City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken word of God.

Ephesians 6:17 (TPT)

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

Aisha’s Analysis

As we continue our study on the armor of God, today we’ll be discussing the final piece, the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  

Hebrews 4:12 describes the word of God as a double-edged sword. This implies that the word of God not only cuts into our enemy, but also into us! The word used for “sword” in Ephesians 6:17 is machaira, the short sword, which would involve a close, personal encounter (John R. W. Stott, The Message of Ephesians). 

A sword is something that you must hold onto in battle and know how to use. This can only be accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit, who authored the word of God. Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you in the revelation and application of God’s word makes you an unstoppable opponent in spiritual warfare. 

Not only do we face an enemy on the outside, the devil, who attacks us in a personal way that hits close to home, but we are also fighting a battle within ourselves–the battle against our flesh and its sinful desires. 

The scriptures above show us that God’s word is razor sharp. Not only is it like a sword that can stop the oncoming attacks from the enemy, but it is also like a surgeon’s scalpel piercing into us to protect us from a much more subtle attack from within; it is able to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

Where would we be without the Spirit-guided word of God? It anchors us in every storm and keeps us from drifting away. Praise God for this powerful weapon of warfare and cleansing agent for our very souls.

Application

Where is your sword? If it’s on your coffee table collecting dust, then you are not adequately equipped to face the enemy. The sword I’m referring to, of course, is your Bible. One trick to reading the Bible more is to actually keep it open on your dresser or nightstand. Seeing an open Bible invites you to read it more often. If you’re totally paperless, then set the Bible app on your phone to send you notifications to remind you to read at a time of day that works, and don’t ignore it! 

Reading the Bible can be hard at times because we’re in a totally different culture and may not understand the historical context. Consider getting a study Bible, or use free online tools to get a deeper understanding of God’s word. I personally like https://biblehub.com/ 

Best of all, invite the Holy Spirit into your reading. He authored the word of God, so who better to ask for guidance? The Holy Spirit illuminates the word of God to our hearts and shows us what we could not know apart from Him. Find a cozy spot in your favorite chair or couch, grab your coffee, open your Bible, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read. 

Prayer

Father God, thank You for equipping me with everything I need for life and godliness. Thank You for Your word, which cuts the enemy as well as the sinful desires of my flesh. Give me a greater understanding of Your word as I apply it today. Show me the way. In Jesus’ name, amen.