We’re looking at the “Sword of the Word” in this our fourth week on gifts of faith.  In the whole armor of God, we have a weapon called the “Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:10-18).

There are two Greek words for Scripture in the Bible.  One is “Logos” concerning doctrine meaning: word, matter, or concern, biblically it is the spoken word, or written divine expression (i.e. Christ, John 1:14)  (Strong’s #3056) 

    The other Greek word is “rhema”: a word used biblically as a command. (Strong’s #4487) 

In Ezekiel 37: “Again He [God] said to me [Ezekiel], Prophesy to these bones and “say” to them, oh you dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord”  “So I prophesied as I was commanded: and there was a great noise and a shaking . . . (Vss. 4,7a).

In Mark 11:23,  “Jesus said . . . Whosoever shall “say” unto this mountain, Be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says.”

You will have what you say!  It is most important to be in agreement with God’s
Word.  Faith without doubting is the condition to meet if one wants the benefit (Mark 11:23).

Here we have both of the Testaments, Old and New, talking about the importance of what we “say” in warfare.

Prayer is one thing.  Speaking is another. We pray to get the Word. Then we can speak it with power.  We can “say” to dry bones or to the mountains that block us, be healed or move out of my way, and we will see positive results. 

    “Swords of the Word”
We can find an appropriate Faith Word or Sword of the Spirit from Scripture and speak that into our situation. 

When I was nearing completion of my Master’s Degree at my University, a male student said to me, “You are not going to graduate!” 

I was surprised to hear these mean and unfounded words.  I paused to take a deep breath.  Faith rose up in me and I said kindly but with confidence, “J. you are wrong.  I am going to graduate!” It was important that I made a positive response.

That afternoon as I concluded presenting my public self-evaluation chart, the teacher said, “The professors in their evaluation of you have all agreed that you are graduating!”
 
I purposely kept from looking at my adversary, and I tried my best not to gloat too much, as I heard these longed for words. 

“Breaking a Yoke of bondage”
Over a decade ago I was asked to pray for a young woman who was being emotionally abused by her boyfriend.  She was as a result having pain in her shoulders and could not sleep well. 

I was impressed with a “rhema” Scripture sword for her. I said L, “This Scripture is for you,  ‘And it shall come to pass that in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke [of bondage] shall be destroyed because of God’s anointing’ (Isaiah 10:27 KJV mod).  Today that bondage is broken off your neck and shoulders through God’s anointing.”

She had been yoked together in an unhealthy relationship.  She was a Believer and anointed by the Holy Spirit.  That day, the abusive relationship was broken and she was physically and emotionally healed. 

Another Scripture that has been a “rhema” to me over the years is Jesus’ words, “Behold, I give you power . . . over all the power of the Enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19 KJV mod).  This helped me as a young adult when I had made a commitment of Jesus as Lord, not only as Savior. A spiritual battle began, with gory dreams at night.  I quoted this Scripture whenever I needed to, and until I was victorious a month later.

Find Scriptures to help you with your battles of faith.  They are there in God’s armory waiting to strengthen you.

More spiritual gifts next time.