Dolly's Sharing

Ephesians 6:17 (ESV) – and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

The Sword of the Spirit is the last tangible armour. It is the anointed Word of God which carries God’s power and authority. While all the other pieces of the spiritual armour are defensive in nature, the sword of the Spirit is both defensive and offensive. It protects us as well as destroys our enemy and his temptations. It is powerful in the hands of the believer and does not depend upon our strengths or abilities but in the power of the weapon itself.

We know from 2 Timothy 3:16–17 that the word of God is from the Holy Spirit and written by men. Since every Christian is in a spiritual battle with the satanic and evil forces of this world, we need to know how to handle the Word properly. Only then will it be an effective defence against evil. It is also an offensive weapon we use to “demolish strongholds” of error and falsehood (2 Corinthians 10:4–5).

This power is directly connected to the King we serve, and He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! His words used in His name carry His authority. When we draw out the sword from the Belt of Truth by speaking out the Word of God, we are spiritually slicing off the wicked spirits and destroying the crafty works of darkness. That is why it is so powerful. Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

As disciples, we are ambassadors of Christ and we need to be acquainted with the Word of God. Just as the physical body needs food, so the believer in Christ needs spiritual food sustained by daily meditation on the Word to be spiritually healthy, and to overcome the evil one. The Word of God is a heavenly bread for our spirits and it brings truth and freedom to the very core of our beings. The more we know and understand the Word of God, the more useful we will be in doing the will of God and the more effective we will be in standing against the enemy of our souls. What a blessing that the Word is available to us! Hence, it is so important that we study the Bible and become familiar with its truths and its power.

How to use the Sword of the Spirit?

Arm ourselves with the Word of God (read the “Sword” in context) – Be intentional about reading scripture. Find a time where we can study the Word of God without distraction. The more we spend time soaking in His words, the easier it will be to have the Holy Spirit bringing these words to our remembrance. Otherwise, it’s like having a powerful weapon at our disposal, but we don’t know how to use it. We need to ensure that we truly understand the original context of passages and not take portions of scripture out of context, simply to back up biases we may have.

Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit – Ask God for His inspired words to get past the defences that the enemy has set up. He can give us a word that will pierce through all the lies which blind us from the truth. Jesus said in John 14:26 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

When attacked, fight back with the Sword of the Spirit – When Jesus was tempted in the desert, His overpowering response to Satan was quoting the Word of God. Use Christ’s example when Satan tries to come after you. This gives us a very good reason to immerse ourselves in His Word. The more we know and understand the Word of God, the more useful we will be in doing the will of God and the more effective we will be in standing against the enemy.