Friday, January 20, 2017

The Sword of the Spirit


And there was a war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon.  And the dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.  And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Now a man with an unclean spirit met Jesus; and he had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs.  And seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What do I have to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  I beg You, do not torment me.”

For He had been commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man.  For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard; and yet he would burst the fetters and be driven by the demon into the desert.

And Jesus asked him, “What is your Name?”

And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him.  And they were begging Him not to command them to depart into the abyss.

Now there was a herd of swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons urged Him to permit them to enter the swine.  And He gave them permission.  And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the Principalities and the Powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness on high.

And the Father will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of the truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.

Therefore, put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And you will overcome the powers of darkness because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

1 comment:

  1. Scriptural references: Revelation 12:7-9; Luke 8:27-33; Ephesians 6:11-12,16-17; John 14:16-17; 1 John 4:4

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