Ephesians 6:17: The Sword of the Spirit
With anticipation and excitement, a young recruit swings a wooden sword. With glee and vigour, his strikes land in the air. A firm clearing of the throat sounds behind him. A seasoned warrior stands there, stern of look but with a soft smile, holding out a metal sword. With a look in his eyes, almost asking permission, the recruit shifts his gaze from the sword to the warrior’s eyes. He cracks a smile, grips the sword and lets the wooden one fall. The warrior’s smile softly fades and only the stern look remains. A calm voice says, “Now, the training begins.” The warrior takes the recruit under his wing and teaches him to use the sword, not for play or flashy display, but for actual combat. In the same way, David was taught by the Lord God how to fight (Psalm 144:1; Psalm 18:34), and we too must learn to fight with the sword of the Spirit.
The defensive pieces of armour only need to be put on. Once they are fastened to a soldier’s body, much of the work is already done. Apart from the shield of faith, the active use of the defensive pieces is very limited. Here we are presented with an offensive piece: the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the word of God is living and active. With this sword, truth is discerned, and every creature is exposed before the One to whom we must give account. This is no wooden sword. It pierces, strikes true and has effect. The sword of the Spirit reveals truth and exposes reality.
But how do we learn to wield such a powerful weapon? If it is not obvious, look at a sword: the handle itself shows you where to hold it. In the same way, to learn how to hold on to Scripture, we need to read it. So let us explore Scripture itself. Joshua 1:8 shows that it is held in high regard and should be meditated on. That is different from merely reading it, or hanging verses on walls for all to see. It requires actual time, just as the recruit needs time with the metal sword to become proficient. We also see the importance of not only knowing and reading, but storing and cherishing the word, which speaks of our attitude towards Scripture (Psalm 119:11; Colossians 3:16). That is what it means to be immersed: you almost eat the word and make it part of who you are (Jeremiah 15:16).
Imagine reading a manual on how to use a sword. Years of reading, so intense that you could recite every word and even draw the illustrations. Then one day you pick up a real sword for the very first time and walk into battle. Honestly, do you think you could face a real enemy? You would be in more danger than the man who admits he cannot fight. Pride catches you off guard, and with overconfident bravado you plunge towards a foe of real ability. That would be a glaring failure.
In the same way, our pride and self-righteousness can be our downfall. We need to be more than hearers; we need to be doers (James 1:21-25). We cannot just talk the talk, appearing God-fearing while our hearts are far from Him (Isaiah 29:13). In John 5:39-40, Jesus speaks of people who read the Scriptures but do not seek the God behind the very words. Remember, the words are nothing without the Lord who speaks them.
As a recruit, submission to the warrior must take place. In the same way, we submit ourselves to our King and Lord (James 4:7). If you submit to the Lord and follow His ways, He will make sure you are ready to use the sword of the Spirit. In time, the Holy Spirit will direct our actions as the moment requires (John 14:26; Luke 12:12). If your training is good, then in the moment of pressure the required action will almost automatically come out.
With that as motivation, submit yourself to the teaching of Jesus Christ. Hearing His instruction and obeying Him bears good results, because it is built on a good foundation (Matthew 7:24-27). Trust in Him, and in time you will become what He is forming you to be (Hebrews 5:12-14). In the same way, you will become more proficient in wielding the sword of the Spirit.
What does a well-prepared warrior look like? What does a warrior who is truly immersed in the word look like when facing the powers and principalities of the air? We see the example in our Lord Jesus Christ. He was led into the wilderness by the Spirit, and there Satan used Scripture to tempt Him. Satan shows what it looks like to know Scripture in appearance but not in power. Do not be fooled: Satan knows Scripture, but it is unwieldy in his mouth. The Lord, however, used the sword of the Spirit with precision and effectiveness (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). He is our example and our Captain.
The warrior’s words, “Now, the training begins,” seem almost far away. There is still so much to learn, and many things that did not make sense. But the recruit has learned to trust the warrior. Young as he still is, he no longer stands before a seasoned warrior with a naive gaze. He stands next to him, as a warrior: shoulder to shoulder, bound firmly with the armour, the handle of the sword firmly gripped, with enemies approaching. The training has been arduous and firm. Hours, days, weeks and months with this sword are about to be put to the test. Two warriors, one seasoned and one still unseasoned, stand side by side. The Lord will not fail His church, and these two warriors will be part of the victory story.
The Spirit will not abandon you in your time of hardship. The sword of the Spirit will pierce and strike true in due time. Trust Him. Therefore, after all the preparation, after all the time spent hearing the words of our Lord and immersing yourself in them, take up the sword of the Spirit and speak. Speak as a representative of our King, in truth and in love. Let your mouth proclaim His words!
Ephesians 6:18 calls us to pray, so pray. In Scripture, we hear His words and speak them with true power under the guidance of the Spirit. In prayer, we speak with God in conversation. We need both prayer and Scripture.