Take up the Sword

There is only one verb in the verse above and we don’t want to overlook it.

The Apostle Paul tells us to “take” the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. Picture the LORD standing in front of you holding out a helmet and a sword.

If He told you to take them, wouldn’t you? To take them is to agree with God that only He can save you (helmet), and the only thing effective to wield against the enemy is His sword (His Word). Many people are quick to take the helmet and thrust it on their head, but to take the sword means we need to learn how to wield the sword. It is not meant to just be held, it is meant to be wielded.

The word “wield” means to “have and be able to use”. A second definition means to “hold and use”. So we have God’s Word, we hold God’s Word, and we need to use God’s Word in order to be useful and effective soldier’s for Jesus Christ.

We have the Word of God. The Bible, which ranks as the world’s most-read book, has sold 3.9 billion copies. Beyond that, many more copies have been given away for free. We live in a time when Bible’s are widely available and even free. This wasn’t always the case.

Many years ago, the Bible was organized, translated, and printed by men and women who sacrificed their time and their lives to put it into your hands. Many of these brave souls were tortured to death for propagating God’s Word. William Tyndale was burned at the stake as a “heretic” for translating the Bible into English.

Never forget that your Bible has been bled over by the people who first printed it’s pages, the people who wrote it’s pages, and the One who hung on a rugged cross in order to fulfill it’s pages. Shame on us to not read our Bible in light of such sacrifice. It’s by God’s grace that we can have a copy of God’s Word.

We hold the Word of God. On top of having the Word of God, we hold the Word of God. The Bible does no good unless it’s picked up and read. A Bible sitting on a shelf collecting dust is the same as a sharp sword hanging on the wall: useless.

A robber doesn’t care if you have a wall full of swords, and the devil doesn’t care if you have a showroom full of Bibles. What gives each enemy pause is when they arrive and you’re holding the weapon at the ready. Hold God’s Word in your hand, read it, and hide it in your heart. (Psalm 119:11)

We must use the Word of God. So when do we use the Word of God? In every situation at every stage of life. There are a multitude of verses and lessons in the Bible that pertain to every situation you face in life. The Bible is an instruction manual for how to live life in a way that will please God and defeat the devil.

When your faith is challenged, run to the Word for encouragement. When sin is threatening your testimony, immerse your thoughts in the Word. When life gets depressing, find hope in the Word.

Unruly flesh? Bible. Stress at work? Bible. Persecution? Bible. Read and apply scripture to every situation. The Sword of the Spirit still works!