THE SWORD

By Rick Mathes

Ephesians 6:17 (NASB77) ¹⁷ And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

What is it about the Word of God that equates it to the sword of the Spirit? We’ve always been taught that a sword is a weapon for combat and our enemy si not out there in the world, the battle is within us so we need a weapon that will combat our most inner places the enemy can found.

When you are torn down to basically nothing, that’s when the Word of God will build you up. When your knees are weak and your countenance is trembling, and then is the time to put on the armor, lift up your sword and let the Holy Spirit go to battle on your behalf. Heed these words that were breathed by God into the spirit of those who wrote for Him. He will never let you fall so low that He cannot lift you up and restore you to carry the flame of your salvation.

The fruit of the effort is obvious as it orders your steps to walk as Jesus would, not as earthly sons of the devil with his smoldering footprints. So it is our responsibility to heed it, to know it in our heads because when, an actual Bible may not be handy.

Once the guidance of His words is ingested, so to speak, they need to be digested; that is it needs to be stowed in our hearts. The effect is a rush of joy unspeakable and we have a strong desire to immerse ourselves in its wisdom.

By preaching the Word, its reverse effect is that we will desire it passionately and displaying its truth in our lives. So strengthened we can give hope to others and sow it in the world.

The light of His countenance illuminates a life to live by becoming easier to understand. It’s practical value lies in our using it’s wisdom in the strength of His resurrection. God’s will becomes clearer as we suffer for it. This persecution, which is sure to follow, is our yardstick and abandonment in Him.

The closer we get to Jesus and the more His words become ours, the better we will perform in battle. The Word convicts, converts, cleans, cures, confirms and consecrates our body, mind and soul for the constant battle within us and the one yet to come.