This is our second to last post in the Armor of God series, and I have been feeling so blessed as I've continued to learn and walk through this series with you. We've broken down the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes fitted with readiness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and today, we're going to be talking about the sword of the Spirit!
A sword, sharp and swift, is a soldier's major offensive weapon, to attack the enemy while also protecting himself. It took immense training to be able to use it correctly, because one wrong move could be fatal towards the wrong person. It was to be taken seriously and used carefully - only properly trained soldiers could use this sword, because if not, having it could be more dangerous than not having it.
As believers, our sword is the Spirit, which represents the Bible. Scripture is our weapon.
I can see why some people might find this comical, because the Bible? This ancient book is supposed to attack the enemy and make any dents in these battles we're facing?
Yes, actually. Because the Bible is more than an ancient book - it's alive and active through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is the living words of God, penned through human hands, and is the Lord's love letter to us, filled with instruction and encouragement for this journey we call life.
Our Bibles are more than books, friends. Our Bibles are powerful, and they slice into the enemy so fiercely and so sharply that he can't stand a chance to attack when we hold up the word of God. It's with Scripture that we can stand on the truth, that we understand our salvation, commune with God, and find rest for our souls. It's in Scripture that we find all of our other armor, because without the word of God, we would be lost.
When we open our Bibles, we are inviting the Holy Spirit (who is, may I remind you, fully and completely the Almighty God) into our battle and into this fight. And with every moment we meditate on His words, we tear down the enemy and build up a foundation of truth, of hope, of life - on Jesus. And as these words become rooted in our hearts and our minds, as it becomes cemented in our souls, we're creating a barrier against the enemy's attacks. He'll still try to aim for us, knock us down, but Scripture brings us back to the feet of the cross, and the cross is what declares that the devil no longer has any hold on those who believe.
Our Bibles help us discern the lies and temptations from the enemy, exposing flaws in his so-called "truth" and powering back at him with the REAL truth. We use Scripture to tear down every stronghold he's set up against us, and destroy his power in our life. Our words alone can't do this, but God's word? Yes, yes He can, and He will. He has given us this tool, this weapon that's on our nightstands and our phones to actively fight in this battle, and yet we so often forget its power. We forget the importance of digging into the Word and allowing it to transform us. We forget the importance of meditating on Scripture and using it to fight off the enemy. But this is our moment, to reclaim this weapon and to begin using it in our everyday lives.
Using the Bible as a sword starts with reading it, but I don't think it ends there. I think that to properly use this sword, there has to be some sort of response, transformation, growth, because only reading it is like checking off a task on our to-do list. If we're serious about utilizing this sword, we have to be strategic.
We have to fill our minds with Scripture as much as possible, memorizing it and allowing it to take root in our very being, molding who we are and what we do. We have to study it, understand it, and apply it, so that we're not swinging this sword at the wrong target or with the improper form. We have to know the verses that will slash down lies and vulnerable spots that the enemy will attack, keeping a carefully crafted toolbox, because not any verse will do at any moment. There has to be intentionality, purpose behind each slash we make, or else it could be fatal for ourselves and our people.
Below I'm going to create a visual for us to have strategies to actually use this sword of the Spirit, but before you skip ahead to that, I want to remind you that the Bible is approachable. You don't have to have it all figured out or understand every word to use it as a sword. You don't have to read it for an hour every day to use it as a sword. What you do have to do, though, is be intentional about diving into the word and understanding it, seeking the Father's voice in these verses, and that's where you will find growth and strength. The enemy doesn't want you reading the Bible at all, because he knows that he stands no chance against it, so please, don't get discouraged. There is grace upon grace for you. And, if you need some resources for how to get into the Bible and study it at all, I have an entire category on the blog with that very purpose.
But, how do we use this sword, anyways?
As I was writing this post, I honestly felt really convicted. I'm on my Bible study game, but that doesn't mean I'm using Scripture as the sword it was intended to be. Our time with the Lord shouldn't end when we close our Bibles and leave our rooms, but instead carry on throughout our day. I want to be reflecting, meditating, and practicing Scripture constantly, and I think that's really important to fully utilizing the sword of the Spirit in the way it was intended.
This series has actually taught me so much and equipped me to fight the battles in my life in a way that honors Christ and reflects what He's called me to live out. We only have one post left in this series, and I pray that you are learning right alongside me!
What have you learned so far in this series? How are you planning on practicing using the sword of the Spirit? Let me know down in the comments below!
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