SUNDAY 12TH JULY, 2020

MEMORY VERSE: - “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

INTRODUCTION: - The Word of God contains the spiritual principles: precept upon precept; line upon line that will help us avoid many sorrows, pitfalls and tragedies brought on by wrong decisions and choices. For this reason, we must treasure its wisdom and apply it in all of life’s situation. It will never fail to guide us in the right direction.

1) The Word Of God Is A Lamp To Guide

There are many pitfalls (some very dangerous) all around us as Christians especially in this end time, the devil has well-laid snares to entrap us (2Tim.2:26; Ps.119:110).

The straight and narrow way is not always easily discerned and still less easily followed. In these perilous times when there is so much of the world in the Church and when even the shepherd of the flock may walk in ways quite contrary to the Word of God, many an earnest Christian is perplexed and at a loss to know what is a consistent walk. He surely needs a light upon his path.

But he needs even more than that; he needs to be shown each step of the way. The Word of God is just such a guide and, when it is hid in the heart and headed in the life, the Christian need not wander nor stumble. His every step may be ordered in full conformity to God’s will and ways in full obedience to God’s Word (Ps.119:133; 37:31).

The teaching, instruction, warning, correction and guidance, which every Christian needs to make him complete and to equip him for service are all to be found in the Bible (2Tim.3:16; 16-17).

2) The Word Of God Is A Weapon

The Spirit-filled man has enemies; he is engaged in a warfare (Eph.6:12). The powers of hell are all against Him. He is always open to attack and momentarily liable to defeat. He needs both defensive and offensive weapons. He must be able both to stand and to withstand in every assault of Satan (Eph.6:17).

There is but one way this can be done and it is the way the God-man used. His only weapon in the wilderness was the Sword of the Spirit. “It is written”, repeated three times in the threefold attack, repulsed the enemy.

Let us note that the God-man had his Sword burnished and ready. He did not wait to draw out the Scripture and read from it to get an answer for the devil. His mind was so saturated with its truth that when Satan attacked Him, the Spirit instantly brought to His remembrance the very words that utterly routed Him. He was kept in the moment of temptation by the Word hid in His heart (Ps.119:11).

It is only that part of the Word that is hid in the heart that will become a Sword in the portion of the Word of God which we have learned and lived that will be effectual in the fight with Satan.

Another essential to success is confidence in the weapon we use (Ps.12:6; Prov.30:5)

Many Christians are defeated today in the warfare against sin and Satan because of doubt regarding their weapon, the Word of God. To them the Word is not the Sword of the Spirit but it is merely a staff of man’s making to assist him on the pathway of life which he feels at liberty to whittle down to the measure of his own intellect and experience. Belief in the absolute trustworthiness and final authority of the Word is an essential to the potent use of it as the Sword.

The “Sword of the Spirit”, which is the Word of God is our offensive weapon to be used in the war against the powers of evil. Our Lord Jesus Christ used the weapon against Satan (Matt.4:1-11). We must know God’s Word and be confident of its power and effectiveness.

1. Why does a Christ in this perilous times need the Word of God?

2. How can one effectively use the Word of God as a Spiritual weapon in a Spiritual battle?