Key scripture – “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians6:17).

Do you carry the sword of the Spirit, which is, God’s Word, with you?

You need to have God’s Word with you at all times because it is the sword of the Spirit and it can be used both as an offensive and a defensive weapon. It can also be used as a scalpel, to do self-surgery by cutting out things like lies, gossip, slander, evil thoughts, pride, lust, and emotions like anger, worry, unforgiveness, impatience, and malice that will grow in your mind, heart and soul like festering tumors. If you “take it up,” then God’s Word can be used to cut that stuff out of your mind, heart and soul. “For the word of God is alive 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.” (Hebrews4:12).

In Jesus’ life, He showed us how to use God’s Word as a defensive weapon as well as an offensive weapon under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Right after Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove. “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” (Matthew 3:16).
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said”… (Matthew 4:1-3).

Satan threw everything he could at Jesus – food, power, recognition, and the wealth of the whole world – but Jesus used the sword of the Spirit to defend Himself every time. Three times He said, “It is written …” Finally, Jesus gets in the tempter’s face and says,

“Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” (Matthew 4:10-11).

Through Jesus we see that Satan flees not only from the name of Jesus, but he flees from the Words of Jesus too. He has no answer to the Word of God – which is why it’s important for us to plant the Word in our hearts and in our minds so that wherever we are, when something happens, we can pick up the sword of the Spirit as our defense.

Below is an example of how the sword of the Spirit – The Word of God, can do its work.

Who amongst us doesn’t fight against discouragement, depression and sometimes despair? God’s Word is a weapon against that stuff. It puts all of our problems in perspective. The sword of the Spirit can be used today to combat life-sucking lies and faith-draining emotion. That is why God tells us to take our thoughts captive and replace them with the Word of God.

Therefore, when you are discouraged, depressed or in despair pick up Psalm 27:13-14 as your sword and say it with confidence:

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:13-14).

Are you ready to start winning the battle over your problems, strongholds, and negative thoughts? If so, start storing up the Word of God in your heart and mind and then get ready for all the victories that you will experience over your problems, negative thoughts, and strongholds.

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I’m taking up the truth You have given me in Your Word, and I ask that the Holy Spirit use it as a sword to remove anything in me that is contrary to Your truth. As I read and meditate on You Word, I want the Holy Spirit to plant it in my heart and mind. I know and I believe that if I abide in Christ that He abides in me, I know and believe that I will taste and see that The Lord is good, I know and I believe that I will see the goodness of The Lord in my life. You are my strength, and my courage. Holy Spirit, bring to my mind unchanging truths from God’s Eternal Word and use those Words as Your sword to defend me, as well as to make me effective offensively, as You work through me today to glorify God in any way You see fit. I want The Holy Spirit and God’s unchanging Word to be continually working together to bring me new insights into His Word that will not only transform my day but set me free. Let me be bathed in Your Word and let it saturate my heart. In the Name of Jesus, the Living Word, I pray, Amen.