Sword of the spirit: Peter & John heal, preach, and are arrested
We’ve reached the last piece of the Armor of God and the conclusion of our Battle Ready series!
Ephesians 6:13-17 | Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
This final weapon, the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is the only piece of armor that has both an offensive and defensive function. Every other piece of armor is only defensive. Our defensive weapons let us “stand firm” as Ephesians 6 instructs. As we saw many weeks ago, the Battle is the Lord’s – He fights for us. Our Sword – the God-breathed Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17) – is filled with His power (Hebrews 4:12). We can be certain that when we wield it, God is with us, fighting the battle. We “stand firm” and He “gains ground.” We see this in Acts 3 and 4 as Peter and John live Battle Ready.
Acts 3 begins with Peter and John going to the temple. There, beside the gate, was a lame man begging. He asks Peter and John for money and they respond saying,
Acts 3:6 | But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”
The man jumps up and begins to walk, praising God, and transformed by the name of Jesus. When everyone takes notice of this, it says-
Acts 3:12a | Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd.
He begins speaking to them about who Jesus is telling them about how Jesus was the Messiah that the Scriptures (God’s Word) spoke of. Peter pulls out the Sword of the Spirit, sharing the Old Testament Scriptures–
Acts 3:22-23 | Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.’ Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God’s people.’
Then, Peter delivers the Gospel - repent from your sin and turn to God.
Many “religious” men take notice and are “disturbed” that Peter and John are teaching about Jesus and the hope of eternal life (Acts 4:1-2). So-
Acts 4:3 | They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning.
In the middle of the battle, it might seem like Peter and John have been defeated. But remember, God’s Word is an offensive weapon filled with God’s power, used by God to reveal and convict the heart of man (Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God preached by Peter had done that and although Peter and John are sitting in jail–
Acts 4:4 | But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.
Sure enough, through the preaching of the Word of God, God is gaining ground, building His Kingdom. Lives are changed and souls are saved.
Meanwhile, the battle isn’t over. After the night in jail, Peter and John are interrogated. How will they defend themselves so they can earn their freedom? With their defensive weapon - the Sword of the Spirit.
Acts 4:8-12 | Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
Again, they use the truth of Scripture in the battle, this time, to stand firm. They trust that the Lord will deliver them and even if He doesn’t, they will shine their light by remaining faithful to Him.
The religious leaders are shocked by Peter and John’s boldness and understanding of Scripture. They realize they are powerless in the fight (Acts 4:15-16), but they are threatened by the message of Jesus. They tell Peter and John never to speak again in the name of Jesus, but Peter and John refuse. They are set free and they worship alongside the other believers (Acts 4:21-30).
Acts 4:31 | After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
Peter and John use the Sword of the Spirit. Through God’s power, it gains ground in the battle as it's used offensively – shared with those who witnessed the healing of the lame man and needed to experience transforming faith in the Savior. It is also used defensively to stand firm against the threats of the religious leaders, who were working under the direction of the enemy to hinder the Gospel (remember his strategies?!). Lives are transformed by the Word of God and the Gospel effort continues as not only Peter and John, but all the believers use the Sword of the Spirit (preaching the Word of God with boldness).
Believer, to be Battle Ready, put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11), an armor that you’re always wearing if you belong to Him, but you exercise by His power (Ephesians 6:10) as you seek Him in constant prayer (Ephesians 6:18). As you do, don’t neglect the Word of God. Like Peter and John, be ready for every opportunity (Acts 3:12, Ephesians 5:16). It is a sword that God uses not only to let you stand firm in battle, but also to unblind the hearts of unbelievers who desperately need to know the Savior. God promises –
Isaiah 55:11 | It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Take up the Sword of the Spirit!
What is the Sword of the Spirit?
How did Peter and John use the Sword of the Spirit?
How did they use it offensively?
How did they use it defensively?
What were the results of Peter and John using the Sword of the Spirit?
Offensively, how was “ground gained?”
Defensively, what did they stand firm against?
What does being Battle Ready with the Sword of the Spirit look like? Why is this important?