Christian Living

The Armor VIII— How to Use The Sword of the Spirit

by J.W. Phillips
02/06/25
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The Armor VIII—How To Use The Sword of the Spirit

The last part of the armor is the sword of the Spirit, which is said to be the Word of God. To have all the other parts of the armor on but not this one is to think of yourself as only a target. J.H. Jowett exclaimed, “A man without a sword is in a sorry way when the devil leaps upon him.”

It is often observed that the sword is the only part of the armor that is offensive in nature. It was in this regard that Tozer declared, “The devil should be on the run. We should never see anything but the back of his neck.”

Now, while there is some truth in this observation, we must be reminded of the need to take the offense against ourselves—in the words of Jesus, cutting off hand, foot, and eye (Mark 9:43-48).

Instead of too quickly imagining ourselves as some Bible Buccaneer slashing away at the evil of others, we must first come to grips with how this sword might first be used upon our dear, darling self. In the words of J.H. Jowett, “We are to flash through all falsehood like the thrust of a gleaming sword.”

To understand this last piece of the armor we should recall the highly unusual word picture the book of Revelation gives of Jesus when it describes a two-edged sword coming out of his mouth (Revelation 1:16). This isn’t to reduce the Lord to sideshow theatrics but rather to dramatize how our words can be a powerful weapon.

In the Greek, the term “two-edged” can also be translated “two-mouthed.” Do you see the implied principle here? When the word that comes out of the Lord’s mouth also comes out of our mouth, that puts the enemy on the run.

An example of this is found in Hebrews, chapter 13, verses 5 and 6. Verse 5 states: “... For he himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”

Actually, this is a tame translation, for in the original language there are five negatives in that one verse. What God emphatically said was, “I will never, never leave you. I will never, never, never forsake you.” God’s five negatives: a reassuring reminder of his continuing presence!

Given what God said, the writer to the book of Hebrews continues with these words: “So that we may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"'

Do you see the premise? On the basis of what God said, we are to say! And notice: not just think, and not just believe; for our ears need to hear our voice speak God’s Word.

This is what the Lord’s words about speaking to the mountain were intended to convey (Mark 11:23). The mountain is some seemingly impossible problem. But as intimidating as this mountain is—and as permanent as it appears and as unmovable it may seem—God said speak to it! That’s right, get out the sword of his Word and declare God’s will!

As an expression of militant, pursuing, enforcing faith, speak to that mountain with the authority that your word, because it is God’s word, is not going to return void! So, ocean, you better watch out! This mountain is coming your way!

In his book, Satan is No Myth, J. Oswald Sanders offered this quote from F.J. Huegel:

"Among the highest privileges that spring from the believer’s exalted position, seated in the heavenlies in Christ, the highest no doubt has to do with what may be called ‘delegated authority’. The believer commands and it is done. In the name of Jesus the believer exercises ‘executive authority’—he commands the mountains to be moved and to be cast into the sea, and if he doubts not in his heart it is done."¹

The call to shout, sometimes given as an exhortation, isn’t ever given out of concern the Lord can’t hear us. The only reason shouting is recommended is because an unusual vehemence may be necessary; whispers and prayer mutterings won’t get the job done. Only a bold shout with a trajectory straight toward Heaven will get it done!

Once released in this way, that word—perhaps in the form of a command, perhaps in the form of a praise, perhaps in the form of a shout—will build a mighty momentum in the realm of faith so that it will come barreling out of the hope realm, where the only good it did was to anchor us (Hebrews 6:19). But now—it’s anchors away! Because our little boat is about to be launched!

In her book, God of All Comfort, Hannah Whitall Smith discusses the theology behind the shout.

"Instead of a triumphant shout of victory, we meet our temptations with feeble resolutions, or with futile arguments, or with half-hearted self-braiding, or failing all else, with despairing prayers. 'O Lord, save me!' we cry; 'O Lord, deliver me!'

And when no deliverance has come, and the temptation has swept aside all our resolutions, and we have been grievously defeated, then we have cried out in our despair that God has failed us and that there is for us no truth in the apostle’s declaration that with every temptation there is a way of escape that we may be able to bear it.

This is the usual and the unsuccessful way of meeting temptation, as many of us know to our cost. But what we have to do is very different. We must recognize it as a fact that sin is a conquered foe, and must meet it therefore with a shout of victory instead of with a cry for help."²

Now, since soldiers routinely use a checklist to make sure they are deployment-ready, let’s see what we can check off with regard to our warfare protection.

Are we experiencing the presence of God, or is our current domain orbiting around self?

Are we guilt-free, now fully persuaded God made us worthy, or are we “down” on ourselves, burdened with self-condemnation?

Are we anxious and unhappy, or are our emotions stabilized by God’s peace?

Are we using Scripture to defend ourselves, or are we weakening under pressure?

Are we full of hope and expectancy, or are we doubtful and unsure?

And lastly: Are we on the frontlines backing Satan down, or is Satan backing us down and hardly considers us a threat?

You and I can monitor our proficiency by going through this checklist. And where negatives appear, the focus needs to fixate precisely there until that part of the armor not yet properly activated is fully functioning.

By adopting this procedure we will have at our disposal a diagnostic tool to locate the strategy we must implement if we’re going to be the mighty warrior God called us to be—a more than conqueror, indeed! —instead of being among those clueless conquered who can’t figure out what went wrong.

Notes.
1. J. Oswald Sanders, Satan is No Myth, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1975), p.101.
2. Hannah Whitall-Smith, God of All Comfort, (Gainesville, FL., Bridge-Logos, 2006), p.181.