OVERCOME THE DEVIL BY GOD’S WORD (3)

“He had in His right hand seven stars, out of HIS MOUTH went a sharp TWO-EDGED SWORD” – Revelation 1:16a

To OVERCOME THE DEVIL by GOD’S WORD, we must follow the Model of our Lord Jesus Christ: “He had in His right hand seven stars, out of HIS MOUTH went a sharp TWO-EDGED SWORD, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength” (Rev.1:16). This passage describes John’s vision of the Lord Jesus Christ in His Glory as the Lord of the Church. He introduces Himself: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End…who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (v.8); “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last” (v.11a). John then reiterated the purpose of his Patmos sojourn: “for the WORD of GOD and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (v.9). It was all about the Word!

One of the prominent features that John saw was a SWORD coming out of the MOUTH of Jesus (v.16). The Lord stood “in the midst of the seven lampstands…clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band” (v.13). He was girded in His eternal Armour, similar to how Paul admonishes Believers to “put on the whole armor of God” (Eph.6:11a). John went on to describe the Lord’s head and hair – “white like wool, as white as snow”; “His eyes like a flame of fire”; “His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace”; “His voice as the sound of many waters”; and “He had in His right hand seven stars” (vv.14-16a). All of these were without; the only thing that came from within – “out of His mouth” – was “a two-edged sword” that proclaimed this Faith-inspiring affirmation:

“Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am he who lives, and was dead, and behold I am ALIVE FOREVERMORE. Amen, And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (v.17b-18). When we have this same Sword, we have no reason to be afraid! We have the Word – the Sceptre of Dominion – from He Who defeated the Devil, Hell, and Death! We have the VICTORY that OVERCOMES!

This sharp double-edged sword coming out of the Mouth of Jesus, is the Word of God. That’s why every time Jesus encountered Satan personally, the only weapon He used against him was the Sword of the Spirit – the Word of God (Matthew 4:1-11). The basis of every temptation against Jesus was a temptation to doubt. Every time Satan began with the word "if," he called something into doubt. But Jesus did not vary His response. He always used the same weapon of the Word of God against him: “It is written… it is written…it is writen.”

The Sword is distinct from every other item in the Believer’s Armor – the Girdle of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Shield of Faith, Shoes of the Preparation of the Gospel, or Helmet of Salvation (Eph.6: 14-17). It’s the first item that is not purely defensive. Without the Sword, there’s no way to drive off the devil. Other items of equipment may be able to prevent the devil from wounding us, but cannot drive him from our presence. The only weapon to drive off the devil is the Word!

The Bible likens God's Word to a sword because it pierces and penetrates: “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” (Heb.4:12). God's Word penetrates to every area of human personality; to the marrow – the very innermost core of the being. It also penetrates and divides between soul and spirit. It is sharper than any double-edged sword.

The “Sword of the Spirit” also indicates cooperation between the believer and the Holy Spirit. We must take the sword. The Holy Spirit will not do that for us. But when we take the sword in faith, the Holy Spirit gives us the power and the wisdom to use it to overcome the devil!