Battle Ready? How to Dress for Victoryنموونە

The Sword of the Spirit

Up to this point, each piece of spiritual equipment has been defensive armor. However, the last piece gives us an offensive weapon the enemy can’t defend against. Ephesians 6:17 tells us we wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. We’ve all seen swords—long, sharp, and sleek. They’re used to stab, thrust, and swipe at an enemy. Interestingly, the sword is also a symbol of power and authority. Our sword—our power and authority—is God’s Word… spoken out of our mouths.

Satan came against Jesus with three temptations. Each time, do you know how Jesus responded? By declaring God’s Word. His words sliced through Satan’s attacks, combating the lies and offers Satan made.

I have a friend who once took his young son camping. The boy had great fun until nighttime came. The branches rustling in the wind and sticks cracking in the forest scared him. Then he remembered a Sunday school lesson about the power of Scripture. Quietly, the boy slipped his Bible out of his backpack and laid it on his chest, hoping peace would permeate his skin from the book. While that’s a good gesture, that’s not how we get the Bible in our hearts! Instead, it’s through declaring the truth of Scripture from our hearts through our mouths. We wield the Sword of the Spirit by speaking it in faith just like Jesus did. This is why Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

We can wield God’s Word against deceit, lust, pride, and every other sinful landmine in our path. As David said in Psalm 149:6, Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.

Jesus’s go-to weapon of spiritual warfare was God’s Word. It only makes sense we fight the same way He did. Speak the Word!

As you engage with God’s Word:

● What is God saying to me?

● What does it mean to me?

● How can I apply what God is teaching me?

● How can I be specific in prayer today?

After you reflect on these questions, bring everything to God in prayer. If you have any prayer requests or testimonies you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you—visit SteveRobinson.com today to connect with our team, get your copy of Simple Prayer, or sign up for my weekly devotional email!