“10. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, 15. 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. 16. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17. and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.….” (Eph. 6:10-17).
The last of the components of God’s armor available to us is also potentially the most effective tool in our defensive arsenal. A Roman soldier could put on all the armor available to him, but if his only strategy were to stand there and be pummeled by arrows and/or blows from other weapons, his defeat would be inevitable. Soldiers would practice relentlessly with their swords to ensure the maximum possibility of surviving the enemy’s attack. They would also take countless hours to sharpen and take care of their potent weapon. The most successful soldier would be the one who had mastered the art of swordsmanship. When the time came, the way he wielded that weapon would literally mean the difference between life and death because, at that point, the fighting was at close quarters.
In ancient times, swords were fashioned from various metals like copper and spring steel. The one the Roman soldiers used was called a “gladius” and was made of steel. They had a sharp edge on both sides and when sharpened sufficiently and wielded correctly, could cut through leather, skin, muscle, and even bones. In its day, it was a formidable weapon, both for offense and defense. Our spiritual sword is not made of any kind of steel. That would not suffice against the attacks of the evil, so ours is made of something infinitely stronger than that; ours is made of the Word of God. While a physical sword could cut through material objects, it would have no effect against the spiritual attacks of the devil.
Heb. 4:12 describes the power of the sword of the Spirit beautifully, “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.” While the context of the verse is the impossibility of escaping God’s all-penetrating knowledge, it also illustrates the power of the Word. It is not an inanimate manmade object but rather something that is alive, active, and sharper than anything man can make. Jesus was a master swordsman, as witnessed by His thrice defeat of the Devil’s temptations. While we will always fall short of the Savior’s level, it does not mean that we cannot master it to the best of our human abilities offensively (evangelism) and defensively (apologetics.).
But, just like the Roman soldier had to commit vast amounts of time to hone his gladius skills, we too must dedicate as much time as possible to perfect our spiritual swordsmanship. When defending our Christianity or the Word, preparation is king – 1 Pet. 3:15, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” But, since it can also be used offensively, we need to make sure we have sufficient acquired knowledge to draw the seeker to the cross – Mat. 28:19-20, “19. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20. teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you….” And finally, the only way to be competent enough to survive the battles of this life is to practice, practice, practice – Jos. 1:8, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Are you ready to unsheathe your sword of the Spirit and defend your faith or teach others a better way?
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