DAILY DEVOTION

TEXT: Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.
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For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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.
DEFINITION
A sword is a long steel blade fixed to a hilt, used as a weapon, or a worn by army officer, etc., as part of a uniform or as court dress.
Swords were valuable weapons of welfare in ancient times. It enabled warriors to fight without making body contact with their opponents, and to fight from horsebacks.
CONTEXT
Apostle Paul was writing to the Ephesians about the need to put on the whole armor of God. One of the item listed is the sword of the spirit, which is described as the word of God. Paul admonished that if we put on the whole armor of God, we shall be able to stand against all the wiles of the devil
Hebrews 4:12 was penned against the background of the need for obedience. The writer warned that the disobedient risked destruction, for the word of God is quick and sharper than any two-edged sword. Also, nothing ca n be hidden (or kept away) from the sword.
RELEVANCE
The sword of the spirit as a weapon of warfare is useful in a variety of situations. It can be used to break down strongholds, to cast down imaginations, or to destroy powers of the wicked one. If mastered, it is one very potent tool to deal with the devil.
One good way to use the word as a sword is to search the scriptures and find a verse or verses that address the problem/issue at hand, and use it in prayers thus:  
“it is written ……., therefore I cut down you…….(mention the problem/demon/issue) by the sword of the spirit.
PRAYER POINTS
1. By the sword of the Lord, I cut off every satanic tongue speaking evil against my life in Jesus name.
2. Every ancestral idol of my family is cut down by the sword of the Lord in Jesus’ name.
3. Every satanic plantation in my life is cut down by the sword of the Lord in Jesus’ name.
4. I cut off every satanic strange voice by the sword of the Lord in Jesus’ name.
5. I severe by the sword of the Lord all ungodly ties with my dead relatives in Jesus’ name
6. I severe by the sword of the Lord every ungodly association with unfriendly friends in Jesus’ name.
7. I cut off every evil imagination of witches and wizards against my life and family in the name of Jesus.
8. By the sword of the Lord, I cut off and severe every link to altars of satanic stronghold in my community in Jesus’ name.
9. I use the sword of the Lord to severe any satanic link to my place of birth in Jesus’ name.
10. O Lord, I disperse every ungodly friend and agent around my in-laws, children, spouse and relatives in the name of Jesus.