4 Ways to Use the Sword of the Spirit
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When I read through the scriptures in Ephesians 6:10-20, one of the first things that stands out is the completeness of the armor of God. Since each piece of God’s armor protects us differently I’m going to focus on one piece of armor today, the Sword of the Spirit.
As you dig into Ephesians 6:10-20, you will see that each piece of armor has its own role. However, each piece fits together to make a whole similar to the Body of Christ.
There is one body, but it has many parts. But all the many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12). All parts of the armor work together to stand strong “against the powers of this dark world” (Ephesians 6:12).
What is the Sword of the Spirit?
The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. I’ll just let that sink in… It’s the only weapon in the armor of God that is used offensively to fight against the spiritual warfare the enemy sends our way.
Jesus gives us an example of using this weapon in Matthew 4 when the enemy tested Him in the wilderness. We must know what the Bible says because the enemy can use scripture against us. He will twist it and if we don’t know the scripture, we may fall into his trap.
What Does the Sword of the Spirit Mean?
“Put on the full armor of God”, is not only written in Ephesians 6:10 but again, very shortly after in Ephesians 6:13.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10 NIV
The fact that this is mentioned twice in such close proximity seems to highlight the importance of all parts of the armor needing to be put on in full so they work together.
Here, we speak of the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. In the Bible, in the gospel of John, the very first Bible verse tells us this:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 KJV
The Sword of the Spirit is vital throughout our faithful steps, without the Word of God, we would be led on a path of destruction.
Sword of the Spirit
Solomon writes about God’s Word and instructions in Proverbs. Proverbs 4:4 tells us that we are to take hold of the words with all our heart; keep the commands and live.
Without the Word of God, we will lack much wisdom and understanding. It is God’s Word that will lead us along a straight path, (Proverbs 4:11). God’s Word is the knowledge we need for our protection, it is our strength through the mighty power of God (Ephesians 6:10).
How to Use the Sword of the Spirit
Thankfully, when we acknowledge what Jesus has done for us, and believe and trust in the Word of God and the hope He has given us, we have the Spirit of God within us to guide us and protect us. The Word of God is alive in us!
1. Pray and Ask for Understanding
When we pray in the Spirit, (Ephesians 10:18) we are praying the Word of God. The Word is our armor for survival, the Word is what we should devour.
We need to pray for understanding of the Bible. There is a lot to learn and sometimes we have a hard time understanding exactly what the Bible is trying to tell us. If we want to use the Sword of the Spirit effectively, we need to have a good understanding of what God’s Word means.
2. Memorize Scripture
When we are under attack, we can be confident that the scripture we memorize and hold in our hearts and minds is going to “stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11).
I started by memorizing verses about areas I struggle with. Fear and anxiety are two things that held me in bondage for many years. I made 3 x 5 notecards and memorized scripture on those two topics so I could use the Sword of the Spirit effectively.
3. Share God’s Word
When I visualize a sword as part of the full armor of God, I see a strong, glowing, sharp-edged piece of armor held up high, that if seen, would make the eyes of the opposition turn away in fear.
When we rise in the morning, we should rise up with the Sword that God so freely grants us. There are many ways to share God’s Words with others. We are called to be Ambassadors for Christ which means we should be ready and willing to represent Jesus and share His Word.
4. Protect Yourself from Sin
We are constantly presented with opportunities to sin and make the wrong choice. Being a Christian is hard because we are actively trying to stay on the Lord’s path.
This means we need to guard our hearts, take our thoughts captive, and renew our minds every minute of the day. Temptation will always present itself but if we keep our eyes open, we can overcome it because we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.
Rise up with the Sword of the Spirit
As a mother, I am often focused on motherhood and family life. I come across daily challenges that require me to get into a position ready for battle. If I am not properly prepared or equipped, I am gradually broken down.
Putting on the armor, and holding up the sword of the Spirit isn’t just a one-off occasion. It should be a continuous, intentional part of your daily routine. You brush your teeth every day to prevent breakdown, right? You see where I’m going with this!
Proverbs 2:6 tells us that the Lord “grants wisdom!’”
When I read this, it dropped right into my heart. The knowledge and understanding that we can have directly from God is available so easily to us, let’s not take it for granted.
Let’s meditate on it and have the Word of the Lord planted right in our hearts so that we can flourish and grow through the Holy Spirit. Thirst for the Word of God and water those seeds!
The sword of the Spirit gives us the power to battle through without fear of the opposition. So, let’s rise up in the morning and read scripture, pray, and feed on what leads us to the path of His glory.
Never Put the Sword Down!
Do not put the weapon down. The Lord has freely given us His Word so that we can know who He is and we can have a relationship with Him through Jesus and fight the battles that come our way.
In Matthew 4, when Jesus was tempted by the devil, we read, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” This is first mentioned in Deuteronomy 8:3.
The Word of God is our survival food! Our path will bring trouble, but with God’s Word at hand, we can walk along it with confidence in the one who provides the sword to press on.
We can have assurance in the knowledge that when we hold up the sword of the Spirit in the confidence God gives us, it will never fail us. We can win the battles in the strength of our Father.
“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8 NLT
How Can We Stop the Sword from Falling?
Meditate on God’s Word and take time to be in the presence of the Lord! If we take time to meditate on God’s Word and hear what the Holy Spirit has to say to us, we will be more prepared spiritually for the battles that come our way.
“Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you.” (Genesis 4:7). We need to be ready to “subdue the sin that tries to control us and be the master of it.”
Be prepared for battle with all the provisions God has given us!
“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:6 NLT
Are you Prepared to Use the Sword of Spirit?
The sword of the Spirit is a powerful tool. I love how God gives us a clear representation of how we should be using it.
Thankfully, we can read His Word and learn the importance of the Sword. I’m praying this gives you a better understanding of the sword and encourages you to use it!
