Good afternoon my God Faith, Grace, and dachshund family, I trust that everyone is doing well on this thankful rainy Thursday. Sorry for that late post, but I had a doctor’s appointment this morning. Today is the last piece of armor that Paul instructs us to put on to defend ourselves and advance the kingdom of God. You will notice the Sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the list of armor that we are told to put on.
The Sword of the Spirit is a weapon that is mentioned in the Bible, specifically Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It is not a physical sword but rather a spiritual weapon that represents the power of the Word of God. It is said to be the only offensive weapon that Christians have in their arsenal to protect themselves against the attacks of the devil. This sword is often seen as a symbol of the power and protection that is available to all Christians who use the Word of God as a tool to fight against evil and to bring peace to their lives.
The Sword of the Spirit is part of the armor of God mentioned in Ephesians 6, which includes other defensive weapons such as the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, and the shield of faith. These weapons are designed to protect Christians from the attacks of the devil, who is described as a roaring lion seeking to devour and deceive us. By using the Sword of the Spirit, we have a powerful tool to resist the devil and his lies, and to find peace and truth in our lives.
The Sword of the Spirit is also a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare. The devil is always trying to deceive us and lead us away from God, but the Word of God is a powerful defense against his lies. When we memorize scripture, we are equipping ourselves with the truth and the power to resist temptation and the attacks of the devil. The Bible says that the devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, but we have nothing to fear because the Sword of the Spirit gives us the power to resist him. We have the power over the devil according to this verse Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 (ETRV)
12 God’s word is alive and working. It is sharper than the sharpest sword and cuts all the way into us. It cuts deep to the place where the soul and the spirit are joined. God’s word cuts to the center of our joints and our bones. It judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts.
Notice what the writer of Hebrews said it cuts into us, meaning it cut out the things that don’t belong in us, but at the same time the sword is offensive in nature. You should notice the Spirit is Holy Spirit not our spirit. So, the sword is the word of God. All of our battles will be fought with words. God created everything with words. This is why we should be careful what we say as Christians. Proverbs 18:21 (ETRV)
21 The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings.
Proverbs 18:21 (KJV)
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
The Word of God is the source of all truth and wisdom, and by reading and studying the Bible, we gain a deeper understanding of God’s plan for our lives and how to live in a way that pleases Him. The Bible provides guidance on how to live a life filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the fruits of the Spirit, and they are what make us strong in the face of evil.
The Sword of the Spirit is also a powerful tool in spiritual warfare. The devil is constantly trying to lead us away from God and to deceive us, but by using the Word of God, we have the power to resist temptation and the devil’s attacks. When we memorize scripture, we are equipping ourselves with the truth and power to stand against evil. This allows us to have confidence and peace in the face of any challenge that comes our way.
