When I think about stories of weaponry, I can’t help but think about when my brother, Joel, and I were kids and Dad sent us out to the barn to clean up calving pens. 

We each got a pitchfork, but for some reason on the entire ranch, there was only one manure fork and one hayfork (probably because we had either broken or misplaced all the other forks on the place!). Well, if you have ever tried to clean stalls with a three-pronged hayfork you know that it’s a frustrating endeavor because you lose more manure and straw than you can pick up. After an argument immediately ensued about which one of us was going to get the hayfork and which one was going to get the manure fork, Dad told us to take turns. 

That was all fine and good until Joel refused to give me my turn and I began whining for him to give me the manure fork. He eventually got tired of listening to me and said, “You want the fork? Then here, take the fork!’ And he went in for the jab! With Ninja-like reflexes, I threw my hand up to ward off the incoming fork and there it stuck, impaling the palm of my hand! I’m not sure what happened after that; more than likely we went to Grandma and had her doctor me up with a bandaid and some Campho Phenique (don’t ask me why, but  Grandma treated almost every ranch kid accident with Campho Phenique!), and this little incident was added to the growing list of “Things we don’t tell mom!”. 

This wasn’t our finest sibling moment. But it was a good lesson about the importance of knowing how a “weapon” used incorrectly can sure cause some problems!

We’re at the end of the Armor of God series, and I believe this last piece of spiritual armor might be the most important piece God gives us as Believers. This sword equips us for spiritual battle, not only defensively, but also offensively because it’s the only weapon He provides to fight the Enemy, While the rest of the armor is all about protection, the Sword of the Spirit is also meant to strike back at the Enemy.

And it’s the only weapon we need.

The sword of a Roman soldier was used both to fend off attacks, but also to fight back and destroy the enemy’s strategies. Probably a short sword about 6-18 inches in length, this weapon was something they could easily hold in their hand to weld efficiently. 

The sword is the perfect picture of what the Spirit gives us. And, just like a real sword, in order for it to work effectively, it has to be used correctly or it can be either useless or a dangerous thing to weld. 

The Bible isn’t a book of fairy tales, and it’s not a book of magic. To appropriately use the Word of God as a weapon it must be seen as just that – the actual Word of God. If we aren’t confident in the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, that it has actually been given to us by God’s Holy Spirit, then we won’t be able to effectively use it against Satan’s schemes. In order to handle the Bible as a sword, we must also depend on God to help us know how to use it, both in defense and in strategy. 

Not only has God’s Word been given to us by His Spirit, but He also makes His Word come alive to us, and us alive to it! 

He equips us with the knowledge we need to know how and when to advance against the Enemy, how to properly take hold of and grip this weapon securely so we are able to thrust, deflect, guard, and lunge. Just like a good soldier, in order to adequately prepare ourselves for battle, we need to practice! We can’t just assume that when the attacks come God’s Word, our weapon, will magically appear and we’ll know how to use it to defend ourselves or to strike back. “Wielding” a sword means that we have the knowledge to handle it effectively. If we aren’t in the Bible consistently, we won’t know how to use if effectively to fight Satan’s lies.

This sword must be an extension of ourselves. We have to grow comfortable with it, familiarize ourselves with it, know it as well as we know how to use our hands and our feet. This won’t happen if we put the sword on the shelf to gather dust, never picking it up until we are in the middle of a crisis and facing the Enemy head-on. A soldier doesn’t step foot on the battlefield without first spending hours practicing and preparing himself on how to use his weapon. The same is true in spiritual battles; effectively using the Bible as a sword to defend and advance on the Enemy requires us to spend time in it every day, familiarizing ourselves, memorizing it so we are always prepared to fight back against Satan and his lies with the very Word of God.

I don’t think I can emphasize enough how important God’s Word is in our lives; to protect, guide, and reassure us in battle. God’s word is not a futile piece of spiritual equipment, it is essential, powerful, and life-giving. Hebrews 4:12 tells us “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” 

God’s Word diagnoses the conditions of our hearts with the precision of a surgeon, exposing our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, laying open our hearts to accurately discern our spiritual health. This isn’t always comfortable, but it results in victory against an enemy that wants to destroy us. And His Word also gives encouragement for whatever we are facing, giving us the confidence to keep moving forward and to not give up living a life of strong faith and abiding trust in the Lord. 

His word is actually living and powerful in the lives of those who chose to live by it, it will reveal any unbelief or doubt we might be struggling with and show us His faithful character that blesses us with trust and hope, enabling us to “stand firm like a tree planted by the water, with no fear of the heat or drought, yielding fruit that will not cease.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

I have come to know that just because something is alive, that doesn’t always mean it’s active. It could easily be something lying dormant and inactive, even though living and breathing. But God’s Word is both living, active and powerful.

I don’t think I can emphasize enough how important God’s Word is in our lives; to protect, guide, and reassure us in battle/ God’s word is not a futile piece of spiritual equipment – it is essential, powerful, and life-giving.

Jana M. Fraley

His Word itself shows us why it’s a powerful weapon. Again, think of a tree, any tree planted in the high desert, semi-arid climate of Wyoming requires fortitude. When a tree is planted next to water we know that tree will flourish and we don’t have to worry about it during years of drought. That’s what happens when we allow God’s word to be the weapon we depend on in our lives.

His Word makes us like that tree planted by rivers of water, it will make our lives fruitful, our leaves won’t wither, and whatever we do will prosper. When we plant ourselves firmly in His truth we’ll flourish, and yes even prosper! But don’t think of “prosper” as the world thinks of prosperity; think of prospering in spiritual health, the fruitfulness of ministry and service for the Lord, godly accomplishments in our lives, and the wisdom that allows us to see Him working. Wisdom that even includes how to use worldly prosperity in a way that honors Him and serves others. 

His Word reveals God’s inherent power and sovereignty, gives us better knowledge and understanding of His character and tells us how to follow Him in obedience no matter how hard it is. When we submit ourselves to the Word of God, it’s for much more than intellectual knowledge, it has a much bigger purpose than just making us “better people”. As we dig deeper into God’s Word we find that this is where we meet Him, where He meets us, where His Holy Spirit can do powerful, life-changing work in our hearts. A true longing for His Word to become active and powerful in our lives goes beyond a basic educational knowledge of God, and we come to really know Him.

His word has the power to heal our brokenness and to deliver us from bondage. “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” Psalm 107:20

His word, hidden in our hearts, keeps us from any lurking sin. When we internalize it, memorize it, and know it deeply, it truly is our best weapon! “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11

It is only with this Sword of the Spirit that we are prepared and equipped to meet Satan in battle, if we aren’t daily in the word and growing in our understanding of it, we’ll be living in the error and falsehood of worldly thoughts and ideologies. That’s Satan’s weapon he uses against us, but God did not leave us unequipped or unprepared to face the Enemy. . . and the Enemy’s weapons of warfare are no match for the Sword of the Spirit!