Word of God Archives

August 3, 2022May 18, 2023

The Armor of God Pt. 2: The Sword of the Spirit

The Armor of God is one of the first things we learn about as believers. Your average Christian knows each piece of armor, from the Breastplate of Righteousness to the Sword of the Spirit. The only problem is that many don’t know what these pieces of armor really are, nor do they know how to use them. In fact, many who preach against things such as the Gifts of the Holy Spirit inadvertently also preach against the Sword of the Spirit without ever realizing it. If this is true, then that begs the question, What Exactly is the Sword of the Spirit? And more importantly, how do you use the Sword of the Spirit? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture for the answers to these questions and more in her video, The Armor of God Pt. 2: The Sword of the Spirit.

Acts 2:17-21
Ephesians 6:17-18a
John 1:14
Matthew 16:15-17
Matthew 28:18
Ephesians 6:18
1 Corinthians 14:14-15
Matthew 17:20
Mark 9:29
Romans 10:17
John 4:24
Matthew 26:41

The Sword of the Spirit

What is the Sword of the Spirit?

When we talk about the Sword of the Spirit, we’re referring to the last spiritual weapon given to us by God, through Paul, in the book of Ephesians.

¹⁷and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Ephesians 6:17-18

How to activate the Sword of the Spirit?

You have to speak in tongues

To activate the Sword of the Spirit, you have to speak in tongues. This is different than the kind of speaking in tongues, which allows those who hear you speak, hear the words in their own language.

⁵Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? ⁹Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, ¹¹both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” ¹²And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Acts 2:5-13

This is also different than the kind of speaking in tongues that needs to be interpreted by you or another because it is a word from God.

⁴The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. ⁵Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

1 Corinthians 14:14-15

This kind of speaking in tongues is a personal tongue that is specific to your spirit. See, in order to activate the Sword of the Spirit, you have to build up your spirit. If you don’t build up your spirit, your spirit will be to weak to pick up the Sword of the Spirit, let alone wield it with all of its power.

¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

1 Corinthians 14:14-15

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Know The Truth and Be Free

In our society today we no longer want the Truth, we only want our truth. If we each have our own versions of the truth, then how can we ever know what the true Truth is? What is Truth? Does it even matter if we know the Truth? Doesn’t God just want us to be happy? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the importance of knowing God’s Word in his message, Know The Truth and Be Free.

John 8:31–38
John 8:30
John 18:38
John 8:36
John 17:17
John 1:14
Genesis 3:1–7

Know The Truth and Be Free

What is Truth?

¹⁴And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

⁶Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”
John 14:6-7

Jesus is the Word of God and Jesus is Truth. Therefore, the Word of God is the only way we can know the Truth.

How To Be Free Through The Truth

³¹So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32

²³For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23

³⁰Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Acts 16:30-31

¹⁹ Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
Acts 3:19

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The Father is Greater Than I: John 14:28 Explained

In John 14:28, Jesus declares that He must return to His Father for His Father is greater than Him. This single verse records Jesus declaring the Father to be greater than He seems to completely destroy the Trinity argument since Jesus would be beneath the Father, which would mean He isn’t equal to God. Is that what Jesus was saying? Is the Father greater than Jesus? If so, is Jesus God, or is He just a man? Does that then mean that there is no Trinity? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to explain Jesus’ words, “The Father is Greater Than I” in John 14:28.

John 14:28
John 8:28-29
John 8:54
Matthew 24:35-36
1 Corinthians 14:33
Mark 4:10-12
2 Corinthians 3:14
John 1
Genesis 1:1
Genesis 1:26-27
Deuteronomy 6:4
Matthew 12:29-30
James 2:19
Hebrews 5:11-14
Philippians 2:5-11
Revelation 2:8
Revelation 3:7
Revelation 22:12-13
Revelation 5:5-6
Revelation 5:1-5
Acts 4:11-12
Revelation 19:11-13
John 1:14

More On ‘The Father is Greater Than I’

They Have Different Roles:

While only the Father knows the day or hour of the return of the Son of Man, Jesus also has things that only He knows.

¹¹This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. ¹² And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:11-12

⁵Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,⁶who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,⁷but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11

¹¹Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹²His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a name written that no one knows but Himself. ¹³He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is The Word of God. ¹⁴And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following Him on white horses. ¹⁵From His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ¹⁶On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Revelation 19:11-16

Jesus’ Authority:

Jesus speaks differently about Himself after the resurrection. He no longer claims that ‘The Father is Greater Than I,’ instead He claims He is the Alpha and the Omega with all authority in heaven and on earth.

¹⁸And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18

⁵And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ⁶And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. ⁷The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”
Revelation 21:5-7

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What or Who Is the Word of God?

According to John, the Word of the LORD is God, but does that make sense? Is the Word God, or is the Word just an ‘it’, not an actual entity or person? Is this Word the light or life that the LORD God used to create everything we see and everything we don’t see? Or is there more to the story since Jesus said He (and His Father) is the light and life? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to answer the question, What or Who Is the Word of God?

John 1:1-2
Genesis 1:1-2
John 1:3
Job 9:8
Isaiah 44:24
John 1:4-5
John 8:12
John 11:25-27
John 14:6
John 1:6-18
Revelation 19:11-16
Revelation 17:14
John 1:28-29
Revelation 7:13-14
Hebrews 4:12
1 Peter 1:22-23
Ephesians 6:17

The Word of the LORD

The Word is God

John 1:1 says, “¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Here are a couple of instances of the Word of the LORD declaring Himself to be the LORD God.

¹ After these things the Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
⁷And He said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”
Genesis 15:1, 7

¹⁰The Word of the Lord came to Samuel: ¹¹“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night.
1 Samuel 15:10-11

Whenever the Word of the LORD comes to someone, it’s as an actual living entity declaring to be the LORD God. This is because the Word of the LORD isn’t just God speaking, but it’s the LORD God Himself. The Word of the LORD is one of the members of the God-Head, the Trinity.

The Word is the Creator

According to John 1:3, ³All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. Here are a couple of instances of the LORD God saying He is the only creator.

⁵I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, ⁶that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. ⁷I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.
¹¹Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands? ¹²I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.
Isaiah 45:5-7, 11-12

⁴Give them this charge for their masters: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: This is what you shall say to your masters: ⁵“It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.”’
Jeremiah 27:4-5

According to the LORD God, He is the sole creator of all things. Therefore, if the Word of the LORD created all things, then He is one of the members of the God-Head.

The Word is Light and Life

John 1:4 says, ⁴In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The Word of the LORD is light and life, which is eerily similar to what Jesus said about Himself. Here are few instances of Jesus saying that He is the light and life.

The Life

²⁵Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. ²⁶For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself. ²⁷And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
John 5:25-27

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— ²the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— ³that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:1-3

The Light

³⁵ So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. ³⁶ While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
John 12:35-36

⁴⁴And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in Him who sent me. ⁴⁵And whoever sees me sees Him who sent me. ⁴⁶I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”
John 12:44-46

The Word of the LORD is Jesus. Jesus is the light and life of the World. Jesus is the Creator. And most importantly, Jesus is God. The Word of the LORD is the light and life because the Word of the LORD is Jesus, the Son of God.

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The Trinity: The Son

How can Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father all be God, if there is only one God? So is Jesus really God? Wasn’t Jesus born from a human woman? Didn’t He have an Earthly Father? How can we be sure that there is even a Trinity? Does the Bible ever actually say there is such a thing as the Trinity? Join ArieRashelle as she explains how Jesus fits into the Trinity through Scripture in this second video, The Son, of our three-part series, The Trinity.

John 10:30
John 1:1-5
John 1:14
Matthew 3:16-17
2 Peter 1:17
Isaiah 42:8
Isaiah 48:11
John 8:54
John 17:1
Isaiah 43:11
Hosea 13:4
Titus 3:4-7
Acts 5:30-31
Isaiah 44:6
Isaiah 48:12
Revelation 1:17-18
Revelation 2:8
Revelation 22:12-13
Exodus 7:14
John 8:58
John 1:1-2
1 Timothy 2:5-6
Hebrews 4:14
Hebrews 5:9-10
Hebrews 7:26-27
John 14:6
John 16:23
John 8:34
1 John 2:1
Romans 5:18-19
1 Corinthians 15:21
Hebrews 10:4-11
Galatians 5:1
Romans 6:6-7
1 Corinthians 10:13
James 4:7
John 15:15
Luke 7:34
Philippians 2:5-7
John 14:14
Hebrews 2:11
Matthew 12:49
Proverbs 17:17

The Trinity: The Son

Jesus’ Role in the Trinity as the Son

We truly didn’t get into Jesus’s role in the video, in fear of it being too long. One of Jesus’s primary roles, as being the Word of God, is fulfilling what The Father says. We see this throughout Scripture from Old Testament to New Testament. In our last video we explained that Yahweh, The Father, makes the plans and leads the Head of the Trinity. So then can we say Yahweh is more powerful or important than Jesus? No, it doesn’t. Because they balance each other.

Each member of the Trinity has a specific role to play. The Father plans, directs, and leads the Trinity. The Son fulfills the plans of the Father. Think of The Trinity as a body. The Father is the head, and the Son is the body. The body does as the head commands. The head is not more important than the body, and the body not more important than the head, for neither can be without the other; instead they complement each other.

For example,

¹⁹So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.’
John 5:19

²⁸So Jesus said to them, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. ²⁹And He who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.’
John 8:28-29

Jesus follows the lead of The Father not because He is weaker, not because He is less of God, but because He humbles Himself.

Paul explains it like this:

⁵Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5-8

So why would Jesus do this? If we keep reading, Paul tells us.

⁹Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11

So Jesus did this to glorify His Father. He took the sin, punishment, debt, and death that we could not bear so that we could have life and life more abundantly. And in doing this the Father glorified the Son, bestowing upon Him the name above all names.

Jesus is also the Righteous Judge. As any good society, there are laws. So if there are laws, there would need to be someone who decides whether the laws have been kept. Once the judge has spoken, someone must either reward or punish those whom the judge has judged.

We see this plainly when Jesus said,

²¹For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will. ²²For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, ²³that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
John 5:21-23

So the Father has given Jesus the task of being a righteous judge, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The Father did this to make sure that all saw that the Son was honored as God, to ensure we saw that they are equal. Jesus explains when and whom He will judge.

³¹When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. ³²Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³And He will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
Matthew 25:31-33

So at the final judgment, we will all stand before Jesus as He sits on His throne. He will separate us according to how we lived our lives. Jesus tells us that the Father carries out His righteous judgments.

¹ I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ²Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
John 15:1-2

So Jesus judges and then the Father brings forth the judgment itself, whether it be a reward or a punishment.

The Trinity: The Father?

The Trinity: The Spirit?

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