Our Sword of the Spirit
By Shauna Leis
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:13-17
As in previous devotions, I have told you that I love the medieval period in the history of our world. There is just something incredibly captivating about the stories from that period to my ever active imagination. My dreams as a little girl were of a knight in shining armor on a white horse that would rescue me from my captivity. He would be carrying a sword pointed up toward the sky and free me from my enemy. He would mount the steps to my prison high atop the castle and carry me off to live happily ever after. Ah, the dreams of a little girl.
Little did I realize that I as I began to read the Scriptures, it was all about to come very sweetly true. Several years ago, I began a study of Revelation that just about knocked my socks off, thinking back to my dreams as a little girl. Listen to this description of Jesus in Revelation 19. “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’”
When I read those words so very long ago, I knew my dreams were actually becoming a very strong reality. Jesus Himself came to be my Savior. He came to rescue me from my captivity to sin. He came to set me free from the prison that I had erected around myself. He came riding on a white horse and is called “Faithful and True.” But, what about the sword you might ask?
Now, interestingly, I love studying this Scripture because of what is coming out of His mouth – a sharp sword. Jesus’ Word was the Sword. Jesus speaks Truth and only Truth. That Truth will combat any enemy that stands in His way, and with that Truth He vanquishes His foe to the very pits of hell. Why is the Word of God so strong? Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” God’s Word separates very clearly truth from lies. That is why the enemy cannot withstand a battle with the Word of God because the enemy deals out only lies and deceit.
We are no doubt living in a period of warfare, both physical and spiritual. Our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, daughters and sons are over in the Middle East fighting for our physical freedom from terrorists. Our spiritual families are also fighting a battle – a spiritual battle for truth in the heavenly realms. So, how do we survive this spiritual battle raging all around us? We must arm ourselves with the only spiritually offensive weapon available to us – the Sword of the Spirit, the very Word of God. Please re-read Ephesians 6 above again. This particular set of verses is the key to our success in the spiritual battles that rage around us, our families, and our friends.
Dear friend, we must know the Word of God to participate in the battles for the heavenly realm. We must arm ourselves with the Sword of the Spirit and cover ourselves with all of the other armor that Ephesians 6 describes. Will you go into battle with me today? Will you take up your Sword, the very Word of God and claim your position in the army of the Most High God? I can think of no better place to be when the end comes, and we are all called to account for what we have done throughout our lives to further the Kingdom of God.
Pray with me: Savior and Lord, You are the Word of God made flesh. You came to conquer and divide with the Ultimate Truth. Lord, arm us with the Sword of Your Spirit through Your Word. Give us knowledge and discernment about all that we read and hear in Your Scriptures. Teach us how to use them to beat our enemy that rages wars all around us. We know from the Bible that in the end You win. Though our enemies believe they have small victories along the way, we have read in Revelation how it all ends. We trust You and Your Word because it is truth. Lord, we love You so very much, God, and pray all of this in the name above all names, Jesus Christ! Amen.