Ephesians 6:17b

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

(v17, NIV)

One interesting piece of the armor of God is the sword. A sword is the weapon of any soldier back in the days when they used swords. Of course there were some with bows and arrows. However, when I picture a soldier in those times, I picture a knight in shining armor with a shield and a sword. In fact, he doesn't have to have a shield. However, he needs a sword. Knights or warriors or soldiers have a weapon. They are entering into a war or a battle. How can you fight without a weapon? This piece of armor described here is the sword, and it is the only offensive piece of the armor of God. It is the only way we have as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ to fight back and attack.

Aren't knights really cool? A knight fully equipped in shining armor with shield and sword is cool to me. It's really cool. Wouldn't it have been cool to be a knight? Wielding a sword and fighting in battles would have been quite an experience. As much as boys may have dreamed about being a knight and wielding a shining sharp sword, we probably won't have anything close to that in this day and age. However, God gives us a sword in the armor of God. We can wield the sword of the Spirit. How cool is that?

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

(Matthew 10:34, NIV)

Some may question whether it is loving or Christian-like to fight and attack. Why would we be equipped with a sword if Jesus was such a peacemaker? I encourage you to read and learn more about Jesus. If Jesus was a peacemaker, why did he say that he came not to bring peace, but a sword? I don't mean to tell you what Jesus did with regards to this sword. Rather, I hope you search for yourself through the scriptures to see what it actually says about the Lord Jesus Christ.

The sword of the Spirit is clearly described as the word of God. The word of God is something we have in the form of the bible. The bible is the word of God.

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, NIV)

Here is a verse that talks about the word of God. It is described as even sharper than any two-edged sword. Not only is it a sword, but compared to any sword, it is sharper. Can you imagine someone wielding this sword? It penetrates and cuts away at whatever is in its path. Some swords are dull and it can be difficult to cut something with a dull sword. This is not so with the word of God.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV)

Here is another verse about the word of God. Here, we can see its uses. It can be used for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. In learning how to use your sword, it is important to know what it is used for. The piercing word of God can do all these things. Use it wisely and use it properly.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:

" 'He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

(Matthew 4:1-11, NIV)

In this passage we read about the temptation of Jesus. Jesus came down to earth as a human and experienced temptation. Here we learn of how Jesus dealt with temptation. Jesus responds to temptation with scripture. In looking at the way Jesus used the word of God, we can learn something about how we are to use the sword of the Spirit. Use it to fend off and counter-attack schemes and temptations. Where does that begin? Read your bible, study it, and learn. How can you use the word of God against temptations if you don't even know what it says? Take it with you wherever you go so that you can use it if you need to. Maybe you don't like carrying it around. Fine, memorize it. Do you think Jesus had the bible with him for those 40 days? He had it memorized.

I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you.

(Psalms 119:11, NIV)

Take up the sword of the Spirit. Learn how to use it, and use it well.