The sword is the living, moving, powerful, Spirit-energized Word of God concerning Christ Jesus that reveals the true condition of our spiritual hearts (Heb. 4:12-13). It is truth as it is in Jesus, and it overcomes the lies of the enemy (Eph. 4:21; 6:17; Rev. 12:11).
The sword of God’s Word in our hearts can be wielded by the Spirit through our actions (hands) or spoken by the Spirit through our mouths (Matt. 10:19-20; Col. 3:17). That Word wars against the enemy and strengthens the brethren (Rom. 12:21; Eph. 6:17-19; Col. 3:16; Rev. 2:16).
The whirlwind is a visible representation of the powerful moving of the Holy Spirit as on the Day of Pentecost “like a violent, rushing wind” (Acts 2:2). The Greek word for wind in John 3:8 is the same word that is translated “Spirit” in the New testament.
A strong ankle is needed to walk well. A spiritual walk is behavior that rests upon supernatural faith in and manifestation of the Lord Jesus in love (John 6:29; 15:5; Eph. 5:2). Only the Holy Spirit can bring this forth (Gal 5:16). He strengthens us to be able to allow Christ to be and do this in His strength (Phil. 4:13).
FOOT NOTES
1. Scripture describes cherubim with one, two, or four faces (Ezek. 1:10; 41:18; Rev. 4:7). In the vision of a new temple, there were cherubim with the faces of a man and of a lion carved on the walls
(Ezek. 41:19). The Lord Jesus is “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah” (Rev. 5:5).
2. The sword of God’s Word is empowered by the Holy Spirit who takes that which is of Christ Jesus and discloses it to those who are one with Him (John 16:14; 1 Cor. 6:17).
3. There are many books that God the Holy Spirit has written personally (Exod. 32:32; Dan. 7:10) with His fiery-red pen and golden ink. Examples are the Book of Life (Rev. 20:12), the book of the days ordained for each person (Ps. 139:16), the book of our tears (Ps. 56:8), the book of those recorded for life in Jerusalem (Isa. 4:3), and a book of remembrance of those who fear God and esteem His name (Mal. 3:16).
4. “The Spirit of truth . . . proceeds from the Father” through the Son (John 15:26.) “The Spirit of truth . . . will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak” (John 16:13).
5. The Spirit of truth as it is in Jesus sets us free (John 8:31-32): from bondage to sin (Rom. 6:12-14), self (Rom. 6:6), and the world (Gal. 6:14); from oppression (Isa. 10:27); from the prison of darkness (Ps.107:10-14); from sickness (Luke 13:16); from the Law (Gal. 5:1-4); and from death (John 11:25-26).
6. The two large pillars supporting the roof over the porch of the temple that Solomon built were named Jachin, “He establishes”, and Boaz, “In Him is strength” (1 Kings 7:15, 21). In the spiritual sense, the pillars stood guard at the entrance to the holy place, as cherubim also guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:24).
7. David, Solomon’s father, said that God made him understand all the plan for the temple to be built, including the porch, “in writing by His [the Holy Spirit’s] hand upon me” (1 Chron. 28:11, 19). The two cherubim named Jachin and Boaz are assigned to stand guard over the revelation of the words of God in writing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
8. At times there is silence in Heaven, as when the seventh seal is broken, with the host there waiting to behold what God would do (Rev. 8:1). “It is good that [one] waits silently for the salvation of the LORD” (Lam. 3:26).
9. The hands of a believer represent the visible work (Matt. 5:16). The feet stand for the walk or conduct that is seen (2 Cor. 4:2). The head is the place of spoken thoughts (1 Cor. 2:11-13). The Holy Spirit reveals only Christ, not Himself, and He does the same thing in the believer.
10. A porpoise skin covering over the tabernacle in the wilderness hid its true purpose from the eyes of the world (Exod. 26:14).
11. Jesus as the Christ was hidden from recognition except by divine revelation (Luke 10:21). The believer’s life is hidden in God (Col. 3:3), so that only Christ Jesus in him may be manifested (2 Cor. 4:10-11).
12. Jesus said that “whoever wishes to save his life [Greek psyche, the expression of his own soul] shall lose it [when he dies], and whoever loses his life [soul] for My sake [so as to express My soul], he is the one who will save it [for eternity]” (Luke 9:24).
13. Everyone in Heaven is without shoes, for all the ground there is holy (Acts 7:33).
14. Jesus rebuked those who justified themselves, seeking to be considered righteous in the sight of people (Luke 16:15) rather than before God, who alone is the One who declares us righteous in His Son (Rom. 8:33).
15. Part of the individual cross, which is continually offered to each believer, works the invisibility to others of one’s self (Luke 14:27; Eph. 4:22).
16. An exposed heel means anything in one’s walk (behavior) that makes one vulnerable to being wounded or tripped up by the enemy (Gen. 3:15; Matt. 18:7; 1 Cor. 3:3; 1 Pet. 5:8-10).
17. Nothing good dwells in or originates from our “flesh”, the earthly person (Rom. 7:18). On the cross, God removed all spiritual life support to this old self (Rom. 6:6).
18. The functioning of the natural person can only produce spiritual death (Rom. 8:6, 13).
19. Jesus said, “I do not receive glory [honor or fame] from men . . . How can you believe [trust in God] when you receive [and trust in] glory from one another, and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?” (John 5:41, 44). The rulers of His day “loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God” (John 12:43).
20. God maintains a sufficient degree of freedom in our will to enable us to choose for or against Him in every matter. He respects that freedom and waits for us to be willing. “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17, KJV).
21. “I do believe; help my unbelief,” the father of the epileptic boy cried out to Jesus (Mark 9:24).
Please go to the Personal Section to gain a clearer understanding of how such a mantle affects the life of the one wearing it.
