What Is the Sword of the Spirit in the Armor of God?
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In every battle or warfare, some weapons are used for offense, and some weapons are used for defense. The same principle applies to the spiritual battles we fight. The sword of the Spirit is the offensive weapon God has provided for you. Since this is the only offensive weapon we must fight with, you better learn how to use it and use it well.
Where Does the Bible Mention the Sword of the Spirit?
The sword of the Spirit is the last piece of the armor of God that Paul tells us to take up in Ephesians 6:
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17)
This portion of Ephesians lays out different pieces of the armor of God. Each piece in the armor is designed to help you take your stand and overcome enemy attacks.
Is the Sword of the Spirit the Same as the Holy Spirit?
You may wonder if the sword of the Spirit and the Holy Spirit are the same thing. To help you understand this relationship better, let’s dive into the words Paul uses in this verse. Paul says the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The word Paul uses in Ephesians 6:17 for the word is rhema. The word rhema means “utterance” and refers to the spoken word. Scripture uses another word to describe the Word of God, and that word is Logos. You see this in John 1:1, in which it refers to Jesus. What Paul is saying here is the sword of the Spirit is not just the written Word of God, but the written Word of God spoken directly into the conflict or battle you are facing. (I will explain this a little more later.)
The authority that undergirds the written word is the Holy Spirit. Consider these verses to get a better picture of the connection between the Word of God and the Spirit of God.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
“For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21)
The written Word of God carries God’s power and authority. When we speak that word, that power is brought into the conflict, carrying the same power and authority. The Bible provides many examples of the power of God’s spoken word. In Genesis, before there was a written word, God said, “let there be,” and what he spoke came into existence. We also see this in Matthew 8:8, when the centurion’s servant was paralyzed.
“The centurion replied, ‘Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.’” (Matthew 8:8)
We must recognize there is power in God’s word, a power our own words do not have, when we use it to speak into our spiritual battles.
How Does the Sword of the Spirit Work Alongside the Shield of Faith?
Before we look at how to use the sword of the Spirit, let’s consider the connection between the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith. We know by its nature the shield of faith is primarily a defensive weapon. It is the only weapon in Ephesians 6 that Paul gives a defined purpose (extinguishing the enemy’s fiery darts). Extinguishing fiery darts may be good to keep the enemy at bay, but how do you defeat the enemy? You need an offensive weapon. If you have ever watched boxing, there are two aspects of boxing: one is offense, and the other is defense. Viewers sometimes don’t realize the objective in boxing is to hit and not get hit. While watching two boxers slug it out may be exciting to watch, that isn’t the primary objective. Your defense in boxing matters. However, you may be a great defensive fighter who never gets hit, but if you don’t hit your opponent, you cannot win the fight. The same is true in spiritual warfare, which makes the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith into perfect companions. With the sword of the Spirit, you can hit the enemy (which allows you to play offense). With the shield of faith, you can block the darts he may try to fire back at you (which allows you to play defense). These two weapons allow you to hit the enemy and not get hit back. That sounds like a winning combination.
How Can We Use the Sword of the Spirit to Fight the Enemy?
The way we use the sword of the Spirit is connected to the word rhema. We must speak the word. In Matthew 4, we read about Jesus being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. With every temptation Satan presented, Jesus returned the reply ‘it is written” and he used his sword.
“The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’” (Matthew 4:3-4)
Jesus spoke the Word of God directly to Satan. After each temptation, he said, “It is written,” and proceeded to speak the Word of God to Satan. This is how you fight back against the enemy. You must use the Word of God. You cannot be silent in battle because the word rhema means utterance. The last time I checked, you cannot make a silent utterance. There is power in the Word of God, and there is great power when we speak the Word of God, so don’t be afraid to speak out what God has declared in his word. That’s what Jesus did. Every time you say “it is written,” you declare the Word of God. Satan cannot stand up to this.
One last thought on this. In Revelation, we see that one of the ways we overcome the accuser is with the word of our testimony.
“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony….” (Revelation 12:10-11a)
You must speak up and speak out the Word of God in combat because this is the only offensive weapon, and this is how you will defeat the enemy.
How to Use the Sword of the Spirit Today?
There are two things you must do. Know your weapon and use your weapon. When the military trains snipers, they first spend seven weeks in training learning various skills to master their weapon and their craft. During this training period, they spend much time with their weapon. You must do the same. You must spend time in the Word of God and know what God has said in it. If you don’t, how can you say “it is written” … if you don’t know what is written? It’s like having a powerful weapon at your disposal, but you don’t know how to use it. Therefore, I encourage you to take time consistently to spend time with your sword. Get to know what God has declared in his word and declare those things in your situation. Remember, this is your only offensive weapon. When you are in a battle with your enemy, you will need it to stand and defeat him. It’s what Jesus did and what you should do too.
Further Reading:
How to Put on the Full Armor of God and Receive Strength
What Is the Shield of Faith in the Armor of God?
What Is the Purpose of the Breastplate of Righteousness?
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