“and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Ephesians 6:17
This weapon is one of the most aggressive, offensive weapons God has placed in our hands.
Ephesians 6:17 tells us that it is the Word of God. The Greek term for “word” is “RHEMA.” It is the most familiar Greek Word in the New Testament. Rhema words are powerful and bring a quickening, or, some believe, supernaturally, a word from the Lord.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26
The Holy Spirit speaks to us in a way that is clear, unmistakable, undeniable, and unquestionable. The Word is specific and comes when our hearts and minds need it.
The Roman soldier had five different swords. Each was very different from the others, but one was more dangerous.
The soldier’s first sword was hefty and awkward to use, and it took both hands to swing it. But it was the most beautiful of all his swords.
The second sword was shorter and narrower, making it much easier to swing.
The third sword was much shorter and resembled a dagger more than a sword. The soldier would wear this dagger-like sword beneath the outer coat and would use it to inflict a mortal wound on his enemy.
The 4th sword was long, slender, and used by the cavalry. But it wasn’t very effective in battle.
The soldier used the fifth sword most in battle, and Paul compares it to the Sword of the Spirit.
This sword, about 19 inches long, and the Roman soldiers used most. Both sides of the blade were razor sharp, and the tip turned upward, making the point even sharper and deadlier.
When the soldier attacked his enemy, he would hold his sword tightly in both hands and twist it, causing significant internal damage.
In my post about the Belt of Truth, I mentioned that it was used to hold other pieces of the soldier’s armor. On the right side of the belt, the shield would rest. And on the left side, the sword would hang.
That means we must study, meditate, and pray the Word of God, using it as a sword against our enemy.
Have you ever considered why God’s Word is called a two-edged sword? These words appear in several places in the New Testament.
“In his right hand, he held seven stars; from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.” Revelation 1:16
The Greek Word distros is an odd word. It’s a compound word that describes something too mouthed when put together.
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.” Revelation 2:12
“‘or the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
On one side of the sword is when God first spoke His Word and inspired the biblical writers to record it. At that moment, the sword was a 1-mouthed sword.
When we read God’s Word, meditate on it, and let it sink deep into our thoughts, the Holy Spirit will bring that verse or scripture to mind when we need it to fight with. And guess what? We speak it out loud. The sword now has two mouths. Or is it now a sharp, lethal, two-edged sword?
Satan knows God’s Word, too. He has studied it and then takes it, twists it, and turns it to fit his plans and lies.
In Matthew, we read how Satan took God’s Word and twisted it to tempt Jesus when Jesus was hungry and weak from fasting for 40 days.
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands, they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall 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 glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”
Then the devil left him; behold, angels came and were ministering to him.” Matthew 4:1-11
In these verses, Jesus shows us how to wield the sword of the Spirit against the enemy. Each time, Satan says, “If you are the Son of God, do this and show me.” Jesus replies, “IT IS WRITTEN.”
When Jesus was a young boy, he studied the scriptures. It was part of who he was. And when he needed it to fight the enemy, every written Word he had learned came up and was ready to be used.
Satan’s battle plan is to play mind games with us. He knows scripture and how to twist it to deceive us. But when we know God’s Word and allow it to be active and live inside us, we can use it to defeat the lies Satan tells us.
The Sword of the Spirit is both a defensive and an offensive weapon. The Roman soldier had to practice using his sword daily to keep it sharp and ready for battle.
So should it be with us. We are to read, meditate, and speak the Word daily so that our two-edged swords will be sharp and ready for battle. Then, the enemy is defeated and will flee, and we will walk victoriously in the light of God’s Word.
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https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.6.17
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.14.26
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/REV.1.16
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/REV.2.12
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/HEB.4.12
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAT.4.1-11
