“Therefore take up The Whole Armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”
Ephesians 6:13‭-‬18 NKJV

To put on the whole armor of God is to be continually conscious of, and unflinchingly committed to proclaiming who we are and what we have in Christ while living in this reality.

The armor of God is not a combative tool, no, we are not fighting with the enemy, rather we stand in the victory that Christ has already won for us.

The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. It is the only offensive component of the armor of God, the rest are defensive.
The Sword of the Spirit operates as both offensive and defensive.

It is interesting to note, that of the usual regular offensive tools in a soldier’s armory (bows, arrows, spear, sling, rod, etc), it is the sword that makes the list of whole armor of God.
What is peculiar about the sword? A soldier’s sword is usually made of 2-edged sharp blades that can cut, pierce/thrust. According to Hebrews 4:12-13, the Word of God, (referred in Ephesians 6:17 as the Sword of the Spirit) is potent and can permeate the 3 parts of man (spirit, soul and body). It is therefore an ultimately effective tool.

Hebrews 4:12-13 tells us how effective the Sword of the Spirit is…..

“For the word of God is ALIVE, and POWERful. It is SHARPER than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”
Hebrews 4:12‭-‬13 NLT

What do we know about the Word of God?

It is documented as the Holy Bible, written by men as they were inspired by God. The Word is the Belt of Truth and the Sword of the Spirit in the armor of God; that is the written Word and the spoken Word. The Word is Jesus Christ! (John 1:1).

In Matthew 4, Jesus Himself used this Sword against the enemy….’It is written’!!! That’s the only response the Lord gave the enemy.

How Do We Wield The Sword Of The Spirit?

By speaking and declaring the Word. When we make our confessions of faith, we are wielding the Sword of the Spirit. For the weapons of my warfare are not carnal but MIGHTY in God. Halleluyah!

To sit under the teaching of the word of God is great, to read the Word all year round is awesome, wonderful. These inscribes the Word on the tablets of your heart, in your spirit. But that is just becoming equipped to use the Sword of the Spirit. Until we open our mouths and speak the Word we are not wielding the sword of the Spirit.

There are 3 things I want to bring out from Ephesians 6:13-18….

“Therefore take up The Whole Armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”
Ephesians 6:13‭-‬18 NKJV

1. There is the Whole Armor of God

2. There is an evil day

3. There is a ‘Standing’

The rest of this portion of scripture is a description of the whole armor of God. To understand the Whole Armor of God, you can follow my Bible Study series on this here.

I like to point out that there is an “evil day” that comes to every believer in Christ Jesus. That is the day when your faith/belief is challenged, when lack wants to rattle your believe in God’s provision, when trials and temptations want to cease your mind like a flood, when sickness and disease want to kill you, when it appears you are suddenly confused and bewildered by life’s circumstances. Ephesians 6 is saying put on the whole armor of God always so that when this “evil day” comes, you can STAND and overcome in victory. Halleluyah!

So put on (always) the whole armor of God and the way to wield the Sword of the Spirit is by our confessions of faith.

Examples Of Wielding The Sword Of The Spirit:-

In Lack:
Surely, my Father shall supply ALL of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

For Worry:
I do not worry about a thing, not about food, clothing or shelter. For my Father clothes the lilies of the field which neither toil nor spin, He feeds the birds of the air which do not sow or gather into barns, He will surely take care of me (Matthew 6:25-34). So I cast all my cares upon the Lord, because I know that more than anyone else, He cares for me (I Peter 5:7). I take on the yoke of Christ, I preach the Word in and out of season, I am fully committed to the Father’s business (Matthew 6:33-34).

In Trials And Temptations:
I am born of God and so I overcome the world and the evil in it (1 Peter 5:4). I am not alone, the Godhead resides in me, for I am in Christ, Christ is in the Father, and Christ is in me (John 17:21). The Holy Spirit indwells my body leading, guiding, teaching, and comforting me (John 16:13). I have the exact same life of God in me, eternal life is in me and greater is He that is in me than the one who operates in the world (I John 4:4). CHRIST IS IN ME….that is my HOPE of GLORY/VICTORY/MANIFESTATIONS. Halleluyah! Christ is in me. I owe no man nothing except Love. I am born of God, God is love and so I am love (I John 4:8). And love conquers all things, love never fails I Corinthians 13). I win in my my relationships and interactions. I win by the Spirit of love in me.

For Confidence To Proclaim The Good News:
I have authority in the name of Jesus to preach, to teach and to make disciples of all men (Matthew 28:18-20). I have boldness and utterance (Ephesians 6:19). I have authority in the name of Jesus over satan and his agents. I have authority in the name of Jesus to heal the sick, to not die from poison, to cast out demons, to release the oppressed (Mark 16:17-18).

For Direction:
My spirit bears witness with God’s Spirit in me that I am God’s son. I am born of God, I am a son of God and so I am LED by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14, 16). The Holy Spirit leads me in the right direction. I have and follow the Good Shepherd, Jesus, He leads me to my pleasant places (Psalm 23, John 10:14).

For Healing And Health:
God sent His Word (Jesus) and healed all my diseases (Psalm 107:20). Himself TOOK my infirmities and BORE my Sicknesses in His Body on the cross (Matthew 8:17). Jesus Took Them All. He bore my griefs, He carried my sorrows. He sustained wounds and bruises for my transgressions and iniquities, carried the full punishment, paid the full price. By His wounds/stripes I am healed (Isaiah 53:5). He defeated sin, sickness and death. No sin, no punishment, I am free from the curse! Free from sin, free from sickness, free from the death. He took upon Himself the chasetisement for my peace. I have peace. Oh! Jesus took it all! I am free (John 8:36).

Halleluyah!!!!

I am sure you can write up many more for yourself. We have the Word of God for every situation and circumstance. Praise God! We wield our Sword by speaking the Word.

The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. It should be drawn always, wielded by speaking it continually; in all times and seasons.

We are to stop rehearsing (magnifying) what the enemy is doing by saying and speaking it to every Tom, Dick and Harry, no, speak the Word, magnify the Word. Speak it and hold on to it until your miracle manifests, then share your testimony widely with everyone (magnify God). This is not to say do not seek help if you need it, please seek counsel and maybe reach out to a trusted saint to pray the prayer of agreement with you if you need to. But yearn, desire, seek to grow in your faith also and the way to do that is to deepen your relationship with the God (through the Word and prayer), this builds your understanding of God and boost your confidence to take on faith feats on your own.

Do not leave your sword sheathed, pull it out; speak it, Magnify the Word and Works of God. Halleluyah!!