lives because we do not learn how to use our weapon.
If a warrior was sent into battle the same day he was given his sword, chances are good the warrior would not come back alive. That same warrior needs training and experience to be able to handle his sword effectively. Owning a sword does not make him an effective warrior, using the sword does. Lisa says she had a revelation that “many of God’s daughters in this generation are unarmed…ill equipped and unprepared. It…means they are at risk and incredibly vulnerable to deception” (p. 19).
The Bible warns us against the double-edged sword of false teachers/prophets and deception.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). The only way to know the truth, to be able to test the spirits, is to know God. You have to know His character, see if what the teachers (or people in general) are saying is consistent with what you know about God. Are the teachers teaching the “whole” gospel? There are many factions of believers in the world who are holding to small pieces of the God sword. Each piece, used individually, is ineffective to defend and protect us from the evil one.
What good is a blade with no point, or a handle without a guard? The sword bearer will be injured and perhaps killed if not properly equipped. A broken sword is useless to the warrior, BUT useful to the enemy. As Christ-followers we need to be properly equipped with the whole Bible, not just the pieces we like and disregard the rest. Let’s figure out how to unite our fellow believers so that we are using the whole counsel of God against our enemies.
Lisa says, “All that we require to reassemble these weapons of battle in this season can be found in God’s Word. Every piece large and small is already awaiting our unified, living declaration. If it takes a furnace of hardship to bring us to a place of unified prayer so that what was separated can be seamlessly joined together, so be it” (p. 23). It is time for the Mighty Warrior Princesses to study, pray and declare the Bible is TRUTH as a whole and learn to use it to influence others. “The Word of God is ALIVE, POWERFUL, PERFECT, and PURE” (p. 23).
There was one more very profound truth on page 23. “Satan is not afraid of a disjointed church that wields pieces or fragments of God’s mighty Word, but he will tremble in terror at the church that rises up with the sword of his Word re-forged and expressed through our lives.” We have to know more than our favorite verses. That piece may get us through sometimes, but we need to know ALL the Word to help us through a LIFETIME.
The world will truly see REVIVAL when the church unites to use our strengths to work together instead of tear each other apart. Let’s learn to use our swords. It’s time to TRAIN. We have to get strong in the Lord and be of good courage. Oh, and one more thing, “swords are used on enemies, not friends.” Let’s band together, sharpen each other as we practice using our God Sword and fight the enemy!
Lift your WHOLE sword high,
Teresa
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Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the sisters You have given us to sharpen us. Thank You that we can speak truth from You into each other’s lives. Lead us to a deeper understanding of Your Word and help us to hide it deep within our being. Enable us to use the truth to defend and protect us from the deceiver and false teachers. Guide and protect us as we band together and learn to wield the whole counsel in the Bible and not just our favorite parts. Your Word is Holy and complete. We do not want to be found guilty of diminishing its value in our lives. Thank You, Father for the opportunity to be in this place, in this time, to stand for You. Help us as we learn new skills to apply to our lives. AMEN.
About Teresa Bolme
In one translation of Ephesians 6:11, it says to “put on the WHOLE armor of God.” I had just always thought of all the pieces of the armor and made sure I had all of them on, BUT if any one piece of the armor is not WHOLE in itself then I am not WHOLY/HOLY armored or WHOLY/HOLY protected. Lisa says of words, “…ultimately their power is in their WHOLE.” What a truth for us to live by!
Very true and very profound. Spread the Word!
That’s what hit me too, Clella. If we are not standing on, meditating on, digging deeper for ALL of God’s word, and not just the stuff that feels good…we are only fragments of what we could be! Gosh I am loving this book, and it is making me see just how much deeper I need to be digging into God’s word!! I WANT more power in my life! I WANT to do the things that Jesus said we would be doing on earth! I WANT to see God lifted higher and higher!! I Want More of Him!! Amen?!?
Lifting my sword high! Thanks Mama T. So true. Ill equipped is perfect for the enemy.
We don’t need to give the enemy any help. Let’s study to show ourselves approved, workers who need not be ashamed. Let’s re-forge our swords and lift them high. Love you Warrior Kim
Amen,Amen,Teresa!
Father Thank you for this great word today, May we all apply each part, in our hearts to learn to use it to MAKE An IMPACT AND INFLUENCE MANY. In Jesus name, Amen! t.
YES, Tonya! If we apply each part, in whole, we can make an impact on this world for Jesus.
I liked the sentence: That piece may get us through sometimes, but we need to know all the word to get us through a lifetime.” That sure cuts out bits and pieces of the sword, doesn’t it? Great points, Teresa.
Absolutely! The whole book is life changing. Thanks Martha!
T, GREAT Blog today!! Filled with much encouragement, and motivation! Thank you also for the accountability! We NEED to be held accountable to dig deeper in His Word, to use ALL the Word, not just bits and pieces as Lisa said. Bits and pieces of His Word only gives us bits and pieces of power. We just have to get this!! I pray that everyone that is reading this book, and these blogs, will see what a powerful tool we have in God’s Word!!
Amen! Women are getting so fired up. I can feel the REVIVAL!
I definitely need to dig deeper in His word, I need the sword now in my life! I recognize that and I need to do it. It’s been a bad week really bad week and haven’t used the Word at all except probably for rebuke and not in a kind way. All day I knew I had to get in the Word but didn’t, I have been reading the blogs and the chapters for Study but that doesn’t fill in for the Word but I think I have realized a few things so hopefully that’s the Lord. Anyways yes I need to dig deeper and USE that sword! I have the kindle next to me all day that has all my books on it including the Bible, I always read that first thing every morning except this last week, all my other books came first, I don’t know or don’t think I cared. How sad, how scary!!! Yes scary! I needed to use this sword in my life so many times but never did never probably knew how, so this study is going to be great, I need to know and want to know how to use that sword!!
Pat,
You bless my heart so much. Your eyes have been opened to what was in your hands all along. You are a mighty warrior, my friend. Lift your sword high and train!
Pat, you bless my heart. You have had all the pieces you needed right in front of you. Re-forge that sword and lift it high. You are a mighty warrior princess! I’m so glad you are joining the fight.
Awesome! I love what you wrote….
Thank you, friend. Your support is appreciated. 🙂
Awesome post. Made me do some thinking. I carry at least one Bible to work with me everyday. For about 4 years no, It is with me. Doesn’t mean I read it everyday, And that needs to change. Need to dig my toes in the word…Like we all like to dig them in the sand, Deep