Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged
sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able
to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Four principles to remember in reference to the sword
First, the length of our sword depends on the amount of knowledge we have of the
Word. If we have little knowledge, our sword will be like a pocket knife. If we
have a lot of knowledge, our sword will be very long.

Second, the sword becomes two-edged when we speak God's Word out of our
mouth.
Third, the strength of the sword depends not only on knowing and speaking the
Word, but also on acting on the Word. We can have all knowledge of the Bible, but
faith without works is dead. As the NIV translation of James 2:17 reads, "Faith
by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (Tell someone you must
act on what you know)

Fourth, it is the power of the Word that will keep us from falling. If believers will
learn how to use the Word, walk in the Word and establish ourselves in the Word of
God, then we should have no fear of what the enemy might do.

Understanding the actual swords that the Roman soldier used can help us
realize why God choose to compare His Word to a sword.
Why does the sword have two edges?
The six-step process the Romans used to make swords can give us insight into the
significance of the spiritual two-edged sword:
The elements were taken out of the earth. Jesus was made of flesh, originally from
the ground (Genesis 2:7).
Impurities were removed and the metal was washed for purity. Jesus was pure, not
knowing sin, but was baptized in water before beginning His ministry. (Matthew
3:13)
The elements were crushed. Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised
for our iniquities. (Isaiah 53:5)

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The metal was placed inside a furnace of fire. Jesus descended into the lower parts
of the earth and led captivity captive. (Ephesians 4:9-11)
The molten metal was laid out on a brick. The body of Jesus was laid on a stone in
a tomb. (John 20:41-42) The metal was shaped by a swordsmith. Christ's word is
now like a two-edged sword.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. HEBREWS 4:12
Notice that: The Word of God is quick. The Greek word here for quick is meaning
"to be alive" or "back to life". The spoken word brings life and quickens the
body (Romans 8:11). The Word of God is powerful. The Greek word is energes.
The Word renews the inner man (2 Corinthians 4:16). The Word of God is
sharp(er.) 'The Greek word for sharper is this alludes to cutting with a single
stroke, not with a hacking or sawing action.
The Word of God is two-edged. The Greek word for two-edged meaning is
"having a double mouth, as a river." The Word of God divides asunder. The
Greek word is meaning to cut into a separation. The Word of God can divide the
soul from the spirit.
This is important because spiritual battles begin in the soul. The Word of God
divides asunder. The Greek word meaning to cut into a separation. The Word
of God can divide the soul from the spirit.
When God spoke the Word out of His mouth, He put one blade on it. When we
speak what God said, we form the second blade. This is why it is a two-
mouthed sword.
Speaking just 10 words,
Jesus healed a paralytic (Matthew 9:6).
He spoke six words to raise the dead (Mark 5:41).
Speaking five words, Jesus healed a leper (Matthew 8:3).
Speaking only two words "Come out!" Jesus cast out a legion of demons
(Matthew 8:32).
When God speaks, His words do not die. His words are alive and will not
return to Him without accomplishing that which He sent them to accomplish.
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Grab that rhema and let it bring life to your situation. Let it complete the
work it was sent to do for you! A Rhema Is a Sword When you get a rhema,
you get a sword. When God's Holy Spirit quickens to you a passage of
scripture or gives you a specific revelation, He just gave you a sword. This is
what that rhema-that sword-will do for you: it will protect your destiny!
Noah was given a rhema. He was told to build an ark and that, when the flood
waters came, he and his family would be spared. Noah got a sword that protected
his family.
Joseph was thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, taken to Egypt, became a slave,
was falsely accused of rape and went to jail. Yet, he became second in command
over Egypt. Do you know why? Because he had a dream that was a living, rhema-
quickened word and, no matter what happened, the enemy could not stop the
dream from manifesting.
The Lord was with Joseph in the pit, and the Lord was with him in Potiphar's
house. Wherever he went, God was with him because God had already given him a
word in the past. It took Joseph 13 years to see his promise come to pass; but it
came to pass, and he saved an entire generation!
Moses was protected because he had a destiny and a rhema. Moses was delivered
three times from losing his destiny. First, in the Nile River, Moses was saved from
the slaughter of all males under the age of two by an ark that his mother built.
Second, Moses was able to flee into the wilderness after he killed an Egyptian.
Third, after delivering the Israelites from Egypt, the people became angry at Moses
in the wilderness and wanted to stone him. Every time they tried, however, God
would bring judgment on those who were trying to harm him.
When you get a rhema from God about your destiny, you will experience
opposition from the enemy. Paul told Timothy: This charge I commit to you,
son Timothy according to the prophecies previously made concerning you,
that by them you may wage the good warfare. I TIMOTHY 1:18 Timothy
had a word from God given by an anointed man, but he was becoming fearful. Paul
was saying, "I prophesied over you about your destiny. You have become fearful
and intimidated by people.
God gave you the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. So, wage a good
warfare.

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'This means that you will never get a rhema that contradicts the truth in the
Bible. The belt of truth carries the sword; it's not the sword that carries the
belt. The written Word carries the rhema word.
The Holy Spirit might drop a rhema word into our hearts, supernaturally remind us
of a scripture, or put us in remembrance of a Bible promise. When this happens,
that word, scripture, or promise floods our entire being with faith because the Holy
Spirit has spoken to us in a way that is clearly spoken, unmistakable, undeniable,
unquestionable, certain, and definite.
So when Paul says, ...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, he is
referring to the Holy Spirits ability to make such a divine word richly come
alive in our hearts and minds at a moment of need.
A rhema is a specific word or message that the Holy Spirit quickens in our hearts
and minds at a specific time and for a special purpose.
In Romans 16:20 he writes, And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under
your feet shortly. The word bruise is taken from the Greek word
denote the act of smashing grapes into wine, it was also used to refer to the act of
snapping, breaking, and crushing bones. In fact, it pictures bones that have been
utterly crushed beyond recognition.

Now Paul uses this same word in Romans 16:20 when he says we are to bruise
Satan under our feet. But, notice that Paul says we are to bruise him under our feet
shortly. This word shortly is extremely important because it takes the whole
picture to the next level. It tells us what attitude we must demonstrate the next time
the devil tries to get in our way or block our path.

The word shortly comes from a military term that described the way Roman
soldiers marched in formation. They were instructed by their commanders, You
are Roman soldiers! Lift your feet high, stomp loud, and let everyone know you
are coming through town. The sound of the stomping and pounding of your feet is
the signal to let everyone know they need to get out of your way. And if someone
is foolish enough to stand in your way even if someone falls down in front of
you dont you dare stop to ask them to move! Just keep marching, stomping,
and pounding, even if it means you have to walk right over them!

So when Paul uses the word shortly, he is referring to the pounding, stomping,
crushing steps of a Roman soldier. And remember, Roman soldiers wore shoes that
were spiked with nails on the bottom. When a challenger stood in front of them
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or if a person fell in their path these soldiers would simply ignore the problem
and keep marching, stomping, and pounding along their way, leaving the
challenger or unfortunate person completely demolished and trampled beyond
recognition an ugly, bloody sight.

What does all this mean for you and me today? It means the next time the devil
tries to get in your way or block your path, you shouldnt stop to politely ask him
to move.

If the enemy is stupid enough to challenge you and tries to hinder your plans,
God tells you what to do in this verse: Just keep walking! If the devil tries to
stop you, just raise your feet high, pound down as hard as you can, and stomp all
over him as you march forward. Crush and bruise him beyond recognition!
However, it is important to point out that this smashing and crushing of Satan must
be done in cooperation with God. Thats the reason Paul says, The God of
peace shall bruise Satan under your feet. In other words, this is a joint
partnership between you and God. By yourself, you could never keep Satan quiet.
But with God as your Partner, the devil has no chance of ever slipping out from
under your heel!

The glorious truth is that Jesus already completely destroyed Satans power over
you through His death and resurrection. The devil was utterly smashed, crushed,
and bruised when Jesus was victoriously raised from the dead, Your God-given
mission now is to reinforce the victory already won and to demonstrate just
how miserably defeated Satan already is!
The enemy may try to lord himself over you; he may attempt to use his foul
influence over your life. However, he is merely using empty threats and delusions
to feed fear into your mind.

Never forget the only place that rightfully belongs to the devil is the small space
of ground right under your feet! Jesus accomplished a total, complete, and perfect
work through the Cross of Calvary and His resurrection from the dead. That means
your healing, your miracle, or your financial blessing already belongs to you! The
victory is already yours!

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the
works of the devil.
1 John 3:8
Multitudes of people in this world today are held hostage in their minds by
the devil. They are incarcerated, locked up, and caged in their minds and
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emotions, held like slaves, prisoners, or detainees who are under arrest
and live at the mercy of their conqueror.

Although they belong to Jesus and legally have every right to freedom,
they remain in spiritual bondage, at least in some measure, in certain
areas of their lives. Whether they persisted in a particular sin or failed to
do something they should have done (such as read the Word, pray, or stay
in fellowship with other saints), their minds were pried open wide enough
for Satan to find an inroad and take that part of their minds captive.

You see, the mind is the primary area Satan seeks to attack. He knows
that once he succeeds in planting a stronghold of deception in some area
of a persons mind, from that lofty position he can then begin to control
and manipulate that person. The Bible calls this kind of deception in the
mind a stronghold (2 Corinthians 10:4). It is a stronghold because once
a lie is planted in someones head, it is very hard to remove!

But First John 3:8 says that Jesus came into the world that he
might destroy the works of the devil! I want you to particularly notice
the word destroy in this verse. It is taken from the Greek word which
refers to the act of untying or unloosing something. It was used in classical
Greek literature to refer to people being delivered, released, or freed from
difficulties, burdens, or needs.

Now lets look at First John 3:8, the verse we are focusing on today. Here
the Bible uses the word when it says, For this purpose the Son of God
was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. This tells
us that when Jesus Christ came into the world, He came to untie
and unloose Satans binding powers over us. His objective was
to disentangle us from Satans control; to unfasten us from the demonic
shackles that held us captive; to unravel the chains Satan used to keep us
in his grip; and to break and destroy all the shackles Satan had used to
hold us hostage.

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus redemptive work destroyed

the power of the enemy and our liberty was fully purchased. You see,
setting people free from Satans power has always been Jesus primary
concern. First John 3:8 declares that this was the purpose that the Son of
God was manifested on this earth. Since this is His concern, it should also
be ours.

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So many people in this world today are incarcerated, locked up and caged
in their minds and emotions. They are held like slaves or prisoners, living
at the mercy of their conqueror. Therefore, it is time for you to learn how
to recognize the devils strategies in other peoples minds and lives. Jesus
came to set people free, and God wants to use you to take the delivering
power of God to them so the works of the devil can be destroyed in their
lives.
The mind may be the devils preferred battlefield, but you can make sure
he loses every battle! Just determine today to be a willing vessel God can use
to free spiritual hostages from demonic oppression!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, please help me to be conscious of the people I meet who are bound by the
devil in their minds. I know that You want to use me to touch them and to bring
them the freedom that can be found only in You. I am so sorry for the times I get
so busy that I fail to recognize opportunities to speak Your name and to share
Your love with people who are lost and bound. Please help me to become
consistently alert to the people for whom You died and to go out of my way to
tell them the Good News that will deliver them and set them free.
I pray this in Jesus name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am alert to the people around me who are held as hostages in
their minds. I see their struggles; I recognize their fears; and I use every
available opportunity to speak words of freedom and release into their lives. I
have received so much from the Lord; now it is my responsibility to share this
same liberty with others who come into my life. I know this is what God is asking
of me, and I choose to start obeying this mandate today.
I declare this by faith in Jesus name!

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