I recently watched a game where one team’s best player could not participate. His injuries kept him out of the action. The cameras showed him pacing up and down, cheering from the sidelines, but unable to go out on the field. His skills were missed, and his team ended up losing the game. The enemy knows he can’t take us off God’s team, but he can sideline us. He can’t separate us from God’s love, but he can render us ineffective. Satan is always working to put us on the injured reserve list.

That’s why we need to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” and “put on the whole armor of God.”

Ephesians 6:10-17
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil . . . Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

To this point, all the battle armor has been for defensive purposes. The belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, and helmet are needed for our protection. But there are two aspects of our battle gear that can be used both offensively and defensively. Let’s consider the sword of the Spirit today and prayer next time.

The sword, provided to us by the Spirit, is the Word of God. It is our weapon in hand-to-hand combat. The effective Christian “soldier” must be equipped with this essential weapon for spiritual warfare. We must read, study, memorize, and apply God’s Word. In earlier devotionals, we saw how Jesus effectively used God’s Word when Satan came at him full force in his weakest moment (Matthew 4:1-11). Each temptation was countered with, “It is written.” God’s Word pierces the enemy’s attacks.

The writer to the Hebrews explains that Scripture is no ordinary book. God’s Word, he says, “is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Would a soldier go into battle without weaponry? Would a Christian go into battle without the Word? Well, perhaps that’s why many Christians are on the injured reserve list!

How does this sword of the Spirit work? Let me share a story. I had lunch with a pastor friend a few years back, and he told me about a time he had spoken at a conference in another country. He got on an elevator at his hotel, and two women followed him in. He offered to push the button to take them to their floor and asked, “What floor?” They responded, “Whatever floor you are headed to.” He was a bit shocked and taken aback. He said at that moment, he did not think of his wife, his family, his church, or his reputation. But God brought a verse into his mind that he had memorized. The verse was Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, was his weapon in a vulnerable moment.

God will do the same for you. Are you sharpening and carrying your sword? Are you battle ready?

Father,
Please move in our hearts to have the desire to be in your Word every day. No excuses. No lapses. No stretches where we don’t pick up the sword of the Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.