The Sword of the Spirit

The last piece of armor Paul lists is the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. The sword is both a defensive and offensive tool. It is the only truly offensive gear listed among the armor of Christ’s soldiers. Yet, it is not just offensive weapon. We use it to defend ourselves and others against attacks of the Devil.

The Hebrew writer provides us a little more insight into our sword. The writer explains just how powerful our sword – the word of God – actually is.

🗡️ It is alive and active. When we read the word of God, it is working. It is working on our hearts and the others who hear it. It is God speaking to us every time we open the Bible.

🗡️ It is double edged – it cuts in all directions. Nothing is safe from its swings. There is nothing in this world that the word of God does not address or cannot handle.

🗡️ It is so sharp it can split things that seem inseparable like the soul and the spirit. It is so sharp it divides truth from error in our lives and the lives of others. It helps us divide the truth from the half truth lies Satan tells us.

🗡️ It is so powerful that it exposes our innermost thoughts and secrets of our heart. Nothing can hide from the word of God.

The word of God cuts in all directions. It divides truth and error. It penetrates all the way down to our souls and exposes our secret sins. 🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️

Since it is such a powerful weapon, it should not be used with blunt force. It requires wisdom and discernment on how to best use it. This is why Paul says in Ephesians 4 we are to speak the truth in love. We are not to use the word of God to destroy others but to save. So, while it is our only weapon, remember its real target is sin. We should use it in a way that saves others from sin. We should wield the sword to cut away sin and the lies of the Devil that have surrounded so many in this world. A good soldier knows how and when to properly wield his or her weapon. It is no different for soldiers of Christ.

Lastly, the Hebrews description of the sword is not only enlightening on the power of our sword but also where its power should first be focused. The writer declares in vs. 13 that WE must all give account or answer to the sword.

Sometimes, I think we get caught up thinking that the sword of the spirit is to be used as a weapon against others’ sin first. But, here, it is clear that WE all will give an account to it. We must understand that to effectively use our sword we must first use it on ourselves.

We must first allow the word of God complete access into all parts of our lives. We must allow the sword to divide the truth and lies in our own lives. We must allow the sword to penetrate our own heart and root out our secret sins. We must wield it against our OWN sins first BEFORE we can or should wield it against others.

If we try to wield the Word of God against others but do not first use it to attack the sin in our own lives we are unwise and hypocritical. Both are traits that no soldier should have. We are misusing God’s weapon.

So, take up the Sword of the Spirit but use it wisely. Let it save you and others from attacks of Satan. God did not send us to war Satan empty handed – He gave us the most powerful weapon known to man…His words (and they do not come back empty). But remember, while we do stand against the Devil in all places and circumstances, the primarily front you are fighting as a soldier for Christ is your own heart and soul. #soldiersforChrist #TheLordIsMyBanner