and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (Ephesians 6:17, ESV)
Here towards the end of the passage we come to the Sword of the Spirit. Everything else we’ve put on to this point is for defense and protection. There’s only one weapon that we are called to put on, and that is the Sword of the Spirit – which is the Word of God. This isn’t the only place in the Bible that uses this kind of language.
For the word of God 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, ESV)
There is nothing more powerful than God’s Word. It is the only thing we should be fighting with. It has the power to break people, to soften people, to change people and to turn things around more powerfully than any other force.
Jesus even said that he didn’t come to bring peace but a sword (Matthew 10:34). He wants to sever our ties to our sin. He wants to separate us from things that are destructive or are polluting our life. He wants to break the chains of our bondage. He came that we might be set free, but that process requires a strong weapon, and that weapon is His Word.
That leads us to a question. If the Word of God is our only sufficient weapon, how well are we using it? How much of the Bible do you know? How much would you like to know? If different verses become different weapons in your hand to stand firm, to endure hardships, how important is it for you to prioritize?
Growing in biblical knowledge and wisdom doesn’t just happen it takes discipline. It takes study. We hope that Oil Man Up is helpful to you in this way, but you may need even more. You may be ready to dive into the depths of what God’s Word has to offer. Please let us know if we can help you in that way.
Questions for Reflection
Why do you think this is the only weapon in the armor?
How have you experienced God’s Word to be powerful?
Re-read Hebrews 4:12. How do you need this to be true for you today?
How content are you with the amount of biblical knowledge you have?
If you would like to grow, what’s your plan for going forward?