The sword of the Spirit is the word of God. We deal with destructive thoughts by using the sword of the Spirit against the thought that opposes the direction God has for us.
Using the sword of the Spirit is part of putting on the whole armor of God that we would be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6 ... 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. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 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, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
A man in our little church group reported being concerned over a secular matter. He turned to God in prayer and God gave him Phil. 4:6-8 ... 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
So he prayed, committing his cares to God in prayer, letting his requests be made know to God in the matter of concern, and the weight was lifted.
But the next morning he awoke with all the concerns back ... WHAT HAPPENED?
Here is the letter I wrote to this man:
8-29-15
After you prayed and heard Phil. 4 ... 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
You were OK for a few
hours.
Then you awoke with the concern.
Here is the problem: When you heard that
scripture and rejoiced you needed to write out that scripture and keep it
before you all day and look at it when you went to bed at night and awake in
morning and take that scripture and look at it and think on it immediately, all
day and all week if necessary to build a root system doing what that
scripture tells you especially in verse 8.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are
of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on
these things.
Think of specific things which
are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, and of virtue.
Then the scripture would rule.
You didn't actually do verse 8
==============
This is like the following
Mk. 4 ...16 And these are they
likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately
receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so
endure but for a time:afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for
the word's sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are
sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and
the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke
the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
It is as if a man goes to war and
takes one shot at the enemy and walks away ... not to keep shooting until the
enemy is dead, fully destroyed.
And we do that by resisting the
enemy each time fearful thoughts come. And we take that scripture we have
been given and look at it again and again throughout the day and the night ...
keeping that scripture before us. That scripture causes us to be able to
do the scripture as we continually think on that scripture.
(The sword of the Spirit is the
word of God, Ephesians 6 ... we slash those destructive thoughts over
and over with the sword of the Spirit, with the word of God ... choosing to
believe the Word of God, focusing on specific scripture called to our attention
by God.)
Pray again when attacked ... Tell
God you choose to believe HIM.
Fight devil by thanking God and
working to believe ... especially making yourself think on those things
listed in verse 8.
Verse 8 is main problem ... you
didn't do verse 8
Look up scripture on God's
faithfulness.
It is a battle and you have to
fight to hold onto the word you've heard and to defeat devil.
Not a one time hearing. for
devil will usually come and snatch away the seed that is sown and devour it.
Had you done Phil. 4:8 all
day (finding and thinking on things lovely, just, virtuous ... promises
of God ...) You probably would not have had the concern return so
quickly. The devil took another shot at you when you rested. and you
didn't shoot back at him that morning. (and you didn't have armor on
so devil was able to hit you)
This is how it works ... The enemy strikes you with
fearful thought ... You strike back with word of God ... The enemy withdraws briefly.
Then when you rest, the enemy attacks again with fearful thoughts ... If you do
nothing, the enemy wins... This is spiritual warfare.
Love, Joan