Ephesians 6. 16: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Of all the weapons mentioned in Ephesians 6, only one is offensive; the rest are defensive. As such, it is the one weapon that we dare not be without in spiritual warfare. When Christian met Apollyon in the Valley of Humiliation (in Pilgrim’s Progress), he was able to do battle with the dragon until he lost his sword. As Apollyon stood over him ready to destroy him, a passage of Scripture came to Christian’s mind. As he quoted the verse, the sword leapt into his hand and he dealt the dragon a mortal blow.
Martin Luther also experienced the awesome power of the Word of God in spiritual warfare. He understood that “though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us, we will not fear for God has willed, His truth to triumph through us … one little Word shall fell him.”
God’s Word is given to us as a sword with which we can be victorious in spiritual battle.
Why is it called the Sword of the Spirit by the apostle?
It is called the Sword of the Spirit because it is a weapon of divine origin. 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:20-21 remind us that the Bible is God’s Word not man’s. The words we have contained in it are not the composition of men’s efforts. They come with the authority of God. This is why the apostle Paul reminds believers in 2 Corinthians 10 that “our weapons are not carnal.” They are of divine origin; it is God’s Word.
It is called the Sword of the Spirit because it is a weapon of divine choice. In other words, the Bible is “regulation issue” for every believer. We are not left to our choice to determine what weapons we are to use. God has determined that the Bible only shall be the basis for our authority.
Finally, it is called the Sword of the Spirit because it is a weapon of divine power. Paul states that he is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because “it is the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). Peter reminds us that we have been born again through the Word of God (1 Peter 2:23-25). “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). The Word even has power to change and transform the lives of believers (see 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and Romans 12:1-2). Everything in the Scripture tells us that the Word of God has power, because its power is of divine origin.
Why is the Word compared to a Sword?
It is compared to a sword for many reasons. A sword in the ancient world was not only a weapon for battle; it was also a symbol of authority. This is why defeated generals would give their swords to the victors as a symbol of relinquishing their authority to another. As such, the Bible is clearly our authority. It is one we must never relinquish in battle.
But most of all, the sword was a symbol of power. As such, the Word of God is a sword which has the power to do many things. First, it has the power to wound the heart. We see this most of all in terms of salvation when one previously disinterested in spiritual things hears the Word and is cut to the heart by it. This happened on the day of Pentecost when the people heard Peter preaching and “were cut to the heart and cried out, ‘What shall we do?’“
Second, it has the power to penetrate the heart. The Bible speaks of the unconverted as having a heart of stone and hardened, but it speaks of the Word as able to cut through any hardness. We see this in Acts 16:14. As Paul preached the Word to Lydia and the others, God used the Word to “open her heart” and she was converted. Hebrews 4:12 makes this aspect of the Word clear when it describes the Word as “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of the soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow.”
Third, it has the power to heal the heart. The amazing thing about this sword is that it both cuts and heals. It both convicts and comforts. Thus God says of His Word through the prophet Isaiah, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). God’s Word is a sword because it is powerful—wounding, penetrating, and healing the human heart.
Why is this weapon so important?
Because without it, you are not fully equipped. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that all Scripture is inspired by God and useful … “that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped and fitted for every good work.”
Because without it, you cannot withstand for long. The major emphasis of Ephesians 6 and spiritual warfare is that the believer must stand and withstand the attacks of the enemy. This is why the majority of the weapons listed are defensive. The victory is ours as we stand firm in spiritual warfare. The boxer who only blocks punches will not stand for long! The Word has been given to us to use against the enemy and our offensive thrusts with the Word cause the attacker to flee.
Because without it, you cannot win the battle. With the other weapons, you may be able to stave off defeat, but without the sword you cannot have victory. Without the sword, how will you “tear down strongholds?” Shields and helmets are excellent for defense, but useless for tearing down strongholds.
How should we “take the Sword of the Spirit?”
Be thankful for it. The Psalmists frequently express praise and thanksgiving for the treasure of the Word of God. They spoke of it as more precious than gold and more desirable than the sweetest honeycomb.
Study it regularly. The Sword was not given to us as an emblem to hang on the wall or display on the coffee table. It is given to be used in spiritual battle. As such it must not grow rusty from disuse, but the study of the Word should be our regular practice (2 Timothy 2:15).
Hide it in your heart. Jesus used the memorized Word to defeat Satan in the temptation in the wilderness. Psalm 119 reminds us that our protection from temptation comes as we “hide” the Word in our hearts.
9:Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 11: Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Obey it always. James 1:22-25 reminds us that the Word heard does not benefit us unless it becomes the Word applied to our lives.
What a treasure God has given us in His Word! It strengthens, it protects, it comforts, and it heals. It provides guidance in life and victory over temptation. No wonder the psalmist proclaimed: “Oh how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).