Mensa Otabil - The Word of the Lord is Our Sword
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God works with His Word; His Word is spirit and life. He sent His Word to heal us, and His Word is a light and lamp to direct us. But the Word of God is also more than that; it is our sword, our weapon to fight with. In Ephesians chapter 6, verses 16 and 17, we read these words: «Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.» The believer is engaged in spiritual warfare that is waged against spiritual entities in rebellion against God. Because they are in rebellion against God, they want to get us to rebel against Him as well, and that’s where we get into warfare. Their goal is to convince us that God doesn’t love us, that God doesn’t care for us, that God’s power is not as strong as it is, and to instill doubts about God in our hearts and minds.
How do we fight back? How do we combat this warfare against spiritual forces? The Bible tells us that we fight back with the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit. Every time Satan brings a suggestion to your mind that diminishes the power of God, that makes you fear the devil more, or that causes you to feel trapped in a situation where demonic forces seem powerful, remember you fight back—not by getting angry, not by drinking some special water, not by smearing yourself with something, and not by constantly consulting someone to give you a word. We fight back with the sword God has given us—the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. The Word of God helps us reclaim territory from the enemy, slashing every suggestion of the enemy to pieces, and enables us to speak and release the power of God into our circumstances.
So when the enemy attacks you with sickness, you don’t simply succumb to it; you fight back with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. If he attacks your finances, you fight back with the Word of God. If he attacks your family, you fight back with the Word of God. Why? Because the Word of God is your sword in this spiritual warfare. This is how Jesus fought back when He was tempted by the devil after fasting for forty days and nights. How did He fight back? He picked up the Word of God: «It is written, it is written, it is written.» We overcome not by our physical effort but through the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
Abraham used the sword of the Spirit for 25 years to wage war against his aging body and the people mocking him for the delayed promise. How did he fight back? He fought back with the Word of God; he staggered not at the promise of God. This is how we fight, this is how we win, and this is how we overcome. Whatever battle you are involved in, wherever that battle is, God has given you the sword. Don’t leave the sword to pick up something else. Take that sword, use that sword, speak it out of your mouth, and you are going to have the victory. There is victory in your mouth—release it by the Word of the Lord. I am Pastor Mensa Otabil; shalom, peace, and life to you.