Watchman’s Adventure: How Jesus uses the Sword of the Spirit (updated 2015-10-28)

Further to what he posted on 12/04/2010, the Biblical truth observed then had truly come to pass. Here is the summary of the original post with the latest update:
In the example of Jesus he observes the following:
1. Jesus knows His authority. He uses His authority calmly and confidently. He does not need to say twice to the demons to get them to obey His commands.
2. He knows where His authority comes from and He is confident of the ultimate sovereign power of the source of authority (God Himself). He does not fear that the authority may not work.
3. He always sees the real root of the problem and addresses it directly. He speaks to that root.
4. He is a spiritual man and He sees, hears and talks to the spiritual beings as though He is talking to the physical beings.
5. He knows His authority covers the natural realm as well as the supernatural realm and effectively uses the same authority to address it, for example, the wind, rough waves, demons, unclean spirits, the functioning of the body, creation etc.
The watchman concluded then that he would choose to go the Jesus way, i.e. issuing simple command with the authority of Jesus, effective and straightforward, to malfunctioning parts, demons and even natural elements.
Since then, the watchman has witnessed that when given the opportunity to put into practice by faith, the words of God came true: Diseases healed. Demons cast out. Oppression and depression lifted. Believers set free. Reconciliations. Restorations. Renewal. Transformations. In most occasions all that was done was giving a simple command in the name of Jesus and ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit by believers, just as Jesus has commanded.
Updated Conclusion:
1. The power of the name of Jesus is real and totally effective.
2. Believers are to walk by faith in the unseen Holy Spirit.

How does a watchman for God uses the sword of the Spirit?

How does a watchman for God watch? After all these years, the watchman realizes it is a spiritual and not physical watch that matters. Jesus has spoken clearly that the flesh (physical and soul realm) profits nothing in the matters of the Kingdom of God. It is the Spirit that gives life. The words that He (God) has spoken, are spirit and life. (John 6:63) Having traveled to some distant spaces over a span of time, the watchman has increasingly observed that it is the power of God (through His words and His Spirit) that transform lives inside out. This is the only transformation that gives victorious lives. No one can really partake the promised abundant life without going through this transformation process. The words of God become spirit and life and feed us when we feed on His words and submit to His Spirit as children of God. Sons of God are led by the Spirit of Christ. Jesus spoke of this requirement from the beginning of His ministry on earth. No one can see the Kingdom of God unless born again. No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. (John 3:3, 5; 4:24)

A watchman for God watches from his position in the Kingdom of God. His (or her) position must be in Christ Jesus. Otherwise, all the watching will be in vain. By positioning in Christ, he has put on the full armour of God: truth, righteousness, peace (from the Gospel), faith, salvation, the sword of the Spirit (the word of God), and praying in the Spirit. This is a standard basic requirement at all times and on every occasion. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

A watchman for God lives by the Spirit’s power. Filled with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:15-20 New Living Translation (NLT)

Living by the Spirit’s Power

¹⁵ So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. ¹⁶ Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. ¹⁷ Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. ¹⁸ Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, ¹⁹ singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. ²⁰ And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is another standard requirement of how a watchman for God lives:

Ephesians 5:1-14 New Living Translation (NLT)

Living in the Light

5 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. ² Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us^[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

³ Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. ⁴ Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. ⁵ You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
⁶ Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. ⁷ Don’t participate in the things these people do. ⁸ For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ⁹ For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
¹⁰ Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. ¹³ But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, ¹⁴ for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But how can anyone live the above standards of requirement for every believer of Jesus?

Here is the key: Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes

Ephesians 4:17-32 New Living Translation (NLT)

Living as Children of Light

¹⁷ With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. ¹⁸ Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. ¹⁹ They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

²⁰ But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. ²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
²⁵ So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. ²⁶ And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”^[a] Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
²⁸ If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. ²⁹ Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
³⁰ And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own,^[b] guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 

memoirs of Ezra (Sword of the Spirit)

This watchman posted on 24/02/2015 the memoirs of Nehemiah. Today I am led to write about another crucial historical person, Ezra the priest-teacher-scribe. Ezra was a scribe, someone who was conversant with the words of God, teaching and writing them down. In many ways I like to identify with Ezra. We share common interests in our love for the words of God: reading, writing and teaching them.
The Book of Ezra recorded the building of the second Temple in Jerusalem by the remnants of Israel who returned from exiles. “The Temple was finally finished, as had been commanded by the God of Israel and decreed by Cyrus, ...” (Ezra 6:14b-15) Many years later, Ezra was called to return to Jerusalem.

But there is more about Ezra. His accomplishment was unique and was demonstrated in an amazing journey. He was a well trusted and authoritative Bible scholar and teacher while in exile in Persia. The King of Persia respected him and appointed him to go to Jerusalem to teach and implement the Laws of the God of Israel. He was entrusted with leading a group of leading priests and Levites, ministers for the Temple of God at Jerusalem and they in turn were entrusted to carry the gold, silver and precious things for the Temple. Ezra did not ask for military protection from the alien king. Instead, he witnessed to the king that God would protect them. The dangerous journey took four months and all lives and possessions were intact.
The Holy Spirit recorded and described Ezra in this amazing journey of faith in action in the following memoirs quoted in brackets:
[ “⁶ This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him. 8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August^[e] of that year. ⁹ He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the first day of the new year,^[f] and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4,^[g] for the gracious hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.” ] (Ezra 7:6,8-10)

The Persian king wrote Ezra a letter commissioning him with authority and resources giving him all he needed for his task in Jerusalem. The king) addressed Ezra as follows:
[ 12 “Ezra the priest, the teacher of the law of the God of heaven. ”

²⁵ “And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God’s laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it. ²⁶ Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.”]
Ezra’s response to the king’s commission was spoken as follows. He was entirely God-focused:

[ ²⁷ Praise the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem! ²⁸ And praise him for demonstrating such unfailing love to me by honoring me before the king, his council, and all his mighty nobles! I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the Lord my God was on me. And I gathered some of the leaders of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.]

Instead of getting military help, he took spiritual action (fast and pray) to prepare himself and his fellow travelers.
[ ²¹ And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled. ²² For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen^[r] to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, “Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him.” ²³ So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.]
Safe conduct was of utmost importance as they traveled with families and money (gold and silver and precious things for the Temple of God). Ezra and his companions arrived safely under the protection of God.
[ ³¹ We broke camp at the Ahava Canal on April 19^[v] and started off to Jerusalem. And the gracious hand of our God protected us and saved us from enemies and bandits along the way. ³² So we arrived safely in Jerusalem, where we rested for three days.
³³ On the fourth day after our arrival, the silver, gold, and other valuables were weighed at the Temple of our God…³⁴ Everything was accounted for by number and weight, and the total weight was officially recorded.]
To those who are not used to the spiritual reality of life, Ezra’s decision may be deemed as foolish. He risked his own life and the lives of others. But Ezra was full of the Spirit. He knew His God. He knew the enemies (physical and spiritual) could not do anything to them. The word of God is the Sword of the Spirit. Ezra was full of God’s words.

Raise up the Sword of the Spirit: by the power of the Spirit of God

Romans 1:4

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

 

1 Corinthians 4:20 [Full Chapter] 

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

 

1 Corinthians 1:24

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

 

Acts 1:8

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

Acts 4:33

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

 

Acts 6:8

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

 

Acts 10:38

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

 

Romans 15:13

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

Romans 15:19

Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

 

2 Timothy 1:7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

 

 

1 Corinthians 2:4

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

 

1 Corinthians 2:5

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

 

1 Corinthians 5:4

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

 

2 Corinthians 6:7

By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

 

Ephesians 1:18-20 ¹⁸ The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
¹⁹ And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
²⁰ Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Ephesians 3:19-21
¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
²⁰ Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
²¹ Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Ephesians 6:10-11
¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

 

  

Calling all watchmen/intercessors: The Sword and praying in the Spirit

Today we read and follow instructions as soldiers do. Put on the whole armor of God. Lift up the Sword of the Spirit. Pray in the Spirit. Continue. Press on.

Ephesians 6 (NKJV) The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

Romans 8:25-27 (NKJV)

²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Jude 1 (NKJV)

²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
²² And on some have compassion, making a distinction; ²³ but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.