To begin the month of June, we take a look at the sixth item on the Apostle Paul's list of armour in Ephesians 6 which is the sword of the Spirit. What a powerful weapon of both defence and offence this is!
I pray these words embolden our hearts today to use the sword at our disposal! Much love, Lucy x
Ephesians 6:10-18The Whole Armour of God
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
The Sword of the Spirit.
Brethren, we are in a battle. We do not have time to waste.
Clocks are ticking loudly now, and we must armour up, post-haste.
First, we must be strong in Jesus and the power of His might.
Foolish is the one who thinks their strength could ever win this fight.
Not against the flesh, we wrestle, though the flesh can bring us woe.
Brethren, we engage in warfare with a fiercer, darker foe.
One who seeks to bring destruction, for he knows his end will come.
How do we defeat the darkness? Seek the light of Christ, the Son!
Do not let the devil bully nor beguile your heart and mind.
Whether it be force or fraud, he seeks to ruin all mankind.
God forbid his lies take root in those who wear the Kingdom crown.
Brethren, stand upon the truth and tear those wicked strongholds down!
Armour up, and grasp the hilt—the Spirit gives us all a sword;
A mighty weapon of offence! Behold, it is the Word of God.
Inspiration straight from Scripture cuts through lies and falsehoods well.
Devastate the devil’s plans and all the forces sent from Hell!
Trust the sword’s authority; this weapon is divine in power.
Decimate the enemy and wield its strength this very hour!
Drive the blade effectively, fight with courage, do not doubt.
Christian, use it skilfully, and know this weapon inside out!
Meditate on Scriptures, daily. May we not be found at fault.
In the midst of heated battle we can launch our own assault!
Laying open every motive, piercing evil at the core.
Rescue souls from Satan’s grip, and wield the sword then watch it soar!
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Points for Reflection and Insight
Last month, I mentioned that the helmet of salvation is the final piece of defensive armour on the Apostle Paul’s list. Now, with the sword of the Spirit, we see the first and only item that is a weapon of offence. The other parts of armour are purely to defend and protect the soldier, and while the sword can also act in this way, there is a marked difference as it can also be actively used to go on the offensive. It enables the warrior to take initiative in warfare and bring advancement, thereby equipping the believer to push back and take an active role in fighting against spiritual attacks.
Paul gives us the picture that our “sword” is the Word of God. As warriors of Christ, before we can even think about using the sword effectively and accurately, it’s imperative that we first believe in the power and authority of Scripture. To be effective in battle, we must know within ourselves that the Word of God is what it says it is—the Word of God. The Bible is not a book of manmade self-help tips or hocus pocus magic spells. It’s not a book to be strung around our necks like a talisman to ward off evil.
As Hebrews 4:12 tells us, the Word of God is living and powerful. It’s sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts through to the soul and spirit of a human being, laying bare the intents of the heart and exposing the motives behind our thoughts, words and actions. No mere manmade writing could have such a powerful impact on the human soul. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says,
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Peter 1:20-21 also declares,
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
If we don’t believe that all Scripture did in fact come from the Holy Spirit, then we won’t know, understand or use the Word accurately or to its full potential. If we don’t believe that the entirety of the Bible is indeed God-breathed, then we may be tempted to twist Scripture or cherry-pick the verses we’re prepared to quote, subsequently abandoning imperative truths that would help us in specific moments. A soldier caught in disbelief and doubt will find themself in a weakened and ineffective condition, leading to a disastrous outcome in the midst of battle.
Secondly, to be able to use a sword with the greatest efficiency, we must be trained in how to use it. Wielding a sword powerfully takes practice, as no warrior simply picks up this weapon and is suddenly knoweledgable on the specific moves and motions required to counter attacks and make headway. They have to have spent hours in training, working on their knowledge and understanding of the weapon, familiarising themselves with its capabilities while also building up their own strength and ability to actually use it.
The picture here is clear for the Christian. While the power and validity of God’s Word aren’t reliant upon us, when it comes to the context of spiritual warfare and the attacks of the enemy, we’re not going to be able to fight back with the truth of Scripture if we don’t know Scripture! If we haven’t spent any time in God’s Word, regularly meditating on its promises, getting to personally know our Saviour and know what God has revealed to us in His Word, then we shouldn’t be surprised when we’re defeated through having no knowledge or strength for defence and counterattack. A strong warrior is a well trained warrior, and so too, when it comes to spiritual warfare, we need to be well trained and well versed in God’s Word, knowing how to accurately use our spiritual sword.
Questions for personal reflection.
Do I believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God? How often do I spend time studying the Scriptures and meditating in God’s Word? When the attacks of the enemy come in, or I’m challenged by a non-believer about my faith, can I knowledgeably counter these moments of opposition with Bible verses and answer by highlighting truth from Scripture?
The Greek word Paul uses for “sword” in verse 17 is “machaira”, which specifically refers to a Roman sword or dagger used in close-quarters combat. This weapon is known for its agility and efficiency during battle. In addition to this, when Paul says, “which is the word of God”, he uses the Greek word “rhema” for “word” and not “logos”. The word “logos” refers to the Bible as a whole, while “rhema” specifically means a spoken utterance or a targeted, inspired saying applied in a specific moment of need. Paul’s use of this word highlights the importance of knowing the Scriptures so that we can accurately apply the correct one at the correct moment.
The greatest example we see of the sword of the Spirit in action is when we look at Jesus in the wilderness, documented in the books of Matthew, Mark and Luke. During the 40 days and 40 nights that our Saviour spent fasting in a barren, desolate place, He quoted precise verses to counter the temptations the devil tried to throw at Him. Jesus (who, of course, is the Word who became flesh) utilised the sword by knowing the Scriptures, meditating on them and wielding God’s promises through speaking the truth, cutting through the lies in those moments of temptation.
This is what we are called to do too during our own seasons of spiritual warfare. It’s the Holy Spirit who both gives us the sword and brings it to life within us, thereby equipping us with the right weapon at the right time. Clearly, the purpose of the sword is to make the well-trained and equipped Christian a force that can withstand and counter the onslaughts from the enemy.
So whether the attack comes in the form of temptation, depression or discouragement, we can defend ourselves with the truth of God’s Word and fight back against those wicked lies. Or if we find that we’re in a conversation with a lost and hurting soul who needs to know Jesus, in that very moment the Holy Spirit can bring to our minds specific Scriptures that will accurately minister to the heart of that person, speak directly into their situation and melt away a misunderstanding they have about God.
The idea is that God’s Word protects His children while also impacting those in our lives. It destroys the lies and falsehoods around us in this evil world while reaching the very heart and core of the action, laying open the motives of those it touches. The more we know and understand the Word of God, the more effective we will be as soldiers fighting against the enemy of our souls.
So let’s armour up today by taking some time in God’s Word, imprinting His truth into our hearts and using the sword of the Spirit with God-given authority and confidence. As we wield this powerful weapon against the forces of darkness, may we be emboldened knowing that as His Word goes forth, it shall accomplish what He pleases, and it shall prosper in the thing for which He sent it!
