A Blunt Sword Is Useless: The Last of the Armour

Sermon outline

Every believer is in a spiritual battle, and the two weapons God gives for it, the sword of the Spirit and prayer, only work when we keep the word sharp by speaking and studying it and pray specifically, constantly, in the Spirit and for others, standing firm.

1. The real battle is spiritual

   The most troubling things in our lives are not what our five senses report; what happens in the spiritual world pours over into the natural. Satan wants us distracted by what we see, hear and think, too busy to deal with what lies beneath the surface. The adversary walks about like a roaring lion, and we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.

   “Satan wants us distracted by what we see, by what we hear, by what we're thinking, so that we are too busy to actually tackle the things beyond the surface.”

   • 1 Peter 5:8
   • 2 Corinthians 10:3
   • Ephesians 6:12

2. Putting on the armour is an active process

   "Put on the whole armour" is a command, not advice. Armour is only issued to people in battle, and you must be a trained soldier to bear it. Spiritual warfare is not only for intercessors and leaders; we are all in it. You cannot simply speak the armour over yourself in the morning and think you are covered for the week; you keep checking that it is in place.

   Illustration: Getting ready in the morning, many women try on two or three outfits, mixing and matching until it fits. The armour has to be worked at in the same way.

   “We are all in a spiritual war.”

   • Ephesians 6:11
   • Ephesians 6:13-17

3. The sword of the Spirit: speak the word

   The sword is one of only two parts of the armour used to attack rather than defend, it is linked to the belt of truth, and it is the only tangible piece because we hold the word in our hands. But a sword only works if you know how to wield it. With the rest of the armour you are safe inside the house while the attacks keep coming; speaking the word cuts down the enemy's lies.

   Illustration: The armour is like a safe house around you. The sword lets you go beyond staying protected and actually defeat what is attacking.

   “You actually have to know how to use a sword for it to be effective.”

   • Ephesians 6:17

4. Keep it sharp, and let the word be your standard of truth

   Meditating on the word means studying it, not five minutes with the Bible before work. The enemy's device is deception: he shades reality with enticing colours and makes temporary, insignificant things look bigger and more valuable than they are. Unless you know what is true to your core, his packaging works. Truth is who God is and what He says, and with that standard in place you can line up your ambitions, choices, feelings and will.

   Illustration: When you are cooking, a knife that is not sharp is useless.

   “There's no point having a sword and it is not sharp.”

   • Psalm 119:160
   • Hebrews 4:12

5. Prayer: the second weapon

   Prayer is often overlooked as part of the armour. Number one, make specific requests that line up with God's word. Number two, be constant: rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in every circumstance, not only in crisis or only when things go well. Number three, pray in the Spirit, who helps our weakness and intercedes according to the will of God, including praying in tongues. Number four, pray for others and stand in the gap.

   “We cannot be selfish in our prayers.”

   • Ephesians 6:18
   • John 15:7
   • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
   • Romans 8:26-27
   • James 5:16

6. Hand the battle over and stand firm

   When we pray we hand the battle over to God and let Him take control. Before the armour is even listed, the instruction is to stand firm, immovable and victorious. Roman soldiers who stood firm overcame; those who panicked were injured and defeated. The teaching on the armour is not meant to frighten us but to show the strength we have been equipped with.

   “When we pray, we hand the battle over to God and we allow Him to take control.”

   • Ephesians 6:13-14
   • Psalm 121:1-2

In this message