examination.  The believer in that passage is not exhorted to 'take the sword

of the Spirit' as separate from 'the whole armour of God', neither is the

sword of the Spirit named first, but last in the list.  Those who have their

loins girt about with truth, will find the Word of God an effective weapon,

but the Devil is a liar from the beginning, and the Word he quotes is

ineffective.  Those who wear the breastplate of righteousness, who have their

head covered with the helmet of salvation, who are securely protected by the

shield of faith, whose feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of

peace, such, acting in character, will find the Word of God 'the Sword of the

Spirit' indeed.  Mere quotation of Scripture does not constitute 'The Sword

of the Spirit'.  The chief priests and scribes quoted the Scripture that

revealed the birthplace of the Saviour (Matt. 2:6), but it was not to them

'the effectual Word'.  The Lord Himself told the Jews that they did indeed

search the Scriptures, but in vain, for they did not believe their testimony,

nor come to Him (John 5:39 -47).  Those who came down to Jerusalem, quoting

'chapter and verse' in their endeavour to place the Galatian believers under

the law of Moses (Acts 15:1), quoted Scripture indeed, but it was not 'the

effectual Word'.  It is evident therefore that something more is intended in

Ephesians 6 than a mere knowledge of, or citation of Scripture.

At the head of this study we have the words: 'The Word of God which

effectually worketh', but this is a defective quotation, for the Word

effectually worketh 'in you that believe' and we must now consider this verse

in full in order that the essential conditions under which the Word becomes

effectual may be seen.  First, Paul records with unceasing thanksgiving that

these Thessalonians received the Word of God.  When dealing with 'the

engrafted Word' (Jas. 1:21), we observed that the word dechomai 'receive'

meant to 'embrace' rather than 'take' or 'get', and that is the word used by

Paul here in 1 Thessalonians 2:13.  How these Thessalonians received the Word

is made plain in chapter 1:

'Ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word

in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: so that ye were

ensamples to all that believe' (1 Thess. 1:6,7).

This was no shallow or perfunctory reception of the Word, for it had

been 'received in much tribulation', and tribulation is a great tester.  In

the parable of the sower, the stony ground is likened to the hearer of the

Word, who 'anon with joy receiveth it', but 'when tribulation or persecution

ariseth because of the Word, immediately he is offended' (Matt. 13:20,21).

Paul knew only too well the sifting power of tribulation, and was greatly

concerned lest these Thessalonians should be 'moved' by them (1 Thess. 3:1 -

8).  These believers not only received the Word in much tribulation, but they

received it 'not as the word of men, but as it is in truth the Word of God'.

The critic may quote Scripture, Satan and his ministers may quote Scripture,

those who preach 'another' gospel may quote Scripture, but such does not make

the word they quote 'the effectual Word'.  The attitude of heart that I bring

to the Word, will decide what that Word shall be when I attempt to use it.

If, to me, it is 'the word of men' all my quotations of its sacred text is in

vain.  If, to me, it is indeed 'the Word of God', given by inspiration of

God, the Scriptures that cannot be broken, the Scriptures endorsed and

fulfilled by Christ, it becomes in my hand 'The Sword of the Spirit'.  It is

the office of the Spirit to glorify the Son of God.  It is His greater work

to take of the things of Christ and show them to us.  The Scriptures can only