WEEK 5 — DAY 6
Morning Nourishment
Eph. 6:17-18 "And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God, by means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit..."
Col. 4:2 "Persevere in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving."
The helmet of salvation [Eph. 6:17]...is for covering our mind, our mentality, against the negative thoughts directed at us by the evil one. Such a helmet, such a covering, is God's salvation. Satan injects into our mind threats, worries, anxieties, and other weakening thoughts. God's salvation is the covering we take up against all these.Such a salvation is the saving Christ we experience in our daily life (John 16:33). (Life-study of Ephesians, p. 546)
Today's Reading
In Ephesians 6:17 Paul also speaks of “the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God.” Among the six items of God's armor, this is the only one for attacking the enemy. With the sword we cut the enemy to pieces.However, we do not take up the sword first. Rather, we must firstly put on the girdle, the breastplate, and the shoes, and then take up the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation. Then, when we are entirely protected and have salvation as our portion, we may receive the sword of the Spirit.
In verse 17 the antecedent of the word which is Spirit, not sword. This indicates that the Spirit is the word of God, both of which are Christ (2 Cor.3:17; Rev. 19:13)....The correct meaning [of Ephesians 6:17] is that the Spirit is the sword itself, not the one who uses the sword. The Word of God is also a sword. The sword is the Spirit, and the Spirit is the Word.
The Word is the Bible. But if this Word is only printed letters, it is neither the Spirit nor the sword. The Greek for word in Ephesians 6:17 is rhema,the instant word spoken at the moment by the Spirit in any situation. When the logos, the constant word in the Bible, becomes the instant rhema, this rhema will be the Spirit. This rhema, which becomes the Spirit, is the sword that cuts the enemy to pieces. For example, we may read a particular verse again and again, only to have it remain the logos, a word in letters. Such a word cannot kill anything. But one day this verse becomes the rhema to us,the present, instant, living speaking. At that time this rhema becomes the Spirit....The instant, present word is the Spirit [John 6:63]. This kind of word is the sword. Therefore, the sword, the Spirit, and the word are three that are one. Furthermore, we, not the Spirit, are the ones to use this sword to kill the enemy. (Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 547-548)
In order to fight on God's side against Satan, we need to persevere in prayer. This perseverance is needed because the course of the whole world is away from God. To pray is to go against the current, the trend, in the fallen universe. Persevering in prayer is like rowing a boat upstream. If you do not persevere, you will be carried downstream by the current. No doubt, to persevere in this way, either in rowing or in praying, requires a great deal of energy. The entire universe is under Satan's influence and is contrary to God's will. Hence, there is a strong current in the world in opposition to the will of God...[and] against our prayer. We all need to make a vow to Him concerning our prayer life. We should tell the Lord, “Lord, I know that if I forget this vow,You will not forget it. From the very beginning, Lord, I want to clearly hand the responsibility over to You. Lord, don't let me go. Remind me to pray.”
Persevering in prayer has many benefits. By prayer we set our mind on the things above....[Then] our prayer will be occupied with Christ's heavenly intercession, ministry, and administration.
When we pray, we enter into the Holy of Holies and approach the throne of grace [Heb. 4:16]....When we pray, approaching the throne of grace, mercy and grace will become a river flowing in us and supplying us....Receiving the flow of grace in prayer is actually more important than having our prayers answered. (Life-study of Colossians, pp. 578-582)
Further Reading: Life-study of Colossians, msg. 65
Morning Nourishment
Eph. 6:17-18 "And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God, by means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit..."
Col. 4:2 "Persevere in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving."
The helmet of salvation [Eph. 6:17]...is for covering our mind, our mentality, against the negative thoughts directed at us by the evil one. Such a helmet, such a covering, is God's salvation. Satan injects into our mind threats, worries, anxieties, and other weakening thoughts. God's salvation is the covering we take up against all these.Such a salvation is the saving Christ we experience in our daily life (John 16:33). (Life-study of Ephesians, p. 546)
Today's Reading
In Ephesians 6:17 Paul also speaks of “the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God.” Among the six items of God's armor, this is the only one for attacking the enemy. With the sword we cut the enemy to pieces.However, we do not take up the sword first. Rather, we must firstly put on the girdle, the breastplate, and the shoes, and then take up the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation. Then, when we are entirely protected and have salvation as our portion, we may receive the sword of the Spirit.
In verse 17 the antecedent of the word which is Spirit, not sword. This indicates that the Spirit is the word of God, both of which are Christ (2 Cor.3:17; Rev. 19:13)....The correct meaning [of Ephesians 6:17] is that the Spirit is the sword itself, not the one who uses the sword. The Word of God is also a sword. The sword is the Spirit, and the Spirit is the Word.
The Word is the Bible. But if this Word is only printed letters, it is neither the Spirit nor the sword. The Greek for word in Ephesians 6:17 is rhema,the instant word spoken at the moment by the Spirit in any situation. When the logos, the constant word in the Bible, becomes the instant rhema, this rhema will be the Spirit. This rhema, which becomes the Spirit, is the sword that cuts the enemy to pieces. For example, we may read a particular verse again and again, only to have it remain the logos, a word in letters. Such a word cannot kill anything. But one day this verse becomes the rhema to us,the present, instant, living speaking. At that time this rhema becomes the Spirit....The instant, present word is the Spirit [John 6:63]. This kind of word is the sword. Therefore, the sword, the Spirit, and the word are three that are one. Furthermore, we, not the Spirit, are the ones to use this sword to kill the enemy. (Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 547-548)
In order to fight on God's side against Satan, we need to persevere in prayer. This perseverance is needed because the course of the whole world is away from God. To pray is to go against the current, the trend, in the fallen universe. Persevering in prayer is like rowing a boat upstream. If you do not persevere, you will be carried downstream by the current. No doubt, to persevere in this way, either in rowing or in praying, requires a great deal of energy. The entire universe is under Satan's influence and is contrary to God's will. Hence, there is a strong current in the world in opposition to the will of God...[and] against our prayer. We all need to make a vow to Him concerning our prayer life. We should tell the Lord, “Lord, I know that if I forget this vow,You will not forget it. From the very beginning, Lord, I want to clearly hand the responsibility over to You. Lord, don't let me go. Remind me to pray.”
Persevering in prayer has many benefits. By prayer we set our mind on the things above....[Then] our prayer will be occupied with Christ's heavenly intercession, ministry, and administration.
When we pray, we enter into the Holy of Holies and approach the throne of grace [Heb. 4:16]....When we pray, approaching the throne of grace, mercy and grace will become a river flowing in us and supplying us....Receiving the flow of grace in prayer is actually more important than having our prayers answered. (Life-study of Colossians, pp. 578-582)
Further Reading: Life-study of Colossians, msg. 65
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