Scripture to Read: Revelation 2:17
We ended yesterday seeing that Christ would come against any believer unwilling to repent with the sword of His mouth. God’s Word is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). God’s Word is so incredibly powerful that God calls His Word the “sword.” A sword is used to kill things, and God wants us to be able to kill any and all temptations we face through the power of His Holy Word. His Word is the key to being renewed in our minds (Ephesians 4:23; Colossians 3:2; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Romans 12:2) and being able to walk in obedience to our Lord (Psalms 119:9-11; James 1:22-25; 1 Peter 2:1-3). To choose not to be in His Word each day is choosing to be unprepared for the battlefield of temptations we face. God uses His Word, like a sword, to also lovingly discipline us (Hebrews 12:5-11) so when we do get off track, God speaks to us through His Holy Spirit in us and His Word to convict our hearts to repent so that we are restored to right fellowship with Him. That is why God tells us in Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. We must have opened ears spiritually so we listen to what God is speaking to us. We must not allow the junk of this world to deafen us to what God has to say. His Word speaks life into us and that is what we need.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about His Word being a sword and about having opened ears to hear Him?
2. How are you guarding against the stuff of this world that causes us to become deaf to hearing God through His Word and Spirit?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!