Take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Jesus trained us on how to take the sword of the Spirit and use it with great skill. He did this by helping us learn Scriptures that apply to our life situations. We are doing this so we will not only pass Jesus’ final exam, but, will become producers of a hundred times what was sown.

Jesus taught us that He is going to hold us responsible for this final exam: Mat 25:35-36 (NIV) For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me. This exam decides WHERE we will spend eternity; but, Jesus is teaching us how to pass this final exam with such skill that we don’t just barely make it in to His Kingdom. We are learning how to use the sword of the Spirit with such effectiveness that we are becoming the very best there is in Jesus.

Jesus taught us that there is an additional exam for those who pass His final exam. This exam helps us know what to do so we can go far beyond just passing His final exam. In 1 Cor 3:12-13 (NIV) we are being taught that we can get Jesus’ power and training to do things that really matter.

Here is the criteria in this Christian test that helps us go far beyond passing Jesus’ final exam: If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. Rather than becoming a Christian and just desiring, studying, praying, believing, loving, and taking faith-action to fulfill the basic, minimum requirements, we are putting everything we have into the Christian life.

We are all making this commitment in Phil 3:13-14 (NIV): I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. This helps us pass Jesus’ final exam with ease. This commitment gives us the power to go out and help everyone everywhere to get all their needs met for the rest of their lives through the principles of Jesus. So, let’s allow Jesus to keep teaching us more and more Scriptures that will build and empower our skill with the sword of the Spirit.

2 Cor 4:2 (NIV) Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

The sword of the Spirit attacks all those things that try to get into our lives that are secret and shameful practices. Rather than using deception, we are honest, open, and only involved in win/win procedures. We only live by the truths of God that help to meet everyone’s needs. This is done by using the sword to drive off all temptations to live to the contrary. We set forth the truth plainly so everyone can learn how to pass Jesus’ final exam.

Col 1:25 (NIV) I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness. The sword of the Spirit helps us teach people how to apply God’s Word to every aspect of their lives. Rather than presenting it where it can only be lived around other Christians, we are helping them see how it blesses their relationships, their marriages, their families, their businesses, their careers, and their lives.

Col 3:16 (NIV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. As we become more skillful in using the sword of the Spirit, our relationship with Jesus grows into a tremendous amount of appreciation, respect, love, and thankfulness. We see all our relationships grow into incredible blessings through properly applying God’s Word. Our finances, emotions, physical condition, relationships, and spiritual success move into the blessings of God.

1 Th 2:13 (NIV) And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. Rather than us thinking that Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James, and Jude wrote the books of the Bible, we start reading it as what it is; it is the Word of God. When we read it, we understand that Jesus is speaking to us through it.

2 Tim 2:15 (AKJV) Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. This is the way we become skillful in using the sword of the Spirit. John 8:32 (NIV) Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Jesus won’t teach us Scriptures we aren’t willing to read and study. We have to know a truth exists before it can set us free. Reading and studying are vital to our success with our sword of the Spirit.

2 Tim 4:2 (NIV) Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. Great patience and careful instruction help us not just use the sword in a wild, hacking fashion. Rather than us always using general, all inclusive Scriptures to deal with the issues of our life, we will learn specific Scriptures that zero in on each issue.

Titus 2:4-5 (NIV) Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. The first responsibility of husbands and wives is to their spouse and their children. If they fail in the family, they will automatically fail everywhere else. If we see an area where we are having trouble in our marriage or family, it will be the same area where we are failing in business, our other friendships, and all the other areas of our life.

Heb 4:12 (NIV) For the word of God is living and active (powerful). Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. We gradually learn and grow in our abilities to use the sword of the Spirit. Rather than just using it as a sword to defeat satanic issues, we learn how to use it like a surgeon’s scalpel. We become so trained and skilled that we are able to set large quantities of people free from all kinds of problems and struggles.