Take the Sword of the Spirit

The description of the full armor of God ends with these words, "And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17)

I find it interesting that the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit are linked together at the end of the list of armor we are to put on to fit us for the battles we will face in our life. And although we tend to think of swords as offensive weapons, I

wonder how Paul was inviting us to use this sword.

The sword here is defined as belonging to the Spirit, not to us, and that it is the “word of God”.

Remembering that even the devil quoted scripture to Jesus, I wonder how we are to “use” this “word” in our struggle against the devil's schemes?

Two things come to mind:

1) that the instruction is to stand our ground and “after you have done everything, to stand.”  (Ephesians 6:13) This sounds less like fight/ flight/ freeze, and more like God's instructions to the Israelites: “Stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.” (2 Chronicles 20:17)

2) that John at the beginning of his gospel introduced Jesus in this way: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Is this sword of the Spirit, this “word of God” thus a person, Jesus Christ. And is what enables us to stand in the face of trials and challenges actually our relationship with Him? And the way we access that is through the indwelling Spirit. 

I think we often forget that when Paul, Peter and John were writing their letters, there was no “New Testament” as we know it; Scripture to them was what we would call the “Old Testament” and therefore what they were sharing was Jesus, the Word of God.

So, our standing against the snares of the evil one needs to be in the reality of who Jesus is and whom He has called us to be!

The writer to the Hebrews tells us that “the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Do we envisage using this sword against others?

Or is this sword meant to be used to penetrate deep into our hearts and minds?

Whatever we begin to write about here in our Fermata blog, it always seems to come back to Jesus-- His beatitudes, His sermon on the mount, the invitations He has held out for us to be so entwined in Him, so allowing His Spirit to well up from within us, that any battles we fight, any difficulties we engage in, are fought from our stance with Him—

in love, peace, and joy,

goodness, kindness, and patience,

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control

centered in the Kingdom—

Righteousness, peace, and joy

in hope

in forgiveness

How does this then play out in your everyday life? Who or what are you facing today that feels like the opposition, like a challenge, threatening to your well-being or that of your loved ones? How are you to stand?

Do you need a reminder of how deeply, outrageously, totally you are loved?

Do you need to know that you're safe, even in those times of challenge?

Do you need the assurance that you are secure even as your world wobbles?

Precious, beloved child,

taste and see the goodness of God

lay your head on his shoulder

in quiet trust like the weaned child.

Dare to trust

Dare to believe God is for you more than you are even for yourself.

His commitment is absolute

He is waiting to be invited into the midst of your struggle to defeat the enemy on your behalf.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,” Paul reminds us.  But how often do our battles and challenges seem to be focused on a person or caused by a person?

I'm trying to think of a story from my life without giving away secrets! There are so many places where God has allowed me to see a different perspective on someone whom I have made judgements against. I wouldn't exactly call them an “enemy”, but I wonder if my attitude toward them and my choice to avoid contact instead of standing with them and allowing the Father to show me who they really are and surprising me with delight, does not put them in that category in my mind.

“Do not judge,” said our wise Master. “See with My eyes the preciousness of each person I have created. You are all works in process, and your love and acceptance can bring forth My character that is within each one.

Be light.

Be salt.

“Walk with me and work with me-- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:29, 30 The Message)

This sword is not to be used as a heavy accusation against yourself or anyone else. Jesus’ invitation is to live freely and lightly, and to be a blessing whatever you face. Watch how your gentleness and love open love in others.

The week ahead is what some call the “holy week”—the days leading up to and including Jesus being arrested, abandoned by his friends, tried by the Jewish leaders, and the Roman governor, condemned to death on the cross, mocked by the Roman soldiers, buried, and then His resurrection.

This is a huge journey. I encourage you to read the accounts in each of the four gospels and then to sit with God and reflect on what this means to you in your life today.

I am thinking especially of Jesus’ words on the cross— “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) In the midst of His agony, His heart was toward the lost people who did not know the Father He had come to reveal. Can we sit with that Father of love and forgive those who hurt us without fully understanding what they are doing.

The Holy Spirit is with you as your counselor and comforter. Trust His presence and help.