The Sword of the Spirit

Good morning lovely readers! Today is the day we finally wrap up our Armor of God series with the Sword of the Spirit.

"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - Ephesians 6:17

This sword of the Spirit is God’s word.

Huh. Sound familiar?

Didn’t we start this thing out with the Belt of Truth, and discover that’s also founded in the word of God?

We really have come full circle, and that is no accident. The word of God is our first piece of armor and our last. It’s our biggest protection and our strongest weapon. I think Paul is trying to emphasize here that in order for us to be able to stand against those dark spiritual forces, we have to be completely wrapped up in God’s word.

"I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You." - Psalm 119:11

God is in all things, and His word is alive and active. It will battle for you, which is why it’s the best weapon you have.

Let’s talk about the fact that it’s also the ONLY weapon Paul lists here as we’re preparing for battle. There are quite a few weapons to choose from, but he says you only need one. And that’s the Sword of the Spirit.

There’s another place in scripture that describes the word of God like a sword.

"For the word of God is alive 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

Here we learn that the word of God is the sharpest sword you can have, dividing between soul and spirit. It’s a sword fit for a spiritual battle.

The Holy Spirit is perhaps the most underrated person in the Trinity of God. Because He is more challenging to grasp in our understanding, we tend to forget that He still has God-sized power.

AND…

This is the person of the Trinity that lives in us and interacts with us every day.

After Jesus had greeted them again, he said, "I am sending you, just as the Father has sent me." Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." - John 20:21-22

The Holy Spirit is our gift from Jesus when He ascended to be with the Father so we would never have to live apart from God again. Isn’t that wild!?!

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Just before the crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples to sell their cloak to buy a sword.

“He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.” - Luke 22:36

Now, I don’t think he meant this literally. In the context of their conversation, Jesus is asking the disciples if they ever lacked anything since following him, even when they physically had nothing. Their response was, “no.”

Jesus was making a point here to prepare them for His absence. He knew He would impart the Holy Spirit on them and that relying on His word would be their only weapon against evil. He’s emphasizing here that it’s more important for them to take hold of this power than to have a coat for warmth. Jesus is telling them to do whatever they have to do to take hold of the Sword of the Spirit, before they even know why.

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The Holy Spirit is our communicator between us and the Father. He intercedes in prayer for us, tugs on our hearts when we’re facing a hard decision, and when you have scripture buried in your heart, He brings it to surface at just the moment you need it for encouragement.

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." - Romans 8:26

And that’s how the Sword of the Spirit works. It’s in the intercession of the word of God when we are in the midst of the battle. We can have all of our defenses up, protecting our hearts and minds, but the victory can’t be won without the offensive.

The Holy Spirit is our offense. When we unleash the word of God on the enemy, we tear him down. He shudders at the name of God, so when we slash him with the Sword of God’s word, he flees.

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." - James 4:7

Like a soldier without his sword, we can’t win any battle without relying on the Holy Spirit.