active Word...

Take the helmet of salvation and

the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:17

I noticed it yesterday... but didn't take time to think it through...

Yesterday... felt rushed... stressed... too much to do... and it all didn't get done...

And yesterday's post... a struggle...

Today began... much the same way... but God would not let it remain...

The current treadmill read... The Bondage Breaker... is coming to an end... and the author offers a guide... Steps to Freedom in Christ... at the close of the book...

In my pragmatic way... (time on the treadmill coming to a close...) thought... I'll just walk through the first step today... and take the rest a step a day... because time felt pressed... beginning step one... did not have to mean going all the way... today...

So I started... and an hour and a half or so later... found myself in the kitchen... wrung clean... and decompressed...

Taking the steps... to freedom... through prayer... delving into...

Counterfeit vs Real...

Deception vs Truth...

Bitterness vs Forgiveness...

Rebellion vs Submission...

Pride vs Humility...

Bondage vs Freedom...

Curses vs Blessings...

changed my day... and I believe... my life...

And before this particular walk... the connection between... helmet and sword... was beginning to come into focus...

Take the helmet of salvation and

the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:17

But here is what I see now... the helmet of salvation... and... the sword of the Spirit... the Word... must be taken together... I'm not sure one does much good without the other...

It is only through the Word... the Word made flesh... that we have any hope of salvation... deliverance... freedom... any helmet to put on...

It is the Word... that saves... 

The deception of the enemy... demolished only by the truth of the Word...

It is often noted that the sword is the only offensive piece of equipment listed here. While that is true, its offensive characteristic is that it represents the word of God... The fact that Paul uses the word for the short rather than the long sword suggests hand-to-hand combat.

---The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Ephesians

The fight is up close... and personal... the enemy in our space... in our face... with his lies...

Over and over.... in The Bondage Breaker... the Word is used as the foundation... for steps to freedom...

In switching defense to offense, Paul also changes the grammar of his expression. Unlike the previous genitive expressions, where shield = faith and helmet = salvation, sword does not equal the Spirit. (Paul will go on to say that the sword of the Spirit equals the word of God.) The phrase "of the Spirit" means that the Holy Spirit is both the source of God's word, and the one who gives effectiveness to its cutting edge (see John 16:8-11).

--- The College Press NIV Commentary: Galatians & Ephesians

Spirit-wielded Word... cuts to the truth... and brings freedom...

The Holy Spirit guides us to the Word we need... for whatever battle... we are waging...

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:18

Paul concludes the listed pieces of armor... with instruction on how to wield the Word... Spirit-led prayer... all kinds... for self... and all the saints...

The Word reveals the truth of who we are in Him... and how much He loves all... and longs for all to be freed from sin...

The lies that oppress... enslave... and lead to sin... can be broken... destroyed... by the Spirit empowered Word of truth...

Get the Word active in your life...
Learn it...
Know it...
Pray it...
All at the leading... of the Spirit...

Dear heavenly Father, I come to you as Your child, bought out of slavery to sin by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are the Lord of the universe and the Lord of my life. I submit my body to You as an instrument of righteousness, a living and holy sacrifice that I may glorify You in my body. I now ask You to fill me with the Holy Spirit. I commit myself to the renewing of my mind in order to prove that Your will is good, acceptable, and perfect for me. All this I pray in the name and authority of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

--- Neil Anderson, Closing prayer of the Steps to Freedom in Christ 

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