THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” – Ephesians 6:17
*Comment:* The sword is a thrusting, striking, or cutting weapon with a long blade having one or two cutting edges, a hilt, and usually a crosspiece or guard. The Spirit is the invisible force or power of God Almighty by which He operates in man to say or do His will or purpose. The sword of the Spirit, therefore, is that piercing invisible force or power of God by which He operates in man to do His purposes.
For the reason that the “word of God” has a powerful penetrating effect in the innermost parts of man like a sword, it is called the “sword of the Lord” in the Old Testament or “the sword of the Spirit” by St.Paul. He described the word of God in this vein: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12.
The word of God also known as the Truth(John 17:17) have four classifications, true doctrines, divine instructions, divine judgements and divine promises. The ten fundamental truths of the Holy Bible are the principal doctrines. There are others. Their value cannot be over emphasised in uprooting all falsehood and evil.
The sword of the Spirit is the means through which the judgement of the living is taking place in this age of the end of the world. – 2 Timothy 4:1; Read also John 12:47-48
What is more, Jesus Christ, the Word of God said to his disciples, thus: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” – John 8:31-32,36; see John 1:1-3; John 14:6.
The importance of the sword of the Spirit in bringing down all spiritual wickedness cannot be overemphasized.
*Prayer:* O God our heavenly Father. We seek Your assistance to effectively possess and retain the sword of the Spirit by which spiritual wickedness in high places shall be cut down and to stand through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.